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The Lusaka High Court has slapped a death penalty on a Lusaka Man after he was found guilty of murdering a Chinese boss at Collum Coal Mine in Chongwe district.
Pythias Chinene, was charged with murdering Zong Tangku who was his supervisor at the Chinese owned mining farm February 2, 2010.
Delivering judgment, Supreme Court judge Munyinda Wanki, sitting as High Court judge said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Chinene murdered Mr. Zong.
And in a related development, the Lusaka High Court sentenced a Benny Kanyama of Chirundu for murdering his two-year-old daughter after administering her with sulphuric acid.
Drug Enforcement Commission spokesperson John Nyawali tlking to journalists outside the commission's offices in LusakaDrug Enforcement Commission (DEC) spokesperson John Nyawali has said the commission cannot question or investigate the sources of campaign finances which President Rupiah Banda has been donating to various NGOs and individual citizens.
Mr. Nyawali said the commission was limited in its mandate because the sitting president enjoyed absolute immunity to such investigations.
He was reacting to numerous calls from the civil society organisations who were calling on the commission to extend their investigations of money laundering to the ruling party.
But Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has accused the DEC of being selective in the application of law.
TIZ president Reuben Lifuka said it was wrong for the DEC to hide behind the law of immunity which the president enjoyed, saying DEC should ask whether the president was committing any wrongs enough to warrant investigations.
He said the DEC was exhibiting double standards by finding it easy to investigate opposition party leaders.
Government has described the move by teachers and the Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) to demand payment from parents before obtaining grade seven results for their children, as illegal.
Education Permanent Secretary (PS) for Administration Andrew Phiri said it was not Government policy to charge for the collection of results but that the results should be given free without any charge.
He said charging for one to obtain results would undermine Government policy of free primary education which it was offering from grades one to seven.
Mr. Phiri said those who were charging a certain amount of money could be doing so as a result of some agreements with PTAs but that even this should be regulated by Government.
[pullquote]“I have directed the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to send the Standards Officers to schools to verify any such reports, and I am expecting the reports by today afternoon. It is from these reports that we then decide what action we will take on those who will be found guilty,” he said.
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He warned of stern action against erring teachers of school boards that would be found charging any fees for children to get their examination results.
Mr. Phiri said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He also stated that his ministry had directed the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to verify any reports of this sort adding that his ministry would then take appropriate action against those found wanting.
“I have directed the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to send the Standards Officers to schools to verify any such reports, and I am expecting the reports by today afternoon. It is from these reports that we then decide what action we will take on those who will be found guilty,” he said.
Mr. Phiri said pupils and parents should get the results without any payments
Some schools in Lusaka are reportedly charging parents between K5, 000 and K10, 000 to collect grade seven results.
Chinese Collum Coal Mine Managers resolving the problem of the shooting incident in which 13 miners were shot and wounded in Sinazongwe district
Lusaka Economist Oliver Saasa says Zambia should be proud and applaud major investments that China has continued to undertake in various fields of the country’s economy.
Professor Saasa said it is heartening that Government has continued to embrace investments from China which he said has a large presence in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, communication and transport among others.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Chinese investments in the country should be recognised and appreciated by well-meaning Zambians.
Nevertheless, Prof. Saasa stressed the need for Government to ensure that investors coming to invest in Zambia adhere to and respect Zambian labour laws and regulations.
He said Government should firmly deal with investors flouting Zambian labour laws and compel them to adhere to and respect the country’s labour statutes.
Prof. Saasa who is also Mulungushi University Chancellor emphasised the need for Government to ensure that Chinese investors and other foreign investors investing in the country’s economy adhere to the laws in order to dispel controversies surrounding Chinese investment in Zambia.
He added that Government needs to ensure that there is transparency in awarding of licenses to investors and bring to book investors that flouted the law.
He also noted that it is Government’s role to ensure that laws are not only respected but followed by both local and foreign investors.
Prof. Saasa said this will enhance investor confidence as Zambia is a safe haven for conducting business.
UPND Cadres
United Party for National Development (UPND) has said it will appeal against the Lusaka High Court’s decision to throw out an appeal filed by Mufumbwe Member of Parliament (MP) Elliot Kamondo.
UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma said his party was shocked and disappointed by the court’s decision but would continue fighting up to the Supreme Court.
He said it was the constitutional right of every person to appeal against any judgment.
Mr. Kakoma also stated that the party would confer with Patriotic Front to decide on the Mporokoso seat.
The Mporokoso seat fell vacant after the resignation of Maynard Misapa from the ruling MMD to join the opposition PF.
The Mufumbwe seat has not yet been declared vacant after the Lusaka High Court threw out an appeal against its ruling.
Meanwhile the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) has welcomed the decision by Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwamba to declare Mporokoso Parliamentary seat vacant.
MMD Acting National Secretary Chembe Nyangu said the ruling party was also ready for the by-election in Mufumbwe that might arise after the Lusaka High Court threw out an appeal against its ruling nullifying the election of Elliot Kamondo as area Member of Parliament.
Mr. Nyangu said the party was prepared to go into the constituencies to defend and win back the parliamentary seats.
He said the party would soon start the process of identifying potential candidates to stand on its ticket in the by-election in Mporokoso, Northern Province while it would wait for a go ahead to identify a credible candidate for the Mufumbwe seat in North western Province.
Mr. Nyangu said this in a telephone interview with ZANIS from Mongu, Western Province.
He said the party had gone back to the drawing board and had embarked on a membership mobilisation drive at grassroots.
And Mr. Nyangu said his party would focus on issue based campaigns and avoid personal and violent campaigns.
[ ZANIS ]
Police in Gwembe district in Southern Province are looking for a 31 year old man who allegedly shoot and wounded his father and mother using a shot gun.
The incident happened on Tuesday morning at around 03:00 hours.
Southern province police commanding officer Lemmy Kajoba said the suspect, identified as Salilo Hachulu of Kaumba village in chief Chipepo’s area shot and wounded his father, Moses Hachulu 62, and mother Julia Siasiuna aged 50.
Mr. Kajoba said the man allegedly wanted to kill his parents because he suspected them of practicing witchcraft.
Mr. Hachulu sustained bullet wounds on his right side of buttocks while his wife sustained wounds on her chest and shoulder.
The duo has been admitted to Monze mission hospital.
Mr. Kajoba has advised members of the public not to take the law into their own hands.
[ ZNBC ]
Rainford Kalaba has said he is hopeful Zambia’s 2012 Africa Cup qualifying campaign will peak in 2011.
The Zambia and TP Mazembe midfielder told ZNBC prior to departure for Cairo that fans should rally behind the team.
Zambia are currently third in Group C on three points, one less than second placed Libya and leaders Mozambique and the latter hosts Chipolopolo in their third game at the end of March.
“The fans just have cool down their tempers because if we lose one game they seem like we have lost all the games but they are still games to come we have got hope,” Kalaba told ZNBC.
Zambia tomorrow face Kuwait in an international friendly in Cairo at Petrojet stadium.
The game will mark coach Dario Bonetti’s ninth game in charge as he seeks his fifth win on the bench since taking charge in July.
Zambia will also have a score to settle against Kuwait who beat them 2-1 in in the two sides first-ever meeting also in friendly match this time played in Kuwait City in 1997 under Roald Paulsen.
And for once, Faz has seamlessly mobilized almost all key players for the match with only two regulars namely Chris and Felix Katongo excused due to club and family commitments.
Bonetti has also kept faith in home-based players Allan Mukuka,
Billy Mwanza, Dennis Banda and Kennedy Mudenda who were key in Zambia’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup campaign.
Defender Emmanuel Mbola goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene plus midfielders Rainford Kalaba and Isaac Chansa are all available for the game while Bonetti should hand a senior debut to Zesco United and Under-23 striker Chileshe Kangwa.
The Zambia bench is still awaiting defender Emmanuel Mbola of DR Congo club TP Mazembe to join the team for the friendly match against Kuwait this Friday.
Zambia leave for Egypt on Wednesday take on Kuwait in Cairo, on New Year’s eve after 13 home and foreign-based players completed a two-day training camp in Lusaka under coach Lucky Msiska.
Msiska said Mbola was the last player being expected to join the team in Lusaka before departure on Wednesday morning for Cairo.
Meanwhile, defensive midfielder Francis Kasonde of Al Hazm in Saudi Arabia will join the team in Cairo by Wednesday with three other foreign-based players.
Kennedy Mweene and Noah Chivuta of Free State Stars in South Africa will fly to Cairo from Johannesburg on Wednesday while striker Vanecious Mapande who plays for Egyptian club Arab Contractors will await his compatriots in Cairo on the same date.
VICE President George Kunda says the MMD government has managed to accumulate over US$ 2 billion in foreign exchange reserves because of its prudent financial management.
However the Vice President has warned that the country risks having the foreign reserves plundered if Patriotic Front leader Micheal Sata and his UPND counterpart are voted into government in 2011, because of their insatiable appetite for the United States Dollar.
Addressing Livingstone residents who welcomed him at Livingstone International Airport today, the Vice President said the US$ 2 billion is with the Bank of Zambia.
He said the opposition were very desperate to get into government, in order for them to plunder the foreign exchange reserves which the MMD has been able to accumulate due to a sound economic environment it has created.
Vice President Kunda who is accompanied to Livingstone by Labour Minister Austin Liato said, the future for Zambia looks bright because of the country’s stable economic environment.
He said Mr. Sata and Mr. Hichilema would undoubtedly plunder the foreign exchange reserves which the MMD has worked hard for.
He appealed to people in Southern Province to vote for the MMD because it is the only party that can be entrusted with national resources.
Vice President Kunda said, with the rising copper prices on the international market, Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings were projected to increase further next year.
Secrectary to the cabinet Jsohua KanganjaSecretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja has warned controlling officers against using Government resources on holding end of year and Christmas parties.
Dr. Kanganja said Government or public service workers intending to hold such parties should use their own money and not Government resources.
ZANIS reports that Commenting on the end of year parties in Government institutions, Dr. Kanganja explained that Government resources could not be used towards the holding of Christmas and New Year parties because national coffers had inadequate funds.
“Government resources shall not be used for holding festival parties (Christmas and New Year. If Officers wish to have a celebration they ought to contribute some funds to enable them celebrate,” he said.
He said Government resources were only intended for serious national programmes like holding of important workshops, Government Summits, construction of road infrastructure, schools and health centres among other capital projects.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kanganja said expressed disappointment at the low reading culture among Civil Servants.
He observed that Civil Servants and other public officers did not read circulars brought to their attention by their superiors.
He said it was the duty of all Supervisors to address their juniors and inform them about what was happening in Government hence the issuance of the Circulars.
“If people are not reading circulars issued by my office, then we have a serious problem in this country. Supervisors should tell their staff what is happening at places of work,” he advised.
Dr. Kanganja’s sentiments come in the wake of some public workers who have opted to stay away from duty today thinking that since Christmas fell on Saturday, Monday December 27th should be a public holiday.
Dr. Kanganja stated that he will issue another circular before New Year, 2011 and warned that his Office would take stock of every officer who would be absent on Monday, January 3rd 2011.
Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba speaking people in Kasama district in Northern Province has bemoaned the alleged rampant theft of public funds at Kasama Municipal Council.
And the Chief has accused some councillors of shielding officers involved in the embezzlement of funds at the Council.
Commenting on the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Audit report on Kasama Municipal Council for the period January to December 2009, Senior Chief Mwamba said it was unacceptable for Council workers to abuse public resources meant for development, with impunity.
The Audit report highlighted numerous financial irregularities at Kasama Municipal Council.
The traditional ruler said it was annoying and disappointing that a council, which was supposed to be spearheading development in the district, is engaged in fraudulent activities.
Senior Chief Mwamba has since questioned the legality of the decision by senior officers at the Kasama Municipal Council to allegedly award themselves salary increments three times in one year.
He also wondered why Council management decided to award itself rural retention allowance when they all live in urban settings.
Senior Chief Mwamba also charged that it was immoral for these officers to award themselves hefty responsibility allowances without following the correct procedure.
The traditional ruler has accused some Councillors of being party to the embezzlement of public funds at the municipality by failing to take appropriate action against the erring council officers.
Senior Chief Mwamba wondered how Councillors could allow Council officers to continue collecting revenue from taxpayers without receipting for the money.
He has since urged the Councillors to show leadership by stopping the willful abuse of public funds by Council workers.
He said what was happening at Kasama Municipal Council was a clear indication that the financial system had completely collapsed.
Senior Chief Mwamba has since appealed to law enforcement agencies to immediately institute investigations into the theft of public funds at the Council and take appropriate action against the erring officers.
Efforts to get a comment from Kasama Mayor Abraham Mulenga on the alleged financial irregularities at the Kasama Municipal Council proved futile.
A Condom, as many people know, is a protective sheathe made from rubbery substance such as latex or polyurethane, closed at one end and open at the other.
When used correctly and consistently during sexual intercourse, a condom can help in avoiding unwanted pregnancies and also reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) s, including HIV and AIDS.
In Zambia where the majority population is the youths who are sexually active, the condom is often used as a protector against Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and has proved to be a people’s ideal choice for protection.
It is available free of charge in most public health centres, youth resource centres, lodges, non government organization dealing in reproductive health and many other places although the same product can be bought at an affordable price elsewhere in chemists, night clubs, bars and even grocery shops.
The first batch of the latex male maximum condoms was introduced in Zambia in the 1990’s and has since gone through a number of transformations. All this has been done with the hope of making it more effective both as a contraceptive and for disease protection.
Zambia being one of the countries most affected by HIV and AIDS with 14.3 percent of the population estimated to be living with HIV and approximately 690,000 children orphaned, the disease poses a threat to the economic and social gains the country has achieved.
This has made government working with other stakeholders both local and international to develop a multi-sectoral national response to fight the disease and this has started reaping rewards.
The UNAIDS report for 2010 has shown that Zambia is reducing the rate of new infections and this is partly because young people are delaying entrance into sex, using condoms as well as significant reductions in the number of sexual partners.
Statistics have shown that about 40 million packs of condoms have been sold since it was first introduced.
Meanwhile Zambia Health Demographic Survey (ZHDS) of 2009 has also shown that the country is making progress concerning the use of condoms among the people, and there is also an indication that there is an increase in the percentage of people using condoms in the country.
Free condoms..save your life...an unidentified man distributes condoms during the World AIDS day celebration in Lusaka
According to the ZHDS of 2009 which was released this year, about 40 percent of the people who were surveyed, confirmed using a condom compared to only 35 percent in 2005.
The survey also showed a slight increase among the youths who are sexually active using a condom within the same period at 34 to about 40 percent, while 29 percent of the youths indicated that they used a condom the first time they had sex compared to 21percent who used a condom in 2005.
Recently the Society for Family Health (SFH) Zambia, who are producing and distributing the male maximum condom in the country, re-launched a new version of the condom which it described as strong; triple tested, and does not break.
The new version of the condom is a three (3) ply lubricated latex condom which gives the user a peace of mind when using it.
The re-launch was done in Chipata at David Kaunda Stadium and was graced by Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao during the commemoration of the 2010 world AIDS day celebration.
The 2010 re-launch of the maximum condom under the theme, ‘trusted protection’, was the third time that SFH was re-launching the condoms since its inception in 1992. It was first re-launched in 1998 under the theme, ‘It’s My Life It’s My Choice’, it was then re-launched for the second time in 2004 as a maximum classic, and scented condom with the later specifically designed to provide a choice and encourage non-users to adapt to the use of the condom.
The 2010 launch was done in style where a couple who presented the scissors to the Minister of health for cutting the ribbon clad in attire made from expired condoms at an event that was witnessed by government officials, donor agencies, AIDS activists, Non-Governmental Organizations involved in the fight against Aids and scores of Chipata residents.
The lady’s dress was entirely made of condom where 864 condoms were used while the man’s waist coat used 432 condoms.
The designer, Monde who also wore the dress and presented the knife to the Minister, said she came up with the idea of designing the condom dress just in time for the launch of a new version of the condom.
And speaking during the re- launch of the condom Mr. Simbao called on people to embrace the ABC strategy to fight the pandemic.
He said although there was no known cure for the disease world over, the disease could be controlled by observing the Abstinence, Being faithful and using Condoms every time one has sex which is the (ABCs) strategy.
He explained that there was no cure for the disease world over although people with the disease could still remain healthy through taking the Ant-Retroviral Treatment (ART) which government is currently offering free of charge in most clinics and health centres in all the nine provinces of the country.
The Minister encouraged people to remain faithful to one sexual partner and always practice safer sex with the use of the condom even in marriages.
He said there was need to remove the misunderstanding of condom use in married life where people think that it’s only those who are unfaithful in their marriages who should use it.
“There is a wrong perception that has been created by people in marriage that it’s only those who are promiscuous who use condoms. But what you should know is that even you who are in marriage can use this to protect yourselves from disease” Mr. Simbao said.
He also emphasized on the need for abstinence for those who are single and faithfulness to one sexual partner to those in marriage and asked people to go for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) to know their HIV and AIDS status stating that government was providing free medicines to those infected with the disease.
Although a condom can be used to protect one against disease, it should however be emphasized that condoms in themselves cannot guarantee 100 percent protection.
“Make sure that you read the instructions, check for all the necessary information like the expiry date before using the condom,” Mr. Simbao advised.
Research shows that condoms slightly offer about 90 percent of protection from disease. This is because of the risks of breaking, and in other cases not following instructions, like the expiry date.
It should be emphasized that we should not take chances, never have sex with someone you are not married to, those who are in marriage should stick to their spouses, while those who are single should wait till they are married to have sex to avoid risks of contracting the disease.
As they say abstinence ili-che ‘Abstinence is the best’ no one will surely go wrong with it.
Management at Livingstone General Hospital has said the number of live births at the institution had improved due to good maternal practices.
Maternal Health Administrator at the Institution, Sister Lishomwa Mutomwa told ZANIS in an interview that infant mortality rate had drastically reduced by almost half at the institution.
Sister Mutomwa said most of the infant deaths that were recorded at the institution are as a result of natural causes and not clinical errors.
She was speaking when Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Gladys Kristafor visited the General Hospital on Saturday to present gifts to three babies born on Christmas Day.
And Mrs. Kristafor advised mothers to socialise their Christmas babies into Christianity so that they grow up as responsible children.
However, Mrs. Kristafor said although the babies born on Christmas were special, they were not better than other children born on any other day.
She donated various items among them baby blankets, nappies and bathing tubs to the three babies, a girl and two boys.
Mothers of the babies are Jane Kalaba, whose baby boy was born at 08:00, Princess Mulwani, whose son was born at 02:30 hours and Beauty Kaunda, whose daughter was born at around 07:00 hours.
Officials from Chinese An Hui construction firm inspect the dilapidated Independence stadium in Lusaka where they have been engaged to refurbish the infrastructure
Construction of the new Independence Stadium in Lusaka will start after the rainy season.
Shanghai Construction, the company that will construct the 50 thousand seater stadium says all is set for the start of construction works.
A ZNBC Sports crew found the Company putting up structures in readiness for the ground breaking ceremony.
Group vice General Manager Wu Zhen Rong said the ground breaking ceremony is expected to take place on January 10, 2011.
Meanwhile the Zambia National Soccer team is this afternoon regrouping for an international friendly Match against Kuwait.
The Match will be played in the Egyptian Capital Cairo this Friday.
National Team Assistant Coach Lucky Msiska says the Chipolopolo boys will regroup this afternoon for friendly before departure for Cairo on Wednesday.
