The Matero Family of Ministers (MFOM) in Lusaka has strongly condemned the violence among political parties in the Kanyama pre-election campaigns.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, MFOM Chairman David Banda said unity was the only way to continued peace and security in the country.

He has since appealed to all political leaders to ensure that unity is preserved at all times even as they compete for power.

Yesterday, opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) and the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) clashed during their campaigns for the forthcoming Kanyama by-election.

Bishop Banda, who is also the overseer of the Grace Christian Centre (GCC) in Zambia, has meanwhile appealed political leaders to direct their energies in solving problems in Matero constituency.

He has further called upon various leaders to work closely with the area Member of Parliament Faustina Sinyangwe to bring about meaningful development in the area.

“As Church leaders, we shall continue supporting and closely work with the area MP and the local councilors,” he said.

He said that Matero faces a lot of problems, citing some being poor infrastrucre, poor roads, inadequate health, facilities poor sanitation, lack of drinking water and constant power outages as some of the challenges.

He said that MFOM will remain committed to the development of the nation.

Bishop Banda has also urged area MP to support the proposed mineral tax regime adding that other MPS should to ensure that this is implemented.

He has since called upon investors to corporate with the government on the proposal.

Chieftainess Mwenda of Mazabuka in Southern Province has condemned the defilement of a four- year- old minor and has since called for the immediate arrest of the suspects linked to the sexual assault.

The Chieftainess told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that all men found guilty of sexually abusing minors will be castrated instead of handing them to the Police services.

Chieftainess Mwenda said she will work closely with management of Chikankata hospital to ensure people suspected of defiling minors are immediately castrated to reduce the rising cases of defilement in her chiefdom.

She complained that her Chiefdom has of late been turned into a defilement base because most of the culprits were allegedly left scot free due to the absence of Police officers to man Malabo police post.

The Chieftainess said it is disheartening to see minors being defiled and their lives ruined while culprits enjoyed their freedom.

The royal highness said, she has since gone into a partnership with the Law and Development Association (LADA) to help sensitise her subjects.

Last week, Chikankata Mission Hospital Administrator, Richard Bradbury said the hospital administration is concerned with the increased cases of minors defiled and receiving treatment from the hospital.

Mr Bradbury told ZANIS, his administration has since sought the intervention of the Chieftainess to help reduce a wave of defilement cases.

Government says floods that have hit the country will affect the country’s economic growth.

Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary in charge of Planning and Economic
Development Division James Mulungushi said the agricultural sector will particularly suffer as a
result of floods.

ZANIS reports that Dr Mulungushi who was accompanied by Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe was speaking in Kazungula yesterday when he made an on the spot check on the more than 600 displaced Kasaya families.

He said help from Government to the affected families would continue until they find their
own feet.

Dr Mulungushi commended the provincial leadership in Southern Province for acting swiftly to save the affected families.

He further cautioned officers involved in the distribution of relief food to the affected families
to guard against corruption and ensure that relief food reached the intended families.

Dr Mulungushi also donated K250,000 to Kazungula District Commissioner Fred Siansuntwe on behalf of affected families to buy books for 146 displaced school going children.

And Kazungula District Commissioner Fred Siansuntwe appealed to Government to supply more relief food to the area.

Meanwhile, Government has started airlifting relief food to flood victims of Namwala and Itezhi Tezhi districts in Southern Province.

The operation is being undertaken by the Zambia Air Force jointly with officials from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) who have set temporal base at the Choma airstrip for the relief exercise.

Choma District Commissioner Mungoni Simulilika who yesterday flagged off the exercise said about 700 by 25 kilogramme bags of mealie, food supplements and other relief items will be airlifted from Choma to Namwala and Tezhi Tezhi districts in an exercise that is expected to last about three days.

The Zambia Air Force is using a fixed wing cargo plane to transport the relief food to Namwala where it was again being offloaded and dispatched by helicopters to earmarked areas.

Mr Simulilika told ZANIS at the Choma air strip that the humanitarian assistance was testimony of Government’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of flood victims.

The DC said the relief items from the office of the Vice President intended for flood victims in the two districts which have been severely hit by floods are currently stored at the Food Reserve Agency sheds in Choma.

The Choma-Namwala road has become almost impassable still getting stuck in the mud.

The 190- kilometre journey which used to take three hours is now lasting about seven hours of driving due to the bad road.

This has triggered skyrocketing of prices of mealie meal and other basic commodities sourced from Choma.