A 30-year-old mentally ill man of Muchimba village in chief Musungwa’s chiefdom has set ablaze a teacher’s house at Shikabunga Basic School destroying personal property worth K17 million and other government school documents.

A ZANIS crew which rushed to the scene, found the house gutted and the owner, Chompia Mbawa watching helplessly.

Mr Mbawa told ZANIS that 30 year old Gerald Muchimba a mentally ill person walked to his house yesterday as he was resting and told him that he wanted to burn his house.
“This man came to my house and told me he wants to burn my house. I was actually in my house resting and just saw smoke entering my house and when I got out I, found flames on the roof of my grass- thatched house” he said.

“The only things I have managed to save are my life, my National Registration card and my ATM Card. My blankets, clothes, college certificates, confirmation letters , pupils’ books, 15x50kgs of white maize and 32x50Kgs of shelled groundnuts have all been burnt” he said.

Mr. Mbawa said being the only teacher at the school, he was the custodian of all government documents for the school including pupils’ books.

“There is no office at this school so I keep all the necessary documents in the house and all have been burnt” he said.

He said that he informed the Parents Teachers Association Chairperson and the village headman about the insane man who has been camping at a nearby abandoned house at the Shikabunga Basic School.

Mr. Mbawa said that the insane man’s presence at the school has scared school children and kept them from attending lessons for fear of being attacked by him.

“My pupils have stopped coming to school because they fear of being attacked by this man. We have reported this matter to local community leaders but nothing has been done” he said.

And some villagers interviewed separately told ZANIS that Gerald was last week taken to Namwala Hospital were he was diagnosed to be mentally disturbed and was given some prescription drugs to be taken under strict supervision by the father.

“We are surprised why his father that was given responsibility to be keeping an eye on this man has let him move on his own. He was told to take him back to hospital if the situation worsened” said one villager.

Meanwhile Gerald Muchimba has been arrested and detained at Itezhi-tezhi police station.

ANIS

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) in Solwezi has arrested a Senior Solwezi Council official for fraudulent activities involving K3.5million.

ACC spokesperson Timothy Moono said in a release to ZANIS today, that Nephan Kamwandi, Deputy Director of Housing and Planning at the Council, was arrested by the ACC for one count of obtaining pecuniary advantage and one count of uttering false documents.

In the first count, Kamwandi has been charged for obtaining pecuniary advantage contrary to Section 309a of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on dates unknown but between 1st February 2007 and 31st December 2007 at Solwezi in the Solwezi District of the North Western Province with intent to defraud, obtained K3,500,000 from Sharon Makina by falsely pretending that he did own land in Saviye Area when in fact not.

In the second count, Kamwandi has been charged for uttering false documents contrary to Section 352 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on dates unknown but between 1st February 2007 and 31st March 2008 at Solwezi in the Solwezi District of the North Western Province of the Republic of Zambia, knowingly and fraudulently uttered two application forms for a plot in Solwezi and a building site plan purporting to be documents for Sharon Makina when in fact not.

Kamwandi has been released on bond in his own recognizance and will appear in the Solwezi Subordinate Court on 10th August 2009.
ZANIS

Kasama mayor, Fidelis Chishoma, has warned street vendors who sell their merchandise after 16. 00 hours on streets to stop or face prosecution once caught.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama, Chishoma said his office would not tolerate any vendor contravening Council by-laws.

Mr Chishoma added that his council, in collaboration with state police, is on the alert to curb street vending in Kasama township in support to the Keep Zambia clean campaign.

The mayor also said Kasama could only be clean if street vendors comply with council by-laws as the local authority has enough places in markets to accommodate the vendors.

He also added that anyone found breaking Council by-laws would be prosecuted and have his or her items confiscated.

Mr Chishoma has, however, commended former vendors who have accepted to conduct business at designated places in markets which has added to a clean environment in the township.

He urged the former street vendors at Kasama Town Center Market to be patient as it takes time for people to know the market for sales to pick up.

Mr Chishoma added that visitors and Kasama residents deserve a clean and decent environment in the district as a dirty town is a reservoir of diseases.

The mayor has called on the business community to assist the council to keep Kasama Clean and improve the outlook of their trading areas to make Kasama a beautiful town.

He disclosed that his council would soon meet with business organisations and stakeholders to review how business places could be kept clean.

ZANIS

The District Education Board Secretary’s (DEBS) office in Nchelenge in Luapula Province has received K1.350 billion for infrastructural development of 45 classrooms for 17 schools in the district.

Acting Planning Officer, Daniel Makomena, told ZANIS in an interview in Nchelenge when a joint evaluation team from UNICEF and the Ministry of Education (MoE) toured an integrated water and sanitation program being implemented by Africare in selected schools in Mansa and Nchelenge districts.

Mr Makomena explained that the funds the DEBs received were meant for construction of one by three classroom blocks at four new sites and an addition of classrooms at 13 schools in Nchelenge district.

Mr Makomena added that four staff houses would also be constructed at three new schools which were built last year, but pointed out that funds have not been received for construction of these structures although it was already budgeted for.

He further said that if materials were on site in good time, works would be completed before the onset of the next rainy season and the DEBS’ office faced the challenge of the community not willing to contribute the 25 per cent of materials that they are required to contribute towards the project.

And head teacher for Shimulundu Basic School, Aaron Tende, said that the staff was grateful with the work Africare was doing in improving the welfare of pupils and the community in terms of water and sanitation.

Mr Tende said that the school was happy that it was among the schools that have been identified adding that toilets had already been constructed.

The head teacher said that staff and pupils have been equipped with teaching skills to improve nutrition and the importance of putting up proper toilets and good hygiene.

He explained that pupils have received balls, adding that before the games start pupils begin by performing educational drama on the importance water and sanitation for the community to adopt the culture of cleanliness.

He, however, said that the school was understaffed as it had eight members of staff instead of 19 which is the official establishment, adding that the school has a total number of 678 pupils from grades one to nine.

Meanwhile, government has commended UNICEF and Africare for the work they were doing in improving water and sanitation in rural schools.

Luapula Province Minister, Boniface Kawimbe, said government appreciated the support rendered to it by the donor community and urged the organisation to continue with programs of water and sanitation.

Dr Kawimbe said that the work that Africare was doing should be emulated by other organisations because it bordered on improving not only education but also the health and agriculture sectors in schools.

ZANIS

A stone crusher of Kamushanga compound in Kabwe district was instantly killed yesterday when the pit he was digging collapsed on him.

Japhet Zimba, 39, was earlier in the morning seen keeping warm with friends by the fire at the pit before he met his fate around 09:30 hours.

Eye witnesses found at the scene described the death of their colleague as sad and called on government to look into the plight of disadvantaged people in the nation.

And Kamushanga Resident Development Committee (RDC) Chairperson, Alfred Kabango, lamented that as long as people in the area continue to search for stones they would remain at risk of being buried alive.

Mr Kabango said the RDC and Kabwe Municipal Council officials last week cautioned the stone crushers over the illegal activities and dangers of creating tunnels when looking for stones to crush and later sell.

Police have since retrieved the body and taken it to Kabwe General Hospital mortuary awaiting burial.
ZANIS

Senior Chief Puta of the Bwile people of Chiengi district of Luapula province has invited President Rupiah Banda to grace this year’s Ubwilile traditional ceremony which falls on August 8, 2009.

Senior Chief Puta extended the invitation through Luapula Province Minister, Boniface Kawimbe, on Sunday when he visited his palace to check on preparatory works for the ceremony.

The senior chief noted that traditional ceremonies were of great importance to the economic drive of the nation because they promoted domestic tourism which brought local people together.

He said his people appreciated the support that government rendered to ceremonies in ensuring that they were a success.

He added that the Bwile people were also thankful for the support that the private sector has been giving to the ceremony, adding that the local people were working hard to ensure that the ceremony was a success.

Chief Puta said the ceremony’s total budget was K150 million and that local people had so far contributed about K45 million in the form of material and labour.

He said the private companies that have been requested to assist in the preparations of the Ubwilile ceremony have not yet responded, but hoped that they would assist the people of Chiengi to make the ceremony a success.

And Dr Kawimbe told Chief Puta that he would take the invitation message to President Banda.
ZANIS

The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has condemned recent statements by Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata, on Republican President, Rupiah Banda.

Party National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Mr Sata’s statements that Mr Banda is the best liar, are gravely unprofessional.

Mr Sata yesterday charged that President Rupiah Banda is lying over the mobile hospitals and deserves a medal for being the best liar the country has ever had for a President.

Dr. Kalumba said he is disappointed that a man at his level can reduce himself to insulting a fellow Zambian and Head of State for that matter.
He pointed out that Mr Sata as president of a political party is considered as a role model for his members but that he has failed to exhibit leadership qualities.

Dr Kalumba said Mr Sata was not in order to describe the Republican President in the manner he did.
He explained that in politics it is important to respect and acknowledge that there are different beliefs and cultures in any given society.

Dr Kalumba said Mr Sata has never been a good example to the young generation because of his hard language that tends to injure personalities in the nation.

He accused Mr Sata of not bringing out real issues to help build the nation, adding that he is in the habit of condemning the government of the day.

Dr. Kalumba has further advised the Republican President not to respond to the comments by Sata.
ZANIS