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Government must explain why Sweden and Finland were allowed to fly Lesbian, Gay Flag-Nevers Mumba

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Government must explain why Sweden and Finland were allowed to fly Lesbian, Gay Flag-Nevers Mumba

Radio Phoenix reports that Former diplomat Nevers Mumba is urging the government through the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation to guide the nation on the laws regarding adherence to the Vienna Convention.

On Tuesday, May 17th 2022, the Swedish and Finnish embassies in Zambia flew the rainbow flag along with their own national flags on their premises which stands for the support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer And Intersex -LGBTQI- rights.

This act has received criticism from some stakeholders who have described it as a breach of the 1961 Vienna convention, and a lack due regard to the laws of Zambia and cultural sensitivity to its people.

Under article 20 of the Vienna convention, the mission is only allowed to fly the flag and emblem of their country on their premises and on the vehicle.

However, under the 1961 Vienna Convention Guiding Diplomatic Relations, diplomats are mandated to respect the law of the receiving state and it is a serious breach of the convention to break the law of the host country.

Commenting on this matter, Dr. Mumba says it is important that the ministry of foreign affairs makes it clear to Zambians why the two countries flew the rainbow flags and which laws and convention guided their actions in order to avoid wrong perceptions.

Zambia has not recognized LGBTQI rights and the practice of homosexuality remains a criminal offence in the country.

Efforts to get Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo on the matter proved futile as his mobile phone was switched off.

Fight against corruption that does not lead to convictions is mockery to the people of Zambia

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Fight against corruption that does not lead to convictions is mockery to the people of Zambia

By Pilato

The fight against corruption that does not lead to convictions is nothing but a mockery to the people of Zambia. The anti-corruption commission should sober up and take responsibility. We will not blame the suspects, we will not blame the judiciary and we will not blame ourselves. The ACC in its current form can easily be described as practical jokers not deserving our respect.

A professional entity cannot operate on social media drama and rumours the way ACC is doing. We remember how they called for a media briefing and announced that a certain ward councillor had bought a commercial bank for K300million. They abused our trust. We believed them and got excited that they had caught this thief. My uncle ba MWEWA Chitambala believed them and went running with the story and he was sued by one ward councillor ONLY for ACC to come back without shame to say they had the wrong information. Why should we trust them again?

Mr. Chitotela didn’t force anyone at ACC to sign any document, they entered into an agreement willingly and knowingly based on what? Why do they want to appear to be fighting corruption now by arresting and harassing the same person they sat down with and entered into an agreement with? Do they think that we are stupid? If you signed a deal with Mr Chitotela in 2019, what were the facts that influenced your commission to do so? Why are you arresting him now for the same suspicions? Yes, the fight against corruption is one that needs everyone’s support, but what did uncle Simon MWEWA get for believing and supporting the ACC? We can’t expect the judges to provide the facts just to convict Mr Chitotela, it is you ba ACC to do so and when you fail to provide facts, then what is your job?

The anti-corruption commission in Zambia is letting us the people down. Our confidence levels are at the lowest. Mr. Chitotela may not be our favorite guy but it is clear that ACC did wash him clean therefore instead of wasting our time, resources and attention, leave the man alone. You destroyed the case yourselves. We know most of our judges are corrupt and highly compromised but on this issue, they are not to blame.

The same can be said about the Kabushi guy. Who is the ACC legal advisor? Which constitution are they using to effect these Asset seizures? Are they doing so deliberately to frustrate the fight against corruption?

If you have no capacity to investigate thoroughly declare that publicly instead of wasting our time and resources. My appeal to the incoming ACC chairperson and Director-General is to start by investigating these incompetences by ACC itself.

My brother Munir Zulu did make serious allegations against ACC officials, we didn’t believe him but now we are beginning to believe that the ACC officials are highly and dangerously compromised. The new Chairperson SC Musa Mwenye and Mr Gilbert Phiri please we need to know who is frustrating this fight against corruption.

For now ACC should just close as we wait for parliament to ratify the new Director and Chairperson. ACC is not an entertainment organization so they should stop competing with Shi Mumbi and do the actual work for once.

US$6 million investment required in water, sanitation sector – Kalusa

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US$6 million investment required in water, sanitation sector – Kalusa

Government says there is a financing gap of US$6 million in the water and sanitation sector in the country.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation Joe Kalusa said the investment opportunities are secure for anyone interested to work in the sector.

Mr Kalusa said the country has 11 water utility companies that require water and sanitation services from companies supplying parts and accessories and technical services.

“In the water sector, which is for water and sanitation, we expect to have an investment of US$6 million,” said Mr Kalusa.

He challenged investors to set up manufacturing and assembling plants for water equipment and other accessories for water and sanitation services in order to reduce costs.

“If we talk about the pipes, water meters, everything is imported, “pointed out Mr Kalusa.

He said the 11 water utility companies create a bigger market that any investor in the sector can tap into and recoup their investments and create jobs especially for youths.

Mr Kalusa said Zambia has adequate raw materials needed to manufacture water equipment, chemicals and other accessories.

The Permanent Secretary also appealed to Water and Sanitation investors like KSB Zambia to consider setting up workshops in provincial centres to facilitate maintenance and repair of water and sanitation equipment so that water utility firms, industrial and domestic customers are not inconvenienced.

“If a pump was to break down in Kasama where we have Chambeshi Water and Sanitation Company, it means we have to bring that pump from Chambeshi into Lusaka or Kitwe where KSB is based,” he said.

And German Water Sanitation Company KSB says it is keen to increase its investment in the water sector from US$3 million to US$6 million.

KSB Zambia Manager, Fanus Terblans said his company which is 150 years old has been in Zambia for five years and wants to expand its presence.

Mr Terblans said his company provides industrial and domestic water and sanitation accessories, solutions and services.

He pointed out that the business and regulatory framework has impacted positively on his company’s business.

He said his firm will collaborate with government and relevant authorities to enhance skills in the water and sanitation sector in order to improve service delivery.

Meanwhile, Impact Research Limited is conducting a research on expanding Water and Sanitation Project Baseline Assessment in 12 districts in Zambia.

The assessment is conducted on behalf of Research Triangle International’s Zambia USAID funded Project on expanding water and sanitation on the upcoming WASHE Project in Kazungula district as well as other districts in selected areas in the country.

This came to light during a special D-WASHE meeting held at Kazungula Council Chamber yesterday.

Impact Research Assistant, Brenda Mpande disclosed that in Southern Province, Kazungula and Kalomo districts were picked while in Muchinga Province, Mpika and Nchinsali are being covered.

Ms. Mpande added that other districts in the country include, Kalabo, Nalolo and Sesheke in Western Province as well as Luwingu and Nakonde in Northern Province.

“Impact Research is trying to assess the current situation in terms of water and sanitation in peri-urban and rural areas in the named districts. The information gathered will help Research Triangle International (RTI) and USAID to establish strategies that will enhance the enabling environment for private sector engagement in water service delivery in Zambia,” Ms. Mpande explained.

Ms. Mpande further stated that Impact Research Ltd also hopes to professionalize WASHE services, promote accountability for reliable and high quality service provision.

She mentioned that in Kazungula district, baseline assessment has been undertaken in 10 enumeration areas in four chiefdoms namely Mukuni, Sekute, Musokotwane and Nyawa respectively.

Ms. Mpande said a report will be generated on the findings and inform the RTI and USAID on the possibilities of the upcoming WASHE Project in those areas.

Research Triangle International is currently implementing USAID’s flagship Zambia Expanding Water and Sanitation Project (USAID ZEWP).

RTI is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition with a vision to address the world’s most critical problems with science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future.

Kitwe’s Chimwemwe MP laments the poor state of many roads in the constituency

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Kitwe’s Chimwemwe MP laments the poor state of many roads in the constituency

Kitwe’s Chimwemwe Constituency Member of Parliament Allen Banda has lamented the poor state of many roads in the constituency located in Kitwe City.

Speaking after touring selected roads in Chimwemwe Constituency on Thursday, Mr. Banda, the Patriotic Front (PF) MP, said it disheartening to see the deteriorating of roads in the constituency.

He cited Katilungu Road from Mpandafishala to Choppies, Nachibungulubwe Road from Chimwemwe to Kabala in Chimwemwe West as some roads that in a poor state.

Mr. Banda said the dilapidated roads in Chimwemwe Constituency require urgent attention.

He has since announced plans to patch up most of the roads while waiting for a permanent solution from the central government and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“We toured some parts of our Constituency to check on the state of roads in the area. It is however, disheartening to see how deteriorated our roads are in the area.After our tour this afternoon, it has come to our attention that the state of roads in Chimwemwe requires urgent attention.Some of the roads we toured this afternoon were Katilungu Road from Mpandafishala to Choppies, Nachibungulubwe Road from Chimwemwe to Kabala in Chimwemwe West among others,” Mr. Banda said.

“To this effect, we wish to announce that efforts to patch up most of the roads are underway while waiting for a permanent solution from the central government and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).We further wish to assure you fellow residents of Chimwemwe Constituency that we will source for resources to help Grade and patch up some of the identified roads that require urgent attention before a permanent solution is found,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda discovered during his tour of the constituency that unscrupulous people have stolen some power cables that were recently installed at Salamano School by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA).

This is under the K2.2 Million REA project which has taken shape in the peri-urban of the constituency.

Mr. Banda said the theft and vandalism will derail the project that targets to connect to the national power grid 400 households in Salamano area.

“Allow me to also express my disappointment at the high levels of vandalism to public property in some parts of our Constituency.I was at pain to discover during our tour that some power cables that were recently installed at Salamano School by the Rural Electrification Authirity ( REA) under the 2.2 million Kwacha REA project have been stolen. This is the project which was undertaken by RETRO International Zambia following the contract signed by the two parties last year.Under this project, over 400 households in Salamano area were earmarked to be connected to the national grid at the end of the whole project.It is sad that thieves have stolen power cables at Salamano School and some nearby houses causing total blackout in the whole community few days after REA lit-up the area.The incident is a draw-back to the delivery of development and services to our people of Salamono and the surrounding areas,” Mr. Banda said.

He promised to engage REA to find ways of securing the cables and guarantee security in the area.

We however, assured the school management and residents of Salamano that we will soon engage REA to find ways of securing the cables and guarantee security in the area.We further warned perpetrators that the law will soon catch up with them.Earlier Salamano School Headteach Mr. Chapuswike appealed to us to consider putting up a one by three classroom block to decongest the current classrooms.Mr. Chapuswike disclosed that the introduction of free education by government has leade to the increased numbers in pupil enrolment.
Meanwhile we assured the School management that we will table the matter with Ward Development Committee (WDC) for possible action.
We also advised the School management to engage the community to submit the proposal to the WDC for consideration,” Mr. Banda said.

Zambian commercial farmers might shy away from growing maize

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Zambian commercial farmers might shy away from growing maize

Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo, has disclosed that commercial farmers might shy away from planting maize because of the cost of production attached to it.

Mr. Mtolo said he had a meeting with farmers recently where they expressed concern with the cost of maize.

He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when visiting European Union (EU) Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, called on him.

The minister told the EU official that the Russia-Ukraine war has led to an increase in the cost of maize production.

Mr. Mtolo has however said Zambia is food secure although certain stakeholders are uncomfortable with the country’s decision to export to neighbouring countries because of the cost of maize.

“I had a meeting with them, they were very open to say ‘we are not going to go into maize if we are going to buy fertilizer at an equivalent of a 1,200 or 1,400 dollars per ton, what price would we sell the maize at, at that margin for us to make profit?” he said.

And European Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, said there is a need for African countries to be self-sufficient to avoid shocks that have come with the Russia-Ukraine war.

Mr. Wojciechowski said Zambia needs to increase crop production to levels where the country will not be affected by external shocks.

He said issues of global food insecurity need to be urgently addressed.

Mr. Wojciechowski observed that Zambia has a huge potential to increase agriculture production.

“Zambia has a huge potential which we can together give support and exchange of views, knowledge and experience on how to increase the production but in a sustainable way,” Mr. Wojciechowski.

Excess teachers from Lusaka schools to be redeployed to rural areas – TCZ

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Excess teachers from Lusaka schools to be redeployed to rural areas – TCZ

Teaching Service Commission of Zambia (TSCZ) chairperson, Daphne Chimuka says the commission will soon decongest teachers from schools in Lusaka district to some rural schools.

Ms. Chimuka stated that this exercise is expected to increase the number of teachers in some rural schools which have been noted to have a deficit despite the current recruitment of teachers.

She said the commission wants to ensure that schools in both urban and rural areas have adequate teachers to enable school going children to access quality education.

Ms. Chimuka said this when she addressed head teachers from various zones during a meeting held at Chongwe Secondary school in Chongwe district.

She implored the head teachers to welcome teachers who will soon be deployed to their respective schools and embrace the ideas they may present to improve education services offered to school going children.

“Most of the teachers you will receive at your schools are young and have stayed for years without working. Some of them will come with new innovative ideas because they are young. Do not intimidate them but instead embrace these ideas to see how best they can contribute towards improving the quality of education your schools are giving to children,” Ms. Chimuka said.

Ms. Chimuka said head teachers should set good examples for the new teachers by being professional and upholding the set standards of the country’s teaching practice.

She urged the head teachers to induct the new teachers to work in line with the existing systems of the education sector and ensure that they are not indisciplined as they carry out their duties.

Ms. Chimuka also encouraged school authorities to lobby for construction of teacher’s houses through the constituency development fund (CDF) from their communities to accommodate newly recruited teachers.

“Engage your communities and request that they consider constructing houses for the new teachers using some of the funds allocated to their wards under CDF,” she said.

She further assured all teaching staff and head teachers working in the country’s public schools who have not been confirmed despite working for many years that the commission and ministry of education are making efforts to ensure that teaching staff are confirmed immediately after probation.

Speaking during the same event, Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) Director for inspections, Fred Mwale called on head teachers and teachers to acquaint themselves with the legal framework and regulations which guide the teaching fraternity in the county.

Dr. Mwale stated that the guidelines have been established to foster professionalism among teachers.

He urged teachers across the country to take advantage of the online platform created by the council to process their applications for their practicing licenses.

And Chongwe Secondary school Head teacher, David Phiri who gave a vote of thanks assured TSCZ and TCZ that head teachers in Chongwe are ready to work with the new teachers who will be deployed to their schools adding that they will give them the necessary support.

Mr. Phiri said no teacher will be intimidated on the basis of tribe as the school heads in the district have proved to be professional in the manner in which they execute their duties.

Zambia receives over 2,5 million doses of vaccines under Covax facility

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Zambia receives over 2,5 million doses of vaccines under Covax facility

Zambia has received over 2.5 million doses of Johnson’s and Johnsons Covid 19 vaccines from Germany, Italy and Croatia through the Covax Facility.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Technical Services Lackson Kasonka who received the donation at Kenneth Kaunda international airport yesterday, said 1,296,000 doses have come from Germany, while, 1,267,200 doses are from Italy and 7,200 have come from Croatia.

Prof Kasonka said Zambia was nominated to be part of the beneficiaries of these donations through Covax Facility hence the donation.

He said that through the Covax Facility, Zambia had benefited about 7 million doses of Covid 19 vaccinations.

Prof Kasonka who thanked the three counties for their donations said this calls for Zambians to get vaccinated especially through this ongoing countrywide vaccination campaign.

He said the consignment received yesterday brings the total number of vaccines received in the country to about 12,976,810 doses.

And Germany Ambassador to Zambia, Anne Mitchell said the Republic of Germany will continue partnering with Zambia to ensure that the country successful fights the Covid 19 pandemic.

Ms Mitchell has since called on Zambians to get vaccinated and ensure that the cases of Covid 19 are reduced.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Country Representative, Penelope Campbell said UNICEF will also continue to support Zambia in the fight against covid-19 and other related health issues.

ACC officers accused of ransacking Lusambo’s house, disable CCTV as one Zebra dies

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ACC officers accused of ransacking Lusambo’s house, disable CCTV as one Zebra dies

Officers from the Anti Corruption Commission broke down the main front door to Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo’s house and accessed the inside of the property.

The officers also disabled the CCTV system on the property by removing the cables and tempering with the electronic wire fence.

During their newly two months of seizing the property, the ACC officers also saw the death of a male Zebra under their care.

This was revealed on Thursday when Mr. Lusambo toured the property with his family following an order by the Magistrate Court for the ACC to vacate the property.

The family has since decided not to move back into the house until it is forensically cleaned by security experts.

The ransacking of the property was against the seizure order that the ACC officers allegedly obtained which only allowed them to seize the property by changing locks to the main gates.

Mr. Lusambo described the behavior of your ACC officers as unprofessional and uncalled for.

“These are a bunch of unprofessional men and women masquerading as officers, they are so unprofessional that they jumped the security wall, disabled my CCTV and started messing around my house. When they got into my house, they started admiring my bed and telling each other that how can Bowman be sleeping on such an expensive bed which can pay for my salary for a year.”

He added, “they came to my house with a fake seizure notice. No Magistrate issued an order to seize my property, they lied and produced a fake notice which we challenged in court and this is why they have lost.”

Mr. Lusambo said what is going on is not a fight against corruption but political persecution.

“So the President doesn’t like Bowman, he instructs ACC to find something on him and when they fail, he tells them to just go and inconvenience him. Freeze his accounts and grab his house and this is what you are calling fight against corruption?”

Mr. Lusambo challenged President Hichilema to focus on fixing the economy and not fixing perceived political enemies.

CCTV cables cut off and disabled at Mr. Lusambo’s house
CCTV cables cut off and disabled at Mr. Lusambo’s house

Back entrance to Mr. Lusambo’s house whose glass door was brought down forcibly.
Back entrance to Mr. Lusambo’s house whose glass door was brought down forcibly.
Back entrance to Mr. Lusambo’s house whose glass door was brought down forcibly.
Back entrance to Mr. Lusambo’s house whose glass door was brought down forcibly.
Bowman Lusambo inspecting the house
Bowman Lusambo inspecting the house

Sautu: Local Call-Ups Hungry to Make Chipolopolo Cut

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Zesco United midfielder Spencer Sautu says his fellow home-based Chipolopolo call-ups are fighting very hard not just to make the numbers for June’s 2023 AFCON Group H qualifiers as Zambia prepares for its fourth attempt to qualifying for the biannual tournament.

Chipolopolo has not been to the AFCON since 2015 and the pressure is mounting for the team to stand up and be counted on the road to the Cote d’Ivoire finals.

Twenty two home-based players entered camp on Tuesday in Lusaka under Aljosa Asanovic to push for a place and join the foreign-based regulars who include Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu and Fashion Sakala for the June dates against Cote d’Ivoire and Comoros.

Sautu said the home-based crew is coming with the same enthusiasm from domestic completion that saw Red Arrows buck the trend to end Zesco and Zanaco’s almost 15-year duopoly of the FAZ Super League title.

“So you have seen just in the just ended FAZ Super League, it is equally the same with the players called-up in the national team. Everyone is pushing, everyone is equal to the task, everyone must just concentrate to fight for that position,” Sautu said.

“One cannot say there is no competition, competition will always be there because it is every players dream to don the national team jersey and play for their country.”

Chipolopolo kickoff their Group H campaign away against Cote d’Ivoire on June 4 in Abidjan and then hosts Comoros on June 7 in Lusaka.

“Yes, Ivory Coast is not a pushover, it is one of the best teams in Africa so for us in another way that is what is going to give us motivation to fight as a team,” Sautu said.

EU-Zambia partnership to change economic landscape-Nalumango

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EU-Zambia partnership to change economic landscape-Nalumango

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has described the just ended inaugural European Union (EU) -Zambia Economic Forum as a successful meeting that will change the economic landscape of Zambia.

Mrs. Nalumango said the forum must be used as a springboard to strengthen and remodel the longstanding trade and investment relations between Zambia and the EU.

Speaking when she officially closed the EU-Zambia Economic Forum, Mrs. Nalumango urged Zambian businesses to take a leading role in forging partnerships with EU firms and penetrate the European market.

She said the new dawn administration is determined to make the private sector the engine of the country’s economic recovery through growth and job creation.

“I am extremely excited with what has gone on in this forum, I am pleased to announce that the inaugural European Union-Zambia Business Forum has been a success,” declared Mrs. Nalumango.

She said the new level of EU-Zambia engagement should move away from mere cooperating partnership to business cooperation.

Mrs. Nalumango has since directed the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to assist all EU companies that attended the economic forum to actualise their deals, partnerships and export undertakings.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Commerce, Chipoka Mulenga, said it is important that Zambia begins to add value to her raw materials to achieve increased benefits from a large market which is presented by one of the world’s largest economies.

Mr. Mulenga said government has provided a platform that promotes an enabling environment for private sector growth and the development of entrepreneurship to spur national economic development.

The Commerce Minister has since urged the EU business leaders that attended the economic forum to sample Zambia’s tourism by visiting Livingstone at the end of the meeting.

Acting Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director, Alfred Halwampa, challenged the private sector to make the EU market Zambia’s new playground through exports.

“Zambia will make the EU a playground and ensure that goods are marketed there,” said Mr. Halwampa

He said ZDA is prepared to assist Zambian companies to meet EU market standards.

He said Zambia can triple her gross domestic product (GDP) from around US$30 billion to US$100 billion by actualising trade and investment partnerships with EU businesses.

Mr. Halwampa projected that in the next three years, Zambia should reach the levels of countries like Kenya that have aggressively penetrated the EU market and annually make US$300 million from exporting avocados and US$1.8 billion for flowers.

Deputy Head of the EU-Delegation to Zambia, Bruno Hanse, said the inaugural EU-Zambia economic forum has already produced results which need to be consolidated to bring about more benefits to Zambians.

Ambassador Hanse said Zambian businesses must engage in new partnerships to promote green growth in the economy.

He proposed that the forum should become a permanent feature to benefit both Zambian and EU businesses in unlocking and consolidating business opportunities.

Ministry of Technology, ASSECO sign MoU to digitalise ZAMPOST

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Ministry of Technology, ASSECO sign MoU to digitalise ZAMPOST

The Ministry of Technology and Science has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Polish ICT Company called ASSECO to invest 10 million Euros in digitalising Zampost and make it viable in the provision of digital services.

Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, said government , through Zampost and ASSECO, will create a joint venture company to oversee the digitisation transformation process.

“We are here to witness the beginning of the transformation of Zampost. Zampost will now be exposed to tested global technology, tested technology,” said Mr. Mutati.

The minister said the MoU will change the face of Zampost as it impacts the lives of Zambians in rural areas through solutions such as e-commerce and e-banking that will provide efficient and effective transactions.

He stated that government and ASSECO will sign a transactional contract to actualise the implementation of the project and achieve delivery.

Mr. Mutati further said the MoU will outline the road map to achieve the completion of the transaction.

He explained that the MoU is as a result of President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive that EU-Zambia partnerships should result in transactions that will help transform the lives of Zambians.

“We are responding to the directive by his Excellency yesterday that our colleagues who travelled all the way from Europe to Lusaka and Zambia should begin to leave some Euros in this country, because only money transforms lives. And therefore the Euros are beginning to drop and we are grateful to ASSECO,” he said.

Mr. Mutati said government is aware of the challenges that Zampost is facing.

He noted that the development will help address the problems and benefit not only Zampost but the entire country.

The minister said government is determined to advance digital transformation in the country that will change government operations and the provision of service delivery.

Mr. Mutati said the government is committed to connecting people in urban and rural areas and promote affordable and accessible services in a digital era.

And ASSECO Senior Director for International Business, Pawel Hansdorfer, said his company is committed to supporting the government in its efforts to digitalise its institutions.

Mr. Hansdorfer revealed that ASSECO is the sixth largest software company, with a workforce of 28,000 people and operations in more than 60 countries, of which 10 are in Africa.

He said ASSECO will develop new solutions to assist government institutions such as Zampost to develop new services that will bring new streams of revenue in a digital era.

“The main focus of our agreement is to develop new solutions and new services for Zambian Post, that Zambian Post should have the ability to open in a digital era new revenues for them,” said Mr. Hansdorfer.

He said the new digital solutions for Zampost will benefit Zambians in peri-urban areas as well as the government to promote connectivity among people.

Mr. Hansdorfer said ASSECO will commence the project before the end of the year to help resurrect and reposition Zampost in the digital era.

And EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, said he is delighted that partnerships are already being engaged between Zambia and EU businesses following the EU-Zambia Economic Forum.

He said he was looking forward to the actualisation of the contract and partnerships.

Mr. Wojciechowski said Zampost plays a critical role in providing connectivity in rural areas and the partnership with ASSECO will enhance service delivery.

Meanwhile, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Elias Mubanga, said his ministry will strive to ensure that SMEs benefit from the MoU and drive the partnerships to actualise the projects.

Mr. Mubanga said the MoU with ASSECO is one avenue that will help in creating jobs in the SME sector for Zambians.

And Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, congratulated the parties for signing a milestone MoU as a result of the EU-Zambia Economic Forum.

Mr. Mulenga said the development of striking deals and transactions is what President Hichilema wants.

He stated that such partnerships are central to helping the government achieve its objective of repairing the economy in order to improve the lives of Zambians.

The minister said Zambia needs strategic partners such as the EU to attain its economic transformation agenda, adding that the MoU between the government and ASSECO will provide benefits to Zambians.

DEC Arrests 9 people for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in over 767 Kilograms of cannabis

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DEC Arrests 9 people for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in over 767 Kilograms of cannabis

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested nine (9) people from various parts of the country for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in over 767 Kilograms of cannabis contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

DEC Public Relations Officer Mathias Kamanga has confirmed that the nine suspects arrested in Luapula, Southern, Muchinga and North Western Provinces are detained in police custody and will appear in court.

Mr. Kamanga said DEC has arrested Alex Chanda, a male aged 22 years of Daison Village in Nchelenge District in Luapula Province for trafficking in 3,261 balls of cannabis weighing 8.86 Kilograms.

“In Luapula Province, the Commission has arrested Alex Chanda, a male aged 22 years of Daison Village in Nchelenge District for trafficking in 3,261 balls of cannabis weighing 8.86 Kilograms. In a separate incident, the Commission has arrested Vincent Mwape, a male aged 57 years of Chabala Village in Chembe District for trafficking in 52 Kilograms of loose cannabis,” Mr. Kamanga revealed.

He disclosed that further the Commission has arrested Davis Kasongo, a male aged 36 years of Mwansabombwe Village in Chembe District in Luapula for trafficking in 22 Kilograms of loose cannabis.

“Another suspect identified as Sam Mwanakatwe Chiluba, a male aged 29 years of Chief Nsonga area in Milenge District has been arrested for unlawful cultivation of 10.2 Kilograms of fresh cannabis plants. Further the Commission has arrested Davis Kasongo, a male aged 36 years of Mwansabombwe Village in Chembe District for trafficking in 22 Kilograms of loose cannabis,” he said.

Mr. Kamanga added:”In Southern Province, the Commission has arrested Harry Bubala, a male aged 53 years of Kataba Area in Mazabuka District for unlawful cultivation of 610 Kilograms of cannabis plants and trafficking in 713 grams of cannabis.”

Mr. Kamanga said a 59 year old man of Chinsali District has been arrested for unlawful cultivation of 15 Kilograms of fresh cannabis.

“In Muchinga Province, the Commission has arrested Kenneth Bowa, a male aged 29 years of Chifumu Village in Chinsali District for unlawful cultivation of 35.6 Kilograms of fresh cannabis plants and trafficking in 8.6 Grams of loose cannabis. In a separate incident, the Commission has arrested Osward Siwakwi, a male aged 59 years of the same Village in Chinsali District for unlawful cultivation of 15 Kilograms of fresh cannabis plants and trafficking in 20 Grams of loose cannabis and 4.8 Grams of cannabis seeds,” he stated.

Mr. Kamanga concluded:”In North-Western Province, the Commission has arrested Elvis Kalinyongi, a male aged 35 years of Kewumba Area in Ikelengi District for trafficking in 8 Kilograms of loose cannabis. In a separate incident, Larry Sachandu, a male aged 28 years of Kachiza Area has been arrested for trafficking in 5.4 Kilograms of loose cannabis. The suspects are currently in police custody and will appear in court.”

Lusambo gets back his house as Court rules that warrant of seizure was irregularly issued to ACC

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Lusambo gets back his house as Court rules that warrant of seizure was irregularly issued to ACC

The Lusaka Magistrate Court has today ruled that the warrant of seizure on Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo’s house be set aside.

The ruling means that Mr. Lusambo can now take possession of the property located Lusaka’s Chamba Valley area.

The Anti Corruption Commission had on April 13th 2022 seized Mr. Lusambo’s property on allegations that the property was acquired from proceeds of crime.

But Lusaka Magistrate Albert Mwaba ruled that the document which was issued as warrant of seizure on 13 April, 2022, be and is hereby set aside.

Magistrate Mwaba stated that Mr. Lusambo’s lawyers had argued that the properties in question were already under a restriction notice issued by the Anti- Corruption Director General when the court issued the warrant of seizure in question and that the lawyer for the state never countered this issue, and thus, it goes without saying that a restriction notice was in force at the time the warrant of seizure was issued.

“From the definition of seizure under the Anti-Corruption Act no 3 of 2012, it is clear that both warrant and restriction notice have same effect. Therefore, applying for a warrant of seizure on a properties subject of a restriction notice was nothing but an abuse of process,” the ruling read in part.

Magistrate Mwaba charged the warrant of seizure was irregularly issued as an affidavit in support was not filed in court as required by law.

“To cap it all, the said warrant of seizure does not serve the purpose for which it was intended. And even if it did, it could still not be in order to have both warrant of seizure and restriction notice on the same properties in force at the same time,” he ruled.

“For the foregoing, the application to set aside the document which prima facie is warrant of seizure is allowed.”

Rural women prone to climate change

Support Editor
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Rural women prone to climate change

Women’s Life and Wellness Foundation Acting Executive Director Natasha Sakala has said Rural women are the most hit by effects of climate change.

SMrs Sakala said in the Lukolongo area of Kafue district after a community engagement awareness meeting on climate change, that  women feel the major impact of climate change because of their role in taking care of families.

She said women especially in rural areas where they  have to travel long distances to fetch water and collect firewood to prepare meals.

Ms. Sakala said there is a need to find ways of mitigating the impact of climate change on women.

“The work we are doing under this project is amplifying voices for women and young smallholder farmers. We are not limiting our work to farmers only but to women because they are the ones who   feel the greatest brunt of climate change,” she said

Ms. Sakala said creating an enabling environment for women to speak out and propose solutions to the effects of climate change could be one way of cautioning the impact on women

She noted that her organization is interested in establishing the challenges that women face in communities as a result of climate change and finding ways of alleviating them.

“We want to ensure that Climate Action speaks to the challenges that women face,” she said

And Lukolongo ward Women’s Clubs Chairperson Mary Dimba said women in the area are faced with a number of challenges that hinder them from contributing to economic development.

She said most women do have land where they can do farming activities and to the few that have land, they have no market to sell their products adding that as a result of this their products go to waste

She appealed to Women’s Life and Wellness to help the women in Lukolonga to find a market for their products.

“In this area, there are very few women that own land, we are appealing to you to help the women be empowered with land and for the few that have land, please help them to find a market for their product,” she said.

Bank of Zambia refused to pay ransom to hackers

Chief Editor
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Bank of Zambia refused to pay ransom to hackers

The Bank of Zambia says it refused to pay ransom to a group known as Hive that was behind a cybersecurity breach that caused minimal damage to its systems last week.

Last week, the Central Bank disclosed that recent technical outages resulted from a cyberattack.

“All of our core systems are still up and running,” Greg Nsofu, information and communications technology director at the Bank of Zambia, told Journalists in Lusaka.

“The disruption, which affected some systems at the Bank such as the Bureau De Change Monitoring System and the Website, emanated from a suspected cybersecurity incident. We wish to advise that these systems have since been fully restored.”

“Not much sensitive data has actually been shipped out.”

Mr. Nsofu said, “So we pretty much told them where to get off,” confirming that it was someone affiliated with the bank who responded to Hive.

After suffering a ransomware attack by the Hive operation, the Bank of Zambia made it clear that they were not going to pay by posting a picture of male genitalia and telling the hackers to s… (well, you can use your imagination).

While the Bank of Zambia did not disclose the details of the cyberattack, BleepingComputer learned that the attack was conducted by the Hive ransomware operation, which claimed to have encrypted the bank’s Network Attached Storage (NAS) device.

However, instead of paying the ransom, the bank representatives responded to the ransom negotiation by making fun of the hacker’s ’14m3-sk1llz.’

They then proceeded to post a link to a dick pic while stating, “suck this dick and stop locking bank networks thinking that you will monetize something, learn to monetize.”

BleepingComputer has contacted the Bank of Zambia with further questions about this incident but has not received a response.

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