Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma has announced that the impasse at the Kasumbalesa border has now been resolved.

Mr Lufuma said the issues that saw Truckers refusing to transit into Congo DR until security is provided have now been settled.

He said the meeting to resolve the matter was held in a cordial environment with Congolese counterparts.

“Current situation was the line of trucks, bumper to bumper, stretching from Kasumbalesa down to Chililabomwe hence holding commerce and trade between the two countries and SADC. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere we resolved that security will be provided by our DRC colleagues and that Trucks must start crossing and trekking into Congo DRC first thing in the morning today starting at 6hrs to 20 hrs henceforth,” he said.

Mr Lufuma announce that an SOS line (called green line) will be given to all the truckers for contact in case of any emergencies.

“I must inform the Zambian people that as we speak today the trucks started crossing as early as 6hrs.”

The negotiations team comprised of three Ministers Jack Mwiimbu, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Elisha Matambo Provincial Minister for Copperbelt Province and Mr. Lufuma.

The Ministers later addressed Truckers and assured them of security.

“We would like to thank our Congolese counterparts for their cooperation and commitment to resolving the problem. The riotous behaviour and looting which ensued yesterday has been stopped and calm has been restored in the border town of Kasumbalesa.”

The Commonwealth Observer Group to Zambia has released its final report on the 2021 general elections, which saw Hakainde Hichilema become the country’s seventh president.

The 14-member delegation, led by the former President of Tanzania Dr Jakaya Kikwete, concluded that despite some challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) was well prepared for election day and that the election, as a whole, was largely peaceful, credible, transparent, and inclusive.

Deployed across nine provinces of the country, the Group commended voters for turning out in significant numbers on election day to exercise their democratic rights.

They congratulated the ECZ, polling staff, political parties and their leaders, the Coalition for Peaceful Elections in Zambia (CPEZ), the media, and security forces for their respective roles in holding peaceful elections and ensuring a peaceful transition.

They particularly noted the commendable home-grown peace initiatives by the CPEZ that brought together the political leaders to sign a peace pledge in which they reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful elections.

The final report, which has been officially conveyed to the Government of Zambia and distributed to relevant stakeholders, builds on the findings of the preliminary statement that was issued shortly after the elections in August 2021 and provides a comprehensive assessment of the entire electoral process – before, during, and after the polls.

The report offers concrete recommendations on electoral reforms for consideration by authorities on practical ways in which the country could improve future elections in areas such as the participation of women, youth, and people with disabilities; the electoral framework and administration; pre-election campaigns; election administration; the role of the media; and the voting, counting and results-management processes.

Recalling recommendations made by the 2016 COG with regard to strengthening the participation and representation of women, the Group called upon the government to introduce mandatory quotas and adopt appropriate legislative measures to promote gender-balanced political representation.

The Group noted that measures should be taken to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to participate fully in the electoral cycle.

And while commending the changes in the law to allow the participation of prisoners in the polls for the first time in the country’s history, the group recommended that it should be refined to accommodate specific situations where a prisoner has been released or transferred before election day.

The Group also recommended strengthening the regulation of funding for political parties and the training of polling officials to iron out some of the inconsistencies in the execution of their duties.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland said, “I thank the Zambian authorities for inviting us to observe this historic election and I commend the people of Zambia for their inspirational commitment to a peaceful election. I also commend the key institutions in Zambia for their role in ensuring peace and delivering an orderly transition of power.”

The Commonwealth Observer Group and Secretariat staff played a crucial role during the elections. I applaud their efforts and I hope their recommendations will be received in the Commonwealth spirit of constructive engagement as part of efforts to improve future electoral processes.

“This is the third Commonwealth Observer Group to Zambia since 2006, demonstrating the Commonwealth Secretariat’s strong commitment to supporting democracy in Zambia. I will personally be following Zambia’s progress in implementing the Observer Group’s recommendations, and the Commonwealth Secretariat will continue to offer all necessary support to the people and government of Zambia in their journey of democratic development through our whole-of-election cycle approach.”

As is customary Commonwealth practice, the final report of the Group was finalised in Zambia before the Group’s departure.

Throughout the mission, they were supported by dedicated staff from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Professor Luis Franceschi, Senior Director of the Governance and Peace Directorate.

In the months ahead, the Commonwealth Secretariat intends to undertake another follow-up visit to meet with stakeholders on the implementation of the observer recommendations.

Teacher unions in Mwansabombwe have welcomed government’s pronouncement to reform the education curriculum.

Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) chairperson Sydney Malimba reasons that the development will prevent teaching of content which does not meet the needs of the country’s development agenda.

Mr. Malimba said this during the commemoration of this year’s teacher day held under the theme: “ The Transformation of Education Begins With Teachers ” at Kabumbu grounds.

And Mr. Malimba requested government to address a number of challenges which teachers are experiencing which includes upgrading teachers, school establishment and paying outstanding personal emoluments.

Others are providing social amenities such as decent housing, electricity, safe drinking water, good road networks and actualize government policy of re-uniting couples, among others.

And district Education Board secretary Mary Kanyimbo said as a result of government’s teacher recruitment, the area the number of teachers has now risen from 381 to 472 teachers.

Meanwhile, District Commissioner Morton Sikazwe who was the guest of honour said government is aware of a number of challenges in the education sector and is working tirelessly to address them.

Mr. Sikazwe said education sector is being supported through the provision of desks, construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF )

And Council chairperson Terrioh Chungu said that the local authority is committed to improving the learning environment in schools.

Part of the Constituency Development Fund will be allocated for the construction of classroom and ablution blocks and installation of boreholes to improve the water supply in schools, Mr. Chungu said .

A MINER in Kitwe at Nkana Mine plant south ore body Shaft in Wusakile Township has died after his truck developed a fault while he was underground.

The accident was reported by Kennedy Sapitu, aged 53, a senior security officer for Mopani Copper Mines that a man only identified as Mathews Bwalya, of Chamboli, a dump truck operator for Mwamona Investments, a mining contractor company died at level 3960 metres below ground level.

Copperbelt province commanding officer Sharon Zulu confirmed the incident stating that after the accident, the mining company engaged its rescue team and the body was retrieved at 05:30 hours after being trapped underground for about seven hours.

“We recorded a mine accident which happened in the early hours of to9day in Kitwe at Nkana Mine plant, south ore body Shaft in Wusakile Township, Kitwe.

Brief facts surrounding the case is that, the victim was working on an elevated site where he was driving a dump truck loaded with copper ore and the truck is believed to have developed a mechanical fault with increased revs, leading to loss of control and severally hit against the mine walls,” she said.

Ms Zulu said the victim was rushed to Wusakile Mine Hospital where he was examined by a doctor and later taken to the Kitwe Teaching Hospital where he was certified dead upon arrival.

“The following injuries were observed on the body of the deceased, a very deep cut on the right cheek, a ruptured diaphragm, cuts on the right side of his head, a large wound on the right side of the body which let the lungs, intestines and other internal organs out. His heart cut and fell out of the body completely,” she said.

Ms Zulu said the deceased body was later deposited to the mortuary at Wusakile Mine Hospital awaiting postmortem examination.
She however said owing to safety risks cited by mine management, the scene could not be visited.

“However, it will be visited during the coroner’s visit later in the day. An inquiry file has since been opened,” she said.

63 people in Northern Province among them teachers have escaped death after they were involved in a Road Traffic Accident at Nsumbu National Park while celebrating Teachers’ day.

Out of the 63, 12 have been recorded to have been seriously injured, while the rest escaped with minor injuries.

The accident happened when the driver was driving within the park from the direction North to South when the steering system developed a fault, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle which went off the road on the Eastern side where it hit a tree.

Zambia Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said the 12 sustained serious injuries after a Zambia Army truck they were travelling in lost control when the steering system developed a fault.

He said the accident happened yesterday at around 09:30 hours in Nsumbu National Park.

Mr Hamoonga said the Ural truck registration number AD 3653 was driven by Richard Mupashi aged 39 of the Marine unit of Kawambwa who escaped injury free and onboard were 63 passengers out of which 12 sustained serious injuries, while 51 escaped minor injuries,

“The Seriously injured passengers included nine teachers namely Clara Lubinda 30, with Multiple injuries, Philimon Simfukwe 35, body pains, Sharon Chanda 27 Multiple injuries, Prisca Musonda 29Multiple injuries, Chisha Nalupwa 31 body pains, Bertha Daka 31 with Multiple injuries Naomi Kangwa 31, Multiple injuries, William Kabwe 34 Body pain and Davies Chifwembe 28 Chest pains. Others are Geoffrey Bwalya aged 47 who sustained multiple injuries of Community Development, Natasha Chifunda aged 26 complained of backache from the Local Government and Elvis Musonda aged 40 complained of chest pains from Zambia Wildlife Authority,” he said.

Mr Hamoonga said all the passengers are of Nsumbu Township in Nsama District who were on a Teachers Day celebrations trip in the park.

The government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has launched the Reduce Adolescent Pregnancies (RAP) campaign with the aim of preventing early and unintended adolescent pregnancies in Zambia.

Speaking during the official launch of the campaign in Lusaka yesterday, Vice President Mutale Nalumango, who was represented by Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba stated that the launch of the Reduce Adolescent Pregnancies Campaign is one of the government’s many interventions towards the high prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the country.

Ms Nalumango mentioned that adolescent pregnancies are a threat to national development, and the government is working in close collaboration with various stakeholders in scaling up efforts towards the issue.

“As the government, we are certain that all efforts coupled with this campaign will see a big reduction in adolescent pregnancies,” Ms Nalumango said

The Vice President has since encouraged children to make the right decisions, and get the necessary required skills that will enable them to be productive citizens in future.

And Ms Mwamba whose Ministry seats the Child Development Department said her Ministry is strengthening sensitization and training programmes targeted at vulnerable households and individuals, as many incidences of adolescent pregnancies occur because of factors associated with poverty and vulnerability.

In a speech read on Ms Mwamba’s behalf by Child Development Department Director Bridget Mooya, the Minister cited that her Ministry is also enhancing the welfare and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable people, by reducing developmental inequalities and mitigating violence against women and children, among others.

She added that the view where girls are seen as assets and are exchangeable for marriage through monetary gains, this and many other cases of this nature are worrying but working together with various stakeholders will hold the power to change this cause and help the adolescent girls.

“This is the reason as to why we are meeting today and having this launch,” she said

Ms Mwamba noted with gladness that the meeting underscores the urgency and importance of accelerating efforts towards empowering girls with education, as it is the best equalizer in life.

“The danger is that if we seat and do nothing, we are exposing the adolescent girls to mere statistics, vulnerabilities, and citizens held down by overwhelmed poverty levels in homes and society at large,” Ms Mwamba said

She added that this further limits the participation of girls and women in social economic development in various sectors.

“I am happy to note that as stakeholders we are committed to addressing this very explosive situation which we have at hand, because as a country we have not done much,” Ms Mwamba said

And the Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima who was represented by the Ministry Director´s for Health and Nutrition Malalu Mulundika, stated that statistics shows that 16, 419 girls dropped out of school in 2020 because of pregnancy and that only 7, 954 were re-admitted.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo represented by the Ministry`s Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Professor Luckson Kasonka, stressed the need to empower adolescents with knowledge and information on condoms as dual protection against pregnancy and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) and on contraceptives to help prevent unplanned pregnancy.

Meanwhile, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Gift Malunga assured the Government and Zambia of the UN`s support towards ending adolescent pregnancies in the Country.

And giving a vote of thanks on behalf of her fellow children Sithembile Mwale thanked the government and other stakeholders for their efforts towards ending adolescent pregnancies in Zambia, which she described as an urgent issue which must be addressed.

Also present at the event was Youth, Sport and Art Minister Elvis Nkandu, British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley and other various stakeholders.