Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo says a plane to transport Zambian nationals is stationed in Warsaw, Poland.

Mr. Kakubo says the rendezvous for those closer to the Polish border on the western side of Ukraine is the train station in Lviv at Dvirtseva square.

The minister stated during a press briefing in Lusaka today that nationals at Lviv will move towards the Polish border at Hrebenne.

“An option is also being explored to move directly to Warsaw, Poland by train from Lviv, should train services resume,” he said.

The Minister added that the Zambian staff from the embassy in Berlin, Germany and the honorary consul to Poland are stationed at the Polish border to receive the Zambian nationals, as and when they arrive.

“Visa waivers have already been arranged. Those closer to the border with Russia, will be coordinated and assisted by our embassy staff in Moscow,” the minister indicated.

He added, “for effective communication on this evacuation exercise, all our nationals in Ukraine were requested to join the media platform created by the embassy,”

Mr. Kakubo further stated that movement of Zambian nationals within Ukraine is being conducted in a coordinated manner, given the fact that Zambians are spread across different cities.

“In terms of shelter across the border in Poland, conducive facilities have already been identified and secured where our nationals shall await final evacuation out of Poland,” he assured.

The Minister observed that the embassy staff have been facing challenges with moving Zambian nationals especially that the boarding of buses to the border, which is being coordinated by the authorities in Ukraine, is prioritising the elderly, women and children.

He however stated that fortunately, the majority of the Zambians have been accounted for with only 1 at the Polish border, 29 at the Ukraine border checkpoints near Hrebenne, 14 in Sumy and another 14 in Poltarva.

Others are 16 in Kharkov, 7 in Lvano, 15 in Lviv, at the train station, and 45 in transit towards Lviv.

“We are engaging various stakeholders in Ukraine, Poland and Russia to facilitate the movement of our nationals out of the different parts of Ukraine,” he said.

Mr. Kakubo noted that government is aware of the anxieties, concerns, and indeed frustrations being faced by parents and guardians of children, especially those who had already made their way to the Polish border and sadly had to spend the night along the way.

“Fellow citizens. The weather conditions in that part of the world are harsh. Our children are scared. Our children are anxious. Our children are facing challenges,” the minister stressed.

He has therefore encouraged parents and guardians and the nation at large to work with government as it coordinates the evacuation of the Zambian citizens back to Zambia.

He advised that any enquiries that the parents and guardians may have, should be communicated through the permanent secretary of International Relations and Cooperation (IR&C) at his Ministry.

“I wish to reiterate that, at this moment, it is the top priority of the government to ensure the safe evacuation of all our Zambian nationals out of Ukraine, back to Zambia in line with the directives from the President of the republic of Zambia,” the Minister emphasised.

Mr. Kakubo said government continues to explore, even under difficult circumstances, all means possible, to get the children across the border into Poland.

“The Ministry would therefore like to request members of the public, particularly parents and guardians of the students, to remain calm and patient as the government executes this very challenging and complicated exercise,” he urged.

The Minister has further asked everyone to remain prayerful as the country overcomes this difficult situation.

The SDA Church in Zambia has defended President Hakainde Hichilema for meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican last week.

In a statement released to the media, the Church also clarified that the purported SDA Pastor who went viral on social media, condemning the visit, is no longer a member of the church.

The joint statement by the two Presidents of the governing bodies of the SDA Church in Zambia said that the man ceased to be a member of the church due to his extremist views and criticism of the church.

And Government has said that it is concerned with remarks by some members of the public on social media platforms criticizing the President’s recent meeting with the Pope at the Vatican.

Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda said that the remarks are unfair and unwarranted.

Ms Kasanda stressed that President Hakainde Hichilema did not visit the Vatican as an Adventist but as a Head of State whose citizens belong to various religious persuasions including Catholics.

She says President Hichilema is a President for all Zambians, who belong to different denominations.

Ms Kasanda, who is also Information and Media Minister, says the President has a duty to promote religious liberties of all the citizens of Zambia.

She said that government also wished to state that the President did not travel to the Vatican on a religious mission but on a diplomatic mission to strengthen relations that have existed between Zambia and the Vatican and the footprint of these relations are visible in any sectors key among them education and health.

In a statement to the media , Ms Kasanda said alot of catholic schools and hospitals dotted in the remotest parts of the country are touching many lives.

She said the President and the people of Zambia at large appreciate these facilities that the Catholic church has continued to provide for the benefit of the people of Zambia hence the visit to the Vatican.

Ms Kasanda said the President’s visit to the Vatican comes against a backdrop of Government’s re-introduction of free education in which the Catholics continue to play a key role especially in the lives of the disadvantaged children in the rural parts of Zambia.

She said under the leadership of President Hichilema, Christian values and principles remain well entrenched and supportive of diverse religious beliefs as provided for in the constitution.

Ms Kasanda said President Hichilema swore to uphold the constitution which includes religious liberties.

She, therefore, said the remarks by some members of the public are a gross mis-information and misrepresentation of the President’s meeting with the Pope.

Meanwhile, Ms Kasanda said government wishes to reiterate that President Hichilema did not hold any meeting to discuss gay rights during his visit to the United States of America in September last year.

She said Zambia is a Christian nation and, therefore, gay rights have no place in this nation.

Ms Kasanda said the Constitution is clear on issues of gay rights which is outlawed in the country.

She said the continued allegations on this matter are malicious and unfounded and urged members of the public to ignore these allegations.

President Hakainde Hichilema has made a historic visit to grace the Ncwala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni speaking people of Eastern province.

The ZAF plane carrying President Hichilema and his entourage touched down at Chipata Airport exactly at 11:00 hours.

On hand to receive the presidents were Local government and Rural Development Minister Gary Nkhombo and City Mayor George Mwanza, among others.

The president was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Mutolo Phiri and Second Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Moyo.

On arrival the President was welcomed by UPND cadres amid chanting by residents of Chipata district.

ZANIS reports that this year’s Ncwala Ceremony is being held under the theme: “Promoting Healing, Unity and Reconciliation.”

And Ncwala Organising Committee National Chairperson Betsy Nkhoma thanked President Hichilema for gracing the event.

Mr Nhkoma told ZANIS that the presence of President Hichilema at the ceremony indicates that he and his administration are committed to uniting the country.

Meanwhile, Chipata City Mayor George Mwanza advised residents in the area to invest in the hospitality sector.

Mr Mwanza said the local authority is ready to support innovative individuals who will bring development in the region.

Justice Minister, Malambo Haimbe has said that only the cabinet can decide whether or not the assets of former President Frederick Chiluba can be given back to his family because the matter was already by the courts.

Mr Haimbe said whether or not the government should consider the plea made by the Chiluba family to have the forfeited assets given back is a decision that should be made by the full cabinet.

Mr. Haimbe was responding to increased calls for the government to consider the plea from Dr. Chiluba’s family to have his assets given back to them.

He however said, Zambians should respect the decision of the court regarding the forfeiting of assets for the former President to the government.

Mr. Haimbe said in an interview that the court made its decision in line with the provisions of the law and that should be respected.
That not withstanding, he said, “Giving back the assets to the family of late President Chiluba is a decision that should be made by the high office but in my view, the law should be respected because this is the matter that has been before the courts.”

And Mr. Haimbe defended the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on concerns from the public that they delayed concluding the case that started in 2002.

He said it is normal for cases that are before the courts of law to take a long time to be concluded, therefore people should be patient if they see justice prevail.

“There is an adage that justice rushed is justice destroyed so people should be patient, cases take long and should not be rushed,” Mr. Haimbe said.

Dr. Chiluba’s children Darlington and Kaindu who are part of the administrators of the estate have said the move by the state was unfair and underhand because their father claimed the property while the state appealed to grab his property after he died.

They revealed that the ACC waited until Dr. Chiluba died before commencing legal proceedings on account that he had not claimed the property in good time, therefore, creating an impression that the property was acquired through proceeds of crime, when this was not the case.

Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa has directed local authorities in the province to disband any cartels involved in the awarding of construction and supply contracts.

The Minister says he is aware that some workers in some councils had formed cartels where they have been awarding contracts to the

same unregistered and inexperienced contractors over the years.

He has vowed to swiftly move in to ensure that rules and regulations that may disadvantage new players are revisited to ensure fairness in the awarding of contracts.

Mr. Mweetwa said this when he officially opened an induction workshop for District Commissioners, Mayors, Council Chairpersons and Council Secretaries in Choma.

He has further challenged contractors in the province to ensure that they get the necessary registration to enable them meet the requirements outlined in the law.

The Minister has also noted with concern that Constituency Development Funds (CDF) have in the recent past provided an avenue of abuse by councils particularly when it comes to procurement.

He has since advised controlling officers at local government level to ensure they acquaint themselves with the recently launched CDF guidelines as well as the public finance management Act so as to enable them manage public funds prudently.

Mr Mweetwa has further urged the local authority leaders to strengthen internal controls through the office of the internal auditor.

He added quality service delivery is one of the aspirations of government and that this can only be achieved through the prudent management and utilisation of resources.

Government has with immediate effect reduced all practicing teaching certificate fees by 15%.

Minister of Education Douglas Siakalima says the development follows numerous submissions from teachers requesting that the prescribed fees for the issuance practicing be reviewed downwards.

Mr. Siakalima made this announcement in Lusaka this afternoon during a press briefing.

“Government through my office received a recommendation from the teaching council of zambia (TCZ) council board on the need to review the teacher practicing certificate (license) fees for all categories of teachers in zambia, pursuant to section 18 (a) of the teaching profession act no. 5 of 2013,” he said.

The minister urged that the reduction should now facilitate easy renewal of teacher practicing certificates or licenses for the next cycle from 2022 to 2024.

He further stated that the teaching council of Zambia will work out modalities for implementing the reduced fees.

Mr. Siakalima also indicated that he is reliably informed that the last cycle for practicing certificate (license) renewal expired on 31st December, 2021.

“With this reduction, I expect all teachers now to renew their licenses without delay. School administrators need to collaborate and corporate with the TCZ by ensuring that all teachers are both registered and licensed,” he emphasised.

The Minister however stated that the reduction of fees is only for practicing licenses while registration fees remain unchanged for all categories of teachers.

“It is my ministry’s trust that TCZ will rise to the occasion to add value to the delivery of quality teaching and learning as it ensures that teachers are professional, competent and well behaved,” he said.

Mr. Siakalima observed that it is also the ministry’s expectation that teachers shall participate in continuing professional development (CPD) programs seriously as it is a prerequisite for practicing license renewal.

“In fact, through CPD, teachers will keep up-skilling themselves in a less costly manner,” he noted.

And the minister commended TCZ for developing the electronic certificates known as e-certificates for registration and licensing noting that the move is the fastest, safest and most efficient way of running business this time around.