Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player for a record sixth time.

It is the 32-year-old Argentine’s first Ballon d’Or since 2015 and comes after he scored 54 times for club and country in 2018-19, in which Barca won La Liga.

Virgil van Dijk was second – one of four Liverpool players in the top seven, including Sadio Mane in fourth.

Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, was third in the voting.

England defender Lucy Bronze was beaten to the women’s award, finishing second behind Megan Rapinoe, who was Golden Ball winner as USA claimed a second successive World Cup in 2019.

Liverpool keeper Alisson won the inaugural Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, ahead of Barcelona’s Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Brazilian compatriot Ederson of Manchester City.

Defender Matthijs de Ligt took the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best under-21 player and selected by former Ballon d’Or winners.

The 20-year-old, who joined Juventus this summer after helping Ajax reach the semi-finals of last season’s Champions League, beat Borussia Dortmund and England forward Jadon Sancho to the award.

Messi’s win means the Ballon d’Or award has been won by a player from Spain’s La Liga in each of the last 11 years, including last year’s winner Luka Modric, who broke the 10-year Messi-Ronaldo monopoly on the prize.

“Today is my sixth Ballon d’Or. It’s a completely different moment, lived with my family and my children,” Messi said.

“As my wife said, you must never stop dreaming but always work to improve and continue to enjoy. I am very lucky, I am blessed.

“I hope to continue for a long time. I realise that I am very lucky, even if, one day, retirement will ring. It will be difficult.

“But I still have beautiful years ahead of me. Time goes very quickly, so I want to enjoy football and my family.”

The Argentine forward recently notched up 700 appearances for Barca, during which time he has scored a phenomenal 614 goals while winning 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga and four Champions League titles, and a host of other records and awards.

His superb displays for Barcelona enabled him to hold off the challenge of Champions League winner Van Dijk, who was aiming to become the first defender to win the award since Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

“It was an amazing year, but there’s a couple of players like that who are a bit unnatural,” Van Dijk said of Messi and Ronaldo. “So you need to respect greatness as well.

“I was close, but there was just someone a little bit better.

“I’m very proud of what I achieved last year with Liverpool and Holland, and hopefully we can do that again this year. But that will be tough with those guys around here still.

“I never thought that I would be up for a Ballon d’Or until I was actually nominated. It shows a lot about how my career has been. My career has been different from the winner here, I came late, but I never gave up on my dreams.

“I had to work hard every step of the way, so to be here makes me very proud. And I want to work hard and be here again next year.”

The full list

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal)

4. Sadio Mane (Liverpool and Senegal)

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt)

6. Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain and France)

7. Alisson (Liverpool and Brazil)

8. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland)

9. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City and Portugal)

10. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City and Algeria)

11. Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona and Netherlands)

12. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City and England)

13. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid and Belgium)

14. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium)

15. Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus and Netherlands)

16. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City and Argentina)

17. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool and Brazil)

18. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona and France)

19. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool and England)

20= Dusan Tadic (Ajax and Serbia)

20= Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal and Gabon)

22. Son Heung-min (Tottenham and South Korea)

23. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham and France)

24= Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli and Senegal)

24= Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona and Germany)

28= Donny van de Beek (Ajax and Netherlands)

28= Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

28= Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain and Brazil)

(Source: BBC)

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A three-year old girl has died after drowning in a flooded rubbish pit in Mansa District of Luapula Province.

Rose Mwape died on Saturday around midday at Kalikeka Village in Mansa District.

Luapula Province Police Commissioner Elias Chushi has confirmed the sad development.

Chushi said that the incident happened when mother to the deceased identified as Regina Mwape, 29, was washing clothes and her daughter was at her grandmother’s place in the same neighbourhood.

“When lunch was prepared, she went to look for the child only to find her dead in a rubbish pit full of rain water,” he said.

He said police visited the scene and have since opened an inquiry while the body of the deceased has been deposited to Mansa General Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

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Zambia is not among the countries that are under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to a list unveiled at the on-going 18th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, in the Netherlands, the countries undergoing investigations are Nigeria, Guinea, Ukraine, Venezuela, Columbia, Libya, Darfur, Georgia, Philippines and Palestine among others

In a statement issued by secretary for press at the Zambian Mission in Belgium, Phyllis Chilekwa, Justice Minister Given Lubinda said that Zambia remained committed to the ideals of the International Criminal Court.

At the ICC conference prosecutor of the ICC Mrs Fatou Bensouda announced the names of countries under the Court’s investigation.

“Zambia remains committed to upholding and defending the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute as well as preserving its integrity. Zambia also upholds the fight of the ICC, intended to put an end to impunity of perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to international law and the international community as a while and thus commits to contribute to the preservation of such crimes,” Lubinda stated.

“Mr President, as you may be aware, the African Union at its Ordinary session through decision EX.CL/1006(XXX) called for the mass withdrawal of African states from the Rome Statute. It was however left to the individual member states to decide whether to remain or to pull out of the ICC.”

Lubinda said that Zambia had voted to remain a member of the ICC despite other African countries calling for a mass withdrawal.

“The President of Zambia Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu being a Democrat and running a democratic government put the question whether to remain a member state of the Rome Statute or not to the public debate. We therefore conducted a consultative process in 2017 to ascertain the views of the populace on whether or not Zambia should remain party to the Rome Statute,” he stated.

“Mr President, I have the pleasure of announcing to this assembly of states parties that the citizenry of Zambia voted to remain party to the Rome Statute. With the reaffirmation of the population, the government of Zambia is fully committed to unreservedly cooperate with the ICC.”

The Assembly of States Parties – ASP is the management oversight and legislative body of the International Criminal Court, which is composed of representatives of the States that have ratified and acceded to the Rome Statute.

The ASP meets in full plenary once a year to discuss and decide upon matters key to the future functioning of the ICC.

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The Constitutional Amendment Bill number 10 has been restored to the order paper after parliament presided over it.

Opposition UPND members of parliament walked of parliament but their protest could not halt the process that required a simple majority to be restored.

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo moved the motion to have the bill restored.

The bill will now be table before parliament at second reading stage.

The motion only needed a simple majority to be passed.

Leader of the opposition in parliament Jack Mwiimbu led the UPND legislators as they stormed out of parliament.

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Chifubu Member of Parliament Frank Ng’ambi has walked to freedom after the Ndola High Court entered a nolle prosequi in the matter in which he was arrested for battering his wife.

His wife Agness refused to continue testifying in the matter saying that she had reconciled with her husband.

Ng’ambi was charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm.

It is alleged that on June 7, 2019, Ng’ambi, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable, caused grievous harm to his wife.

When the matter came up for continued trial before the Ndola High Court, the state informed the court that the victim was unwilling to continue the matter stating that the two had reconciled.

“The witness is not before court and the matter was coming up for continuation of trial. The victim in this matter Agness Mubanga Ng’ambi has indicated to the state that she does not wish to testify against her husband who is the accused in this matter, as they have reconciled,” the state told the court.

In her ruling, Judge Chembe informed the accused in the case, Ng’ambi that the matter was being discontinued.

“The prosecution has discontinued the matter by way of a nolle prosequi against you. But note that a nolle is not an acquittal, once there is other evidence or the victim decides to come to court, you will be charged on the same charges,” Judge Chembe stated.

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Bill Number 10 will be expected to move to the second reading after having been restored to the Order Paper on Tuesday.

Some United Party for National Development (UPND) Members of Parliament that walked out may have to participate in the voting at the second reading stage that requires a two-thirds threshold.

Acting Minister of Justice Stephen Kampyongo moved a motion to restore the Bill to the order paper, a document that was initially presented to parliament on 2nd August, 2019 however, the National Assembly adjourned sine die marking the end of the third session of the 12th national Assembly.

According to parliamentary procedure and practices all business that is not concluded before the end of a session lapses and cannot be continued within the ensuing session. The National assembly standing orders of 2016 provides that if a bill lapses by reason of prorogation of the House such a Bill may be restored on the order paper in the ensuing session at the stage it had reached at the time the house was prorogued.

However, at the commencement of the 4th session of the 12th National Assembly which is the current sitting, the select committee has concluded its work on the bill and the report has been tabled in readiness for consideration at the second reading stage.

Kampyongo further appealed to Members of Parliament to support the move and allow for the document to come up for second reading today 4th December, 2019 but this would only happen once restored on the order paper.

“The house will recall that on Friday the 29th November, 2019 her honour the Vice President indicated that the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill National Assembly of Zambia Number 10 of 2019 would come up for the second reading stage on Wednesday 4th December, 2019, therefore in order for the bill to be re-considered it must first be restored onto the order paper, it is for this reason that I move this motion so that we take this process forward and I seek the support of all honourable members,” Kampyongo stated.

The current composition of the National Assembly has the ruling Patriotic Front at 89 (minus late Chilubi MP Rosaria Fundanga), opposition, 63, nominated, 8 and Independents, 14.

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The Copperbelt University (CBU) has upped registration fees by over 100 percent as students reports for the new academic year.

Students have been hit by an increment that moves from 30% to 62% signalling a 100% increment on payment of tuition fees.

Some students have complained on the move taken by management adding that most of them are unable to pay at that threshold considering the many economic challenges.

The students spoken to have appealed to government to intervene stating that the amounts of money being asked for is too much and will result in most students failing to register for the academic year.

“It’s very unfortunate because most of us students if not 90% of the students can’t manage to register looking at the difficult time our nation is going through,” complained one of the affected students.

“As a concerned student I feel this issue should be looked into immediately because it is disadvantaging most of the students if not all looking at how the events in the university have occurred. I am kindly appealing to our Honourable Minister of Higher Education Brian Mushimba to intervene in this issue on behalf of students,” another student added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Higher Education Brian Mushimba said he has engaged the Copperbelt University management over the increase in the threshold.

“I have engaged CBU on the issue of thresholds, I am told the 30% was a temporal intervention last year that created serious shortfall in the funding cycle for the university of K 20 million and it is not sustainable hence going back to what is on the books being 50% to around 80 at the final and 20 at results,” Mushimba said.

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An 18 year old man of Chililabombwe district has been arrested after he was allegedly found having sex with a sheep.

Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga has confirmed the incident in an interview saying the matter was reported by Robby Kavula of Kawama Township in Kasumbalesa who found the suspect in action.

She said the suspect pounced on the sheep was grazing in an open area.

Katanga has stated that the suspected has since been remanded in police custody while the sheep is being kept at the veterinary office for further examination.

“The incident happened yesterday (Tuesday) at around 14:40hrs, when a business man identified as Robby Kavula left his livestock grazing in an open area and found the 18 year old in action at an open ground. Preliminary investigations shows that blood was coming out from its (sheep) virginal area,” Katanga stated.

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Patrick Gondwe of Zambia evades challenge from Adalmiro Da Silva of Angola during the 2018 COSAFA U20 Championship 3/4 Place Playoff Football Match between Angola and Zambia at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on 13 December 2018 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

The Cosafa Under-20 rolls into action this morning with three fixtures lined up at Nkoloma Stadium.

The first match kicks-off at 10:00 hours with Angola taking on Seychelles while Comoros will tackle Malawi in a lunchtime kick-off at 12:45 hours.

Hosts Zambia will join the fray at 15:30 hours with a potentially explosive clash with the junior Zebras of Botswana.

Zambia will be looking to hit third time lucky as they host this edition for the third consecutive time.

Coach Oswald Mutapa has been piecing his act together and will be looking to the inspiration of some of the standout performers like Prince Mumba, Francisco Mwepu, Muma Mumba, Chanda Mukuka and Prince Bwalya.

Zambia is looking to adding it 12^th crown on home soil but will have to be wary of the threat posed by Botswana.

The 2016 champions have come short on the last two editions and will hope that the change of setting will reinvigorate the team’s fortunes.

Charges have been pegged at K10 open wing and K50 Grand Stand. Tickets are available through Computicket in any Shoprite outlet.

(Credit: FAZ Media)

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American Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote has gone on a path of trying to push on Zambia values that the majority of the Zambians do not subscribe to.

Last week, he issued a statement that condemned the Zambian government and the judiciary for sentencing two men of Kapiri Mposhi to 15 years imprisonment for having sex against the order of nature, an act that is prohibited under under the Laws of Zambia. But what he probably forgot is that the laws of our country are very clear on this matter such that anyone found in the act is liable to prosecution. Treating such a matter will purely be based on what the law said and not what the donors want.

On Monday, he held a press briefing in Lusaka where he said he has nothing but the highest respect for Zambians and said it is up to Zambians to decide whether or not they want to embrace homosexuality.

He also said it is not his place to tell Zambia what or what not to do and hoped the Zambian government will work towards improving its relations with the American government.

“I have consistently pledged that it’s not my place to tell Zambia what to do, but that I would always be honest and frank.  The exceptional yearly assistance from American to Zambian citizens, and the constitution of Zambia, should enable all of us to express our opinions without acrimonious accusations or actions.  I hope the government of Zambia commits to improve its decaying relationship with the United States, but that is a decision for it to make…The U.S. government is far from perfect, and we always welcome feedback, including from Zambia through your embassy in Washington.  If we didn’t, we might not have changed our repugnant laws allowing slavery and other human rights contraventions, historical misdeeds for which I passionately apologize.

I highly appreciate the exceptional welcome and friendship extended by Zambia’s wonderful people throughout my two years here, and I have nothing but the highest respect for your citizens…I agree that this this issue is completely up to Zambians to decide.  You are blessed with a diversity of Christian denominations…”

The laws that are in place in our country today are the same laws that existed even pre-independence. Nothing has changed today for Zambia to be shamed for sticking to values it believes in. In fact, this is not the first time that the Zambian judiciary has implemented the laws on homosexual acts. The law is the law; it cannot and will never ever be twisted to suit particular interests, unless it is changed in total agreement with the majority of citizens and parliament.

Going forward, it will make a big difference to have our government and cooperating partners, including donors and diplomats, focusing on critical matters that will see Zambia develop. Imagine the amount of strategies we can come up with to end load shedding if we dedicated the same amount of time on sorting out the energy crisis! Imagine what can be achieved in the agriculture sector if we dedicated this same energy to ensuring all the vulnerable but viable farmers have their farming inputs way before the onset of the rainy season! Imagine what we can achieve if we dedicated a lot of time and energy to ensuring every child has access to education, property healthcare, clean and safe drinking water and decent shelter!

These are issues that Zambians want to hear and extensively discuss and not clear cut matters that are guided by the laws of the country.

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Opposition members of parliament yesterday walked out of Parliament when a motion was read by Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo seeking the reintroduction of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill Number 10 of 2019 on the Order Paper.

Their walkout was no surprise because we all know it was an instruction from UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema that all his MPs should boycott Bill 10 when it is brought back to Parliament. The only ones that remained are Nalikwanda member of parliament Professor Geoffrey Lungwngwa and Teddy Kasonso of Solwezi East constituency. The reasons for their stay in the House is obvious; the two opposition members of parliament were part of the Parliamentary Select committee that sat to receive submissions from a cross section of Zambians on the proposals contained in the Bill 10. They couldn’t have just stood up because their counterparts from the party have adhered to the order given by their president. This is what we call patriotism. The two exercised independent judgment based on what they believe in instead of going by decisions dictated by someone else.

So Parliament hears that the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill will be tabled for inclusion on the Order Paper for this session of the National Assembly. Instead of staying in the House to hear the way forward for this Bill, the opposition members of parliament decide to walk out. This act disappointed quite a number of their supporters and sympathisers who expressed their disappointment on social media and preferred that those representatives of the people stayed in the House to either reject the Bill or not, than walking out. This is not the first time it is happening, but this it will not solve anything right now and never will it do so even in the future. This is a type of politics that has never solved anything in countries where democracy is relished and followed. Whenever a disagreement arises in the House, the best thing opposition members of parliament and others can do is to stick around and disagree with their colleagues on the right in a manner allowed using their parliamentary privileges. What the opposition must never forget is that they are in Parliament to represent the people and not their selfish interests. But well, the truth is that they are there to serve themselves going by their stunts regarding the Constitution.

They are backed by some Civil Society Organisations that only yesterday failed to clearly articulate their contentions with the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill when asked simple questions at some radio station. That was some self exposure of where their interests are; they do it on behalf of some politicians. Just like some of these CSOs, the truth of the matter is that even these so called opposition members of parliament that hold critical views over the governance of this country have their opinions titled towards a certain political agenda. There’s really no genuine cause by these opposition MPs and CSOs. Most of them do not have the interests of the people and the country at the core of their activities. It is about individual interests and ensuring their pockets are well taken care of.

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The Bank of Zambia has said the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 10 of 2019 will not take away some of its powers as reported on social media.

The central bank has stated that the proposed provisions in the Bill were motivated by the Bank which is of the view that the Constitution should only contain broad constitutional principles which are operationalised through detailed legislation passed by parliament.

“The Bank of Zambia is aware of numerous social media reports suggesting that the proposed Constitution of Zamboa (Amendment) Bill No. 10 of 2019 seeks to take away some of the powers vested in the Central Bank such as supervising the financial sector and printing of currency. The said social media reports allege that the powers being taken away will now be performed by the Central Government through Cabinet. The Bank wishes to state that the said reports are not correct,” it has stated.

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A 47-year-old taxi driver of Ndola has denied defiling a one-year-old child in his car.

The defilement is alleged to have happened in the Central Business District of Ndola on November 19, 2019 while the mother left the child with the taxi driver.

But the taxi driver has denied the charge in the Ndola Magistrate Court.

This is in a matter where Moses Phiri is charged with defilement of a child under the age of 16.

It is alleged that Phiri on November 19, 2019 in Ndola defiled the child who was left with him in his taxi.

When the matter came up for plea before Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate John Mbuzi, Phiri said he understood the charge but denied it.

Magistrate Mbuzi adjourned the matter to December 5, 2019 for commencement of trial.

It is alleged that on the material day, Phiri was engaged by the child’s father to take his wife and the child to town to buy groceries.

While the child’s mother went into a shop to buy the groceries, she left her in the car with Phiri, who was well known to the family.

It was during that time that Phiri allegedly defiled the baby.

It is alleged that when she returned from the shop, the victim’s mother found her child crying uncontrollably and was on Phiri’s laps.

This prompted her to call her husband, who later apprehended Phiri.

And when the child was taken to Arthur Davison Children’s hospital for medical examination, it was revealed that she had been defiled.

Phiri was arrested and charged with the offence of defilement.

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Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Dr Jonas Chanda has embarked on a project to raise K250, 000 for the upgrading of Yengwe Basic School to a secondary School.

Chanda has already committed K180, 000 from the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to fast track the project that hopes to accommodate grades 11 and classes to the already existing structure.

He says his office will lobby from the corporate world for the difference to allow for the completion of a 1×3 classroom block.

Dr Chanda said the school currently only accommodates pupils up to grade 10 due to inadequate infrastructure at the facility.

“Using 2018 Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we are building a 1×3 classroom block and offices so that Yengwe Basic School, in Kavu/Kang’onga, which is currently at grade 9/10 level, can go up to grade 12. Local community members themselves are building the classroom blocks under a labour-based model,” Dr Chanda said.

He said currently pupils are forced to cover long distances to access secondary education at Masala and Caritas adding that those with disabilities too are affected.

“We are working hard with the community to ensure quick completion of the classroom blocks so that Yengwe Basic School is upgraded to grade 12 level,” Dr Chanda said.

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France is preparing for severe disruption as millions of workers go on strike in protest at being forced to retire later or face reduced pensions.

School and transport workers will join police, lawyers and hospital and airport staff in a general walkout.

France’s largest nationwide strike in years was agreed by unions unhappy with President Emmanuel Macron’s plans for a universal points-based pension system.

Authorities have been trying to put in place plans to mediate the disruption.

The industrial action is expected to last beyond Thursday and some trade union leaders have warned they will continue their industrial action until Mr Macron abandons his campaign promise to overhaul the retirement system.

One opinion poll put public support for the strikes at 69%, with backing strongest among 18-34 year-olds.

The Macron administration will hope to avoid a repeat of the country’s general strike over pension reforms in 1995, which crippled the transport system for three weeks and drew massive popular support, forcing a government reversal.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on the eve of the strike he expected almost 250 demonstrations nationwide, some of which he said could turn violent.

“We know there will be lots of people in these protests and we know the risks. I have requested that systematically when there is rioting or violence we make arrests immediately,” he said.

A number of yellow-vest protesters known as “gilets jaunes” said they plan to join the demonstrations.

(Source: BBC)

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Court of Appeal judge Fulgence Chisanga has dismissed the ruling of the High Court which refused to join Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Gary Nkombo and NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili to the judicial review case relating to the impeachment motion issued by them.

 Judge Chisanga quashed the ruling of the High Court and ordered that Mr Nkombo and Mr Kambwili be joined to the Judicial review proceedings as parties that are properly interested in the same.

The Court of Appeal further reversed the High Court’s order that costs were to be borne by  Mr Nkombo and Mr Kambwili but that instead, each party bears own costs both in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Nkombo was represented by Mulambo Haimbe of Malambo and Co while Mr Kambwili was represented by Gilbert Phiri of PNP Advocates, Christopher Mundia of CLM Legal Practitioners and Zevianji Sinkala of Muleza Mwiimbu and Company.

The Respondents, were represented by Hobday Kabwe, Ignatius Chooka, Lewis Mosho and the Attorney Generals Chambers.

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Zambia and the United States of America have been friends for many years and their co-operation has extended to different areas of both countries. This is a fact that is not in dispute and must never be taken for granted by either party.

For instance, Zambia’s health sector is the biggest beneficiary of the United States support that totals $4 billion in the last 15 years. A number of our people today are receiving anti-retroviral treatment because of this support from the United States government and the Zambian government has shown appreciation in many ways by ensuring that those who should benefit from this help do so. Additionally, the government is promoting a campaign to have all Zambians know their HIV status and this has had the Head of State in the lead. This was demonstrated at the commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day that falls on December 1 when President Edgar Lungu and his wife, Madam Esther, took HIV tests to lead the way in voluntary testing and counselling.

“By knowing your HIV status and being on treatment, which prevents transmission, the only difference between HIV-negative and HIV-positive today is the medicine,” United States Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote said on Monday in a statement issued after he held a press briefing that addressed a wide range of issues on his country’s co-operation with Zambia.

He added that “the American people have provided more than $4 billion in HIV/AIDS support in the last 15 years. Working closely with the Ministry of Health, we currently have well over 1 million Zambians on life-changing anti-retroviral medicine, touching close to half of the families in the country… Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination remain as our biggest mutual challenges in eradicating the AIDS epidemic. Discriminatory and homophobic laws, under the false flags of Christianity and culture, continue to kill innocent Zambians, many of whom were born with the virus. Your citizens are terrified of being outed as HIV-positive, because of the inaccurate and archaic associations between HIV and homosexuality.”

This statement has revealed that fact that we still have a lot of work to do to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. There are people who will be put off from undergoing an HIV test because of how those living with the virus today are being treated. Sometimes, ill treatment actually comes from the healthcare providers themselves where they have disregarded the need for privacy when dealing with people living with HIV.

Consequently, the Ministry of Health should take this up and educate all its workers in departments that handle people living with HIV and emphasise the importance of confidentiality and respect for human rights of those seeking assistance. We have heard of people abandoning treatment because of lack of confidentiality by some health workers. And truth be told, the bulk of our citizens are still uncomfortable with coming out in the open about their HIV statuses and no health worker has the right to disclose using their privileges. As long as this is not dealt with sooner rather than later, stigma and discrimination will continue.

Ambassador Foote, in his statement, also said “my job as U.S. Ambassador is to promote the interests, values, and ideals of the United States” and that “Zambia is one of the largest per-capita recipients of U.S. assistance in the world, at $500 million each year”. He added that “in these countries where we contribute resources, this includes partnering in areas of mutual interest, and holding the recipient government accountable for its responsibilities under this partnership”.

Accountability for funds is a key issue that any government cannot ignore and every donor has the right to demand it from recipient countries. And when this is demanded, that particular government should provide whatever information may be requested. What is important, however, is to ensure that the process for demanding accountability is done in the most sober manner that will not leave the other party feeling humiliated or insulted, for lack of a better term.

“The U.S. government is far from perfect”, Ambassador Foote said, “and we always welcome feedback, including from Zambia through your embassy in Washington”. He made mention of the fact that if they didn’t welcome feedback, “we might not have changed our repugnant laws allowing slavery and other human rights contraventions, historical misdeeds for which I passionately apologize”.

No government in this world is surely perfect and that is true for our government as well. It is because of this fact that even if a government is not perfect, respect for its leaders is necessary.

Zambia currently faces a wide range of challenges that it cannot sort out on its own – energy shortages, climate change effects, food insecurity, etc, which Ambassador Foote acknowledged and said, “I agree that we should be working to improve critical issues like food insecurity and the electricity shortage, but Americans can’t do it alone, without cooperation from your government. The U.S. brought energy experts to work with Zambian ministries for over two years, and we jointly developed a plan to reform the sector and ensure better electricity delivery to the people.”

A government that thinks it can exist in isolation and make it deceives itself. Even with all the accolades of America being a great country, it still needs other countries like China that not long ago lent it a huge amount of money. Equally, America needs countries like Zambia just as much as Zambia needs America.

Therefore, any disagreements between the two countries will only work to the disadvantage of both. Most importantly, donor countries and their representatives must not discard the established lines of communication when there are matters of serious concern, as a show of respect for the recipient country and government. Flexing some muscle for each other takes away the integrity of diplomacy which we all know comes with strict etiquette.

It is clear that the current purported breakdown in diplomatic relations has more to do with Zambia’s punitive homosexual laws than it has with lack of accountability of donor funds. We can however agree that in as much as Zambia is free as a sovereign nation to abhor the practice of homosexuality, it would be more beneficial to an ordinary child in rural Zambia if government were to be as strict in enforcing anti corruption legislation as it is when it comes to homosexual offences between consenting adults in their privacy.

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The Chingola Subordinate Court has convicted and sentenced an accountant to 6 months simple imprisonment for Corrupt practices with a Public officer involving K30, 000.
In presiding over the matter Solwezi Magistrate Hon. Tamara Kakusa who was sitting in Chingola, sentenced Charles Mabo Sampule, 37, of BRRSV Complex Riverside, Chingola an Accountant for Kazenene Investments Ltd to six (6) months simple imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Hon. Kakusa acquitted Francis Chishala, 40, of Plot number 53 off Mimosa Kabundi North, Chingola an Assistant Accountant of the same firm who was jointly charged with Sampule.
The Anti-Corruption Commission in 2014 arrested two (2) Accounts personnel at Kazenene Investments Ltd in Kitwe for corrupt practices involving K 30, 000.
Charles Mabo Sampule, an Accountant at Kazenene Investments Ltd and Francis Chishala, an Assistant Accountant of the same firm were arrested and jointly charged with one Count of Corrupt Practices with Public Officer contrary to section 19(2) as read with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act no. 3 of 2012.
Details are that the duo, jointly and whilst acting together, corruptly offered K 30 000 and actually gave K 10 000 cash gratification to Brian Ntanda and Kambole Mutiti, as an inducement or reward for the said Ntanda and Mutiti to facilitate the illegal reduction or scrapping off of the contribution arrears and penalties owed by Kazenene Investments Ltd to National Pensions Scheme Authority a matter or transaction that concerns National Pension Scheme Authority, A Public Body.

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The ruling Patriotic Front has retained the Milenge council chairperson seat with its candidate Chanda Masheke polling 4, 409 votes ahead of the UPND’s Brave Nsamba who got 1, 237.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of incumbent Fidelis Chushi of the Patriotic Front.

According the results announced by Returning officer Duncan Chipulu this morning, the PF retained the seat with a runway margin.

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Police in Lusaka have gunned down seven notorious criminals suspected to be foreign nationals in an exchange of fire recovering four firearms among them, three Pistols and one revolver with rounds of ammunition.

Police spokesperson Esther Katongo says the incident occurred on Thursday between 19:00 and 20 00 hours in Lusaka’s Makeni Simson area after Police received a tip off from members of the public.

“A search in a motor vehicle which the criminals were using, a Toyota Ipsum registration number ALX 8160, silver in color, a further recovery of 36 rounds of ammunition of a revolver, two number plates bearing registration numbers AAJ 4317 and ABM 9712, two masks, four reverts, 22 assorted cell phones, assorted foreign currency among them Chinese, Indian, Zimbabwean, Malawian and Singapore currencies was made” she said.

Katongo added that the criminals are suspected to have been behind a spate of aggravated robberies experienced in Lusaka targeting foreign nationals.

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