Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary, Barnaby Mulenga says government may consider giving out its 30 per cent shares in the black mountain to the youths in Kitwe following the High Court Judgement that allowed it to pull out of its partnership with Nkana Alloy and Smelting Company Limited.

Following the court judgement last week, government remained with 30 per cent share in the black mountain after it gave out its 10 per cent to youths three years ago.

Speaking in an interview in Kitwe yesterday in response to calls by youths engaged in small scale mining asking government to hand over the shares to them, Mr. Mulenga said his Ministry will next week issue a statement on how it will manage the 30 per cent shares.

“We will issue a statement on the matter next week and giving the facility to the youths is one of the options,” Mr. Mulenga said.

Earlier, Chapamo Mineral Resources Director, Kelvin Tembo appealed to government to once again give the youths part of its stake in the black mountain to cushion the youths from the adverse effects of COVID-19.

Mr. Tembo said youths needs some form of empowerment adding that offering them part of the black mountain to exploit mineral resources would be the best empowerment at the moment.

“Our expectation is that we get some more shares , as youths we need a cushioning from the effects of COVID-19 ,as you know these effects are so immense on the youths, so we expect government will give us some more shares since we have a listening and caring government,” he said.

And Mr. Tembo said if given the opportunity to mine from the black mountain again, the youths will ensure that safety measures are put in place to avoid any form of accident.

He noted that the accidents that happened the last time youths were given an opportunity to mine from the black mountain were as a result of lack of experience which cannot occur this time around.

“Accidents were bound to happen because at that time the mining operations were in their infancy but now we have learnt quiet a lot and we will put modalities to ensure that no accidents happen be it injuries or fatalities,” Mr. Tembo said.

Last week, the Lusaka High Court granted government a go ahead to pull out of Nkana Alloy and Smelting Company Limited and repossess 30 per cent of the black mountain.

Three years ago government gave youths in Kitwe 10 per cent of the black mountain for mining activities which has since been exhausted.

Vice President Inonge Wina has paid her tribute to the late and first Zambia’s president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda during his funeral service held at the United Church of Zambia in Mongu district of Western province.

Mrs Wina said president Kaunda spent most of his life fighting for peace and liberty of many people in the country.

“Today, we as a nation mourn our beloved founding father His Excellency Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the pain though excruciating, comes from having loved and being loved deeply. Dr. Kaunda loved this nation and spent his entire life fighting for what he believed was rightfully ours, our land, our liberty and our aspirations as a people,” said Mrs Wina.

The Vice President said young people in the country should continue being inspired by the exemplary life, courage and, determination and clarity of vision that was being exhibited late president Kaunda.

She said under his reign, Western province saw significant projects being implemented among them, the commissioning of Yuka missionary in Kalabo and Mangango mission hospital in Kaoma districts respectively.

“Dr. Kaunda worked tirelessly to ensure that each and every Zambian had access to good health. He commissioned Arthur Wina memorial hospital, the late freedom fighter and one of Zambia’s first cabinet ministers for his great service to the country,” Mrs Wina said.

Mrs Wina also said Dr. Kaunda called for publicity and advocated for the treatment and care for people affected by HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country.

The Vice President said in the agriculture and industry in the province, late Kaunda established a cordon-line with a view to control the spreading of animal diseases across various districts as the region is known for cattle rearing.

Mrs Wina further said the reign of late Dr. Kaunda developed a professional civil service that is crucial to the development of the country; hence he commissioned the first government in-service training at Namushekende center prior to the establishment of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA).

“You will agree with me that the civil service in the most single important institution in any country which greatly affects our livelihood. Indeed Dr. Kaunda’s life was a life of service and he truly lived out the adage, service before self. I, therefore, implore our civil service to continue to work in a professional manner and also improve their qualifications and skillset, as a way of honouring our founding father Dr. Kenneth Kaunda,” said Mrs Wina.

And family representative, Colonel Panji Kaunda said his father stood for peace, love and unity adding that he brought everyone together by the motto of one Zambia one nation.

Col. Kaunda has since implored Vice President Wina being the mother of the nation to guiding people in the country with wisdom, peace and unity.

Meanwhile, the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE)’s Induna Inete who is also Mwangelwa Akapelwa said late Dr. Kaunda will be remembered by the traditional leadership through his educational policy of ensuring that every citizen obtains quality and free education.

Induna Inete said Dr. Kaunda believed in a philosophy of unity in diversity and called on all Zambians to sustain the peace for love to flourish.

“As BRE, we appreciate the unity that Dr. Kaunda did to this great nation. KK walked the talk of uniting all the 73 ethnic tribes in Zambia adding that he hated tribalism in all the regions of the country,” said Induna Inete.

Induna Inete further said that it took late Sir Mwanawina Lewanika III and Dr. Kaunda to negotiate for the Barotseland agreement which culminated into the birth of the Republic of Zambia, a legacy that is still lingering in the minds of many people of Western province.

And Western province United Church of Zambia Presbytery Bishop Roy Kanchele during his homily under the theme, “All one in Christ, said late Dr. Kaunda was a follower of the word of Jesus Christ throughout his life.

Bishop Kanchele said one of the memories Dr. Kaunda left in the UCZ activities was the formation of both the boys and girls brigade in the country.

The clergy has urged the people in the country to sustain the peace individually in all the ten provinces during and after the elections.

The one Zambia one nation motto should be our pride of this nation. We need to unite as a country so that the soul of late Dr. Kaunda rests in peace,” said Bishop Kanchele.

Late Dr. Kaunda’s body was received by scores of people who lined up along the roads in the central business district of Mongu to see the remains of their founding father who will be put to rest on 7th July, 2021.

Meanwhile, the body of late Dr Kenneth Kaunda has arrived in Lusaka from Mongu Western where public viewing took place today.

The casket carrying the remains of the late former head state came aboard a ZAF airplane which touched down at Lusaka City airport around 17.00 hours.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga were on hand to receive the body.

Dr Kaunda’s body is scheduled to tour all the province capitals in the country to give an opportunity to all citizens pay their last respect to the first republican president.

The body has so far being to Choma and Mongu of Southern Province and Western Province respectively.

Dr Kaunda died on June 17, 2021 at Maina Soko Military Hospital around 14:30 hours and will be put to rest on July 7,2021 at Presidential Memorial park in Lusaka.

Ministry of Health for Technical Services Kennedy Malama says government has noted with regret the increasing tendency by people to self-prescribe and self-medicate using Zinc, Vitamins, Ivermectin and Azithromycin among other medications to treat COVID-19.

Dr Malama says the dangers of self-prescription cannot be over-emphasised as people place themselves at risk of severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions including incorrect self-diagnosis and treatment.

During the daily COVID-19 update in Lusaka today, the Permanent Secretary said the Ministry has also been getting reports of people administering oxygen by themselves at home.

“All these practices do not only delay appropriate treatment but lead to avoidable deaths,” he said.

Dr. Malama noted that oxygen is an essential drug which requires prescription and stringent monitoring and adjustment by a trained health care worker for optimal results.

“We would like to assure members of the public that the government has put in place a multi-pronged approach to ensure that the oxygen supply is stabilised countrywide,” he noted.

Dr. Malama added that the government has released K100 million for repair and maintenance of equipment in various health facilities countrywide to further ensure that various medical and non-medical equipment is working optimally in hospitals.

And the Permanent Secretary has assured all Zambians that the government is doing everything possible to bring the COVID- 19 situation under control.

He also urged members of the public to adhere to various prescribed public health and social measures.

“As a collective, when we implement these interventions fully we will see significant reduction in new cases, admissions to hospitals and deaths in the next three weeks. We urge all the enforcing wings to ensure that there is heighted adherence to prevent further loss of lives,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Dr. Malama stated that the administration of the second dose of the COVID- 19 AstraZeneca vaccine commenced yesterday in Lusaka and will commence in other provinces in the coming days depending on when the 1st doses were administered.

He said a total of 698 second dose vaccinations were administered in 15 facilities in Lusaka and that the exercise went on well.

The Permanent Secretary has since urged all those who received the first dose to ensure that they get the 2nd dose on the scheduled date for them to get maximum protection conferred by the vaccine.

“We reiterate that the government is on course to provide various vaccines to its people in the coming weeks and months,’ he stated.

The Permanent Secretary further assured health care workers in the country that the government through his Ministry puts their health and well-being at the center even as the country fights COVID- 19.

“We will ensure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), conducive working environment and tools are provided as you execute your work. Caring for our health care workers remains a key priority,’ he reiterated.

Dr. Malama also urged all health care workers to consider getting the vaccine on a voluntary basis when it is available, noting that being front line personnel, they carry a higher risk of contracting COVID- 19.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) has canceled three Parliamentary Elections and One ward elections for the August 12 Elections.

In a statement released to the media, the commission said that according to Article 52(6) of the Republican Constitution, if a candidate dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified in accordance with Article 70, 100 or 153 or a court disqualifies a candidate for corruption or malpractice, after the close of nominations and before the election date, the Electoral Commission shall cancel the election and require the filing of fresh nominations by eligible candidates and elections shall be held within thirty days of the filing of the fresh nominations.

In line with the constitution, the commission said that the Commission will be conducting fresh nominations for Mandevu Constituency, Lusaka, necessitated by the death of Mrs Melody Musutu and the resignation of three candidates – Ms Charity Lumpa in Lusaka Central Constituency, Lusaka, Mr Gilbert Bwali Musonda in Mpulungu Constituency, Mpulungu and Mr Chewe Kateule in Kamakonde Ward, Bwacha Constituency, Kitwe.

Below is the full statement

The Commission has noted conflicting statements from some sections of the media including a misrepresentation on the position of the Commission on facts arising from the death of Zambians United for Sustainable Development (ZUSD) parliamentary candidate for Mandevu Constituency.

The Commission would like to clarify as follows:

Article 52(6) of the Republican Constitution offers guidance on the procedures to take following the death of a candidate after the close of nominations and before the polls.

The said Article provides as follows:

52(6) Where a candidate dies, resigns or becomes disqualified in accordance with Article 70, 100 or 153 or a court disqualifies a candidate for corruption or malpractice, after the close of nominations and before the election date, the Electoral Commission shall cancel the election and require the filing of fresh nominations by eligible candidates and elections shall be held within thirty days of the filing of the fresh nominations.

From the foregoing, it is clear that in the event of the death of a candidate after the nomination process, the law requires the cancellation of elections and this calls for fresh nominations for eligible candidates.

As the law requires fresh nominations, it entails that all aspiring candidates including those that had originally filed in nominations will be required to pay the prescribed nomination fee.

This provision would also apply to candidates who resign or indeed get disqualified in accordance with Articles 70, 100 or 153 of the Constitution.

Given that this is a Constitutional provision, the Commission is bound to comply without any discretion to do otherwise.

The Commission also recognises that this process may inconvenience stakeholders especially political parties who will be required to do fresh nominations.

In this regard, the Commission will be conducting fresh nominations for Mandevu Constituency, Lusaka, necessitated by the death of Mrs Melody Musutu and the resignation of three candidates – Ms Charity Lumpa in Lusaka Central Constituency, Lusaka, Mr Gilbert Bwali Musonda in Mpulungu Constituency, Mpulungu and Mr Chewe Kateule in Kamakonde Ward, Bwacha Constituency, Kitwe.

Patricia Luhanga
Corporate Affairs Manager
For/The Chief Electoral Officer
ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA