Two suspected criminals were during the Easter period stoned to death by a mob in Lusaka’s Kanyama compound while the other three managed to escape.

The suspected criminals wanted to robe a house in Kanyama compound but the owner of a house who was alert switched on the alarm and the neighbors rushed to the house for rescue and managed to apprehend two criminals who later were stoned to death.

Zambia Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana disclosed the development to ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka today.

Ms. Siamana said the two suspected criminals were identified as Kelvin Muyambango and Kelvin Sindengwe both aged between 30 and 35 years and their bodies are still lying in the mortuary.

Ms. Siamana said the general public has the right to arrest but not to take the law in their own hands by taking away people’s lives.

She has appealed to the general public to only arrest and take the suspects to the police.

Ms. Siamana disclosed that the police have since launched an investigation over the same incident to ascertain who were involved in the killing.

And 60 more people have been arrested by the Zambia Police Service in connection with last week’s riots in Mansa.

Inspector General of police Francis Kabonde has appealed to Mansa residents who were involved in the looting to surrender themselves to police.

After the riots the police recovered goods worth billions of Kwacha.

And Mr. Kabonde says the police has since written to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for consent to prosecute the 280 that were earlier arrested.

Intellectual property specialist Kingsley Nkonde says Zambia has made progress in reduced importation of counterfeit products.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Nkonde attributed this to government’s intensified awareness campaigns against counterfeit products’ importation.

He expressed his gratitude to government for its political will on counterfeit products.

The Intellectual property specialist revealed that as a result of the political will, only three percent of the imported products for are counterfeit.

Previously, 95 percent of imported Sumsung products in to Zambia were counterfeit.

Law enforcement agencies recently introduced the hologram on all Compact Disc as part of the identification of products, under the copyright Act.

ZANIS

COPPERBELT Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima has called on the Catholic Church leadership to rethink the re-admission of Get Involved Zambia executive director Frank Bwalya in conducting pastoral duties after ending his sabbatical leave.

Mr Mbulakulima challenged the Catholic Church leadership to dissociate itself from Father Bwalya’s activities by not allowing him to use the pulpit for his campaigns for the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).

“I am a member of the Catholic myself, the former priest Father Bwalya, who is now Mr Bwalya has caused a lot of embarrassment to the Catholic Church and many Christians from other churches have also raised concern over his activities,” he said.

Mr Mbulakulima was reacting to Father Bwalya’s public announcement yesterday that his sabbatical leave which started in 2008 was over and that he would resume work as a priest while continuing his political activities.

“He has just accumulated a lot of embarrassment and the people will now start questioning the motive of the Catholic Church for allowing such a man, who is a full time politician to start using the church building for his fight against the Government which is based on hate for the MMD,” Mr Mbulakulima said.

Father Bwalya said during a Change Life Zambia public rally in Ndola, which was also broadcast live on Radio Cengelo, that it was now time for regime change and vowed to continue speaking out against the Government of President Rupiah Banda until the Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata takes over Government after the elections.

At the same function, Kabwata MP Given Lubinda announced that the PF would go ahead with the Parallel Vote Tabulation during this year’s elections.

But, Mr Mbulakulima advised Mr Lubinda, not to provoke the Government because he was not a factor and no serious Government official would be wasting time responding to all the rhetoric coming from him.

[Times of Zambia]

The Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) has with immediate effect reinstated Livingstone Town clerk Ms Dras Neves and recalled her to duty
with full benefits.

This is contained in the statement obtained and signed by Local Government Service Commission secretary MacLoud Nyirenda and dated April 22nd 2011.

The decision was reached at after the April 15th 2011 sitting by the LGSC where it passed a null and void resolution on the suspension and termination of employment of Ms. Neves.

“The Commission at its sitting in Livingstone on 15th April 2011 resolved that the suspension and termination of Ms. Drastress Maria Sanana Neves’ contract of service as Town Clerk was null and void.

Consequently, the Commission has with immediate effect recalled her to duty with full benefits,” said Mr. Nyirenda.

And when contacted, Ms. Neves confirmed receiving the letter of reinstatement and said she will be reporting for work on Tuesday,April 26th after the long Easter holiday.

Last month, Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo directed the City council to follow laid down procedures in the suspension and termination of the contract of Ms. Neves.

Livingstone Mayor Aggrey Njekwa confirmed that the council had received the letter from Dr. Chituwo on the procedure the council should follow on addressing concerns against Ms Neves.

He said according to Dr Chituwo’s letter, the contract of Ms Neves can only be terminated by the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC).

Mr Njekwa said the letter further advices the council to channel their grievances on Ms. Neves through the commission.

“We received the Minister’s letter today at 10:35 hours from the provincial local government officer and so we are sitting this afternoon to take the right procedure in terminating Ms Neves.contract,” Mr. Njekwa said.

Mr Njekwa said Ms Neves will not work peacefully if she decides to return for work now as the situation at the council is volatile and further alleged that she had a pile of charges against her but he however, did not state the cases.

“Even if the town clerk comes here she won’t be able to work in a peaceful manner because the situation is volatile, moreover, I have a pile of charges against her so there is no way she can survive the on-slot of the mayor,” he said.

Earlier, Dr. Chituwo had ordered the council to immediately reinstate Ms. Neves because they did not have the powers to terminate her contract and ordered the council to immediately give back her office, official vehicle and all the emoluments that go with her position.

But Mr. Njekwa defied Dr. Chituwo’s directive saying he did not respond to press statements, arguing that there was a procedure to be followed between his council and the ministry.