Chief Chizela of Mufumbwe has implored government to help in ending the unceasing litigation over the ownership of Kalengwa mine in the district.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Lapson Kayombo during this year’s Ntongo traditional ceremony over the weekend, Chief Chizela said the Kalengwa dispute on ownership has been a subject of litigation for over ten years.

The traditional leader said meanwhile Zambia’s Supreme Court has on four occasions, passed its ruling in favour of Euro Africa Kalengwa Mining Limited who are in partnership with Moxico Mineral Resources.

Chief Chizela said despite the ruling from the Supreme Court, the Chizela Royal Establishment and the people of Zambia have seen the High Court repeating what the Supreme Court had finished.

The traditional leader is however, confident that the current government will ensure that the said litigations will come to an end, saying Zambia now has a government with respect for the rule of law.

“Now that we have a responsible government led by President Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, we trust that the situation will change. Guest of honour, let me remind you that the people of Zambia voted out a vicious government that had no regard for rule of law.

“Now that we have a determined government with a vision to take Zambia to greater heights, we expect this government to end these litigations,” he said.

Chief Chizela said people in his chiefdom prefer seeing Moxico Mineral Resources opening the Kalengwa mine so that young people can get employment at the exploration firm.

And North-Western Province Minister, Robert Lihefu has expressed government’s commitment to supporting investments which will increase the production of copper in the country.

Mr Lihefu said increased copper production means an increase in wealth as well as poverty alleviation in the country.

“Because, if we are going to have increased production in copper, we are going to increase wealth for this nation and end poverty. Not only that, we are going to increase the collection of our taxes,” he said.

Mr Lihefu has since pledged to ensure that the long over-due ownership of Kalengwa mine comes to a conclusive end.

“This government, your government under the leadership of Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has taken note of all the challenges (ownership disputes and litigations) that you have been going through in the past and that will be in the past and will not repeat itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, Moxico Mineral Resources Country Director, Davies Mwanamoya said Moxico Resources is indeed best described by the firm’s slogan which states that ‘we are here to stay’ as it is the only mining organization working in partnership with local people.

Mr Mwanamoya said Moxico is possibly the only mining firm where local people have a privilege to be directors, which is in line with the government’s desired investment approach.

“Why are we here to stay? Because we are the only company that works in partnership with the local people,” he said.

President Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia’s efforts in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is being hindered by the continued raging effects of the Covid 19 pandemic and global instability arising from conflicts.

President Hichilema said his administration is working very hard to ensure that it achieves the SDGs set out by the United Nations (UN) as development targets for countries to reduce poverty and improve their socio-economic conditions.

Mr Hichilema observed that attainment of SDGs has been affected by continued increase of commodity prices such as food, fuel, fertilizer among others on the global market.

President Hichilema has since called on the UN to collaborate with his administration to improve the living standards of Zambians through enhanced tailored made development assistance and partnerships.

The President said this when he received credentials from new UN Resident Coordinator for Zambia, Beatrice Mutali at State House in Lusaka yesterday.

Ms Mutali takes over from Dr Cumba Mar Gadio as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia.

President Hichilema congratulated Ms Mutali on her appointment and advised her not to feel alienated but feel free in Zambia and work towards the benefit of Zambians.

Mr Hichilema said it is the duty of the UN to work with all stakeholders to end raging conflicts around the world and ensure that global peace, and stability returns to enable countries focus on socio-economic development.

The President stressed the need for enhanced collaboration between the UN and Zambian government to provide development and improve the welfare of Zambians.

“Government and the UN need to work together to reduce poverty…we need to improve the standards of living of our people,” said President Hichilema.

President Hichilema urged the UN to consider supporting Zambia in the education, health and water sectors among others.

Mr Hichilema said Zambia continues to need support in the health sector especially with the Covid 19 vaccinations which his administration has increased from around 5 percent to about 30 per cent.

He said his administration is determined to improve water reticulation for Zambians by investing in the sector to provide safe drinking water.

President Hichilema pointed out that Zambia has made strides in attaining the SDG of universal education through its free education agenda which is providing education for all.

The President stated that Zambia remains committed to the Paris Agreement on addressing and tackling global climate change.

President Hichilema said his creation of a ministry of green economy speaks volume about his administration’s desire to address climate and environmental matters.

He assured the new UN Resident Coordinator that his administration will not relent on the corruption fight and that there will be sacred cows as everything will be done within the provisions of the law.

President Hichilema said his administration has worked to ensure that the rule of law and order is restored in society and is now striving to ensure that human rights, liberties and other freedoms are enjoyed by all Zambians.

He pointed out that the UN is not a foreign organization but one that Zambia has a part and share due to her membership to the global body.

And presenting her letter of credence and recall of her predecessor, Ms Mutali congratulated President Hichilema on his election as Zambia’s seventh President.

Ms Mutali commended President Hichilema for maintaining political stability and peace in the country following peaceful elections and transition which the world can draw lessons from.

The UN Resident Coordinator said President Hichilema’s efforts to restructure the country’s debt and restore the economy is commendable and that her office will coordinate all UN agencies to deliver necessary development support.

Ms Mutali described relations between Zambia and the UN at national and global level as excellent.

She said the UN is undertaking reforms aimed at repositioning the global body’s development agenda and system through the attainment of the SDGs by 2030.

Ms Mutali said the UN system in Zambia has formulated and aligned its development cooperation under the UN framework 2023 to 2027 to Zambia’s 8th National Development plan.

“The UN will ensure to work towards achieving of goals under the 8 th National Development Plan,” said Ms Mutali.

She said the UN will support President Hichilema’s administration in its quest for good governance, rule of law, human rights, HIV prevention, decentralization and disaster preparedness among others.

Ms Mutali said the UN remains committed to supporting Zambia’s free education policy and ensure that the education sector is transformed to meet the development needs of Zambians and the country.

She invited President Hichilema to attend a planned summit on education and the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP 27 summit to be held in Egypt later this year.

The presentation of credentials was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Stanley Kakubo and senior State House and Ministry officials.

The Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia (DEC) says youths have become major victims of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Zambia.

DEC Public Relations Officer Mathias Kamanga said that after the Covid -19 outbreak there has been an increased number of youths who have engaged themselves into drug abuse and illicit trafficking

Mr. Kamanga said this during a Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Update program in Lusaka yesterday.

He urged parents to be aware of their children’s behavior and to be quick in noticing changes of behavior in their children.

Mr Kamanga was speaking ahead of the commemoration of the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, dubbed “fighting drugs and substance abuse through strong families and health lifestyle” which falls every year on June 28.

Mr Kamanga urged parents to engage with their children and sensitize on the effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking to create awareness amongst their children.

“Awareness activities, such as roadshows, street talks, visiting school, churches and market places to sensitize the dangers of drug abuse are some of the activities the DEC is doing,” he noted.

Mr Kamanga appealed to the government to build a national rehabilitation centre that will ensure that people are reformed and rehabilitated to become better citizens.

The Drug enforcement Commission has arrested over 160 people among them 12 juveniles from January to date on charges of drug trafficking and seized 6 tonnes of cannabis in Eastern Province.

Eastern Province Drug Enforcement Commission Regional Commander, Charles Ndulumina said drug trafficking, substance abuse and illegal cultivation of narcotic and psychotropic substances such as cannabis still remains a threat to the development of the economy.

ZANIS reports that Mr Ndulumina said this when he officiated at this year’s World Anti-Drug Day commemoration under the theme “ Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises” in Mambwe District.

Mr Ndulumina said the Commission is determined to put an end to drug trafficking and has thus declared Zero tolerance to any form of drug abuse, trafficking and cultivation.

He added that through its education and counseling department, the Commission has also reached out to 15,443 people with drug and money laundering awareness information and 37 people have so far been attended to under counseling.

Mr Ndulumina further reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to continue engaging other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education which has included Drug Preventive Education in the Curriculum and formation of anti – drug clubs in Schools, the Ministry of Health, Traditional Leaders and the Zambia Police among others.

And Mambwe District Commissioner, William Banda said drug abuse if left unchecked, will continue to be one of the lead factors in escalating crime rates destroying the lives of people.

Mr Banda added that drug abuse is a complex socio economic issue that requires an integrated approach in order to fight it.

“The fight against drug abuse affects all and must not be left to Law Enforcement Agencies only but rather, it requires all stakeholders to come on board and join in raising awareness on the dangers of drug abuse and treatment of addicts,” he said.

Mr Banda said it was also necessary to encourage individuals and families to seek early assistance for problems related to alcoholism and drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Charity Banda, a grade Twelve Pupil from Mambwe Boarding Secondary School urged the Drug Enforcement Commission to continue sensitizing on drugs and its effects.

Ms Banda added that youths especially, needed to take the message to “Say No To Drugs” seriously, think outside the box and figure out ways of making the message known to everyone.

The Drug Enforcement Commission has managed to sensitize pupils on drug abuse in schools in Mambwe district, among them Mambwe, Matula, Mfuwe Day, Jumbe Day, and Yosefe Secondary schools..

The Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMAC) has appealed to the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and other Ministries to quicken facilitating the process of resolving issues of disbursement of funds meant for empowerment programmes.

ZANAMACA President, Mupila Kameya said resources such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) should be unblocked so that the association can also access the funds to implement the transformational and game changing initiatives for youth unemployment .

Mr Kameya said the association with its strategic partners have designed a youth job creation initiative using mobile technology to formalize some specially selected members of the informal sector in order to track youth job creation .

He said the Digital Graduation of Informal Sector entrepreneurs (DIGISE) is aimed at creating more jobs for youths in a short period of time within five years.

Mr Kameya said that the objective of the Programme entails digital entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer ,formalization of enterprises and acceleration of the informal sector of their growth with already identified interventions.

He urged the government and donor community to support the association by providing resources to launch a programme that is creative , practical , innovative and critical to create massive job creation.

Mr Kameya noted that as an association believes that most practical and effective channel for fast tracking the creation of formal jobs ,and working together with government and cooperating partners.

“We understand the informal sector in general and we know the needs of its various sub sectors and which informal sectors can be formalized because we have presence throughout the Country so the formalization of informal entrepreneurship cannot be a challenge to us once the resources are available,” he said.

Mr Kameya said that the association has numbers, the Knowledge and the technology to create youth jobs and all that is needed is the resources to make the initiatives a reality.