GENERAL NEWS – Lusaka Voice

Nelson Mandela spent a second night in critical condition in hospital on Monday night, with his family members, compatriots and well-wishers worldwide fearing that the anti-apartheid icon is about to lose his final struggle.

A few vehicles were seen early on Tuesday entering and exiting the Pretoria hospital where the former president is being treated, but otherwise the scene was quiet except for the now normal gaggle of journalists.

On Monday, President Jacob Zuma said that “former president Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital.”

“The doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort,” Zuma added.

Mandela was rushed to hospital on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.

Despite intensive treatment at Pretoria’s Mediclinic Heart Hospital, the 94-year-old’s condition appears to have suddenly and dramatically deteriorated in recent days.

Visitors

Ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, daughters Zindzi Mandela-Motlhajwa and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini and scores of officials flocked to the hospital on Monday.

The family visits, while common since Mandela was admitted 17 days ago, come amid heightened fears for the former statesman’s health.

Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe has said her father appears to be at peace with himself.

“He has given so much to the world. I believe he is at peace.”

At the same time she complained about the “media frenzy” over her father’s condition.

“Whether these are the last moments with us, to be with our dad, or there is still a longer (time), but they (media) must back off,” she told CNN.

MORE ON [SOURCE]

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Daily Sun (June 11 2013) – THE Kia Sportage smashed into an electricity pole, plunging the kasi into darkness. Residents rushed to see what had happened – and were surprised to see Zahara getting out of the badly damaged car. BUT SOON THE STAR DISAPPEARED IN A GOLD MERCEDES!

Questions remain unanswered as witnesses and Zahara’s management disagree about what happened when the car knocked an electricity pole sideways on Phillip Frame Road in Chiselhurst, East London. Sihle Songca, one of the first people on the scene, said she was disappointed with the star’s performance at the scene.

“When we called the cops she tried to stop us. She said she had already called them,” said Sihle. “While we were still waiting, the Mercedes arrived and she fled the scene, leaving her sister, brother and another passenger behind.”

Witnesses said the singer of Loliwe, who only got her driver’s licence last year, was in the driver’s seat when they came running. Her two siblings and another passenger were also in the car. “We were without electricity from the early hours of Friday morning until Saturday afternoon,” she said.

She said Zahara’s brother sustained minor injuries on his forehead. Another witness, Mzukisi Mpinana, said the pole ripped out the wires of the house, damaging the transformer and the roof of the house. “The electrician said the damage would cost about R60 000 and we want her to pay for it,” he said.

Mzukisi said they spoke to Zahara on Friday and she promised to negotiate with them. “When she failed to pitch up we went to open a case of malicious damage to property,” he said.

Cambridge Police Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed that a case had been opened and that Zahara was involved. He said: “Zahara was apparently a passenger in the car and she has not been charged.

“The car she was travelling in lost control and hit the electricity post. The house owner whose house was damaged by the polecase opened a case of malicious damage to property.”

TS Records co-owner TK Nciza confirmed that Zahara was involved in a car accident on Friday but poured cold water on allegations that it took place at 1am or that she had been drinking.

“Zahara was in an accident on Friday at about 5pm or 6pm, the electric pole is nowhere near any houses and was in the opposite direction,” said TK.

“It was during the day. I don’t understand why people want to damage her reputation. Did they have breathalysers?”

He said Zahara is seeing a doctor and is only slightly injured. “We must all be grateful Zahara is alive,” he said.

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Farmers association suspended

Nakonde, June 25, ZANIS —– Nakonde District Farmers Association (NDFA) executive committee has been suspended with immediate effect.

The suspension was done by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) to pave way for investigations into the association’s allegedly misappropriation of money worth K1.5 billion old currency.

The money was a provision by the ZNFU under the Union’s Lima Credit Scheme programme that was meant for small scale famers to access in the area from the association to assist farmers acquire farming inputs to help improve their productivity.

Addressing a sizeable number of small scale farmers that saw the suspension of the executive which was present at the New Stadium in Nakonde district in Muchinga province yesterday, ZNFU Executive Director Ndambo Ndambo stressed that the union shall not tolerate misappropriation of funds by farmers associations provided by the ZNFU.

Mr Ndambo pointed out that Police in Chinsali will be informed at provincial level pertaining to the alleged misappropriation of the K1.5 billion.

The ZNFU Executive Director pointed out that the union wants the matter to be resolved quickly and find the way forward.

Mr Ndambo stated that the future of the suspended executive would be determined in August this year once conclusive investigations are carried out.

He also observed that small scale farmers in Nakonde like in many other districts were hardworking and productive hence the need to also assist them by trying to address some of the challenges they face especially in accessing farming inputs.

At the same address and suspension meeting, a new executive was ushered in which comprised of Lackson Simutenda as Chairperson with Sunday Gondwe as his Vice.

Others where Jovas Simfukwe being elected as Secretary with Doreen Nambeye as his Vice and Richard Simwanza getting the position of Treasurer.

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Luapula Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Joyce Nsamba has called on public service workers to be professional and exhibit a sense of urgency in their work.

Mrs Nsamba says the expectations of quality service from public service workers by the people are high hence the need for professionalism in the discharge of duty.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary said this in a speech ready for her by the Assistant Secretary, Peter Chilambwe during the celebrations to mark the African Public Services Day in Mansa yesterday.

Mrs Nsamba said there is need for public service workers to create an enabling environment for citizens to participate in open and transparency governance system.

She said the African Public Service Day provides a unique opportunity for Africans to deliberate on emerging trends, challenges and solutions to governance and public administration.

She added that government is in the process of developing service delivery charters in all the ministries to make corruption and other forms of misconduct by public service workers easier to detect.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary has since called on government departments to commit themselves in the implementations of government policies if the charters are to be fruitful.

Zambia on Sunday joined the rest of the African continent in celebrating the African Public Service Day under the theme, “Africa Public Service in the age of open governance: giving voices to citizens”.

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- Government has given a two weeks ultimatum to the Choma Municipal Council to get rid of the huge population of stray dogs which have become a menace to the residents.

Choma District Commissioner Golden Nyambe says the local authority must work with the veterinary department and the Zambia Police Service in controlling the worrisome population of stray dogs that are posing a serious danger to the lives of the people in the area.

Mr Nyambe said he expects the council to implement this directive within two weeks.

He said residents in the district have lodged formal complaints to the council regarding the swelled number of stay dogs that were biting residents and exposing them to the danger of contracting rabies.

The District Commissioner said the council has not responded to the residents’ appeals thereby endangering their lives.

Mr Nyambe said it is for this reason that the council is now being directed to take immediate action to eliminate stray dogs in order to protect human life.

He said he expects government institutions to be proactive in handling matters that border on the lives of the people.

And speaking on behalf of the resident of Munzuma site and service, Teddy Musokwe said a number of people have suffered dog bites with some being hospitalized after fierce encounters with marauding dogs.

Mr Musokwe said residents are now living in fear of dog attacks and possible exposure to rabies because the council and other government institutions have not been proactive in dealing with the matter.

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—-Police in Lusaka have pledged to observe professionalism in the investigations into the case of Bigamy involving the marriage of Lizzy Machina who is the officer commanding for Mazabuka Police to Mr Golden Phiri.

Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Charity Munganga Chanda, said the fact that Mr Phiri is married to a senior police officer does not warrant special treatment and that the case will not die a natural death.

In a statement made available to ZANIS today, Ms. Mungnaga Chanda said the matter is receiving utmost attention and is being handled by experienced investigators who are looking at all angles critically as opposed to the impressions created in certain media circles.

She said the fate of the case will depend on the outcome of the investigations which are being carried out and further wished to correct the wrong impression that has been created in certain sections of the media.

She said the Zambia police instituted investigations into the case the day Emma Chima, who is the alleged legal wife of Mr Phiri, reported the case to Lusaka Central Victim Support Unit (VSU).

She stated that the offense which is being currently investigated is that of Bigamy contrary to Section 166 Chapter 7 of the Laws of Zambia.

Last week, the media carried a story in which Lizzy Machina who is the officer commanding for Mazabuka Police, was allegedly involved in a marriage scandal involving a Lusaka businessman, Golden Phiri, who is believed to be the legal husband of Emma Chima of Lusaka.

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Fugitive shop manager cornered

Kabwe, June 25, ZANIS ———- Kabwe police have nabbed fugitive Kabwe Radian shop Manager Imasiku Imbwae who has been on the run after allegedly swindling over 87 Kabwe residents and institutions including government departments about KR187, 000.

Central province Police Commissioner Standwell Lungu who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kabwe today, said Imbwae who was cornered about 40km away from Chingola where he had established a farm, is currently under police custody in Kabwe.

Mr Lungu said Imbwae, a former Zambia Air Force (ZAF) IT officer, swindled unsuspecting Radian shop clients most of whom were recruits at Prisons training school who paid for items that include Hi-Fi musical instruments, fridges, plasma TV sets and others on hire purchase early this year.

He explained that Imbwae who was found in an area without cellular phone network, allegedly spent the proceeds to buy farm equipment that include water pumps, water tank and other irrigation equipment and also planted over one hectare of tomatoes.

He further explained that after police ran an advert in one of the daily newspapers about a wanted person, the public cooperated and gave information of Imbwae’s whereabouts and on Friday last week he was cornered.

Mr Lungu who commended the public for assisting the police in giving required information said all the items believed to have been bought out of the proceeds believed to have been stolen were confiscated by police and would be forfeited to the state.

He said Imbwae who is facing 87 counts will appear in court this Thursday in Kabwe.

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bia by mitia on 6/25/13

By BRIAN HATYOKA -

ZAMBIA Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) director deneral Margaret Mudenda has said the tendering process for the naming of streets and numbering of houses in Livingstone has started.

Ms Mudenda said the tendering process for the street naming and house numbering project had started and it would be concluded any time soon.

She said once the tendering process was concluded, the project would immediately start to enable tourists and other guests locate various places in the city.

She was speaking in an interview in Livingstone at Zambezi Sun Hotel on the sidelines of the just ended 4th Steering Committee and Bureau of the Africa Union (AU) meeting for ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

“We already got the town plan from the Livingstone City Council and agreed on how the project should be rolled out. Some areas already had names for roads and homes hence the work on such places would be to seek ways of synchronising with the numbering system,” she said.

Ms Mudenda said Livingstone would have properly named streets and numbered houses before the co-hosting of the 20th session of the August 2013 United Nations World Tourism (UNWTO) General Assembly in the tourist capital.

Ms Mudenda said ZICTA had also embarked on a pilot project in Chief Mukuni’s area in Kazungula District where the authority had engaged headmen and different elders on the roll out of the programme.

“For us it is a long-term project because it is for the entire country. The project will still continue even after the UNWTO conference because it is a national agenda programme,” she said.

The project, which started in Lusaka, would later spread to other parts of the country targeting residential areas, centr

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Government has raised KR10 billion in terms of tax, non-tax, and grant revenue for the period January to May 2013, while expenditure for the same period totalled KR12.8 billion.

Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, said this represented an execution rate of 41.5 per cent against an approved budget of KR32.2 billion.

Mr Yamba said the performance of the 2013 budget has been impressive, dispelling rumours that it has degenerated into an over-run.

“From January to May 2013, government only spent KR12.8 billion from the KR32.2 billion budget of which, first quarter expenditure amounted to KR8.1 billion and in the last two months, an additional KR4.75 billion has been spent. How, then can there be an over-run,” wondered Mr Yamba.

He disclosed that government projected to spend K2.63 billion to facilitate various programmes and activities approved in the 2013 budget, but as at the end of April, a total of K2.8 billion was funded, representing 7.3 per cent above target.

Mr Yamba said the difference between revenue and expenditure was bridged by domestic borrowing through government bonds and treasury bills, within the levels approved by Parliament for the 2013 budget.

According to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, the secretary to the treasury was speaking on issuance of the latest treasury information brief.

He explained that of the releases made over this period, 42 per cent went toward facilitating statutory and contractual obligations such as debt service and the payment of salaries and wages in a bid to facilitate service delivery.

Mr Yamba stated that 58.5 per cent balance of the releases enabled the provision of goods and services through the various government departments which included KR257 billion toward payments to retirees under the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF), KR1.6 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of road and rail infrastructure, KR365.8 billion for electricity distribution and KR106 billion for the facilitation of affordable credit to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s).

He also stated that government expected to raise KR2.55 billion from taxes and non-taxes in April, 2013, but receipts amounted to K2.61 billion due to higher collections from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and trade taxes.

Mr Yamba added that revenues and grants collected in May amounted to KR2.1 billion and were above the projected target by KR131 million.

Mr Yamba noted that the treasury faced timing challenges in terms of revenue inflows and expenditure demands towards the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the current quarter, particularly in facilitating the UNWTO activities and the funding requirements for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

“The higher than programmed releases in April were occasioned by expenditure pressures, particularly for oil procurement. Under constitutional and statutory expenditure, K847.2 million was spent on payment of salaries, wages and emoluments for constitutional office holders in April, 2013. K120.3 million was spent on domestic debt service related to government bonds and Treasury Bills, while K100.9 million went towards external debt.

“K1.75 billion was spent on operations and programmes in Ministries, Provinces and other Spending Agencies (MPSAs) of which K51.4 million was allocated to pensions. Other notable expenditure in April included K164.20 million for road construction and maintenance, K48 million for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), K18 million for compensation and awards, and K6 million for drafting of the Zambian Constitution. Incidentally, the K20 million budgeted in 2013 for drafting the constitution has been exhausted” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Yamba said the treasury also facilitated several unbudgeted for activities during the month of April 2013.

He said these include K652.56 million to facilitate payments for fuel procurement, K85.44 million for the UNWTO capital projects and K26.3 million for seed suppliers arising from the re-planting exercise necessitated by the army worm attack in December 2012, and K6.24 million to cater for the shortfall for the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).

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–Government has called on Protocol officers to work hard as they will create the first impression about Zambia when delegates arrive for the forth coming United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign affairs Margaret Miyoba said if Protocol officers messes up in the various areas assigned then it will show that the whole country has messed up and this will reflect badly on the President.

Ms Miyoba said this at the official opening of the Protocol officers training workshop for the 20th UNWTO general Assembly held at Chapa Classic in Livingstone today.

She said the impressions that will first be given to the delegates will create lasting impressions for the people involved who will try and emulate if well received and discourage others to come to Zambia if not well received.

The Permanent Secretary said government attaches great importance to the training because through such training the Protocol officers will be groomed to service the general assembly according to internationally acceptable standards of courtesy and etiquette.

“During the UNWTO general Assembly, you will, in most cases be the first point of contact with the delegates as you welcome them at the airport and take them to their hotels.

Therefore, their impressions of Zambia and her people will be based on the impressions that they form of you,” she said.

Ms Miyoba said government has shown a lot of commitment towards the successful co-hosting of the general assembly by investing resources into the various areas of the event including the training Protocol officers are undergoing.

And Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Anne Mwewa urged the Protocol officers to work as a team instead of finger pointing in case of mistakes.

Mrs Mwewa advised the Protocol officers to take their training seriously and uphold the integrity of the country.

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The notorious Mailoni brothers who have been terrorizing residents of Luano Valley in Mkushi District have been shot dead by Zambia army soldiers.

The trio was cornered between Chief Chembe and Chinika areas in Luano valley by Zambia Army soldiers who had been operating in the area at 15:00 hours yesterday.

Police Deputy Spokesperson Charity Chanda disclosed to to ZANIS in a statement that the deceased have positively been identified as Elias Tunda Mailoni aged 27, Mika Mailoni aged 35, and Stephen Mailoni aged 31.

Ms. Chanda revealed that the bodies of the deceased were identified by village Headman Ngosa Chibale whom they once attacked, and two of their childhood friends.

She said the bodies of the deceased are currently lying in Kabwe General Hospital mortuary awaiting identification by their mother.

Ms. Chanda thanked Luano residents for the cooperation they rendered to law enforcement officers during the period the trio were on the run.

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW

FLASHBACK : GBM ready to pay Witchdoctors to catch Mailoni brothers : October 3, 2012

Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba has said that he is ready to use his personal money to engage a witchdoctor who will apprehend the illusive Mailoni brothers.

The Mailoni brothers have been on the run over the last six years after allegedly killing a number of people in the Luano valley.

All efforts by the security and defence wing to catch the serial killers have proved unsuccessful and recently a traditional leader in the area appealed to Government to consider hiring witchdoctors to help find the killer brothers.

And in an interview, Mr. Mwamba who is commonly known as GBM said that he was ready to personally fund the activities of the witchdoctor who is willing to help catch the Mailoni brothers.

“Government wants to use all avenues to bring to book Mailoni brothers and am willing to use my own resources and if it means hiring witchdoctors, am ready to pay,” Mr. Mwamba said.

“I want the people of Luano Valley to live in peace, am calling upon any witchdoctor who has the ability to catch these killers to come forward and see me,” he said.

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National Airports Corporation has introduced an Infrastructure and Development charge in Zambia which is effective immediately.

This tax is applicable for all passengers departing from Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lusaka, or Ndola Airports on domestic or international flights. The new tax will be applied to all tickets for scheduled flights issued or amended after June 15, 2013.

The new tax will also apply to all private charters and will be payable along with the departure taxes.

Anyone with a ticket issued before June 15, 2013 is exempt from paying the tax.

The Infrastructure & Development charge is ZMW 27 (approximately US$5) for domestic travel and ZMW 54 (approximately US$10) for international travel.

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Man 29, dies in a road accident

Kasama, June 26, ZANIS….. An employee of the Auditor General’s Office in Kasama has died in a road accident.

Nathan Kaunda, 29, an Assistant Auditor died on the spot yesterday after the car he was driving overturned about 19 km away from Mbala town along the Mbala-Mpulungu Road.

Northern Police Commissioner Mary Chikwanda confirmed the accident to ZANIS in Kasama today.

Ms. Chikwanda said the deceased was driving from Kasama to Mpulungu when he met his fate around 04:30 hours yesterday.

She said the officer, who was driving a BMW saloon car registration number ABG 2613, failed to negotiate a curve along the Mbala-Mpulungu Road resulting in the tragic accident.

Ms. Chikwanda said the body of the deceased is lying in Mbala General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Meanwhile, one person died on spot while four others escaped with minor injuries on Chilubi Island when a police vehicle they were in overturned three times after the driver lost control.

Chilubi District Commissioner Boniface Kamanda confirmed the development to ZANIS today.

Mr. Kamanda said the body of the deceased is lying at Santa Maria Hospital awaiting burial.

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The Human Rights Commission (HRC),says Zambia needs to put measures in place to eliminate torture and degrading treatment in the country.

HRC acting Chairperson, Arnold Kapelembi, says there is need to criminalise torture in Zambia because currently there is no law that directly deters and punishes perpetrators apart from prosecutions of minor offences like assault.

Mr Kapalembi, therefore, says the definition of torture needs to be expanded to capture all forms of torture, inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment or punishment, among them Gender Based Violence (GBV), systematic beatings and being confined to a mental institution on anything other than medical grounds.

The Acting Human Rights Commission Chairperson was speaking in Lusaka today at a media breakfast to mark Zambia’s first commemoration of the United Nations Day in Support of torture victims.

The day which came into force in 1987 was being commemorated under the theme “Right to Rehabilitation.”

Mr Kapelembi reiterated that efforts to combat torture need to be strengthened through protection of whistle blowers, wider stakeholder sensitisation and training of law enforcement officers in modern investigative methods.

He said the latter will ensure that officers do not rely on torture to obtain confessions and evidence.

He affirmed that the commission has thus committed about 80 per cent of its 2013 sensitisation activities towards torture awareness.

Mr Kapelembi has since called on government to establish a rehabilitation centre for torture victims to avail them an opportunity to be rehabilitated and able to enjoy life as they had done before the torture.

And the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Kanni Wignaraja, said Zambia has taken positive steps to redress human rights violations and offer support to survivors of torture and dehumanising treatment.

Ms Wignaraja cited setting up of the Police Public Complaints Authority, the Victim Support Unit, the enactment of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act and the fight against early marriages as positive mechanisms for the country.

She pledged the United Nation’s support towards Zambia stating that norms and traditions that reinforce torture need not be reduced but eliminated through social campaigns and implementation of laws.

She affirmed that the country’s legal frameworks, particularly the draft constitution, must be consistent and conform to universal definition of torture.

Ms Wgnaraja called on the media to diverse their reporting on torture, saying the media must not only concentrate on torture by law enforcement officers but also look at societal forms of torture.

And speaking in a question-and-answer session, Human Rights Commission Director, Florence Chibwesha, said a lot needs to be done to ensure that torture suspects are not denied their rights of being innocent until proven guilty.

Ms Chibwesha disclosed that in a recent survey of prisons in Zambia the commission ascertained that 70 per cent of inmates were remandees while only 30 per cent were actual convicts.

She said for this reason the commission will still regard suspects as human beings unless found or stated otherwise.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Stella Libongani, assured that police will strike a balance between fighting criminality and respecting human rights.

Ms Libongani expressed confidence that police officers will adhere to international treaties, especially those on human rights, because a lot of awareness is being done to ensure they operate professionally.

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President Michael Sata has praised the defense and security personnel for defeating the Mailoni brothers and restoring peace and order in Central Province’s Luano Valley.

On Monday afternoon, Zambia Army officers, in collaboration with other defence and security personnel, gunned down the once elusive Mailoni brothers, who have terrorized the area since 2007.

The notorious trio was killed while resisting authorities in an operation.

President Sata says as Commander-in-Chief, he salutes the gallant forces for executing this operation with dedication and precision.

In a statement to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah, Mr Sata said government will continue using all the resources at its disposal to safeguard the country’s peace and security.

“In view of the fact that peace has been restored in Luano Valley, I encourage my brothers and sisters to put the traumatic past behind, get back, live and work hard to create a better Zambia for all,” the president said.

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A mob of angry residents in Mufulira yesterday attacked a Tanzanian truck driver, Geoffrey Zowa, 28, for allegedly killing two 13-year-old female pedestrians after the vehicle he was driving ran over them.

According to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Charity Chanda, the two teens have been identified as Sampa Chungu and Hadassa Pola of Mwebupya flats and Kantanshi Township respectively.

Ms Chanda said Sampa died on the spot while Haddassa was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The accident happened around 16:30 hours between Buntungwa and Freedom way in Mufulira after the driver of the Scania truck Reg No. T924 BYA and T150 BZB failed to keep to his lane and went to hit the two girls who were standing on the road side.

The driver sustained injuries as a result of the beating by the residents and is admitted to Ronald Ross hospital.

The bodies of the deceased are lying in Ronald Ross and Malcom Watson Hospital Mortuaries.

Ms Chanda has since appealed to members of the public not to take the law into their own hands but hand over suspects to the police.

In a related development, a passenger, only identified as Jonathan, aged between 28 and 30 years old, died on the spot after a Mercedes truck, Reg No AAA 5714, loaded with logs, ran over him.

The accident happened when the driver, Kelvin Gongwe lost control of the vehicle and went off the road where the trailer fell off and ran over the deceased.

The accident happened around 19:40 hours along Kalengwa Road near Kacheleketa area in Kalulushi.

Police Deputy public Relations Officer, Charity Chanda, affirmed that the driver is currently on the run and police have since launched a manhunt for him to bring him to book.

She said the body of the deceased is lying in Kalulushi Government Clinic awaiting postmortem.

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Preparation for the UNWTO intensify

Livingstone, June 26, ZANIS…. Minister of Tourism and Arts Ms Sylvia Masebo says government has granted a waiver on visa to visitors from over 50 in countries while visitors from over 70 countries will require visas at the point of entry as part of preparation for the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly (UNWTO) to be co-hosted between Zambia and Zimbabwe in August this year.

And Ms Masebo said there is tremendously improvement in the works done in the preparations of the UNWTO.

Addressing a Tourism Operators and Business meeting held at Courtyard Hotel today, Ms Masebo said Government has made good progress in addressing the visa issue which is seen as a major hindrance to tourism growth.

Ms Masebo reiterated that government would continue to look at ways to increase the number of countries that would not need visas when visiting the country adding that where visas administration was difficult visitors feel lazy to travel.

“ I think as government will shall continue to look at the visa regime and try to increase the number on countries that will not require visas when coming to Zambia through improvement in the internet connectivity,” said Ms Masebo.

She named some of the countries that have been granted visas as, Dominican Republic, Botswana, Belize, Barbados, Ireland, Malawi, Malta, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Maldives, Kenya, Mozambique, Romania, Tonga Island, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Solomon Island, Samoa, Serbia,
St Helena, St Vincent among others.

While countries that need visas at point of entry included, Austria, Argentina, Britain, Canada, Bolivia, Belgium, Chile, Bulgaria, Angola United Sates of America among others.

And Ms Masebo has attributed the tremendously improvement in the works done in the preparations of the UNWTO to improved coordination between the Local Organizing Committee and the National Organizing Committee as well as the timely release of funds by the government for all the projects.

She expressed happiness that at achievement has made so far in infrastructure development, water supply and sanitation, internet connectivity, township electrification to improve security and improvement in health service delivery to prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases during and after the UNWTO.

Ms Masebo emphasized that government has prioritised health service delivery in the city in order to attract more tourist even after the event.

“We cannot attract tourists in Livingstone if we have a sick population so we have to improve on our health’s service s delivery so that we can attract more tourists,” .

“And Iam very happy that that Local and the National Organizing Committees has been fully funded by the government and there is improvement in the coordination of activities which was previsoly as a challenge,” said Ms Masebo.

She also said government will on its part continue to attract more investment in the tourism sector beyond the prestigious event in order to create job opportunities and reduce poverty and emphasized that need to involve the local community in the successful hosting of the
event.

Ms Masebo further called for painting of all remaining shop and business premises ahead of the event so that the city was clean

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ECZ calls on Traditional Leaders to preach peace

Chipata, June 26, ZANIS………The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has urged Traditional Leader to preach peace among their subjects as to avert violence as Chipata central constituency goes to the poll on 25^th July 2013.

ECZ Chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima says Traditional Leaders have a role to play in the political dispersion of the country by positively engaging their subjects on the need to avoid electoral malpractices during elections.

She was speaking when she met Chief Chinyaku and Village Headmen from both his chiefdom and paramount chief Mpezeni’s area at the Chipata council chamber yesterday.

Justice Mambilima noted that chiefs who were the custodians of the people should take an active role in educating their subjects on the need to avoid violence so that no lives are lost during campaigns.

She stated that the Commission also engages other stakeholders such as Non Governmental Organisation NGO’s, Media and the Church in the quest to avoid political clashes during elections.

She emphasized on the need for chiefs to be neutral and embrace all political players adding that preferential practices should not be entertained.

Justice Mambilima further said the commission realized that chiefs were instrumental in creating a conducive environment if electorates to participate fully in an election both during and to the run up to the polls

She also advised the Chiefs to strictly follow the electoral code of conduct to avoid been in conflicts with the electoral law by refusing some political parties to hold political meetings in their chiefdom.

She said it was a convictable offence by the courts of law to breach the electoral laws and also one can get fine once found quite.

Justice Mambilima said there was also need for Traditional Leaders to report all forms of electoral offences so that remedial measures are found.

And Headman Kwacha of chief Chinyaku’s area raised concern of cadres been ferried from town to rural areas who were mostly unruly and brought confusion in rural areas during election campaign.

He noted that there were some instances of vote buying and invitation of chiefs to political rallies by political parties.

Meanwhile, the meeting resolved that once political parties acquire police permits, chiefs and Headmen in the area should be notified and that political parties should not ferry supporters from other areas if that happened should be disciplined.

The meeting resolved that Traditional Leaders should educate subjects that vote buying should be avoided at all costs and that anybody found wanting should be advised to stop or face the wrath of the law.

It was also discussed that ECZ makes follow up to the police on issues of some cases of electoral malpractices reported to them and yet no action has been taken.

The Chipata central parliamentary seat fall vacant following the nullification of Mutolo Phiri as Member of Parliament.

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The Road Development Agency (RDA) has expressed happiness that all the major road works in Livingstone would be completed ahead of schedule.

The road works, which are being done by Inyatsi Construction Company, were scheduled to be completed by July 31^st in readiness for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in August this year.

RDA Senior Manager for Construction, Remmie Chanda said over 80 per cent of township road construction works in Livingstone have been done while 6.7 kilometres out of 13 kilometres of the major Mosi-O-Tunya road have also been done.

Speaking today after touring the township and Mosi-O-Tunya road construction works, Mr. Chanda said the company was ahead of schedule and would complete all the road works before the July 31^st deadline.

“I can safely say that judging from the amount of work done on most roads including the Mosi-O-Tunya road, we are right on course to complete the works before the July 31^st deadline,” he said.

Mr. Chanda also disclosed that Inyatsi has sub-contracted 13 local construction companies which have done a value of work above 20 per cent.

He added that so far the local contractors have done a commendable job.

He further said a total of 650 Livingstone residents have been employed by both local contractors and Inyatsi.

Out of the 650 workers, 50 are women.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chanda said government has so far paid out KR 50 million out of a total KR205 million budgeted for all road projects in the tourist capital.

Brian Colquhoun O’Donnell (BCHOD) and partners consulting engineer Tresphor Musonda said major works on the Mosi-O-Tunya road would be finished in two weeks time.

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US President Barack Obama has called on African governments to give gay people equal rights by decriminalizing homosexual acts.

According to BBC Obama made the comments in Senegal after meeting President Macky Sall on the first leg of his African tour.

Sall said Senegal was a "very tolerant" country but it was "not ready to decriminalise homosexuality".

Homosexual acts are still a crime in 38 African countries, where most people hold conservative religious views.

In 2011, the US and UK hinted that they could withdraw aid from countries which did not respect gay rights.

Obama said at a news conference that the issue did not come up in his discussions with Sall.

It [Senegal] is moving in the right direction with reforms to deepen democratic institutions”

Nevertheless, he believed that while different customs and religions should be respected, the law should treat everybody equally, he said.

Obama welcomed the US Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday to strike down a law that denied the recognition of same-sex marriages.

The ruling was a "victory for American democracy and a proud day for equal rights", he said

Sall said Senegal was still not ready to change its laws, but that "does not mean we are homophobic''.

This is Obama's third visit to Africa since he became president in 2008.

He is also due to travel to South Africa and Tanzania.

Africa had made "amazing" strides in achieving democracy, Obama said.

Senegal, a mainly Muslim country which has never been hit by a coup, was one of America's "strongest partners" on the continent, he added.

"It's moving in the right direction with reforms to deepen democratic institutions and as more Africans across this continent stand up and demand governments that are accountable and serve the people, I believe Senegal can be a great example," Obama said.

BBC reports that Obama, along with his wife Michelle and children, is due to travel by ferry to Senegal's Goree Island, a memorial to Africans who were caught up in the Atlantic slave trade.

The visit is expected to be emotional because Obama is the son of an African and Michelle Obama is a descendant of slaves, correspondents say.

"A visit like this by an American president, any American president, is powerful," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

"I think that will be the case when President Obama visits and I'm sure particularly so, given that he is African American."

On Sunday, Mr Obama is expected to visit Robben Island, where South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela was jailed for 18 of the 27 years he spent in prison, on the second leg of his African tour.

However, it is unclear whether the visit will take place because of Mandela's deteriorating health, correspondents say.

Obama is due to end his African tour with a visit to Tanzania, where he will pay his respects at a memorial outside the US embassy in the main city, Dar es Salaam, in honor of 11 people killed in a bombing by al-Qaeda in 1998.

He has excluded from his itinerary Kenya, where his father was born, and Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer which has been hit by an Islamist insurgency.

US officials reportedly said the indictment of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the International Criminal Court on charges of fuelling violence after the 2007 election, which he denies, made it politically impossible for Obama to visit the country.

LVNews

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