Confusion is loaming at Livingstone’s Seventh Day Adventist(SDA) with a protestant group accusing the mother body of introducing idol worship in the church contrary to the church doctrines however local pastors refute the claims.

This is after a member of the Airport SDA church, who addressed himself as elder Durton Nanga called for a Press Conference to address issues he termed as abomination.

In his letter that was obtained by Lusakatimes, Mr Nanja said the current Livingstone West Mission, South Zambia Conference and Zambia
Union Conference of the SDA church leadership had introduced symbols,Idols and Image worshiping.

He further said the act of idol worship was introduced without the consent of the local churches.

“ Gods written word rebukes this abomination, we have been asking them to repent and remove the Idols from the churches of God since July 2010 to
date”, he said.

“ They have continued to install more Idols everyday, the Lord of Heaven is angered by their actions and God is about to take action against them and those who support and worship Idols” he stated.

But Livingstone District Pastor in the Western Division Pastor Kawana Kashweka,who is also Pastor-In-Charge has refuted claims that the church is worshiping Idols.

In his counter Press Statement circulated in the Media,Pastor Kashweka said Mr.Nanja has no authority in the Church.

“ First of all Mr Nanja is not an elder but just a member, secondly it is not the policy of the church to call a Press conference neither is it biblical” he said.

Pastor Kashweka said he advised Mr Nanja that those issues raised were internal matters but he continued by writing to the Provincial President and gave him a 3 week ultimatum.When the president did not respond and he further wrote to the National President who referred the matter to the district.

Pastor Kashweka also disclosed that Mr Nanja told the National President that the local leadership was doing nothing.
Pastor Kashweka said Mr Nanja was too quick and that he should hold his fire and wait for dialogue. He further advised members of the Press not to
attend the Press Conference.

He has also threatened that the church will excommunicate him if he goes ahead with the press briefing.

Sunday December 29 has been set as the day for the Press Conference organized by the protestant, Elder Nanja.

And former Patriotic Front secretary general Edward Mumbi has advised Mr Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, to concentrate on defending himself against certain allegations made against him.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Mr Mwamba should not malign him because he has nothing to do with the case the PF parliamentarian is facing.

Gen Shikapwasha said Mr Mwamba should know that when he was helping MMD members to campaign in 2006, he was doing so on the basis that he was a friend of the party.

Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, said it is not right for Mr Mwamba to start attacking people who have nothing to do with the allegations he is facing.

The minister said in an interview on December 13 while he has known Mr Mwamba for a long time, he has had no business dealings with him.

In his submission to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on the US$100,000 given to Mr Sata, Mr Mwamba was reported to have alleged that Gen Shikapwasha was among the people who received money from him for campaigns.

But Gen Shikapwasha has said it is not possible for him to have received money from Mr Mwamba, having known the man’s background for a long time.

The minister said it is morally wrong for Mr Mwamba to even have mentioned the name of late President Mwanawasa in his submissions to DEC.

He said Mr Mwamba and the Mwanawasa family have been close friends, and the late President had defended him in many cases.

“So, if he gave Mr Sata US$100,000, let him not drag other people into it. We cannot be part of the transaction that was conducted between him and his party leader,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

Mr Mwamba was also reported to have told the DEC that former PF secretary general Mr Mumbi is among other people who received money from him.

But Mr Mumbi said the attempt by Mr Mwamba to tell Zambians that he has been distributing his money to people will not help him.

“The quoted statement that I am among the people who benefited from Mr Mwamba’s generosity is not true.

The attempt by Mr Mwamba to tell Zambians that he gave Mr Sata money should be the issue he should concentrate on, and not lying against other people,” Mr Mumbi said.

Mr Mumbi said Mr Mwamba has started contradicting Mr Sata’s statement by revealing that he had personally taken the US$100,000 cash to Mr Sata’s house when the latter has given a statement that the transaction was handled by the bank.

[daily-mail.co.zm]

Communication between Chipata and Lundazi Districts in Eastern Province has continued to gravely affected the two areas following the collapsed Chanyumbu bridge on the Lundazi /Chipata road.

Since the bridge was washed away at the weekend, transportation of people and their goods between the two towns has been affected with some concerned stakeholders saying the people’s livelihood will be affected negatively unless government intervenes.

However, Eastern Permanent Secretary Eularia Mwale who toured the affected bridge today said the damaged Bridge was as a result vandalism by the some people in the area.

Mrs. Mwale vandalizing bridges and bridges is criminal and endangers people’s lives and property.

She stated that as a result of vandalism on Chanyumbu bridge , among others, the smooth movement of people and goods especially between Chipata and Lundazi Districts have temporarily been affected.

Chanyumbu Bridge which is 92 kilometers from Chipata District collapsed in the early hours of Saturday and traffic was marooned near the bridge for over ten hours before the bridge was repaired by the local community.

The Provincial Permanent Secretary during her tour of the damaged Chanyumbu Bridge found Sable construction company workers busy doing repair works on the damaged bridge.

Mrs. Mwale who expressed satisfaction at the works done so far, said Sable Construction Company will in due course build a stronger bridge to last for a long period.

This is the second time that Chanyumbu bride has collapsed after a downpour, earlier in March this year the bridge collapsed cutting Lundazi and Chama districts from the rest of the province.
[ ZANIS ]

A nineteen- year-old school leaver of Ndola yesterday appeared in the Ndola High Court for the murder of a truck driver.
Mwenda Kalala appeared before Ndola High Court Judge Petronella Ngulube for plea in a case in which he has been charged with the murder of Donald Saizi.

Particulars of the offence are that between April 6 and April 7 this year in Ndola, Kalala murdered Donald Saizi.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ms Justice Ngulube said she had recorded a plea of not guilty and adjourned the case to December 22 for trial.

In the same court, a 32-year-old technician of Ndola pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.

Charles Kabembo of 3001, New Mushili Township, was charged with the murder of Miriam Kasuka.

Particulars of the offence are that Kabembo on September 30 this year murdered Miriam Kasuka.

Ms. Justice Ngulube adjourned the matter to December 17 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, Ndola Remand Prison officer-in-charge Joseph Masengo told the court in his jail delivery that the situation in all Copperbelt prisons in terms of security and food was normal.

He said all the jails in the Copperbelt had 3,517 inmates.

Meanwhile, a Luanshya-based police officer has appealed to the Supreme Court against his High Court conviction of aiding a prisoner to escape.

Peter Chongo, 37, a police officer in Luanshya, appealed to the Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and Supreme Court justices Marvin Mwanamwambwa and Elizabeth Muyovwe against his conviction of helping a prisoner to escape.

Particulars of the offence are that on May 5 in 2005 in Luanshya, Chongo aided Julius Silungwe, a prisoner who was facing a charge of forgery, to escape from Luanshya Central police cells.

Chongo was initially charged with two other police officers who were acquitted.

He was given a two-year suspended sentence.

In his appeal, Chongo said, through principal legal aid counsel Nzovwa Chomba, that the trial judge convicted his client based on circumstantial evidence.

Mr Chomba said Chongo was not present at the time Silungwe escaped at about 16:50 hours.

He said Silungwe escaped after Chongo had done his hand-over of the prisoners at 16:00 hours.

Mr Justice Sakala said judgment was reserved to a date to be communicated.
[ Times of Zambia ]

World Bank Group president Robert Zoellick is expected in the country this Thursday on a two day visit.

Mr. Zoellick’s visit to Zambia will focus on ways of enhancing Zambia’s competitiveness in sustaining economic growth through the strengthening of sectors such as Agriculture, infrastructure, mining and health.

During his visit Mr. Zoellick’s is also expected to sign an agreement for additional financial support to Zambia Malaria Booster Programme.

Mr. Zoellick’s is expected to meet President RUPIAH BANDA, Members of Parliament, the Private Sector and the Civil Society.

This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by World Bank Country Manager Kapil Kapoor

Mr. Kapoor said Mr. Zoellick’s visit comes at a time when Zambia has achieved significant political and economic progress.

Mr. Zoellick’s would be accompanied to Zambia by World Bank African Region Vice President Obiagel Ezekwesili and other senior officials.

This will be the first visit to Zambia by a President of the World Bank

The Wold Bank Chief would travel to Mali for the second leg of his trip.