Chongwe Deputy Mayor, Anita Kamanga, has called on church leaders in the area to serve local communities with integrity and compassion.

Ms Kamanga states that church leaders are viewed as pillars of spiritual and moral support in society, hence the need for them to maintain good characters.

She also urged church leaders to continue promoting peace and unity in society at all times.

ZANIS reports that the Deputy Mayor was speaking when she officiated at the first graduation ceremony of pastors to be conferred with Bachelor of Arts in Theology Degrees at Chongwe School of Theological Studies.

Ms Kamanga noted that the graduation is timely as the country is in dire need of church leaders with high standards of integrity.

She further encouraged the graduates to take a leading role in addressing some of the challenges facing communities such as moral decay through spiritual guidance.

And Chongwe School of Theological Studies Director, Luke Buleya , challenged the pastors to use the Holy Bible as a guide for their work.

” As pastors, you ought to be deeply grounded in scripture in order for you to effectively lead the flock and undertake your roles in churches,” he said.

Dr Buleya also implored the pastors to utilise the knowledge and skills they have acquired from the school to serve local communities.

Meanwhile, Baptist Fellowship of Zambia Executive Secretary, Gracious Chambala reiterated the fellowship’s commitment to support the advancement of the Christian doctrine across the country.

Reverend Chambala said theological training is the foundation of church leadership which should be supported by every Christian fellowship.

He called on churches to embrace the graduates and give them opportunities that will enable them to enhance their capacity to lead in the Christian ministry.

“I would like to appeal to churches out there to welcome these pastors who have graduated and work closely with them. Give them opportunities that will help them to develop their skills and knowledge in the Ministry, Reverend Chambala stated.

Reverend Mike Phiri who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of his fellow graduates, thanked the college and various stakeholders for creating a conducive learning environment which helped them to successfully complete their studies.

Chambishi Copper Smelter has handed over a One by Four classroom block built at a cost of One Million, One Hundred and Three Thousand Kwacha, to Buseko Secondary School in Kalulushi District on the Copperbelt Province.

The Mining company has also donated bridges in Lulamba, Sitwe and Twaiteka wards which collectively cost over One Million Kwacha to help people cross to other places.

CCS Chief Executive Officer, Cheng Mingming, said this during the handover of the classrooms at the school located in Chibuluma area of Kalulushi.

He said the company observed that there was increased demand for classroom space at the only nearby Kankonshi Secondary School because of the Free Education Policy introduced by the Government.

Mr Cheng, said as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, the mining company thought of building a school for the children in the area.

And Chililabombwe District Commissioner Kelly Jibinga who thanked the company for the donation, said the area only had one secondary school.

Mr Jibinga said the Government appreciates CCS for their Corporate Social Responsibility rendered to the community.

He urged the company to continue with the same spirit and called on other companies to emulate the mining company.

Meanwhile, District Education Board Secretary, Brian Mukonka, who commended CCS for the gesture, said the company has helped them decongest schools that had so many learners in one classroom.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people has indorsed the Chiefdom Emissions Reduction Coordinating Committee (CERCC) for his chiefdom, marking a key milestone for the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme (EP-JSLP).

The endorsement was made at Ekuphendukeni Palace in Chipata District, where 10 newly elected committee members were formally presented.

This is according to a statement availed to the media by Communications Officer, Creavat Chituta for Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme (EP-JSLP) under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment

Mr Chituta explained that the Paramount Chief also endorsed the Chiefdom Emissions Performance Plan (CERPP), affirming the committee’s legitimacy to spearhead emissions reduction interventions at chiefdom level.

He added that the EP-JSLP is implemented by the government through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment with support from the World Bank.

“The programme is working to establish formal climate governance structures across all 56 chiefdoms in Eastern Province to coordinate implementation and sustain performance under Chiefdom Emission Reduction Performance Agreements (CERPAs),” he said.

Mr Chituta stated that the agreements formalise commitments by traditional authorities and communities, to carry out emission reduction interventions based on agreed performance indicators and targets.

“Committee members were drawn from Community Forest Management Groups, Cooperatives, Women’s Groups, Lead and Follower Farmers, Village Action Groups, and Community Resources Boards. Their election followed a community engagement and sensitisation process,” he said.

He further said Paramount Chief Mpezeni called for unity, teamwork, and inclusive participation and urged the committee to work closely with headmen and headwomen across the chiefdom to achieve lasting environmental and community outcomes.

“This committee must work as one, with a shared vision for the development of our chiefdom and the wellbeing of our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Mwase of the Chewa people in Lundazi District also expressed support for the programme following the successful election and presentation of CERCC members in his chiefdom.

Mr Chituta further said the CERCCs are responsible for coordinating the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of CERPPs to ensure compliance with agreed performance frameworks under the jurisdictional emissions reduction programme.

“The rollout highlights the role of traditional leadership and community participation in strengthening governance systems, promoting sustainable land use, and enhancing climate resilience across the province,” he said.

President Hakainde Hichilema says politics must be rooted in service to the people, urging that those who serve in public office must highly focus on the needs of the people above personal interests in order to improve the quality of life for all.

President Hichilema underscored his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises including last week’s reopening of the Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles (ZCMT) Joint Venture.

The Head of State noted that this reflects the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration’s dedication to bringing development at all levels in the country.

He has called all well-meaning Zambians interested in unlocking Zambia’s development potential to join his administration and work together in contributing to national development.

The President further expressed gratitude to the Zambian people for their patience and resilience, emphasising that the results of the various positive reforms and initiatives undertaken in the past four and half years were now becoming evident.

“The Zambian people will have a real choice during the 13th August 2026 General Election to either continue moving the country forward, complete the work underway, and secure Zambia’s progress or to reverse the gains made so far,” he said.

He adds that under his leadership, the government has delivered meaningful progress such as the free education policy that has enabled over 2.5 million children back to school, teacher and health staff recruitment.

Mr Hichilema highlighted that this has been achieved by the government’s commitment to serving the people of Zambia in all the ten provinces of the country emphasising that division has been replaced with unity and shared vision.

He stated that increased Constituency Development Fund, (CDF), from K1.6 million per constituency in 2021 to K40 million in 2026 directs real resources to local communities.

This is according to a statement made available to the media today by State House Chief Communication Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka.

Mr Hamasaka disclosed that in the coming months, the President will continue engaging citizens across the country as he has always done in the past four years in order to foster a shared vision for continued inclusive development for all.

The Magistrate Court in Kasama has sentenced a 26-year-old student at Kafue College of health Sciences to one-year simple imprisonment for theft.

Before Magistrate Chapson Silwimba was Lameck Vwalika of Kaputa Village in Senior Chief Nsama’s Chiefdom in Nsama District.

This is in a matter that came up for presentation of facts in which Vwalika pleaded guilty to one count of theft contrary to section 272 of the penal code, Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that on March 5, 2026 Vawalika did steal two T-Shirts from Pep Stores valued at 984.90 Kwacha.

The court head that on the said day around 13:00 hours, Kelvin Zimba, A Branch Manager at pep stores in Kasama District, while on duty saw Vwalika trying on a T-Shirt.

Mr Zimba told the court that he then encouraged Vwalika to buy the T- Shirt as it fitted him well when he tried it on.

He said when Vwalika saw that he was attending to other customers, he consequently decided to conceal the T- Shirt by hiding it in his Jacket and proceeded to the exit of the shop without paying for it.

Zimba then shouted for help while chasing the now covict, and eventually apprehended him.

Vwalika was then searched, and was found with two T- Shirts concealed in the jacket and was later taken to kasama police station.

Mr Zimba told the court that at the police station he reported the matter on behalf of Pep Stores Zambia, kasama Branch.

Kasama Police Station Officer, Detective Constable Katulo, investigated the matter and brought to book the accused person,

The recovered two T-Shirts were left at Kasama police station to be used as exhibit.

In mitigation Vwalika pleaded with court for leniency saying he was a student who was just on attachment in Kasama and due to complete school in six months’ time.

He expressed remorse, warning that imprisonment could derail his completion of school.

He said he regretted his actions and that if jailed, he may miss out on completing school.

In passing judgement, Magistrate Chapson Silwimba said he had considered all what he said in mitigation from the convict.

He told the convict that it was shameful for a student to be involved in such activities and wondered how if youths like him were involved such activities will take up the leadership mantal.

He then sentenced Vwalika to one-year simple imprisonment but suspended it two years.

Migastrate Silwimba further ordered that the stolen T-shirts be forfeited to Kasama PEP stores.