Vice President Mutale Nalumango has applauded the Rotary International for its efforts in eradicating malaria, which she says has claimed many especially children and expectant mothers.

Mrs. Nalumango says the Rotary Foundation has been a partner of the government for many years in addressing a number of health challenges faced in the country.

She cited the eradicate polio campaign as some of the successful projects implemented by the Rotary Club.

Speaking when she officiated at the Dinner held in honor of visiting Rotary International President Jennifer Jones in Lusaka last evening, the Vice President said government is delighted that the Rotary Fund has partnered with the Ministry of Health and other partners in implementing the “End Malaria Campaign in Zambia.

Mrs. Nalumango added that  government  remains committed to take responsibility of ensuring access to vaccines were needed.

” We also know that malaria has claimed many lives of people than HIV/AIDS or even COVID-19 in countries in the sub-Saharan region such as Zambia. Malaria is indeed one of the health challenges in most parts of the country, which greatly impacts expectant mothers and the new born babies” she said.

She further noted that  the new dawn government appreciates Rotary Club International’s support to eradicate malaria through the 6 Million Dollar project it is currently implementing in Central, Copperbelt and Northern Provinces of Zambia.

The said regions have high prevalence of Malaria at the moment.

“ The  new dawn government’s commitment to this effort is to contribute to the vision of eradicating Malaria in Zambia, Africa and Indeed across the world by taking responsibility of ensuring access to vaccines and drugs where needed as well as mounting health campaigns and collaborative interventions” she said

And Visiting Rotary International President Jennifer says her visit aims at creating global awareness on the end malaria campaign in Zambia and has thanked the government for their warm hospitality and commitment to the project.

She said her visit in the rural areas has helped her appreciate the impact being created by community health workers in the Country and that the Rotary commits to complete the project and help eradicate malaria in the focus areas.

”  The reason for our visit apart from meeting all these wonderful people here is to raise global awareness for the Malaria Free Zambia project.

“ One of the things that I have decided to do with this presidency was to try to raise the eye line of the world to what we do in our organization and the areas of focus, ” she said.

The Rotary International President has been in the Country on a tour of projects being implemented by the different Districts as part of her mandate since she assumed office.

Government  has expressed concern over the continued trends of couples killing themselves over avoidable marital disputes.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata says couples should always seek the help of elders each time they  have disputes to avoid killing each other.

The Permanent Secretary also urged couples to seek the guidance of the church elders, pastors, priests, Bishops and Apostles for spiritual guidance.

Mr Kamalata said this last night during Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary’s Augustine Kasongo’s daughter Eunice Kasongo ‘s wedding at the government complex in Lusaka.

He said that it is sad that most people killing each other are young couples who are supposed to contribute to national development.

Zambians should reject the spirit which is causing couples to kill each other as it is alien to the peace that people enjoy in the country.

“It is a demon coming into this country and we should all pray against it.,” Mr Kamalata said.

Mr Kamalata also advised relatives to avoid interfering in the marriage of the young couples as it contributes to conflict which is resulting in most divorces.

And Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo said the marriage of his daughter Mr Gerald Mwape testifies that the national values and principles being promoted by government are being adhered to by their children and families.

 Mafinga Member of Parliament Robert Chabinga  has commended the Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba  for deploying paramilitary police officers to Mafinga district.

Mr. Chabinga stated that government is concerned with the increased killings of innocent people on suspicion of practicing witchcraft in Mafinga district.

Recently,  Headperson Chitente, Emmanuel Mugala, 59, was shot at by unknown people and died on the way to the hospital.

He said that the paramilitary police officers who arrived in the district yesterday will help to track down hired assailants popularly known as “Wajambazi”.

Mr. Chabinga appealed to the local people to work hand in hand with the police to curb the ruthless killings saying this will affect development of not curbed.

He thanked the Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba for the quick response to increased insecurity in the area by deploying 30 paramilitary police officers to the area.

“We have lost a lot of innocent souls through the increased ruthless killings which have rocked our district and police command is concerned hence the deployment of 30 police officers to help in bringing sanity in this district, ” said Mr. Chabinga.

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema says traditional ceremonies play an important role in promoting nationalism and preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

 President Hichilema said traditional leaders are also key stakeholders towards the development process of the country.

The President says his administration will for this reason continue supporting all traditional ceremonies he said are vehicles of national unity.

President Hichilema  said n Muyombe yesterday during the Vinkhakanimba ceremony of the Tumbuka people of Mafinga Town , in a speech read on his behalf by Muchinga Province Minister Henry Sikazwe.

He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continue encouraging traditional ceremonies as a way of preserving the country’s national identify.

“Traditional ceremonies have a potential to promote cultural tourism and bring a boost in local incomes, ” said President Hichilema.

Chief Muyombe said the traditional leadership is not in competition with the government but plays  a complimentary role in serving the people.

Speaking through his representative Paul Muwowo , the traditional ruler also commended government for the various achievements in their one year in office.

Among the achievements in the new dawn administration one year in office as,  he pointed out, included the recruitment of over 40, 000 civil servants and the increment in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation from K1.6 million to K25.7 million.

Others includes the increased social cash transfer funds and number of SCT beneficiaries.

Meanwhile The Vinkhakanimba ceremony is held to celebrate the first chief of the Tumbuka people who ruled in the 17th century.

The Vinkhakanimba traditional ceremony as not been held in the last two years due to the COVID -19 outbreak and eventual restrictions imposed by government.

It  was attended by Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Henry Mukungule and several other government officials.

And Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba has deployed 30 heavily armed paramilitary police officers in Mafinga Town  of Muchinga Province to curb the escalating suspected ritual killings  in the rural town..

The Southern African Resource Watch(SARW) has attributed the low rate of payment of mineral royalty tax to the Zambian government, to instability in the country’s mining tax regime.

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Dingani Banda recently disclosed that an internal verification audit revealed that only 183 companies out of 2,416 mines paid mineral royalty at the end of 2021 with at least 910 companies exporting minerals but not declaring mineral royalty.

SARW Researcher and Advocacy Officer , Edward Lange attributes this alarming revelation to the mining tax regime that is always made to suit mine owners and not Zambia, a lack of serious monitoring mechanisms and an unreliable reporting system, all of which need strengthening.

Mr. Lange suggests that the Ministries Of Finance, Mines And Commerce engage in a review aimed at making the Extractive Industry’s Transparency Initiative (EITI) into law by either embedding it into the mines and minerals act or creating it as a standalone legislation to guarantee transparency and accountability.

He also suggests that a code of conduct for political office bearers be put in place, to stop leaders from participating in certain businesses which renders them interested while recommending a strengthened reporting system and a long term mining tax fiscal regime.

During the week, The Zambia Revenue Authority expressed concern with the undervaluation of minerals. ZRA Commissioner General Dingani Banda said that s the undervaluation of minerals is affecting the collection of mineral royalties which are calculated based on the value.

Mr. Banda disclosed that ZRA has instituted investigations on companies exporting minerals but not declaring mineral royalties.

He was speaking when he inspected a truck laden with precious stones in Chongwe in the company of Zambia National Service Commander Lieutenant General MALITI SOLOCHI.

Meanwhile, General SOLOCHI requested ZRA to facilitate an orientation exercise for officers to acquaint them a valuation of minerals going forward.

The expected smooth operations at Kapiri Mposhi Town Council is in doldrums as the local authority’s management continues accumulating and concealing unsustainable debt levels.

Recently, court bailiffs pounced on Kapiri Mposhi Town Council seizing a motor vehicle, computers and office furniture following the council’s failure settle an outstanding debt.

The development has unsettled Councillors who have lashed out at management after they learnt that as at 15 June 2022, their local authority owed a colossal K 216 million in capital projects, goods and services, legal fees and unremitted Statutory obligations.

This is against an annual budgeted expenditure of about K 69 million.

The development sparked concern from civic leaders who have accused management of previously concealing information from them on the status of the council’s debt.

Finance, Business Evaluation and Undertaking Committee Chairperson, Shita Mayankwa , during the third quarter full council meeting, disclosed that the Town Council owes over K 8,6 million to 11 contractors on capital projects,

The capital projects includes construction of the Council Hotel , Library, street lighting and an ultra-modern bus station.

Mr Mayankwa who is also Mpunde ward councillor disclosed that the council further owes K 188 million in form of unremitted statutory obligations that include pensions and insurance contributions for its pensionable employees.

” The grand total for Kapiri Mposhi Town Council’s debt is at K 216, 368,357 at of 15 June 2022 which includes K 8,609,404 on capital projects, K 8,878,469 on legal fees, K 188,039,327 on unremitted statutory obligations and K 881, 097 on goods and services,” Mr Mayankwa said.

However, Imansa Ward Councilor Muuka Patel has attributed the indebtedness to management’s propensity to implement fragmented projects at once against what he called a thin resource envelope.

The council had undertaken capital projects such as construction of a council hotel and lodge and shopping plaza among others stating that it was not prudent for the local authority to continue procuring contracts for projects that did not have specific budgetary support.

” We have projects that are still not complete and you created more problems by starting more capital projects such as the library and street lighting when the hotel, the plaza that should have started giving you money are not done …. so tell us what plans you had to finance these projects and pay the debt,” Mr Muuka asked.

And Lukanga Ward Councilor, Proscadnes Mwiinga wondered why management was not highlighting the indebtedness of the institution in its reports to the full council meetings.

” This information you kept it because you have no regard for us as councilors of this council and why are you now reporting … is it because there is a new CS … We want you to perform professionally and not to appease anyone,” Mr Muuka said.

Meanwhile, Kapiri Mposhi Town Council Treasurer, Chamuka Muwamba stated that the current wage bill amounting to over K 2 million per month is unsustainable for the council.

Mr Chamuka stressed that the council has overemployed against its revenue capacity stating that currently, there are 308 and 80 pensionable and casual employees respectively at the institution.

Responding to the concerns raised by the councilors , Mr. Chamuka explained that the council is only able to raise around K 1.5 million per month which is required to be used on paying salaries and service provision.

” It’s not our intention not to remit deductions but we find it difficult to remit and at the same time meet the wage bill and service provision with the current situation,” Mr Chamuka said.

” Basically, the wage bill is not sustainable with this workforce for a small council like Kapiri Mposhi where there is about 400 of both pensionable and casual employees… ,” Mr Chamuka said.

But Kapiri Mposhi Town Secretary, Yobwe Chisamu assured that the local authority will institute a task force to seal leakages of revenue and expand its revenue sources towards debt servicing.

Ms Chisamu further added that the Council will negotiate for plans to start liquidating statutory obligations with respective statutory institutions it owes.

The Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) has started equipping provincial offices with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance news coverage country wide.

ZANIS Director Loyce Saili has since challenged the provincial and district offices to bring out news from all citizens across the country rather than focusing on the big names in urban areas.

ZANIS reports that Ms Saili was speaking in Lusaka, when she handed over Camera equipment to ZANIS Central province office and reminded them to continue interpreting Government’s policies.

She said the Government is implementing a lot of programs and policies in the Country that need to be shared with the general public, citing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) health and the education sectors as some of the programs that need to be shared using ZANIS channel.

“Because we are a Government information wing under the Ministry of information, it’s important that we profile the government developmental programs. There is  a lot of programs that government is rolling out. There are issues of constituency Development fund. It is important that we highlight that. So much money has been allocated to these communities. We also need to interpret government policies” she said

Ms Saili disclosed that so far six out of ten provinces are receiving new equipment and that the remaining four provinces are expected to receive  before the end of the year, while the district offices will follow afterwards.

Ms Saili said the equipment has come at the right time when ZANIS has begun test transmission for its ZANIS TV channel   and has urged the receivers of the equipment to ensure that they take good care of the equipment to ensure optimum longevity.

And Central Province Provincial Information Officer, Florence Mwisa who received the equipment on behalf of the regional office assured that the equipment will be put to good use.

“We have a lot of work as a province and this camera will go a long way in capturing those developmental stories, the constituency development fund and other developmental news that will be taking place in the province. We will really do our best. We are grateful that we are among the first provinces to be considered” she said.

Three Cameras have already been handed over to other Provinces and all the ten provinces are expecteb to be covered by the end of the year.

ZANIS is currently conducting  test transmission for its ZANIS TV channel on top- star channel 6.

Government has reiterated its commitment to unlock the potential of the livestock subsector in the country.

Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Makozo Chikote says Government will achieve this by partnering with the private sector in addressing challenges that hinder the sector’s growth.

Mr. Chikote said some livestock farmers in Southern Province would now be protected from financial losses that arise due to theft, disease and adverse climate conditions through Inclusive Livestock Insurance.

He said this in a speech read for him by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Director, Mwambilwa Kabemba during the launch of the Inclusive Livestock Insurance Project in Mazabuka on Thursday.

The launch of the inclusive livestock insurance was as a result of collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Zambia, and Mayfair Insurance among others.

The project will be piloted in Mazabuka, Choma and Kalomo District.

And FSD Zambia Chief Executive Officer Engwase Mwale said the aim of the project was to improve and increase access to high value and comprehensive agriculture insurance products for small holder farmers, particularly those who grow crops and reared cattle.

Mrs. Mwale said the tenure of the project was four years and 30, 000 smallholder livestock farmers were being targeted countrywide.

Meanwhile, Chief Hanjalika of the Tonga people of Mazabuka said the insurance package would help improve the lives of people in his chiefdom.

Chief Hanjalika however, said for the program to succeed in the area; more veterinary assistants had to be recruited to monitor the growth of livestock.

The Chief made these remarks through his representative. Fred Mooya.

The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation(ZESCO) has expressed concern at the continued vandalism of cables and equipment on its Chipata – Chadiza power line project whose aim is to connect the area to the national grid.

ZESCO Spokesperson, Henry Kapata speaking on the sidelines of Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people taking place in Katete district that  the utility company is carrying out a number of expansion projects  in Eastern province to connect some districts to the national grid.

Mr Kapata said some districts such as Chadiza were still getting power from ESCOM of Malawi across the border and the company wants all these to be on the national power line.

Mr Kapata however indicated that the continued vandalism on the works is derailing the project but expressed optimism this will soon be resolved.

” We are experiencing high incidents of vandalism on our transformers , cables and other pieces of machinery which is derailing our progress,” said Mr Kapata.

Mr Kapata reiterated the company’s commitment to providing electricity to all Zambians and ensuring customer satisfaction.

“We are a power firm we remain committed to providing our customers electricity to their expectations,” he said.

Mr kapata says the power utility company is proud to be premium sponsors of the 2022 Kulamba traditional ceremony in katete district

“As you can see the company has branded the pavilion and the main arena as part of our sponsorship to the ceremony,” he indicated.

Mr Kapata said as part of its social corporate responsibility, the company has provided  power to the venue of the ceremony free of charge, distributing free energy bulb savers and carrying out sensitization.

The ZESCO Spokesperson also said the company has also provided branding of the area and other logistical support.

Mr Kapata said this is all aimed at ensuring that the ceremony is held smoothly and Zambians across the country enjoy the event.