The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honorable Brenda Tambatamba has flagged off the sale of NAPSA plots at River View Park off Twin Palms Road. The 600-hectare River View Park project is an addition to the NAPSA Investment portfolio as the Authority seeks to grow its members’ funds and contribute to economic growth.

The project, which is valued at K597 million Kwacha, is mixed-use development modelled on the green cities concept of urban planning. it will include a town centre with retail and office amenities, high, medium, and low density and developer residential units, recreational parks, business parks, civil amenities such as schools and churches and a dedicated solar park. The project not only serves as an investment to the Authority but is also directed at addressing the housing deficit in Lusaka.

Speaking at the flagging off event, NAPSA Director General Mr. Yollard Kachinda stated that the process of purchasing plots and payments terms is flexible and include cash payment options of up to three and six months, and members also can get a mortgage facility that has been arranged between NAPSA and The National Building Society.

“This option allows even medium to low-income earners to own land in this development due to long loan repayment periods and attractive interest rates that have been negotiated below the market rates” Mr. Kachinda said.

He also reiterated the Authority’s deliberate effort aimed at preserving the environment, which was why the development would house dedicated solar farm in promotion of a green economy.

And Mr. Kachinda emphasized the importance of records management in pension administration, which was the reason the Authority constructed the new records centre to store, under one roof, all Authority records from across the country for effective and efficient claims processing.

The Guest of Honor at the event, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honorable Brenda Tambatamba, expressed delight at the Authority’s continued development initiatives that not only grow members’ funds but are also directed at providing solutions to challenges in the country.

Hon. Tambatamba urged members of the public to take advantage of the opportunity presented by NAPSA to own land. She acknowledged that the biggest challenge that people in the country faced when it came to land acquisition and housing was Finances, but happily noted that NAPSA had partnered with the Zambia National Building Society to provide affordable mortgage financing for those who would wish to access funds to purchase the River View Park Plots. She has further urged NAPSA and ZNBS to continue exploring similar initiatives in other parts of the country and contribute towards giving the people of Zambia an equal opportunity to own land and housing.

The Minister also commended NAPSA management for its effort to efficiently manage members’ records and improve pension administration.

“I am pleased to note that NAPSA has not only put in place an efficient records management system but also developed the appropriate infrastructure for records storage. I, therefore, wish to commend management for having the foresight to invest in this very important piece of infrastructure,” she said.

The prices for the plots at River View Park range from k460 to K1,771 per square meter depending on the plot category. Members of the public can access more information on River View Park plots on.

Kasenengwa area Member of Parliament (MP), Philimon Twasa has urged civil servants in Kasenengwa district to closely work with him to ensure that people’s lives are uplifted.

Mr Twasa has noted that the primary objective of his office as an MP and that of the public workers is to improve the wellbeing of the people.

He therefore added that there is no need for him and the workers to work in isolation.

The parliamentarian was speaking today at Kasenengwa Town Council Chamber when he interacted with some heads of government departments in the district.

He urged public workers to always remain non-partisan if they are to effectively serve the people in the different fields of their service delivery.

Mr Twasa stated that he desires to work with everyone to develop Kasenengwa without looking at political affiliations of individuals as time for politicking was long gone.

“As Member of Parliament, I am ready to work with everyone in the constituency including you civil servants to ensure that the lives of people are improved. Time for politics ended just after the elections and it’s now time to focus on development” he said.

And District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Nawa Maswabi informed the MP that the Ministry of Education in the district is still facing a challenge of high school dropouts.

Mr Maswabi attributed the high dropout in schools due to high cases of early marriages and teen pregnancies in the district, adding that there is need to find a lasting solution to the problem.

United Party for National Development Member of Parliament for Kabwata Constituency Honourable Levy Mkandawire has died in a Fatal Road Traffic accident that happened just outside his house in Kabwata and Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti has also confirmed the death of Mr. Mkandawire, during today’s parliament session.

According to a statement released to the media by Zambia Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, the incident happened at 12:45 hours at the gate of plot number 34 along Chalata road woodlands extension involving a Toyota Ist registration number ALX 2038 which was driven by Hon Mkandawire, aged 60, who sustained head injuries, fractured right leg and died on the way to University Teaching Hospital.

The Zambia Police Statement stated that, also involved was a BMW X5 registration number ALM 5955 which had its front part extensively damaged whilst being driven by Jane Mwale aged 39 of plot number 32 Chalata road woodlands extension who sustained unknown injuries. Onboard of the same vehicle was the husband to the driver Kalengo Jetta Alick aged 57 who complained of a headache whilst the driver was not found at the scene when officers visited it.

The accident occurred when the second vehicle (BMW) which was approaching from East towards West was moving at an excessive speed and in the process, the driver lost control of the vehicle before hitting into a stationary Toyota Ist whose driver had disembarked with a view of opening the gate. Due to the impact, it was forced to move forward thereby squeezing the deceased against the wall fence and the wall pillar of the gate fell on him.

Investigations to establish the whereabouts of the driver have been instituted, concluded the statement.

Early this month, there were reports circulating on social media that Hon Mkandawire had died. However, the UPND in the Kabwata constituency refuted reports circulated by the party’s Facebook page that area MP Levy Mkandawire had died.

“Kindly be informed that the rumours circulating about the ‘sudden death after a short illness’ of UPND Kabwata Constituency MP Hon. Levy Mkandawire are NOT TRUE. Hon. Mkandawire has confirmed he is in good health and has dispelled the rumour as false and malicious. Take this as official notification,” Constituency information and public secretary Mainda Simataa stated.

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has said that he has received with shock and sadness the death of Mr. Mkandawire, adding that his sympathy and prayers go to the bereaved family.

The Head of State has also described the late Mr. Mkandawire as a servant of the people who served the people of Kabwata and the Nation with passion during his short stay as a Member of Parliament.

According to a statement read on behalf of President Hichilema by Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya at the statehouse today, President Hichilema said this is the time for the country to come together in prayer and wish the bereaved family God’s strength.

All councils in the country have been directed to implement policies, which will support development at the local level.

President Hakainde Hichilema has issued this directive to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, which he says councils must heed.

The directive was issued at the Joint 65th Local Government Association of Zambia annual conference and 18th Alliance of Mayors Initiative on Community Action on AIDS at The Local Level (AMICAALL) general Assembly.

Speaking at the event today, President Hichilema explained that local government is key in the development of the country because the central government cannot do much on its own.

He said with the increased Constituency Development Fund -CDF- allocation, the government is paying particular attention to ensuring there is NO mismanagement of these resources.

The President has since warned local authorities against inflating costs of projects, which will be implemented using the CDF.

President Hichilema further explained that the increased CDF will demand for more responsibility and accountability from local authorities.

And Local Government Minister, GARY NKOMBO said guidelines for the management of CDF are being developed by his Ministry.

Mr. NKOMBO said the guidelines will address the concerns raised by some stakeholders on the capacity of the councils to manage CDF.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Mayor, Chilando Chitangala appealed to the central government to look into the councils’ various problems, such as poor conditions of service for workers.

Ms. Chitangala however commended the President for his commitment to the implementation of the decentralisation policy.

And United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Coumba Mar Gadio praised the government for increasing the CDF, saying this shows commitment to the implementation of the decentralisation policy.

Meanwhile, German Ambassador to Zambia, Anne Wagner-Michell observed that there is renewed hope among cooperating partners with the implementation of the decentralization policy.

The Constitutional Court this morning concluded the hearing of arguments on the appointment of Ministers and firing of civil servants.

In this matter, Governance Activist Isaac Mwanza sought the interpretation of the Court on the appointment of a minister after the dissolution of Parliament and before its commencement. Mr. Mwanza also asked the Court to determine whether persons can be nominated to a Ministry newly created  Ministry which has not yet been approved by Parliament.

Mr. Mwanza further asked the Court to interpret whether public service workers can be removed from office without good reasons and due process through a hearing.

When the matter came up for hearing, Mr Mwanza argued that the life of Parliament commences when Members of Parliament are sworn in and ends upon dissolution of Parliament as per provision of Article 81(1) of the Constitution. He thus submitted that no Minister can occupy office when Parliament remains dissolved and has not yet commenced.

Mr. Mwanza also argued that persons cannot be nominated, sworn in and begin performing their functions in a newly created or merged Ministry before the Ministry is approved by Parliament.

And Mr. Mwanza has submitted that after 2016, public service workers are constitutionally protected from being removed from office without being given good reasons and subjected to a hearing as required by Article  173(3)(b) of the Constitution and the Employment Act.

Mr Mwanza said the powers of the President and other authorities to hire and fire are subject to provision the authority shows just cause and afford workers a hearing.

But Solicitor General Marshal Muchende argued that the President needed to appoint the Finance Minister because of the budget that was to be presented to Parliament.

Mr Muchende also called for a holistic  interpretation of the Constitution and pleaded with the Court to reframe the question so that they focus could be the question on the exercise of executive powers by the President, a suggestion objected by the Petitioner.

The Court has since reserved judgment to a later day to be communicated to parties.