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A 52-year old man has been committed to the High Court for sentencing by the Chadiza Magistrate’s Court after convicting him of indecently assaulting four young girls he was taking in baptism lessons.
Chadiza Magistrate Billy Milanzi convicted Lyson Mvula, a bricklayer of Kamwala compound in Chadiza, on four counts of indecent assault contrary to Section 137 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that on a date unknown but between December 1 and 31, 2008, Mvula indecently assaulted the four girls.
The four victims aged between nine and ten years had testified earlier how Mvula would tell them to remain behind for extra lessons after each baptism class for a named church.
Mvula would then invite the girls inside his house and force them to fondle his manhood before having canal knowledge of the four.
The girls told the court that Mvula used a warm cloth to wipe off semen from their genitals after the sexual act.
He would then give the girls fritters and fruits and a warning never to tell anyone as they would die mysteriously if they did.
In convicting Mvula, Magistrate Milanzi noted that it was unfortunate that men of God, whom society looks up to for guidance and protection, were now becoming predators.
Magistrate Milanzi also said parents should draw lessons from Mvula’s conviction and protect their children from falling victims to individuals like him.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Director of Industry Director Siazonga Siakalenge says the upcoming Multi Facility Economic Zones ( MFEZ) in Zambia could benefit substantially from regional efforts to develop transport infrastructure.
Mr Siakalenge, said once fully developed, the MFEZ would depend on a good regional infrastructure for the export and import of goods.
He told ZANIS in an interview, today, that the actual development of the Lusaka South Economic Zone is expected to commence as soon as the Master plan is submitted.
He said government has in this year’s National Budget allocated K 30 billion towards the development of a 1.8 kilometer road from State Lodge to the Lusaka South economic zone.
Meanwhile, The Cross Border Traders Association (CBTA ) has welcomed Monday’s North-South Corridor Donor Pledging Conference aimed at finding ways of mobilizing resources for infrastructure development in east and southern Africa.
CBTA Acting Secretary General, Tadeo Taruviga, said cross border traders are optimistic that the conference would succeed in helping member countries improve transport infrastructure to enhance regional trade along the North-South Corridor.
Mr Taruviga also hoped that the conference will also mobilize resources towards the development of trade centres at border points as a measure of encouraging cross border trade.
Zambia will next Monday host a high level Conference on regional infrastructure development, which would be attended by Four Presidents and several dignitaries from international financial institutions, the private sector and donor agencies.
President, Rupiah Banda, would be joined by South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe, Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame at the conference.
The conference is part of the join COMESA-SADC-EAC initiative aimed at securing aide-for-trade for infrastructure development along the Corridor which spans across eight countries
The European union (EU) has transferred K35 billion project funds to the Zambian Government to fund road rehabilitation in rural areas.
Delegation of the European Union in Zambia,Francesca Di Mauro, announced the development in a press release made available to ZANIS, today.
Ms. Di Mauro said that the EU has transferred an estimated five million Euros (approximately K35 billion) to the Treasury to finance the rehabilitation and maintenance of roads in rural areas.
She said the release of the money follows the memorandum of understanding between the European Union EU and the Zambian Government.
Ms.Mauro said the funds are a balance from the loan facility of the just ended mining sector diversification programme funded by the EU.
Head of the EU delegation in Zambia, Derek Fee said he was pleased that the money has been transferred to GRZ treasury Account.
Mr. Fee said the funds would be channeled through the National Road fund Agency (NRFA), and the Road Development Agency (RDA) who will suggest roads for rehabilitation or maintenance.
A 21-year old man of Chiwaya village in Kapiri-Mposhi has been killed by two stray elephants.
Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) Officer-In-Charge, Paul Kashoti, confirmed the incident to ZANIS in an interview this morning.
Mr Kashoti said the elephants came from Luano village via Mashata route where they had been displaced due to excessive poaching.
He said the deceased, identified as Katongowe Chiwaya, was a grade nine pupil at one of the schools in Chiwaya village and was attacked on his way from school while other villages managed to escape.
Mr Kashoti said he and other ZAWA officers went to the scene and where but could not find the elephants.
He said according to the footprints the elephants had returned to the valley but unfortunately his office received a message from Likumbi village indicating that the elephants were in that village and are heading towards Mkushi district.
The Officer-In-Charge has since appealed to the people in the nearby villages to move in groups and avoid loitering carelessly until the situation is settled.
He further warned the villagers against poaching, saying excessive poaching led to displacement of animals.
VICE-President George Kunda says government is reviewing the process of accessing the Citizenship Economic Empowerment Fund (CEEF).
And the Vice-President said it was saddening and unfortunate if there were people that were trying to shun the national indaba.
Speaking when he made a stop over at Livingstone International Airport from Western Province where he had gone to check on the flood situation, Mr Kunda said government was aware of the difficulties many people faced in accessing the CEEF funds.
”We know there are some difficulties in accessing the CEEF funds and where there are difficulties, we are reviewing those conditions,” he said.
Mr Kunda said he had gone to Western Province not only to check on the flood situation but also to sensitise people on the importance of accessing the CEEF fund.
He said the fund was available to the citizens to enable them contribute to the development of the country as well as to enable them contribute to wealth creation as the only way of alleviating poverty.
The Vice-President also said the traditional rulers in Western Province were ready to work with government in eliminating poverty.
Mr Kunda said the ruling MMD will concentrate on delivering to the Zambian people instead of engaging in petty politics.
And Mr Kunda said the MMD was ready to go to the national indaba adding that it was saddening and unfortunate if there were people trying to shun the indaba.
”Ourselves we are ready to go to the indaba and find solutions to the global economic crisis. We have been devastated by floods and we need schools and clinics,” he said.
He said there was very little time to develop the country and noted that government was doing a lot hence the need for government officials to get to people and explain to them what developmental programmes government had put in place for people.
The Vice-President who was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Brian Chituwo said government wants to alleviate poverty by attracting investors to the country.
And Mr Kunda also said government was working at reviewing the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) in order to make it more effective and benefit more people.
Speaking earlier, Southern Province MMD Chairman Solomon Muzyamba condemned those that had decided to shun the national indaba.
Mr Muzyamba said it was a well known fact that even powerful economies world over were meeting with a view to come out of the mes.
He described those who have decided to shun the indaba as armchair critics who were unpatriotic but were calling themselves as leaders.
Mr Muzyamba said it was unfortunate that when called upon, such leaders decided to shy away from important meeting were they are given an opportunity to contribute.
He called on those that were patriotic enough to come out and share ideas with government at the indaba.
”The world over, governments are consulting and the MMD has come up with the indaba which is a good thing. The indaba is aimed at finding a way out of the miseries affecting the people of Zambia and it is a shame that armchair critics have decided to stay away from the indaba,” he said.
The Zambia national team stands to gain slightly over K1 billion in incentives from the Zambian Breweries Group should they qualify for both 2010 World/African Cup’s in addition to K3 billion three-year sponsorship deal they will receive from the local beer and drinks giant.
Zambian Breweries Group managing director Pearson Gowero disclosed the development at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the K1 billion sponsorship deal with Faz held at the Southern Sun Hotel, Friday afternoon.
Herve Renard’s side will get K250 million for qualifying to the African Cup finals to be held in Angola next January and an additional K400 million should the win the tournament.
Zambian Breweries will also payout another K400 million should the team qualify to the World Cup finals to be held in South Africa in June next year.
And the K1 billion sponsorship deal is exclusively for the senior national team that will see Zambian Breweries enjoy controlling branding right for all the teams engagements.
“The MoU stipulates that Mosi and other Zambian Breweries Group brands will be the exclusive official sponsor of both the Chipolopolo and Faz for the beverage category covering alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, including soft drinks and water,” Gowero said.
“Today marks a huge high point in sports sponsorship by the private sector in Zambia as we announce an ambitious sponsorship package of over K3.3 billion (or US$ 600, 000) to the Football Association of Zambia. This sponsorship is through our Mosi brand.”
The K1 billion deal will run from today until December 31, 2011 with payments of K 1 billion (US$ 200,000) paid out over the next three years to the team by Zambian Breweries Group.
And Faz president Kalusha Bwalya said Football House was excited about the new partnership deal with the Zambian Breweries Group.
“This is a day that defines what we are in terms of dedication to football development, to pursuing and opening new frontiers which will help us reach the greater heights of success which we continue working hard to attain,” Kalusha said.
Choma District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni is disappointed with the action taken by the Southern Water and Sewerage Company to disconnect water supply to Choma police station and camp to recover outstanding water bills.
Mr Apuleni told ZANIS in Choma today that the action taken compromises security of the district as police officers and their families have now become preoccupied with fetching water and the expense of providing security.
He said it is disappointing that the water utility took action even after his office and the Ministry of Home Affairs Deputy Permanent Secretary personally met the managing director of the utility company recently to assure them that the outstanding water bills would be settled soon.
The DC said the attitude of the water company towards defaulting government institutions is worrying.
Mr Apuleni said the water company which is also a quasi government institution would now find it difficult to operate in harmony with ministries and departments if there is no change of attitude.
Mr. Apuleni said government institutions are not refusing to clear the outstanding bills but that poor funding from the national treasury in the last quarter of last year resulted in the accumulation of utility bills which could not be cleared.
He said he is expected the funding situation to improve with the approval of the 2009 national budget by parliament.
He said the district administration which houses several government ministries and department has been similarly disconnected over a bill of K 800, 000 despite his office making several pleas with the utility company not to withdraw service.
Mr Apuleni said the government institutions including his office at the BOMA are now operating without water.
The church has advised opposition Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) to rescind their decisions to shun the National Indaba this weekend.
The Christian Faith Mission Centre (CFMC) said the two political parties and any other opposition party contemplating to boycott should rescind their decision since the national indaba was crucial in resolving problems afflicting the country.
CFMC Pastor-In-Charge Peter Chanda says there is need for all stakeholders with diverse views to attend the national indaba in order to help government address the various problems facing the country.
Pastor Chanda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it was not a right thing by the opposition political leaders to think of shunning this weekend’s national indaba as the dialogue was critical to fostering economic development in the country.
He said political leaders should stop politicking and instead concentrate in helping government to address problems associated with the global economic crunch.
Pastor Chanda further advised the opposition political leaders to show political maturity by attending the national indaba which he said was aimed at discussing pertinent issues that will add value to the development of the nation.
Government has called for a national indaba with various stakeholders to discuss various proposals and submissions aimed at resolving the economic impact on the global financial melt-down.
But yesterday the PF and UPND announced their boycott of the indaba set for this weekend.
PF president Michael Sata and UPND president Hakainde Hichilemena confirmed their parties will not be part of the national indaba to be held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre
And the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Dispute (SACCORD) says it is regrettable that the two main opposition political parties, Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) have pulled out from the national indaba.
SACCORD Executive Director Lee Habasonda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the PF and UPND have been eluded of an opportunity to offer solution to the problems in the country.
Mr. Habasonda said the two political parties are key players in the country who would have helped the country find solutions the country is going through relating to the global economic crisis and others.
He said the decision by the two political parties to pull out from the indaba is regrettable adding that SACCORD would have hoped that the two parties participate.
Mr. Habasonda however advised government to be careful with the selection of the people to attend such indaba’s saying there is need for diversity.
He said the criteria used for choosing the people to be attending the indaba need to be transparent and inclusive to allow different people offer their solutions.
Meanwhile Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCIPD) said it is justified for the PF and UPND to pull out of the indaba because they did not have enough time to prepare and get views from their members.
ZCIPD Spokesperson Langton Sichone said he will not blame the two parties for shunning the indaba saying they where caught unaware and it was going to be difficulty for them to effectively contribute at the indaba.
Mr. Sichone said the participants to the indaba would have been given a month or two before the indaba to allow them do some research and decide on what to say.
He however said the indaba is a good course by the government as it meant to find solutions to the problems the country is facing urging all citizens to support the idea.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has released K420 million to Samfya district council for payment of outstanding night allowances to 762 polling assistants who worked during the last presidential elections.
Samfya district council secretary Patson Kapoba told ZANIS that the Electoral Commission of Zambia had released K420 million to the council.
Mr Kapoba said the amount was not earlier budgeted for because ECZ anticipated that polling assistants would be recruited and work within their locations .
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About 762 polling assistants in Samfya were recruited from the boma and deployed to polling stations in outlaying areas because people in those locations became ineligible to be appointed after failing the examination ECZ introduced as a mode of recruitment.
He said since polling assistants where recruited from the boma, it meant that they were made to spend extra nights at the polling stations than expected.
A check by ZANIS at the council today found hundreds of people who worked as polling assistants trying to check if their names were appearing on the list of those due to receive the allowances.
While at Finance Bank, there were hundreds former polling assistants standing in a queue as they trooped into the bank to receive their allowances.
Some Patriotic Front (PF) youths have called on the party president to step down.
Mandevu Constituency Chairperson Frank Lombe said the PF youths in the area are demanding that Mr Sata should step down within 30 days.
Mr Lombe said the PF youths are calling for a new president because Mr. Sata is undemocratic and will never lead the party to power.
The youth chairperson said Mr. Sata is an enemy of transparency adding that the ways he uses to bring money from donors are questionable.
He henceforth called on auditors to audit party account for PF.
And the PF youths said they were in support of ‘the rebel’ PF MPs who recently won an injunction to be expelled from the opposition party.
Mr. Lombe said case of the 30 rebel Member of Parliament who were expelled from the party should not be dropped as they were doing the right thing by attending the NCC.
They have also advised President Rupiah Banda not to exchange words in the media directly but through State House Secretary for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere who he said has vast experience with the media.
Mr. Lombe said this when he addressed the media in Lusaka today.
Teachers in Mabonde zone of Serenje district have gone on strike due to non payment of rural hardship allowance by government.
And District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Patson Sichone, said there was no need for the teachers to strike because government was attending to the issue.
According to a letter dated 1st April 2009 signed by Zone Zambia National Union of Teachers ( ZNUT )Secretary David Kunda, the teachers resolved to go on strike on Wednesday this week.
The letter was also copied to ZNUT district chairperson Edward Banda, ZANIS, District commissioner Stanely Chibwana, the DEBS and all head teachers in the Zone.
Mr. Kunda said in the letter, that the teachers decided to strike because the rural hardship allowance had taken a period of one year to clear despite promises from government.
He said the teachers also agreed not to resume work when schools re-open next term unless the allowances are paid in full .
District ZNUT chairperson, Edward Banda said there was nothing his office could do because government was aware about the delay in the payment of allowances.
He said teachers had remained patient while government delayed clearing the issue despite several reminders.
Mr. Banda said the union had been calling on teachers to remain calm and now they felt deceived hence their move to down tools.
He said while the union would still appeal to striking teachers to resume work, government should show seriousness in the matter and pay what was due to the teachers.
But Mr. Sichone who said he had not received the copy of his letter yet, called on the teachers to extend their patience a little more saying government was already dealing with the matter.
District Commissioner Stanely Chibwana could not be reached for a comment as he was unavailable.
Acting Secretary to Cabinet Robert Mataka has called on political parties and other invited stakeholders not to boycott this weekend’s National Indaba which will focus on mitigating the impact of the global economic meltdown.
Mr. Mataka says there is need for all invited stakeholders to attend the National Indaba as it will focus on the key sector of the economy with the aim to generating solutions to the problems affecting the country.
He said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that government was ready to listen seriously to various submissions and proposals aimed at resolving the economic impact arising from the global economic crunch.
Mr. Mataka cited agriculture, tourism, mining, energy, financial, infrastructure development and manufacturing and entrepreneurship as among the key sectors that the Indaba will effectively focus on.
He said the National Indaba will also focus on the economic challenges that the country was facing arising from the global financial and economic meltdown, the response to the crisis as well as recommendations on short, medium and long term solutions that the country can use to mitigate the effects of the crisis.
Mr. Mataka further said that registration for participants will take place from 2nd to 3rd April, 2009 respectively from 09:00hrs to 22:00hrs at Long Acres Lodge.
He said government will only meet expenses for lunch and refreshments during the Indaba.
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has donated medical items worth K10 million to Beit Cure International Hospital of Zambia.
ZRA Director-Research and Planning Samuel Bwalya said the Authority has put in place policies that help to uplift the welfare of the vulnerable in society such as children with disability.
Dr. Bwalya commended the Hospital for the wonderful job it was doing by providing free medical treatment for poor children with disability.
He assured the hospital of ZRA’s continued support and reiterated the Authority’s willingness to offer support to the community.
And the hospital’s Executive Director, Peter Kyalo thanked ZRA for the gesture and expressed confidence that the lives of many children with disability at the hospital would be transformed.
He said there was need for stakeholders and society in general to get involved in assisting the less privileged at the hospital.
Mr. Kyala said ZRA’S generosity and commitment was exactly the kind of community help the hospital needs to remain operational.
My handbag was stolen in Johannesburg in January of this year.In it was my passport among other things.I applied for a new passport on 30 January 2009 at the Zambian Embassy offices in Pretoria South Africa. Up to now every time I call the embassy, I am told it is not ready and that they are expecting passports at the month end. This has been going on for the last two months.
Now I am living in fear of authorities in South Africa declaring me as an illegal immigrant and yet I had a valid work permit in my stolen passport. The embassy knows about this but they act as if they can’t be bothered.
I am not sure if this is just a problem with me or others are facing the same problem with the embassy.Please help to bring this to attention of the relevant people.
Isn’t their job to help citizens out in such situations? Is it acceptable that a passport they said would take a month is now
taking indefinitely because they are not sure when it will actually happen, if it does?
Could someone please advise me what to do.I am so frustrated and fearful at the same time.
