Robert “Bob” Finck, a 51-year-old missions volunteer from Fellowship Community Church in Salem, Va., was killed early Monday morning, Aug. 9, in an automobile accident in Zambia, west of the capital city of Lusaka.

International Mission Board missionary Melissa Frady of Tennessee, accompanied by church team leader Tim Rogers, was driving Finck to a hospital after he reported experiencing severe kidney stone pain. The truck went off the road in Kafue National Park. Finck was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. Frady and Rogers received bruises and scrapes.

The accident occurred about 2 a.m. Monday in a remote area of the park. Rogers stayed at the scene, while Frady walked along the road until she flagged down a driver to take her toward Lusaka, where she was able to pick up a cell phone signal and call for help.

Finck, Rogers and five other volunteers from Fellowship Community Church arrived in Zambia Aug. 6 and planned to stay until Aug. 14 to lead a Bible conference and minister to youth and children. They were about five hours from the capital when Finck asked to be taken to the hospital.

One of the team members reported over the weekend that three local people had made decisions to accept Christ as Savior. Fellowship Community Church, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary Aug. 11, was planning to have the Zambia team call in to report on their mission trip during the special service.

Stephanie Painter, the church’s director of missions, described Finck as passionate about missions and heavily involved in local and overseas ministry projects.

“He was very passionate about Zambia,” said Painter, noting that this was his third trip to the country. “He was very involved. Sometimes he’d come in the office and we’d share mission trip stories.

“He was always stepping up to the plate,” she added. “He was a special guy…. Everything about him was special.”

Finck is survived by his wife, Sandi, and three children — Amanda, 21; Brenna, 16; and Hunter, 10. Funeral arrangements are pending.
–30–
Reported by the communications staff of the International Mission Board.

[Baptist Press]

Property worth millions of kwacha was lost when an inferno left most occupants of Masase flats in Kalulushi in a perplexed state.

Most of the occupants who were found making frantic efforts to save their property and lives of their family members were infuriated by the late arrival of the fire brigade engine which only came after seven blocks had been gutted by the mysterious fire.

One of the victims , Mrs. Katie Lumbwe told ZANIS that had the fire engine arrived on time , most of the occupants’ property would have been saved.

No injuries or death were recorded from the inferno by press time.

Mrs Lumbwe said the mysterious fire started so fast saying like her fellow occupants, she too was choked by heavy fumes saying by the time she awoke her entire flat was polluted with smoke which was coming from the ceiling board.

The shocked tenant said that when her family was coming out of the house they found their living room curtains on fire.

Mrs Lumbwe said it was not easy for them to switch off the fire as they do not have water in the night.

She complained that the fire brigade came late despite being told hence no household or clothes were taken away from the flats.

Another tenant, Prudence Kapela said she did not know how the fire started but thought it could have been caused by the short circuit and that no one had been injured.

A check by ZANIS found all the seven blocks burnt and only one Mrs Ketty Mbwe managed to get her fridge out.

Efforts to get the fire personnel proved futile at press time.

[ ZANIS ]

Zambia Police Service has re-introduced the old police uniform in order to distinguish its officers from others from private security firms.

Inspector of Police (IG) Francis Kabonde disclosed this at a pass out parade at Kamfinsa in Kitwe today.

And Mr. Kabonde has since asked private security firms that are using similar uniform to the one the police was using to change their uniform to avoid being mistaken for police officers.

Mr. Kabonde warned security firms against using similar uniforms similar to those used by police officers to avoid being mistaken as police officers in confrontations situations with armed bandits or during maintenance of public disorder.

He said the new uniforms will distinguish police officers from other security officers from private firms.

ZANIS Reports that the pass out parade marked the return to the use of the navy blue combat and barat for mobile police unit.

Previously officers had a green combat commonly known as the paramilitary uniform.

ZANIS

Government has described the late former Deputy Minister of Energy, Lameck Chibombamilimo, as a great contributor to democracy.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, told journalists in Lusaka today that the Government was grieved about the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo, who was also Mpulungu MMD Member of Parliament.

Mr. Chibombamilimo 49, died in Apollo hospital in New Delhi, India this morning (around 02:00 hours) after suffering kidney complications.

He was evacuated to India last month where he was to undergo a kidney transplant.

“As government we are very grieved that one of our Members of Parliament has passed on. He was a great contributor to democracy,” he said.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Government was making arrangements to have the late Mr. Chibombamilimo’s body, transported back to Zambia.

He said Government will work with Parliament for burial arrangements.

He has since conveyed condolences to the late Mr. Chibombamilimo’s family and the entire Mpulungu constituency.

And MMD Spokesperson, Dora Siliya also confirmed the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo and said the party will however give more details on the MPs death once more information was availed.

“Yes I can confirm to you that Mr. Chibombamilimo, who was our MP (MMD), has died this morning in India where he was admitted” she said.

She said the MMD as a party is saddened with the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo.

Ms. Siliya has since sent a message of condolences to the family of the late Mr. Chibombamilimo.

Mr. Chibombamilimo was elected to Parliament in 2006 under the MMD ticket and served as Provincial Minster for Northern Province and also as Energy Deputy Minister before he was fired.

ZANIS

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has welcomed changes to the police command on the Copperbelt, saying they should not have allowed Vice-President George Kunda and suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres to use the same route during the Chifubu parliamentary by-election campaigns.

Mr Banda said yesterday that the incident in Ndola last week where some suspected PF cadres blocked the vice-president’s motorcade could have been avoided if it was not for laxity on the part of the police.

He wondered why the police allowed Mr Kunda and opposition cadres to use the same route.

“Don’t you think that’s good enough a reason? Why have a meeting at the same place and allow the vice-president to be on the same route, that could have been avoided,” Mr Banda said in response to a question from journalists.

He was speaking at City Airport in Lusaka upon his arrival from Chipata.

Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde at the weekend made changes to the police service high command, and shifted Copperbelt Province chief Antoneil Mutentwa to Lusaka where he would be director of medical services.

He takes over from Martin Malama who has been appointed Copperbelt Province police chief.

[pullquote]Meanwhile, President Banda refused to comment on PF president Michael Sata’s statement that he had secured former Defence minister George Mpombo’s conviction as reported in the Sunday Post because the matter was in court[/pullquote].

Sources in the Zambia Police Service said there were several other changes expected to be made soon.

The president was welcomed at the airport by Mr Kunda, Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma and Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa.

He was accompanied to Chipata by Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala and Science, Technology and Vocational Training Deputy Minister, Lameck Mangani.

Meanwhile, President Banda refused to comment on PF president Michael Sata’s statement that he had secured former Defence minister George Mpombo’s conviction as reported in the Sunday Post because the matter was in court.

[Times of Zambia]

He said in Lusaka yesterday that promoting violence among young people showed that the country was diverting from the norms and values of a Christian nation.

Archbishop Milingo, who was speaking in Lusaka when he ordained five bishops from Jehovah’s Kingdom Assemblies Church, said the custom by some opposition political party leaders to insult those in authority was worrying and should be brought to an end.

Archbishop Milingo said Zambians should not allow divisions to rock the country and called on the people to live by the golden motto of ‘One Zambia, One Nation.’

And Archbishop Milingo urged the newly-ordained bishops to serve God and the people with sincerity.

Bishops Council of Zambia director-general Isaac Chabwera in his homily said the office of bishop called for sacrifice.

Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Moses Muteteka said once one accepted the office of bishop, they were expected to devote time to preaching the Gospel and to unite the people.
[ Times of Zambia ]

And the Judiciary Department has said those accusing President Rupiah Banda of being behind the conviction of Kafulafuta Member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo should provide evidence and avoid making wild allegations.

Mr Lungu said in Lusaka yesterday that it was not right for anybody to comment on Mr Mpombo’s case because it had not been disposed of.

He wondered why the case had generated debates and accusations when it was still in court.

“This is what I have said before and I will continue saying, commenting on matters still in court is prejudicial and people should desist from this culture.

“The Mpombo case has not yet been disposed of and it is not right for people to continue commenting on it,” he said.

Mr Lungu said the best time to comment on any matter was when it had been concluded and that any comments should have a sound basis.
[pullquote]“The Mpombo case has not yet been disposed of and it is not right for people to continue commenting on it,” he said[/pullquote]
Judiciary Department public relations officer, Terry Musonda said yesterday it was sad that the civil society and some politicians always wanted to involve the president in selected convictions and judgments even when they knew that the judiciary operated under stipulated laws.

He said in an interview in Lusaka that Mr Mpombo’s was purely a court case and not political in any way.

“We all understand that people are entitled to their own opinions especially on the outcome of court cases, and where they have evidence on any allegations let them provide it because how else will society believe them if they just continue speaking from without,” he said.

Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Kelvin Limbani on Friday convicted Mr Mpombo on one count of issuing a cheque of K10 million on an insufficiently-funded account and sentencing is expected to take place today.

Meanwhile, PF Luapula MP Peter Machungwa has said it is unfair to attribute all professional decisions Government institutions make to President Banda.

Dr Machungwa described Mr Sata’s assertions that President Banda had influenced Mr Mpombo’s conviction as shallow politicking and called for the respect of the judiciary.

And former National Energy and Allied Workers Union secretary general, Yotam Mtayachalo advised Mr Sata to stop dragging the judiciary into politics.
[ Times of Zambia ]