United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema says it is wrong for people to politicise the death of any person as has been the case with late Mpulungu MMD member of Parliament (MP) Lameck Chibombamilimo.

Mr Hichilema said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that people should put politics aside and concentrate on mourning their departed brother instead of engaging in political talk when the bereaved family is still bearing the burden of the loss of their dear father and husband.

“You know we are mourning our friend Chibombamilimo and that is our call. We should ensure that we mourn with the family and remember Mr Chibombamilimo for the contribution he made to the people of Mpulungu,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said politicising the death of any person is unfortunate and should be condemned by all well meaning Zambians.

The UPND leader also condemned some youths who allegedly beat up Chilanga MP Ng’andu Magande on Thursday night at the late MP’s funeral in Kabulonga.

[pullquote]“You know we are mourning our friend Chibombamilimo and that is our call. We should ensure that we mourn with the family and remember Mr Chibombamilimo for the contribution he made to the people of Mpulungu,” he said.[/pullquote]
And Senior Chief Tafuna of the Lungu people in Northern Province said during the burial of Mr Chibombamilimo that all Lungu and Mambwe chiefs are disappointed with the behaviour of some political leaders who have been making statements aimed at gaining political capital out of the death of Mr Chibombamilimo.

The traditional ruler said this through a member of the Lungu Royal Establishment, Griever Sikasote.
Family spokesperson Titus Kauzi expressed disappointment that some political party members were engaging in fights as other people mourned Mr Chibombamilimo.

Mr Kauzi said Mr Chibombamilimo’s family will be forced to report perpetrators of violence to Government law enforcement wings so that the law could take its course.

On Thursday, Chief Zombe of the Lungu people directed PF leader Michael Sata to immediately stop commenting on the death of Mr Chibombamilimo because it was barbaric and untraditional.

Speaking on behalf of all Lungu and Mambwe chiefs, Chief Zombe told journalists that it was unfortunate that some politicians had taken advantage of the death of Mr Chibombamilimo to gain political mileage.

“It is sad to see people start attacking each other after the death of a nephew of the Lungu people and grand son of Mambwes. On behalf of all the Lungu and Mambwe chiefs, I am commanding that such politicians stop commenting on the death of our son immediately,” he said.

Chief Zombe, who is a nephew of Mr Chibombamilimo, also said the Lungu and Mambwe traditional rulers were disappointed that PF cadres led by Mr Sata caused confusion at Lusaka International Airport on Wednesday upon the arrival of Mr Chibombamilimo’s body from India.

“This is very untraditional and unethical. This system of doing politics over the death of someone is barbaric and should be stopped,” he said.

Chief Zombe said there is also a clause in the constitution that requires people to respect the dead.

The traditional ruler, who was representing Lungu and Mambwe chiefs at Mr Chibombamilimo’s funeral, said people who were politicising the death of the MP were dividing the traditional leadership among the Lungu and Mambwe people.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

The Ndola Magistrate Court has granted former Defence Minster George Mpombo a bail of K2 million and three working sureties.

ZANIS Ndola reports that in a case heard in Chambers, Magistrate Kelvin Limbani granted the former Defence Minster after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence teams.

“I have considered the application before me and the filled documents, indeed bail is a constitutional right that is granted at the discretion of the court, after considering all the circumstances of the case and the fact that there is no objection from the state, I shall therefore grant the convict bail under the following circumstances, cash bail of 2 million and he shall provide three working sureties in their own recognisance,”he said.

And in part the defence team submission read that the record showed that the notice of appeal against the sentence had been filled and suggested that the repellent be admitted to bail on grounds that the 60 days imposed sentence was short and that by the time the high court would hear the appeal and render the judgment the accused would have already served the custodial sentence.

And in reply state prosecutor Lawrence Mudednda said the sate appreciated the fact that bail was a constitutional right and left the decision to the court.

“We have received the summon of cause and notice of appeal, we appreciate that bail is a constitutional right and therefore leave that decision to the court to decide,” he said.

Mr. Mpombo was on Monday 9th August 2010 sentenced to 60 Days simple imprisonment and fined K 4 million for bouncing a cheque amounting to K10 million.

ZANIS

Ministry of Education Director of Standards and Curriculum has challenged Mathematics, Science and Technology teachers in the country to make the three subjects more appealing and enjoyable to their pupils.

Florence Mfula said at the 2010 National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists ((JETS) fair held at Hillcrest National Technical High School in Livingstone that the trend would assist in eradicating of the myth that the three subjects are difficult and are for the tough tested.

Mrs Mfula said that JETS should design tailor made programmes for the colleges of education for the trainee teachers to be introduced to JETS early on in their training.

She emphasized that Mathematics is important in terms of producing learners with problem solving and analytical skills that ultimately create a productive workforce and thereby contributing to the economic and healthy growth of the Zambian population.

Mr Mfula noted that JETS has a number of challenges, the major ones being publicity and lack of exposure for of prize winning projects.

And at the same function National JETS Coordinator and Dean, school of Engineering at the University of Zambia, Dr. Zebedia Phiri announced the selection of three former grade 12 and JETS participants from Zambia are scheduled to attend the international baccalaureate course early next month.

Dr Phiri said that the selected three are Joseph Zimba (formerly Chamboli High School – Copperbelt Jets region), Jeff Makungu( formerly Samfya high school, luapula JETS region) and Kondwelani Nthaka(formerly hillcrest high school, Southern JETS region).

[ ZANIS ]

A guard aged between 63 and 65 years old, was on Wednesday night killed in cold blood by suspected thieves in Kabwe.

Confirming the development to ZANIS in Kabwe today, Central division police commander Simon Mpande named the deceased as Yohane Tonga of Kamakuti area.

Mr Mpande said the security guard was allegedly fast asleep at a shop he was guarding at railway market he was attacked because he was discovered dead after uncovering the body.

He explained that the body was discovered by another guard, Kandolo Zulu who was also guarding another shop within the premises.

He said the deceased old guard’s body had deep head injuries especially on the left side and the victim’s body is lying in Kabwe General Hospital (KGP) mortuary.

The owner of the shop, Rodgers Zimba, expressed shock and wondered what the thieves wanted because they did not pick anything from the shop.

Mr Zimba told ZANIS at the scene that a check in the morning discovered that the thieves had broken into his shop but to his surprise, they left everything intact though they moved a few items here and there.

He said it was unfortunate that Tonga was killed and appealed to the police to intensify their investigate to ensure the culprits were brought to book.

[ ZANIS ]