Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda has challenged women in the country to unite and celebrate each other’s achievements. Ms Kasanda implored the womenfolk to desist from pulling each other down but rather to support one another.

She observed that many women are in key making positions hence the call to use their influence in uplifting each other. Ms Kasanda who is also Chief Government Spokesperson encouraged women to love one another and not to be enemies.

“Today many women are in decision-making positions, so let’s use those positions wisely to celebrate each other.

“Let’s use those positions wisely to uplift each other let’s not be our own enemy.”

The Minister said this when she officiated at the thanksgiving service organized by the United Church of Zambia, Woman’s Christian Fellowship (WCF) at Trinity Congregation.

Ms. Kasanda counseled the WCF to use the thanksgiving service as an opportunity for members to contribute financially and materially towards the uplifting of the lives of people in communities.

She encouraged members to give back to the community from the many blessings God has bestowed in their lives.

Ms. Kasanda says thanksgiving calls for giving back to the underprivileged as a sign of God’s love towards humanity.

Meanwhile, Information and Media Minister has appealed to the clergy to include messages on COVID-19 during services.

Ms. Kasanda says the church should take a leading role in encouraging members to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said once members get vaccinated the pandemic will be mitigated.

“The same call goes to the WCF members and mothers at large. Let us include messages on COVID-19 everywhere we go in our work in the community.”

And in delivering a sermon during the thanksgiving service, Rev Lubinda Sitali urged congregants to be grateful and to remember God as the source of their blessings.

Rev Sitali who quoted Deuteronomy 8 vs 1 to 20 urged members to learn from the children of Israel whom God took care off while in the wildness not to worry but to trust in God all the time.

He explained that the many blessings that the children of God are enjoying today is a result of God’s favour.

Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati has called for the use of drone technology in creating solutions to the country’s challenges. Mr Mutati said drone technology, when applied well, has the capacity to change the landscape of the economy.

The minister said this during the IHS 2021 Zambia Flying Labs Drone Business Challenge in Lusaka last evening. He stated that his ministry has devised a strategy on how the country can achieve an economy that is driven by technology and digital transformation.

“One of our pillars in the 5 D strategies number 3 states that we need to employ knowledge as a driver for transformation, that is knowledge-based transformation”, he said.

He explained that his ministry is also implementing a National remote sensing centre that uses various technologies in order to enhance research in the management of national economic infrastructure including health, natural resources among others.

Mr Mutati added that there is need to collaborate and integrate and use collective power to advance the nation for the betterment of the nation.

He further said the country can use the drone technology in order to propel the skills of the young people and create the critical thinking that is required as technology is never impossible

Speaking at the same event, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Elijah Muchima said the drone technology has come at a right time when the country is in dire need of technology to reduce the cost of production and better the lives of the people.

Mr Muchima said the use of drone technology is expanding and hence countries need to tap in it as it provides many business solutions. He explained that his ministry is already applying the technology to enhance processes involved in the land titling programme.

Mr Muchima noted that his ministry is using drones to capture images of land features and that the use of drones has reduced the production time of titling certificates.

Meanwhile University of Zambia Vice Chancellor, Luke Mumba said UNZA has the potential of becoming the anchor in research and development of drone technology.

“We already have the capacity to develop pilots and research projects to further the use of drones and data and also to address the social challenges of the people ranging from disaster management to sustainable agriculture, rural and nature conservation,”. Said Prof Mumba.

He commended the Zambia Flying Labs for promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programmes.

The Forest Department in Kapiri Mposhi has observed with concern the mushrooming of mining activities and increase in the dumping of solid waste into local forest reserves in the district.

District Forest Officer, Nicholas Chilo says the rapid increase in mining activities and dumping of solid waste in protected forests has resulted into increased forest destruction, air and water pollution.

Speaking during a meeting with Central Province Acting Permanent Secretary Alfred Sakwiya, Mr. Chilo stated that there is a proliferation of both licensed and illegal mining entities conducting mining activities from protected forests especially from Chibwe National Forest in the area.

He disclosed that Kapiri Mposhi Town Council and some companies generating waste have been dumping solid waste in the forests due to lack of a designated dumping site in the district.

” The district has no designated legal dumping site for solid waste so most of the garbage is being taken to the forest reserves with the main affected being Chibwe National Forest right now because some companies and even the Council have been dumping waste there,” Mr Chilo said.

He called on the Council to find a suitable solid waste dumping site where waste can be managed using environmentally friendly mechanisms and further appealed to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to reconsider issuance of Mining licenses for mineral exploration in forest reserves.

” Right now there is a lot of both water pollution and air pollution as a result of dumping of waste and mining going on in our forests and it will defeat the purpose why these forests where reserved,” Mr Chilo said.

Meanwhile, Central Province Acting Permanent Secretary Alfred Sakwiya has directed the Department of Forestry and the Council to find a suitable location for proper disposal of solid waste in the district.

Mr Sakwiya has also challenged local authorities in the province to take an active interest in the waste recycling science as one of the alternative ways of managing solid waste in their respective jurisdictions.

Over 700 chickens worth over K100, 000 have perished in a road accident in Kapiri Mposhi District along the Great North road.

The accident happened around mid-night at Sacramento area, three point eight Kilo metres south of Kapiri Mposhi administrative centre.

Speaking to ZANIS at the scene of the accident, owner of the birds and Lusaka businessman, Douglas Shamabumba said the Kasumbalesa bound Hino light truck registration number BAD 6387 swerved off the road killing over 700 birds in the process.

Mr Shamabumba said the truck was carrying 1, 600 layers with an estimated K160, 000 market value, destined for Kasumbalesa.

He complained that the accident has robbed him of the anticipated profits and a setback to his business.

He attributed the accident to the bad state of the road, adding that it gets slippery when it rains.

Mr Shamabumba has appealed to government to work on the Kabwe – Kapiri Mposhi stretch of the Great North road to harness road carnages in save lives.

“The accident happened around 24:00 hours when a truck carrying 1, 600 layers swerved off the road. The road is very bad and gets slippery when it rains,” Mr Shamabumba said.

“The accident has robbed me of the anticipated profits. The government should consider working on the road to protect the traveling public from accidents,” he added.

And driver of the truck, Arnold Chigali, of Simbaye Farm in Lusaka West, said the poor state of the road caused the motor vehicle to swerve off the road.

Mr Chigali said government should look into the plight of transporters and work on the road.

The driver complained of pain the right hand shoulder but no human life was lost in the accident.

Some United Party for National Development (UPND) members have presented a petition to President Hakainde Hichilema demanding the stripping off of former President Edgar Lungu’s immunity.

UPND Lusaka District Information and Publicity Secretary Matomola Likwanya said that Mr. Lungu’s immunity should be lifted to pave way for investigations in various alleged corruption cases.

Mr. Likwanya said that the former President should be investigated for allegedly having been involved in various corrupt activities and abuse of office during his tenure of office, adding that among the cases Mr. Lungu include his alleged involvement in the illegal exportation of the Mukula tree species and the procurement of the fire tenders.

Mr. Likwanya told ZNBC news before presenting the petition to State House that Zambians would be happy when President Hichilema presents the notice of motion before parliament to lift Mr. Lungu’s immunity.

He said Zambians want to know how the former Head of state allegedly abused his office to accumulate his current wealth at their expense.

And Former UPND Presidential campaign team member Beene Hachoomba said Mr. Lungu is not above the law for him not to be subjected to investigations.

Mr. Hachoomba said Zambians must be told the truth on several dealings that the former President was allegedly involved in.

But PF Chairperson for Information and Publicity Raphael Nkacinda said the PF will not pay attention to the baseless and senseless petition, claiming that that those behind the petition have been paid to orchestrate the petition.