The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested and charged Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) Director- General and a Principal Regulatory Officer for corrupt practices.

Bernice Mwale, aged 64, of Chudleigh, Lusaka and Brian Muwanei Kabika, aged 42, of Meanwood Chamba Valley, Lusaka have been charged with Willful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure contrary to Section 34 sub section (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

Details are that on dates unknown but between 1st July 2019 and 30th September, 2019 Ms Mwale and Mr Kabika jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, failed to comply with applicable procedure and regulations when processing license number PL/ 5- 00091/19, in favor of Honeybee Pharmacy.

The above officials have since been released on Bond and will appear in Court soon.

Meanwhile, The Kasama Magistrate Court has convicted a Ndola businessman to four (4) years imprisonment for corruption.
The Anti – Corruption Commission- Kasama in November 2021, arrested and charged Albert Oraya Nkonde 39, of house no. CHT 3277, Chifubu Ndola, for corrupt practices, contrary to section 19 (2) as read with Section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, of the Laws of Zambia.

Details are that Mr Nkonde in Kasama district, Northern Province Zambia, on a date unknown but between 1st February 2021 and 28th February 2021 did corruptly give K5, 000 cash gratification to a Zambia Police Inspector Martha Ngambi as a reward or inducement for her to release three (3) impounded motor vehicles that traffic Police officers had impounded, a matter or transaction concerning the Zambia Police, a public body.

The matter was presided over by Magistrate Hon. Samson Mumba.

Zambia’s fourth Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s office has announced that Lieutenant General Seretse Ian Khama, the Former President of the Republic of Botswana was in the country on a private visit, from Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th January, 2022.

In a statement released to the media, the President said that the purpose of President Khama’s visit was primarily to see his brother, Former President Rupiah Banda and to encourage and wish him a quick recovery.

While in the country, Lt. General Khama, paid a curtesy call on, President Hakainde Hichilema at State House and also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Honourable Stanley Kakubo.

President Khama, whose family enjoys long-time family ties with that of late Founding President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, had occasion to visit the Kaunda family, represented by Dr. Kaunda’s eldest son, Colonel Panji Kaunda to pay his respects and commiserate with the family.

The Kaunda family have recently suffered the tragic loss of Mr. Kambarage Kaunda, the twin last born son of Dr. Kaunda.

For his part, President Banda, greatly appreciates and cherishes the visit as a gesture of true friendship and goodwill by Former President of Botswana, Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu says the Government will review the allegedly dubious allocation of residential and commercial plots in Chililabombwe’s Kamenza Forest Reserve Number 19.

Mr. Nzovu said the Government may repossess the land in question.

According to Chililabombwe District Commissioner Precious Njekwa close to 3000 hectares of land in the Kamenza Forest Reserve was allocated to among others former miners by the previous Patriotic Front Government.

Flanked by Chililabombwe Mayor Lucky Sichone, Ms. Njekwa told Mr. Nzovu on his tour of Copperbelt Province that land in the forest reserve was given out to potential developers despite opposition from the Forest Department.

She said land encroachments in the forest reserve were disturbing the life of five streams with one of them drying up in recent times.

“Following the massive job losses in the mines on the Copperbelt declaration was made by then President Edgar Lungu to empower ex-miners with land for Agriculture purposes. Kamenza Forest was chosen to be given to our ex-miners. During an extra ordinary council meeting held on 19th April, 2018 the follow following was mentioned: Town Clerk invited forest officers on the Copperbelt to conduct a technical assessment of the potential to de-gazette Kamenza Forest Resource,” Ms. Njekwa said.

“Honourable Minister, I have given you a brief report on that one, what happened is that council wrote to Forest and then also Forest gave a report which they noted that it was not possible to give it out because of the water bodies around it. We went to check and it is true it has five streams and one stream has so far dried up so the main stream is not doing very well because some streams that have dried up are flowing into the Kafue River,” she said in a written statement.

“A brief report is that letters were written by (Forestry Department) but there was no response and the Government then went ahead to give the ex-miners land. So far the issue I have is that some miners benefited about 1000 hectors and also about 1000 hectares were given to the people that had farms already so I think we are talking about almost 3000 hectors given away from the same forest,” Ms . Njekwa concluded.

In his response, Mr. Nzovu said it was unacceptable to give out land in forest reserves and asked the council in Chililabombwe not to allow people to develop in ecological sensitive areas.

“What used to happen before is giving out land for political expediency so there was no thought process to it. People were just coming, giving these forests to the cadres, and giving this forest to the ex-miners because of the desire to win elections. If indeed we have to make a decision for all of us to go a certain way, maybe give out a small portion of land we have to have technical backing, we have to have science behind it,” he said.

“We have to say maybe this small portion; you can’t go out to give away a forest which is so ecological sensitive. So through you my leaders (Mayor and District Commissioner) we also ask, actually the first thing to do is to ensure that there are no more people going there (Forest Reserve), that the encroachment is stopped fourth with because the fact of the matter is that certain places that may have been given out we may have to get them back because we can’t lose rivers. Rivers have started drying up because of human activities, you cut all the forest, headwaters and you cut the water sources.”

“And there are five streams D.C you are correct in everything you said. If these streams are affected it means the main river Kafue will be affected. All the water in the Kafue River comes from this end so we need to work together. Our first reaction basically is that we are still looking at this issue very critically so if there are people still going there they may lose that land, they may lose their investment because there is no legal decision right now to give out that land. That land given to our ex-miners as well, we need to relook at the whole map and say maybe we can give you here not there,” Mr. Nzovu said.

“I know there are commercial people as well, big people who have gone there but we don’t mind if it is ecologically sensitive we will get it back. I am sure your worship, you are in charge of the council. Here people cannot develop without council consent and council cannot authorize developments in a forest so that is where the catch is you find that most of them are illegal structures. People are occupying that land illegally,” he said.

President Hakainde Hichilema is scheduled to undertake a two-day working visit to South Africa from January 26 to 27, 2022.

The President will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Stanley Kakubo and Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Stenly Kakubo has said that President Hichilema will pay a courtesy call on South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as SADC Chairperson of the Organ for politics, defense and security cooperation.

During the visit, President Hichilema will hold a bilateral talk with Mr. Ramaphosa.

Mr. Kakubo said that President Hichilema attaches great importance to peace initiatives in the region and remains firmly committed to ensuring that Zambia continues to play a pivotal role in the SADC Peace Agenda.

Mr. Kakubo said that Zambia and South Africa share excellent historical bilateral relations and cooperation, within the framework of the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC).

Mr. Kakubo said that Zambia will continue to collaborate with South Africa at regional, continental and international levels through SADC, COMESA, the African Union, the Commonwealth, and the United Nations.

Mr. Kakubo said that the strong multilateral cooperation between the two countries is premised on shared values and principles.

Mr. Kakubo said his ministry is confident that the continued engagement of President Hichilema with his counterparts in the region and beyond will contribute immensely to the country’s economic transformation agenda, and yield tangible benefits for Zambians

He said in a statement to ZNBC news that President Hichilema and his delegation are scheduled to return to Zambia immediately after their engagements.