POLICE in Eastern Province have arrested a Burundi national and three Zambians in connection with several break-ins in Chipata and Petauke districts.

Provincial police commissioner Luckson Sakala said apart from a Burundian the other suspect was a taxi driver from Chipata who is also known as C5 while the other two escaped from lawful custody at Emmasdale police station in Lusaka.

Sakala said the suspects were apprehended by alert police officers from Petauke on Tuesday.

He said police recovered several groceries and a Toyota Corolla that the suspects were using.

“From their own confessions they are saying there were four places here in Chipata where they broke in but a lot of break-ins have been taking place in Petauke. What they have been doing is that once they break in, they take the stolen items to Lusaka for market,” Sakala said.

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The Patriotic Front (PF) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum for its Northern Province chairperson to explain or resign in the wake of the Ilambo Ward by-election loss to the UPND.

Party Secretary General Davies Mwila said the loss of a local government seat in Lupososhi Constituency was very embarrassing to the ruling party.

Northern Province Chairperson Lazarus Bwalya has been called out to give a credible explanation for the loss.

The Patriotic Front lost the Ilambo Ward in Lupososhi Constituency in Luwingu district.

Mwila told a media briefing in Lusaka today that it is unacceptable for Mr. Chungu who is not only Lupososhi Member of Parliament but Northern Province Minister to lose a local government by-election in his own house.

Chungu has since been given 24 hours to explain why the party lost in Lupososhi ward or face consequences.

He said failure to do so will result in the party taking action against their lawmaker.

Mwila said the PF campaign team in Northern Province was complacent in all the ward elections.

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The political alignments ahead of the 2021 elections parliamentary adoptions has manifested with Patriotic Front district chairperson Everisto Chilufya engulfed in the intr-party contests.

Chilufya has been accused of weeding out prospective supporters of the possible candidature of Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe and District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu.

Some Patriotic Front Members have accused Chilufya of abusing powers to suspend ordinary members perceived to be supporting either Kang’ombe or Mpundu.

The complainants feel the action to suspend members of the party is meant to instil fear among those who have been advocating for a change of leadership among some serving members of parliament.

“It is not a hidden fact, people are scared of Kang’ombe (Christopher) and Binwell (Mpundu) in the next elections so now they are issuing suspensions to anyone who supports these two,” a PF member has disclosed.

The complaints follow the suspension of Leevan Mukuka a well-known Kang’ombe supporter and Clement Kalobo, who appears to beMpundu’s official photographer.

“So if you ask me, how can you suspend Kalobo or Leevan Mukuka? These are just sympathisers but the reasons are known because they are close to Binwell Mpundu and Christopher Kang’ombe, it is very unfair and we feel the man is abusing powers now,” another member stated.

When asked, Chilufya who is Luangwa Ward Councillor also former Kitwe Deputy Mayor said the party is governed by rules and those not adhering to that will be suspended.

“We have rules in this party; all we are doing is to discipline those misbehaving. We will not tolerate indiscipline among our members. This is just to give them an opportunity for them to reflect on their conduct,” Chilufya said.

He added that those being suspended are not being chased from the party.

The post Kang’ombe, Mpundu Battle for Adoption Divides C/B PF appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Chililabombwe Member of Parliament (MP) Richard Musukwa has called for the incorporating of persons with disabilities in all developmental programmes to enhance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Musukwa, who is also Mines Minister, reiterated governments resolve to ensure the lives of persons with disabilities are secured through the implementation of various policies among them the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme.

He was speaking in a speech read on his behalf by his emissary Ricky Kamboyi during the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Chililabombwes Kasumbalesa area.

The day, which was commemorated under the theme Transformation towards Sustainable and Resilient Society for All, was being held for the first time in Chililabombwe courtesy of Watch Your Life Movement, a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for persons living with disabilities.

He encouraged the local authorities to reserve trading spaces for persons with disabilities in all markets to enhance their participation in economic activities to reverse the trend of the disabled begging on the streets.

And Watch Your Life Movement Executive Director Stephen Nkomeni called on government to come up with relevant programmes that will uplift the lives of persons with disabilities in line with the vision 2030 that pledges to leave no one behind.

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A truck driver has died on the spot while four others have sustained injuries in a Fatal Road Traffic accident which happened on Friday evening.

Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Mwaata-Katongo stated that the accident happened around 17:46 hours along the Great East Road, about 80 Kilometres west of Nyimba Boma.

“Involved was Male Masauso Zulu aged 55 of unknown address in Chipata who whilst driving a Volvo truck ABR 1420 with five passengers on board and loaded with cooking oil moving from west to east lost control of the motor vehicle and blocked the road. The driver died on the spot and was burnt beyond recognition and the remains were deposited in Nyimba District Hospital mortuary,” Mwaata-Katongo stated.

“The following passengers sustained some injuries: male Johane Mwanza aged 33 of Chipata sustained broken right leg and general body pains and he has been referred to St Francis Mission Hospital while the other two were being observed at Nyimba District Hospital.
The accident happened when the driver lost control of the motor vehicle which blocked the road and caught fire.”

And Mwaata-Katongo stated that one person died while 13 others sustained injuries in a Road Traffic Accident which occurred on Friday again around 17:40 hours along Independence Avenue in Lusaka.

” Involved was a Toyota Hiace registration number ALJ 8227 driven by unknown driver who ran away after the accidents and on board were the following passengers: Alick, other name is not known, who sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot, Violet Mulena aged 36, Violet Chiliti, male Chishimba Nkonde aged 55, Charity Kayonde aged 38, Esnart Tembo aged 47, Grace Nalwamba Grace aged 38, Juliet Zimba aged 84, Bertha Mucha aged 47, Davis Tembo aged 38, male Ludo Chinyemba aged 38, Grace Zulu aged 58, Georgina Phiri aged 45 and John Chitalu aged 45,” she stated.

“Also involved was John Banda aged 37 driving a Steyr truck registration number AGB 6465. The accident occurred when the driver of the Toyota Hiace ALJ 8227 failed to keep to its near side ( lane) hence hit into the truck which was parked off the road.”

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Anthony Joshua became a two-time world heavyweight champion with a unanimous points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in a tense rematch in Saudi Arabia.

Six months on from the night Ruiz stunned boxing, Joshua risked seeing his career left in tatters with a second defeat, but served up 36 minutes of movement and well-timed punching to take the IBF, WBA and WBO titles back to Britain.

After cutting his Mexican rival inside the first round he never looked back and picked out smart jabs and right hands throughout before being serenaded with chants of “AJ, AJ, AJ” by 14,000 or so fans in the Diriyah Arena.

Ruiz never looked close to landing a knockdown and when scores of 118-110 118-110 and 119-109 were read out, Joshua jumped up and down in the ring in celebration, just as the man who had wrecked his US debut did in June.

Joshua, 30, now joins a small cluster of men including Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Floyd Patterson to have reclaimed the world heavyweight title.

Patterson fell to the canvas seven times in one round as he lost his belts to Ingemar Johansson in 1959 but regained them in a rematch. The question in Saudi Arabia was whether Joshua could show the same mental fortitude after being knocked down multiple times by Ruiz in June. His answer was emphatic.

A downpour in a country that barely sees rain stopped moments before Joshua strode to the ring, prompting him to carefully dry his feet on the canvas.

From that moment on, his feet moved with grace. Seconds before the off, Ruiz was told “let’s go Andy” by his corner but he was rarely allowed to get close to his rival and inflict the damage he did in the first fight.

(Source: BBC)

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Local contractors in Kitwe have cried foul over the demand for them to buy expensive materials once sub-contracted by big contractors like AVIC International.

A group of local contractors have petitioned petitioned Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu to intervene in the alleged unfair tradition competition with main contractors.

The local contractors have charged that upon being engaged by the main contractor, AVIC International on the Zambia 300 Township Road Project in Kitwe, they were being asked to buy materials from the main contractor at an abnormal rate.

They have complained that the materials being supplied by the main contractors are too expensive compared to other suppliers on the market.

The local contractors have urged with government to engage the main contractors to review their stance.

“For example I have a contract of about $ 49,000 but when I invoice the main contractor, they are making deductions of the materials they supplied to me, in my case from $49,000 I have remained with $ 9,000 how do I pay my workers and cover other costs? This is making local contractors become even poorer,” one of the affected local contractors.

Meanwhile, Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu has promised to intervene in the matter.

Mpundu said President Edgar Lungu during his visit to the Copperbelt made it clear that the 20% sub contracting policy is aimed at uplifting locals with finances and skills.

However, a press query to AVIC International on the Copperbelt has not received any response.

The post Local Contractors Cry Foul Over Avic International Demands on Them appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Mpongwe District Commissioner, Keith Maila says the increased murder cases in his area are worrisome.

Speaking when the Police Public Complaints Commission paid a courtesy call on him, Maila said the community is living in fear of being attacked by unknown criminals.

Maila said reports of murder reaching his office are worrying hence the call to the police to intensify patrols and corner the perpetrators.

“The situation has reached worrying levels, we need to address this matter urgently otherwise our people are not safe,” he said.

Maila said the discovery of dead bodies has become the order of the day in his area.

“There are lot of criminals now in our district, just the other week a decomposed body was picked up in an unfinished shop in Munkumpu area,” he said.

Maila has since appealed to the commission to assist in addressing some of the challenges facing police in the district so as to allow them respond to security challenges.

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Two juveniles have died in a Road Traffic Accident along Mutanda-Solwezi road near Kimiteto in Solwezi District.

The accident involved a Scania bus registration number ALT 2162 which was being driven by 45-year old Kalemba Maika of Makobo in Kalulushi.

The accident happened when the bus hit an unknown male juvenile cyclist aged 14 who was carrying a 12-year old passenger.

Both juveniles died on the spot.

North Western Province Commissioner of Police Hudson Namachila has confirmed the development.

He said the two bodies are in Solwezi Hospital mortuary awaiting identification while the driver has been detained for causing death by dangerous driving.

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A 10-year old girl of Wusakile Township in Kitwe has hit the spotlight after having reported his father to the police for battering her mother leaving her unconscious.

The assailant identified as 49 year old Potipher Lungu battered his wife and locked her up in her unconscious state.

Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga who confirmed the incident said Lungu beat up his wife and locked her up in an unconscious state.

The daughter who witnessed the beating rushed to the police station to report the assault with police moving in to arrest her dad.

Katanga has identified the victim as Charity Lungu who was later rushed to Wusakile Mine Hospital for medical treatment.

She said the victim sustained a deep cut on her nose adding that the suspect has since been charged with an offence of unlawful wounding.

The post 10-Year Old Girl Reports Abusive Dad to Police after he Battered his Wife appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Father Paul Chibwe a parish priest of Kalingalinga Catholic Parish has died.

Father Paul died at the University Teaching Hospital(UTH) in the early hours of today.

Previously, Father Paul Chibwe was presiding over the Chunga Catholic Parish but was later transferred to South Africa to help with a parish that was manned by a Cameroonian priest who got sick.

Father Paul has been in South Africa untill he returned to Zambia.

He was brought back to Zambia and was given Kalingalinga parish.

He has been at Kalingalinga parish all this time till today when he died today at UTH.

The funeral of Father Paul is being held in Chawama at his mother’s house.

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Information minister Dora Siliya says government is concerned with the situation at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) where workers have not yet received their November salaries and is doing everything possible to address the matter.

Siliya says whilst her ministry is responsible for policy formulation, it is her expectation that the board, management and workers at ZNBC will come up with sustainable strategies to keep the institution financially afloat.

Speaking when she addressed Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Dissemination (ZUBID) branch officials in her office this morning, Siliya said while the issue of the November salaries is urgent, the national broadcaster needs to come up with long-term strategies that will sustain its operations and avoid issues such as delayed salaries.

Siliya said that with stiff competition in the industry, there was need for new ideas and innovations to turn around the institution.

“ZNBC needs to think outside the box in order to avoid the same problems reoccurring each time they have to pay their workers because it will be difficult to always wait for Ministry of Finance to release funds especially that the country has austerity measures in effect,” she advised.

Meanwhile Siliya has appealed to workers at ZNBC to be patient with management and give them time to resolve their issue.

And Siliya has advised the union at ZNBC to follow the laid down communication channel in airing their grievances.

“The reason the minister appoints a board at ZNBC is to oversee the management of the institution, and if the institution has challenges, it is expected that workers together with the board in place write to the minister so that they present the issues at hand,” she said.

Meanwhile, Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Dissemination (ZUBID) Secretary General Andrew Mphandamwike explained that the union decided to seek audience with the minister because workers had run out of options.

Mphandamwike said management and the board have tried everything they can but have failed hence the resolution to seek help from the Minster in charge of the media industry.

This is according to press statement issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.

The post Siliya Laments Delayed Salaries At ZNBC appeared first on Zambia Reports.

African Milling Limited has with immediate effect reduced the price of mealie meal from K150 to 130 at the factory.

According to African Milling sales and marketing manager Jomo Matululu, the reduction is a result of the tripartite agreement signed between the  milling company, grain traders and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

The recommended retail price for African Milling mealie meal in Lusaka would be K 136.

During the commissioning of the expanded African Milling plant in Lusaka last week, the company’s management assured President Edgar Lungu that they would reduce the prices of mealie meal this week.

Government has in the past been working on modalities of reducing the prices of the staple food with several interventions being undertaken by various stakeholders in the milling industry.

“If you recall during the launch of our expanded plant, we had assured the President and the country at large that we would reduce the prices of mealie meal and true to our words, we have done it. As African Milling we are here to serve the Zambian people and ensure that we offer our commodity at an affordable price for all and so we have reduced the prices from K150 to K 130 ex-factory  and our recommended retail prices for Lusaka is K 136 for a 25 kg bag,” said Matululu.

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A report of the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa says South Africans are renting, and buying, bodies to falsely lay claim to funeral benefits.

The post South Africans Buying Bodies To Make False Insurance Claims appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Kapiri Mposhi Town Council has approved a K43 million budget for the 2020 civic year.

The budget was approved by the Finance, Business, Valuation and Undertaking Committee chairperson Proscardness Mwiinga during a special council meeting.

“In line with the 7th National Development plan and the Vision 2030, the government has embarked on infrastructure development. In this regard, we have allocated K11 million towards capital projects for the year 2020. Included in this amount is Constituency Development Fund (CDF) amounting K1, 600, 000 to be spent on capital projects in the constituency,” she said.

Mwiinga said that the Council is expected to raise over K20 million from local taxes, fees and charges that consist of personal levy, property rates from residential, commercial, industrial, mining, plant and hydro power stations giving 73 percent of the total budget.

She said the Council is expecting to receive K10, million grant from the central government which includes grant in lieu of rates and the Local Government Equalization Fund.

“The financial position for Kapiri Mposhi Town Council for the year 2019 was not so good after the revocation of the Statutory Instrument No. 60 of 2006. This statute empowered the Council to collect Transit Goods Levy at Luanshimba and Old weigh bridge checkpoints. The Council has since faced a lot of financial challenges,” she said.

This is according to a media statement made available by Kapiri Mposhi Town Council Public Relations Officer Chris Mulaliki.

However, the budget is subject to approval by the Ministers of Finance and Local Government.

The post Kapiri Council Approves K43m 2020 Budget appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Unionised workers at the Copperbelt University will today (Wednesday) withdraw their labour should management fail to pay them their November salaries.

Copperbelt University Academics Union (CBUAU) Deputy Secretary General Emmanuel Kabaso said the union is dismayed with the failure by management and government to pay salaries to workers for the month of November 2019.

He said the trend of delayed salaries at the Copperbelt University is very disappointing and demoralising to the workers.

“The Copperbelt University Academics Union (CBUAU) shall therefore, not entertain this scenario anymore. Why should we be reduced to beggars? According to the Employment Code Act 2019 section 66 subsection (2), the law is very clear on payment of employee wages and it states as follows “The wages of an employee shall be paid at regular intervals not being later than the 5th day following the date upon which they fall,” Dr Kabaso said.

He said unionised workers should have been paid on the 28th of November 2019 adding that Management has abrogated the law by not paying the workers

Dr Kabaso said if the delayed November 2019 salaries are not paid by today, scheduled classes that commenced on Monday 9th December will not be conducted as members will be busy sourcing money elsewhere to take care of their families.

“Our members will only resume normal activities once they are paid. To this effect, all matters to do with Board of Studies meetings, Board of Examiners, Senate Examination Committee and classes will not take place until November 2019 salaries are paid,” he added.

The post CBU Workers Threaten Strike Over Delayed November Salaries appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Over K 360, 000 will be spent on the drilling of 5 boreholes in five constituencies in Solwezi District.

Town Clerk Bornwell Luanga has disclosed that the council has engaged Baba Drilling and Exploration for the project to be undertaken in the five wards of the District.

He said the Council understood the challenge communities were having over access to water.

“What we have been experiencing is that people in these areas access water from the shallow wells and this is not safe, so we have agreed with the contractor to have boreholes sunk as soon as possible to help people have access to water,” Luanga said.

He said that most people with boreholes have also been affected as they have ended up drying.

He said the five boreholes will be sunk in Kimasala, Kamalamba, Tumvwang’anai, Sandang’ombe and Kapijimpanga ward.

The post Solwezi to Get More Boreholes appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Opposition United Party for National Development Youths on the Copperbelt has accused the Kalulushi Municipal Council of having plans to demolish Luato Market.

Provincial Youth Secretary Howard Kamwanda has alleged that Minister of Local Government Charles Banda had given a directive to have the market demolished.

He said the council has informed traders to vacate the premises on reasons that the land belongs to Masamba Primary School.

But when contacted, Kalulushi Municipal Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Dorothy Sampa has rubbished the claims saying that the council has no such plans.

A check revealed that some marketeers have invaded the football pitch at Masamba Primary School which is just adjacent to Luato Market.

The post Kalulushi UPND Raise Alarm Alleged Luato Market Demolishing appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Police in Livingstone have arrested two people for being in possession of military attire and offensive weapons.

Police spokesperson Esther Katongo identified the suspects as Bogginate Mutize aged 18 of Namatama area in Livingtone and Emmanuel Chiyota aged 18 of Ngwenya, while Darlington Meswa is on the run with a manhunt launched for him.

Katongo said Mutize was spotted by security personnel in a named Night Club wearing an attire suspected to be for the military and was apprehended by police.

Further investigations led to a recovery of four machetes, axes and some knives.

“Initially on 1^st December, 2019, police officers on patrol arrested Shaibu Mulenga in Highland area who was found wearing an attire closely related to that of the defence force.  Officers further recovered a knife from him,” she said.

The suspects are in police custody and charged under section six of the State Security Act 111 for Unauthorised use of official uniform and also under section 85 of the Penal Code for  Possession of Offensive weapons and will appear in Court tomorrow.

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The cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka has gone up by over K140 to K6, 418.17 in November from K6, 338.79 in October.

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR)’s Basic Needs Basket (BNB) released today shows that food costs account for much of the increase in the cost of living.

“A further increase in the cost of living during the month of November is worrying and is of great concern. The cost of living increased by K142 to K6, 481.17 in November compared to K6, 338.79 in October. The upward shift in the cost of living is largely attributed to a rise in prices of some food and non-food items. The price of mealie meal (roller) increased from K113 per 25kg in October to K132 per 25kg in November 2019. The price of onion increased from K13 per kg in October to K17 per kg in November 2019. The price of cooking oil increased from K54 per 2.5 Litres to K56 per 2.5 Litres. The price of charcoal increased from K128 per 90kg bag to K150 per 90kg,” it stated in a statement released today.

“JCTR notes that the cost of food, particularly mealie meal, still accounts for much of the rising cost of living in Zambia. The increase is mainly attributed to the increased cost of production which has come about due to long hours of load shedding, a situation that has forced producers to invest in alternative sources of energy, inevitably pushing up production cost. Further, long hours of load shedding have created a high demand for charcoal.

JCTR reckons that all these socio-economic problems are preventable given that Zambia has vast potential and several natural resources in all sectors to accord its citizens a good standard of living and a realization of a dignified existence.”

It stated that Zambia is currently facing numerous socio-economic challenges.

“These include: hunger, depreciation of the local currency, empty public coffers due to debt servicing, high cost of living, etc. These difficulties have been compounded by leadership gaps at all levels and a lack of political will to set and adhere to priorities that are of benefit to the majority of the population.  This situation continues to negatively affect the lives of many ordinary Zambians,” JCTR stated.

“A little bit of political will should be enough to address non-productivity of the economy which has been prolonged by rampant load shedding and repayment of debt. The Kwacha has depreciated against major foreign currencies such as the US dollar.  At the start of 2019, the exchange rate was around K11.89 to $1, and towards the end of the year depreciated to over K15 to $1. The weakening of the local currency against major foreign currencies is likely going to further negatively affect the prices of basic food and non-foods items. In view of these socio- economic challenges facing our country, JCTR commends the government for embarking on power importation.  In the long term, we urge the government to address the problem of energy deficit by seriously investing in alternative and renewable sources of energy as reliance on hydro-electricity will continue to be a challenge in the wake of climate change. We also call on the government to work with various stakeholders to put in place measures to address fiscal factors that have led to depreciation of our local currency. “

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