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Zambia should have abstained, invasion of Ukraine was a complex problem with no simplistic solution

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Zambia should have abstained, invasion of Ukraine was a complex problem with no simplistic solution

By Fanny Kalonda

NEW Heritage Party president Chishala Kateka has wondered the real reason the UPND government voted against Russia on its invasion of Ukraine during the recent UN General Assembly vote.

In an interview, Kateka said rather than being drawn into a battle that does not involve the country, the founding fathers used wisdom and declared Zambia a Non-Aligned nation.

Recently, Russia’s deputy Head of Mission in Zambia, Dmitry Yudin said his country did not expect Zambia to vote against its invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly.

But the Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana, Liubov Abravitova appealed to the Zambian government to suspend its diplomatic ties with Russia and ask President Vladimir Putin to ceasefire in her country.

Ambassador Abravitova said the Zambian voice was important and called on world leaders to speak against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, Kateka said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a complex problem with no simplistic solution, adding that Zambia should have abstained.

“We have had strong ties with both the West and the East (in this case Russia). Rather than being drawn into a battle that does not involve us, is the reason why our founding fathers used wisdom and declared Zambia a Non-Aligned Nation. We are of the considered view that Zambia should have abstained in this matter,” she told The Mast.

“We ask ourselves the question, what was the real reason the UPND government voted in this manner?”

Kateka has since advised the government to critically understand the genesis of the conflict which she said did not arise as a result of the desire by Russia to be a warmongering nation.

“Whilst recognizing that war and conflict between nations is not to be desired nor encouraged, it is very critical that as a nation, Zambia understands the genesis of this conflict which has not arisen as a result of the desire by Russia to be a warmongering and nation-devouring bully as has been portrayed. But has arisen as a result of the fact that Russia is just as intent on safeguarding its borders as other nations are,” said Kateka.

“Zambia has bilateral relations with a number of nations including Russia, Ukraine, the USA, and China to mention a few. Zambia has a foreign policy and thus when an issue arises such as this invasion, the government is best guided by that foreign policy. Zambia voted with 140 other nations for a United Nations resolution against Russia’s aggression on Ukraine. As New Heritage Party, we are very aware that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations fully understands this background very well but opted to vote against Russia’s aggression.”

Government Begins implementation of the Biometric Enabled National Registration Cards

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Government Begins implementation of the Biometric Enabled National Registration Cards

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu has told Parliament that the Government through his ministry has commenced the implementation of the Integrated National Registration Information system (INRIS) in Lusaka and 10 other districts.

The INRIS is the national and civil registration management information system which is intended to provide biometric enabled national registration cards and issuance of birth and death certificates by the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security through the department of national registration, passports and citizenship.

In a Ministerial Statement delivered in Parliament recently, Mr. Mwiimbu said the development of the INRIS has been completed and the hardware connectivity configuration has been set up.

He said the INRIS has also been successfully deployed in eleven (11) districts namely: Choma, Livingstone, Mongu, Solwezi, Ndola, Mansa, Kasama, Chinsali, Chipata, Lusaka and Kabwe.

“The ministry is charged with the responsibility of conducting national and civil registration. In addition, the ministry is authorized to issue travel documents and facilitate the acquisition of citizenship. The mandate is derived from the national registration act cap 126, passport act 28 of 2016, citizenship act number 33 of 2016, birth and death registration act cap 51, marriage act cap 50 and the adoption act cap 54 of the laws of Zambia. National registration covers registration of all eligible persons and issuing them with appropriate national registration cards, as legal identity, in accordance with the national registration act chapter 126 of the laws of Zambia,” Mr. Mwiimbu said.

“Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that, in 1965, the country started the issuance of national registration cards to citizens aged 16 years and above using a manual and paper based system. Since then, the manual and paper based system has not changed despite it being susceptible to fraud and other abuses. The manual system has also failed to respond to demands arising from continued growth in population and rapid changes in technology which has resulted in problems such as duplication of national registration card (NRC) numbers, identity fraud and challenges in records management. Madam speaker, the current manual based system lacks mechanisms to prevent foreigners from registering as Zambians, especially during outreach programmes such as the mobile issuance of national registrations in border areas. Registration officers solely depend on the use of affidavits to register a person. The INRIS, however, will assign a national identity number at birth as opposed to when a citizen is 16 years old. This will make it very difficult for any ineligible person to register as a Zambian citizen,” Mr. Mwiimbu stated.

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security said the integrated national registration information system will provide wider services beyond the issuance of biometric enabled digital NRC’s and civil registration.

“The benefits of INRIS will include: a) Enhanced security system through proper identification of citizens. Individuals will not easily change their identity as the case may be for some re-offenders; b) the biometric identification system will contribute towards promotion of good governance and reduced cost of voter registration. the system will enhance the electoral process by facilitating effective voter registration and identification;c) government will minimise wasteful expenditure as ministries, provinces and other spending agencies will not need to invest in similar biometric identification infrastructure but ride on the INRIS platform;d) optimisation of administration of various public service systems: such as strengthened tax administration by broadening the tax base, strengthened social services administration by preventing double dipping and ineligible beneficiaries and promotion of health insurance administration by providing unique identity for beneficiaries; and e) the biometric enabled digital NRC with financial wallets will contribute towards financial inclusion among the unbanked population,” Mr. Mwiimbu said.

The Monze Central Member of Parliament revealed that the implementation exercise is estimated to cost a total of K1,069,366,200.

“In addition, the house may wish to note that enrolment for those obtaining national registration cards has commenced in the above-mentioned districts which includes; capturing of biometrics and registration of births as well as issuance of birth certificate using the system. Further, to curb the problem of ghost workers on the payroll in the public service, the government has prioritised enrolment of all public service workers,” Mr. Mwiimbu said.

He concluded:”Finally, I would like to assure the nation through this august house that the ministry of home affairs through the department of national registration, passport and citizenship will do its best in ensuring that all citizens and eligible residents are uniquely identified to promote internal security and also to enhance service delivery by both government and the private sector. The ministry is collaborating with stakeholders to make sure that this exercise is successfully undertaken. I, therefore, wish to implore the general public to appreciate the value of this migration and to cooperate during this very important national programme as routine enrolment has commenced, while field mobile enrolments are planned to commence as soon as resources are made available. The exercise is estimated to cost a total of ZMW 1,069,366,200. This includes deploying of the system to district offices, enrolment of citizens through routine and mobile registration as well as issuance of cards.”

Zambia following with keen interest the ongoing elections in Somalia -HH

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Zambia following with keen interest the ongoing elections in Somalia -HH

President Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia is following with keen interest the ongoing elections in the Federal Republic of Somalia with the view of ensuring they are successful.

President Hichilema says Zambia values its relations with the Somali government and that the two need to ensure they cooperate for the purpose of creating a successful economic agenda for the people without which they would fail.

Meanwhile, the Head of State says Zambia’s message on peace remains consistent as it believes instability in any country affects all.

Speaking when he received Somali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at state house today, President Hichilema said security concerns in the region indicate the need for more collaboration among countries in ensuring peace prevails and security guaranteed.

Meanwhile, Somali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Abdisaid Muse Ali commended the Zambian government for ensuring Zambia has a conducive business environment.

Mr. Muse Ali has also invited President Hichilema to visit Somalia saying that country’s President Muhammed Faraai Hamaarjo also desires to visit Zambia.

Somali Ambassador to Zambia, Madam Hawa H. Mohamed.
Somali Ambassador to Zambia, Madam Hawa H. Mohamed.

Polio outbreak could be looming in Mafinga following cases in neighboring Malawi

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Polio outbreak could be looming in Mafinga following cases in neighboring Malawi

The Ministry of Health in Mafinga district in Muchinga Province has alerted the residents of a Polio outbreak in the neighboring Malawi.

This was disclosed during an Epidemic Preparedness meeting that was held in the District Council Chambers last Friday.

Mafinga District Health Director Philip Munkonge said that as a result of the outbreak in Malawi, government will be undertaking a National Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) campaign.

Dr. Munkonge said that the vaccination will be done in four rounds adding that the first round will see the vaccination of children under the age of five from Muchinga, Lusaka and Eastern provinces.

He further stated that the campaign will be carried out over a period of four days from the 24th to 27th March, 2022 and that it is going to be a door to door campaign adding that the vaccine can also be accessed at health facilities.

Dr. Munkonge explained that it is important for Mafinga district to carry out mass vaccination as the district borders Malawi and chances of the outbreak spreading into Mafinga district are high.

“There is a high interaction rate between the two countries as people from both countries cross borders every day as a result the disease could easily be spread,” he said.

The Health Director has encouraged parents to get their children under the age of five vaccinated against polio as a sure way of protection as there is no known cure for polio.

“Unfortunately, there is currently no known cure for Polio so the only sure way of protection against Polio is getting vaccinated against it,” he said.

On Thursday 17th February 2022, the Republic of Malawi alerted the Zambian government through the Ministry of Health of the polio outbreak indicating that a confirmed case of a three year old girl of Lilongwe had been recorded.

Queen Elizabeth II and others pays tribute to Late President Rupiah Banda

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Queen Elizabeth II and others pays tribute to Late President Rupiah Banda

Queen Elizabeth II has sent a message of condolences to President Hakainde Hichilema and the people of Zambia on the death of the fourth Republican President, Rupiah Banda.

In her message to President Hichilema yesterday, the Queen has described the late former President, Mr. Banda, as a ceaseless advocate for peace, reconciliation, and democracy, who had a lifelong record of service to the people of Zambia.

She expressed profound sadness that Zambia has, in less than one year, had to lose a second great statesman after the death of founding President, Kenneth Kaunda last year.

Queen Elizabeth II has however urged Zambians to take pride in the legacy of Mr. Banda and Dr. Kaunda for their leadership to the nation.

Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She is also the Head of the Commonwealth.

This is contained in a press statement made available to the media in Lusaka yesterday by President Hichilema’s Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya.

Meanwhile, Britain has eulogized the late fourth republican president Rupiah Banda and described him as a wonderful ambassador for Zambia and a great ally of the United Kingdom (UK).

British High Commissioner to Zambia, Nicholas Woolley, said the late president was enthusiastic in increasing the links of the two nations in football, technology and science.

Mr. Wooley noted that Queen Elizabeth II has written to the government of Zambia personally expressing her deepest condolences and the demise of Mr. Banda.

“The Queen has acknowledged the important role he had for all Zambians as a peace builder,” he said.

Mr. Woolley said this when He and his Wife, Debra Woolley, conveyed their condolences to the former first lady, Thandiwe Banda, at Belvedere lodge in Lusaka today.

Belvedere lodge in Lusaka has been designated as a place where people mourning the late Mr. Banda will gather.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government said Mr. Banda made an outstanding contribution toward the development of the Zambia-China Friendship Association (ZCFA).

And Chinese Embassy Charge d’ Affaires, Lai Bo, said the late Mr. Banda will be remembered as an old friend for the Chinese people.

He added that the Chinese Embassy believes that the Zambia-China relations will continue to bear fruits.

“I wish to express our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to you and the bereaved family,” he said.

And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Ryuta Mizuuchi said Mr. Banda will be remembered for the solidarity he shared when he visited the embassy after the great earthquake happened in Japan in 2011.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Joe Malanji, commended the late Mr. Banda for enhancing international relations between Zambia and other countries during and after his tenure as president.

Mr. Malanji disclosed that Zambia partly benefited in terms of infrastructure development that were successful due to the legacy and interactions the late Mr. Banda had with other countries.

A breast-cancer patient in Ndola’s Kaloko Township appeales for financial assistance to access treatment

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A breast-cancer patient in Ndola’s Kaloko Township appeales for financial assistance to access treatment

A breast-cancer patient in Ndola’s Kaloko Township of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency is struggling to get treatment due financial challenges.

42-year old Mercy Mwewa, who had tumor on the right breast, has appealed for financial assistance to enable her continue cancer treatment in Lusaka.

This information came to light when Independent Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Warren Chisha Mwambazi donated a wheelchair to Ms. Mwewa at her home in Kaloko.

Cancer has confined Ms Mwewa in the house for more than six months.

Mwambazi donated a wheelchair to Ms Mwewa with food stuff and blankets.

Ms. Mwewa thanked Mr. Mwambazi for the donation and asked for further help to enable her get treatment.

“I am very happy to receive the wheelchair because I am now able to come outside the house. Today I am able to see outside and now my child will be moving me outside unlike in the past. I thank all who have brought me this wheelchair they have done a good job. May God bless them,” Ms. Mwewa told reporters with difficulties.

“Let them also help me to buy divine none medication for my problem. The medicine will help me recover. Let them just buy me four bottles of the medicine, it is K750 each. Please let them help me the same way they have helped me with the wheelchair. May God touch them to help me. Please people help me,” she said.

Mr. Mwambazi said leaders such as councilors and Members of Parliament have a duty to help the needy in society.

“We are here in Kaloko Ward this morning to visit a community member who has been suffering after undergoing two operations due to breast Cancer. We in the company of area councilor Mathew Musonda delivered some food stuffs to help her and her family. We also gave her a wheelchair to help with Mobility. This is our mother, she is from the constituency and our ward so when we saw his appeal on news, I think it was imperative that we just come and visit looking at her condition so that we can help. These people are relying on us civic leaders as Members of Parliament, there Councilors so that we can see how we can render help,” Mr. Mwambazi said.

“You can see she is in pain and she has been suffering for a long time. She has done chemotherapy, she can’t walk so we thought let is help her with a wheelchair so that even people who are helping her can have easy access because she was just being lifted. Now they can have access to move in and out of the house. I also came with the councilor because he is always there in the ward so going forward he can be coming to check on her, we give her some supplies, from the clinic they can give us some pain killers and bandages. It is a very sad situation but for us we have come to see what we can do and help,” Mr. Mwambazi said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Mwewa discovered her condition in 2018 after giving birth to her sixth child and she underwent surgical operation at Ndola Teaching Hospital.

She explained that in 2019 she observed a growth on the breast which had been operated on and upon bringing to the attention of hospital staff.

Ms. Mwewa was transferred to Lusaka for treatment.

She said her husband abandoned her six months ago after giving birth to a visually impaired child whom she has since given out for foster care to the Social Welfare Office

Ms. Mwewa says her firstborn son aged 17 who is in grade 10 and is visually impaired has since dropped out of school to nurse her since her health has deteriorated.

Fourth Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda died a peaceful man

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Fourth Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda died a peaceful man

Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s former Press Aid and confidant Dickson Jere says the Fourth Republican President died a peaceful man after hearing that the people of Zambia cherished his contribution to national development.

Mr. Banda died last Friday evening at his residence in Lusaka aged 85.

He had been undergoing cancer treatment after he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon.

Featuring on ZNBC Television’s Sunday Interview, Mr. Jere, who appeared emotional during the interview anchored by Grevasio Zulu, revealed his last encounter with Mr. Banda a day before his death.

“A day before he died, I took Fr. Thomas Charlie from the Anglican Church. I didn’t tell him that I was coming with the Pastor or the Priest. I went there with Fr. Thomas and when I walked in the room, he was seated in the chair, bright of course and he said huh….Dickson mwaniletela a Pastor, I said yes he has not seen you in a long time and we sat for about a good 30 minutes just chatting different things. Then we went into prayer so we prayed and he said ‘I am at peace’. Then he turned to Fr. Charlie and he said Dickson always knows what to bring to me so he knows the best guy to come and have a prayer with me. He is my own Thomas Charlie so we chatted, we discussed the weather, and that there was a nice breath coming,” Mr. Jere disclosed.

“That was the same day the President (Hakainde Hichilema) was coming to see him, he had been talking about his daughter singing, and showed us a video. It was a normal day. That was a day before he died. I mean he was not doing too well but we were all pretty sure that he was going to come out,” he said.

“A day before he died when I said I took Fr. Charlie Thomas that is what exactly he told him. Fr. Thomas said ‘President, you know it is only now that most of us Zambians are appreciating what you have done for the country’. It is only now that when we look at the figures, the inflation, exchange rate, GDP of the country, the bumper harvest, all indicators are beautiful.

And he said I wanted you to know telling President Banda, I wanted you to know that we are appreciating the role you played and he (RB) turned he said my young friend here Dickson records everything, he is my recorder, he knows about how passionate I feel about that. I hope one day, Zambians will wake up and say I meant well but now that Father you are telling me people are appreciating me, I am at peace,” Mr. Jere narrated.

RB facilitated a smooth handover of power after the last August general election in which President Hakainde Hichilema defeated incumbent Edgar Lungu.

Mr. Jere said he did not know whether to mourn or celebrate RB.

“I have been struggling. I have had a split personality ever since he died. I don’t know whether to continue breaking down crying or to celebrate. You know first and foremost I got touched. I got a voice message from one of his sons, Nenani. You know when he (RB) died he just decided that he was going to do this voice note to me as a thank you from the family that the role you played nobody can explain it and before we all get into this funeral thing I wanted to say thank you. You looked after the old man; you did what you could and if you didn’t know this man appreciated it. And he said let’s celebrate his life,” Mr. Jere said.

Mr. Banda was a politician and diplomat.

The former Republican Vice-President ruled Zambia from 2008 to 2011 after the death of then President Patrick Mwanawasa.

Who is Zambia’s ‘Father of the Nation’?

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Who is Zambia’s ‘Father of the Nation’?

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

In Zambia, the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ formally belongs to founding president Kenneth Kaunda, who retains it even in death, as it is neither inheritable nor transferable. (Although the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ is already taken, the title of Zambia’s ‘Father of Corruption’ is still available or up for grabs. With many worthy candidates, the competition is stiff.)

The ‘Father of the Nation’ honour was conferred on Kaunda by President Levy Mwanawasa at a specially organised state ceremony on 15 January 2003 in recognition of his role in the liberation of Zambia and the creation of the newly independent country.

The phrase ‘Father of the Nation’ gained considerable currency in recent times, but it has long historical roots. It goes back to the emergence of nations such as the United States of America in the eighteenth century whose constitutional writers became known as the ‘Founding Fathers’ in subsequent years.

It was also previously used to refer to the rulers of the British (e.g., King George III who reigned from 1738 to1820) and Late Ottoman (e.g., the Sultan) empires who were seen as watching over and caring for all their subjects as a way of consolidating their power and unifying people of different faiths, eth­nic, and social origins into one political body or ‘nation-state’.

In the early and middle parts of the twentieth century, the ‘Father of the Nation’ concept was appropriated by dictators in countries such as Zaire, Russia, and North Korea as a coercive strategy of reinforcing their authority and building legitimacy. Attempts to challenge such rulers were often criminalised, as they were seen as a direct threat to the unity, harmony, and healthy body of the nation-state as a whole. Personality cults emerged within this context as collaborative interactional enterprises jointly created, modified, and sustained by cultic leaders and their followers.

In Africa, the idea of ‘Father of the Nation’ is closely tied to the struggle against colonialism. Following the achievement of independence or majority rule, African nationalists who had formally led the struggle against colonial rule and white minority regimes became known as ‘Founding Fathers’ in their respective countries. The individual figures who, for strategic reasons, served as the spearhead of the nationalist movement in each country, mainly those who went on to become the first presidents of the newly created independent states, were accorded the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ in recognition of the effective leadership they provided during the liberation struggle and rendered to the cause of nation building in the early years of independence.

These included Léopold Senghor in Senegal, Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, Nnamdi Azikiwe in Nigeria, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Sam Nujoma in Namibia, both Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and indeed Kaunda in Zambia.

As is the case with several countries in Africa, Zambia did not exist before the achievement of independence, so the title of ‘Father of the Nation’ almost has a literal meaning, equivalent to actually “giving birth to” a nation. This is because the first president and his nationalist colleagues had to name the territory and create a cohesive nation from previously self-governing ethnic-language groups that had, prior to the imposition of colonial rule, existed as independent kingdoms.

Mwanawasa’s recognition of Kaunda as ‘Father of the Nation’ was also a rehabilitation of the stature of the founding president after the horrible treatment that he suffered at the hands of the Fredrick Chiluba-led MMD administration over the course of the 1991-2001 period. For instance, following his removal from office in 1991, Kaunda was stripped of his Zambian citizenship before the government tried to have him deported to Malawi, from where his parents originated. When this plan failed, the MMD, fearful of defeat, introduced a constitutional clause that required a presidential candidate to have both parents born in Zambia, effectively excluding Kaunda from running in the 1996 elections and prompting the main opposition party, UNIP, to boycott the polls.

Kaunda also survived an assassination attempt on 23 August 1997 when police opened fire on a mass rally he was addressing as head of an 11-opposition party alliance, nearly killing him. (Another opposition leader, Rodger Chongwe, needed emergency surgery after the same bullet that wounded Kaunda hit him.) A few months later, Kaunda was arrested, alongside 80 others, and charged with treason in connection with a failed coup attempt against Chiluba in October 1997. After spending months in Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison, the state dropped the treason charge against him on 1 June 1998 when trial was due to start.

What is deeply problematic about the notion of ‘Father of the Nation’ is that it reinforces patriarchal tendencies by overlooking the fundamental role of women in the liberation struggle and the creation of Zambia. In other words, the struggle for independence was not fought by men alone. In fact, no historic struggle has ever been fought and won by men only. This begs the question: if Kenneth Kaunda is the ‘Father of the Nation’, who is Zambia’s ‘Mother of the Nation’? After all, to have a father, there must be a mother, no?

MONDAY PRO’S HIT LIST: Mwepu Returns After Injury Layoff

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Enock Mwepu is back from injury while the Kangwa brothers continue find goals in Russia.


=TANZANIA
Midfielder Rally Bwalya was in the starting XI for Simba in Sunday’s 1-0 home win over Moroccan side RS Berkane before being substituted in the 78th minute of their CAF Confederation Cup Group D match in Dar es Salaam.

=DR CONGO
Defender Kabaso Chongo played the full 90 minutes of TP Mazembe’s 2-2 away draw against Cotonsport on Sunday in Cameroon.
Defender Tandi Mwape was an unused substitute of the CAF Confederation Cup Group C fixture.

=SOUTH AFRICA
-Amazulu: Midfielder Augustine Mulenga started for Amazulu in Saturdays CAF Champions League Group B 2-0 away loss to ES Setif in Algeria and was substituted in the 89th minute.

-Mamelodi Sundowns: Kennedy Mweene was in goals in Saturdays CAF Champions League Group A 1-0 home win over Al Ahly of Egypt.


=RUSSIA
Striker Evans Kangwa scored Arsenal Tula’s only goal in the 30th minute of Saturdays 4-1 home loss to Dinamo Moscow.
Evans was substituted in the 81st minute while his brother Klings played the full 90 minutes.
Last weekend , it was Klings who was on target in their 2-2 away draw at Sovetov.

=DENMARK
-Midtjylland: Midfielder Edward Chilufya came on in the 70th minute of Midtjylland’s 1-0 home loss to FC Copenhagen on Sunday.

-Horsens: Midfielder Lubambo Musonda played the full 90 minutes of Horsen’s 0-0 home draw against Esbjerg.

=ENGLAND
-Brighton: Midfielder Enock Mwepu returned from his two-month injury hiatus on Saturday but was an unused substitute in Brighton’s 2-0 home loss to Liverpool.
-Leicester City: Striker Patson Daka came on in the 74th minute of Sunday’s 2-0 away loss at Arsenal.


=SCOTLAND
Striker Fashion Sakala came on in the 66th minute of Rangers 3-3 away draw against Ross County but was not on target for the defending Scottish champions.

World Bank commends Government for steps in economic recovery

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World Bank commends Government for steps in economic recovery

The World Bank has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for the ambitious steps he has taken to recover the economy.

World Bank Executive Director, Eva Valle-Maestro said the ambitious program the President has undertaken, such as restoring the rule of law and fighting corruption should be commended.

Ms Valle-Maestro noted that for this reason, the World Bank will stand ready and ensure that Zambia is supported financially.

ZANIS reports that the Ms Valle-Maestro said this when Executive Directors from the World Bank meet President Hakainde Hichilema at State House in Lusaka today.

She said the team have come to hear and learn from President Hichilema on what plans he has for Zambia and how the World Bank can help.

And President Hakainde Hichilema said the World Bank have come at a critical time when the country needs them due to some challenges faced.

The Head of State said government will ensure that all the projects are completed and that quality work is not compromised.

He said with the coming of the World Bank government also wants to ensure that it lowers the cost of living for its people which has been a challenge for a long time.

Mr Hichilema however, stated that people should stop looking at the IMF and World Bank as enemies but as partners.

Sister sends brother to jail for theft of K21, 000, personal effects

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Sister sends brother to jail for theft of K21, 000, personal effects

Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Courts has sentenced a 28-year-old Livingstone man to one-year imprisonment for breaking into his elder sister’s house and stealing a safe containing K 21,000

Before Magistrate Edward Banda was Peter Chiinda of Highlandss compound in Livingstone, who was visiting his sister in Kapiri Mposhi when he committed the offence and was indicted on one count of theft contrary to Section 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Chiinda, on 2nd March, 2022, broke into his sister’s bedroom and stole a safe in it was K 21,000 cash, academic certificates and a Passport the property of Mercy Chiinda, 48, the complainant in this matter from Riverside compound in Kapiri Mposhi.

According to written facts in the matter, on the said day, Mercy Chiinda secured her bedroom and went for work but upon returning home around 18:00 hours discovered that the safe where she keeps money and personal documents had gone missing.

The complainant reported the matter to police having in mind the visiting brother from Livingstone, who had remained home at that time, as a prime suspect.

And upon being interrogated by police Chiinda admitted to have stolen the safe which he later forcibly opened to steal the money from it.

Chiinda further disclosed that he discarded the safe into a shallow well at a home in Riverside compound but police could not retrieve the safe as the well was too deep.

However, police managed to recover only K 9,400 from Chiinda upon which he was formally charged for the subject offence and arrested.

Chiinda pleaded guilty as charged.

In mitigation Chiinda asked his sister for forgiveness and the court to exercise maximum leniency on him as he was keeping two young children orphaned by his other sister.

But in passing judgement, Magistrate Banda wondered why Chiinda decided to steal from his sister instead of protecting her from thieves.

“Why would you do that to your sister? You are supposed to protect her instead. And the rest of the money where did you take it? In future, be your sisters protector because money is so hard to come by nowadays. She had plans to use that money but you have put her in a bad situation now,” Magistrate Banda said.

Magistrate Banda then condemned Chiinda to a one year imprisonment with hard labour sentence and ordered that the K 9,400 recovered money be returned to the owner forthwith.

Unreported teen pregnancies escalate in Chiawa

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Unreported teen pregnancies escalate in Chiawa

Concerns have risen following increased reports of teen pregnancies that are not being reported in Chiawa ward in Kafue constituency.

Chiawa Ward Councilor Jones Katiyo says though there are no proper records, he has been receiving more reports of teen pregnancies which was not the case in the past.

Mr. Katiyo told ZANIS in an interview that cases go unreported due to long distances that people have to cover to the nearest police station.

“People are reluctant to walk a distance of 29 Kilometers to report these cases,” he says.

Mr. Katiyo notes that nothing is being done to curb the situation adding that there are also many cases of defilement.

He stressed the need to build a Police Post in the area to ensure that cases of defilement are reported and perpetrators brought to book.

He has since appealed to the social welfare department to set up an office in Chiawa ward to handle cases of teenage pregnancies and child defilement.

He noted that there is also a need for continuous sensitization on teenage pregnancies.

And Kafue Member of Parliament Miriam Chonya says people in rural areas desperately need government services as they are faced with a number of challenges.

Ms. Chonya says there is a need to extend the social welfare services to rural areas such as Chiawa.

She notes that the social welfare department is important as it provides social protection to the vulnerable in the community.

She appealed to the welfare department in the district to attend to the increasing number of teenage pregnancies in Chiawa ward.

Clifford Mulenga Proposes RB To Be Honoured With Heroes Stadium Stand

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Footballer Clifford Mulenga has proposed that one of the stands at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka be named in honour of Fourth President Rupiah Banda.

Banda is a former FAZ Chairman and one of the pioneers of Chiparamba Youth Academy together with his son Nenani.

Chiparamba groomed Mulenga and his former Chipolopolo team mates Davies Nkausu and Given Singuluma among others.

In an interview in Ndola, Mulenga, the Forest Rangers forward, hailed RB’s contribution to Zambian football.

“Ba Rupiah Banda played an integral part in a lot of Zambian footballers’ lives. For example when ba Kalusha Bwalya went to Belgium ba Rupiah Banda was there for him,” Mulenga said.

“There are players like me Davies Nkausu, Given Singuluma that came through an academy that was started by his son Nenani Banda you now so I feel like one way that we can the great man and the contributions that he made to Zambian football will be maybe to name one of the stands at Heroes Stadium as Rupiah Banda Stand. For me I think it would be good to just name one of the stands in Heroes Stadium as Rupiah Banda Stands,” said the speedy winger.

Banda died last Friday in Lusaka after battling cancer.

Mulenga recalled his encounters with Banda when launching his career at Chiparamba in Lusaka.

“I just want to thank God for the opportunity that he gave me to have met that great man. I knew I was one of his favourite players. He would always encourage me and always tell coaches that ‘this is my son, give him a chance to play and score goals’. He enjoyed the way I played football,” he said.

Mulenga is famous for winning the 2007 CAF Young Player of the Year award.

RUGBY: Zambia Rugby Womens Team Wins Regional 7’s Cup

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The Zambia Women’s National Rugby Team has won the Rugby Africa Regional 7’s competition staged in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The regional tournament was used as the pre-qualifiers for the next Commonwealth Games and World Cup.

The Zambia Women won the regional championship with a perfect record.

Coach Willis Magasa’s side beat hosts Burundi 48-0, neighbours DR Congo 42-0 and Cameroon 43-05 to emerge victorious in Burundi during games played over the weekend.

Zambia has qualified for the final phases of the Rugby Africa Regional Sevens competition which will take place in April in Tunisia.

Magasa carried a 12-player squad to East Africa for the regional games.

The victorious players include Martha Banda (Mufulira), Dorothy Kay Kasonka (Arrows), Margaret Chama (Arrows), Gillian Mwape (Eagles), Lillian Musonda Mukosha (Arrows), Anna Suzi (Mufulira) and Maria Lyamba (Mufulira).

The rest are Margret Kasonka (Arrows), Veronica Lungu (Eagles), Liwena Lushomo (Arrows), Queen Quan Nachinga (Mufulira) and Leah Mbukwa (Mufulira).

Rampant illegal miners invade Chikani Gold mine in Chikankata

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Rampant illegal miners invade Chikani Gold mine in Chikankata

Chieftainess Mwenda of the Basanje Tonga speaking people of Chikankata District in Southern Province says security officers should quickly go to the Gold rich Chikani mine to control rampant illegal mining by unscrupulous people.

Chieftainess Mwenda said illegal mining of Gold in Chikani should not be entertained and urged the local people to always keep an eye at Chikani rich Gold mine.

The traditional leader, however said he is aware of Sabi Company who have legally acquired an exploration license at Chikani and that any other people doing illegal activities are trespassing and that should be ejected out of the area.

Chieftainess Mwenda said this in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services in Chikankata district today.

The traditional leader further disclosed that Chikankata District is rich in mineral deposits such as Gold, Copper, White stones, Nickel and Amethyst to mention but a few which have remained un tapped.

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