Angry Kabobola residents yesterday allegedly punctured the tyres of a parked Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) vehicle as officers raided some homes where cannabis was being sold.

The officers, led by Officer in Charge, Patson Chiwala, were shocked to find their vehicle tyres deflated by angry residents who disappeared after puncturing all the four tyres with sharp instruments.

The development forced Mr Chiwala to hire a private car to transport two suspects who were apprehended for trafficking in cannabis to Mazabuka Police Station.

Others had to remain to guard the vehicle as he took the suspects to the Police Station and brought a rescue vehicle to tow the government vehicle to a garage where it was worked on.

Meanwhile, Mr Chiwala and other DEC officers last evening arrested a woman for trafficking in illicit drugs. This was after the tryes of the vehicle had been mended.

And Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba, said the hostility to DEC officers among residents over the arrests of people trafficking in cannabis would not be tolerated by the government.

Mr Hamaamba said the hostility signifies the impact the Drug Enforcement Commission has made in the district.

Over the weekend, Mr Hamaamba expressed worry at the high proportion of cannabis cultivation in the district and urged DEC to declare war against illicit drug dealers.

Mr Hamammba said the number of people arrested and sent to jail for trafficking in psychotrophic drugs is worrying.

ZANIS

About K200 million worth of steel bridge components bought from China by government to construct 30 bridges in Mongu were last week damaged when fire swept through the store room.

The fire which swept through the Consolidated Construction Company (CCC) camp on Thursday night damaged the equipment after a security guard allegedly attempted to harvest honey near the store room.

Works and Supply Permanent Secretary, Bizwayo Nkunika who toured the CCC Camp expressed sadness at the development.

Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA), acquired the steel bridge components at K53 billion for the construction of bridges in the flood plains on the Mongu-Kalabo road.

CCC was commissioned by government to undertake works on the Mongu-Kalabo road in 2002 and has since left and handed over the camp to government through the office of the Permanent Secretary (PS) in Western Province.

Colonel Nkunika said the steel bridge components were very expensive adding that it was unfortunate that some of them got burnt.
He said a technical committee would be constituted to launch an inquiry into the matter.

Colonel Nkunika said once launched, the inquiry will help government safeguard the equipment in future and also assist in knowing who is responsible for the fire.

Meanwhile, RDA Board Chairperson, Walusiku Lisulo said such an accident should not be allowed to re-occur.
Mr Lisulo further called for increased and enhanced security at the CCC camp in order to avoid similar accidents in future.

The security guard who allegedly started the fire was currently in police custody pending investigations in the matter.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has arrived in the Kingdom of Swaziland for a three-day State Visit.

President Banda who arrived at about 11:40 hours at Matsapha International Airport in Manzini, was welcomed by His Majesty King Mswati the third, Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini, Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister Lutfo Dlamini and senior government officials from the host country.

Mr Banda is accompanied by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, his special guest Prof. Patrick Mvunga and senior government officials.

Upon arrival, President Banda was given a 21 gun salute before inspecting a guard of Honour mounted by the Royal Guard Battalion.
Several Swazi cultural dance groups including the Zambian community living in Swaziland also welcomed the president at the airport.

According to the programme released by the Kingdom, the president will this afternoon pay a courtesy call on her royal majesty the Queen Mother Indlovukazi at her palace.

President Banda will then pay another courtesy call on his majesty King Mswati the third at Lozitha Palace.
Mr Banda will later attend a Banquet hosted for him by King Mswati.

Meanwhile, Swazi Prime Minister, Sibusiso Dlamini will tomorrow pay a courtesy call on President Banda at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini.

And President Banda will tomorrow grace the official opening of the Swaziland International Trade Fair at the Muvuso International Trade Fair Grounds in Manzini.

On Sunday, President Banda will witness the annual Reed dance traditional ceremony before leaving Swaziland.
ZANIS

Mazabuka Central ward councillor, Lloyd Buumba says he has no regrets for beating up an accounts officer at Mazabuka Municipal Council who delayed in issuing him a K2 million cheque because he needed money to save the life of his grandchild.

Mr Buumba told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that the beating resulted in the accounts officer, Christopher Tembo, paying him cash as directed by the Director of Finance.

He said he reacted violently just like any other citizen would because he badly needed money to buy milk for a day old baby and save its life.

“I was made to wait for the cheque from morning up to the time the bank closed and before that I told them that my daughter had delivered and the hospital advised that I buy milk but since morning the baby had been waiting for milk. So what do you expect me to have done apart from venting my anger on the young man?” Mr Buumba asked.

Mr Buumba said it is sad that the accounts officer only responded after being beaten.
He warned that he will not tolerate indiscipline, arrogance and lack of respect for retirees by council staff.

Mr Buumba also said demands by unionised workers that disciplinary action be taken against him do not hold water.

But Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) branch chairperson, Mushiba Crinco, maintained that disciplinary action be taken against him for breaching the councillors’ code of conduct.

Mr Mushiba said 53 unionised workers at the local authority have so far petitioned Mayor, Shaderick Mwiinga to take action against Mr Buumba.

He said it is unfortunate that the councillor still believes in resolving problems through fighting instead of approaching issues in a civilised manner.
Mr Mushiba said his union is just awaiting a response from Mayor Mwiinga after which the workers will chart the way forward.

Last April, Buumba won a case in which he had sued the council for wrongful dismissal in the Industrial Relations Court. The court ruled that he be re-instated and paid all his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits since he had reached the retirement age.

ZANIS

Education Minister Dora Siliya has said there is need for the nation to have a significant mass of educated people for the country to attain most of its goals.

Ms Siliya says the country needs educated citizens and for this to be achieved there is need to review the existing policies that have been in place for the past 30 years.

She said it was for this reason that her ministry has gone on an ambitious programme to expand infrastructure development in order to enhance the enrollment and retention of children in schools especially the girl child.

Ms Siliya was speaking in Lusaka today during the launch of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)’s Credit Suisse Program and the presentation of 48 computers to six of the 15 schools CAMFED sponsors.

CAMFED an international organization established in 2001 operates in rural areas in five African countries and supports girls in upper primary school and meets all direct costs of secondary education.

In Zambia CAMFED is currently operating in Western, Luapula and Northern Provinces and is in 22 districts of these provinces.

Ms Siliya thanked CAMFED for supplementing government’s efforts in the provision of quality education in the country.
She said her ministry was looking at ways of embracing technology to enhance the delivery of quality education.

She said technology plays a vital role in shaping the socio-economic landscape of any nation hence the need to make technology accessible to every child in the country.

And speaking earlier, CAMFED Board Chairperson, Esther Sinkala said CAMFED’s programme has grown significantly from the time it was established in 2001.

Ms Sinkala said CAMFED is no longer giving bursaries and grants alone, but also addressing the quality of teaching and learning in its partner schools.

She said the Credit Suisse Programme is one of the programmes that will address quality delivery in the education sector.

ZANIS

A Combined team of State,Prisons and Council Police in Mazabuka yesterday swung into action and rounded up 20 ‘Kachasu’ distillers, among them prominent businessmen who are currently detained at Mazabuka police station cells.

Some 12,600 litres of the illicit beverage were seized from Kachasu distillers in Zambia, Nakambala and Kabobola townships.

And the operation, that involved 48 security officers, was almost thwarted when an elderly woman in her 60s from Kabobola township, dared police officers to arrest her if they were brave enough.[quote]

The identified woman, who resisted arrest, threatened to bewitch any officer who would lift her, turning security officers into spectators for one and half hours.

The old woman, who has been in the business of selling ‘Kachasu’ for 25 years, only handed herself to police after a middle aged woman requested her to stand up and accept the arrest.

Meanwhile, Mazabuka Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu, says the clamp down on people producing illicit liquor will continue until the town is rid of illicit alcholo.

He said the council is concerned with the health of the residents, especially that illicit distillers used molasses, a by-product of sugar, to produce the illicit spirit.

Mr Chingangu said the huge number of security officers was meant to thwart any violence against the security officers given the previous experience in which Kachasu distillers and traders turned violent against them.

He said he has directed police to ensure all the detainees paid K450,000 before they are released from detention and prosecute those that will fail to pay the penalty fees.

He urged Zambia Sugar Company to help the local authority by refusing to sell molasses to residents in 20 litre containers.

Efforts by ZANIS to get a comment from Zambia Sugar Corporate Affairs Manager, Lovemore Sievu, failed as he was reportedly out of the country on official duties.

ZANIS