Kapiri man jailed for three years for gun theft

Kapiri Mposhi, 3^rd July 2013, ZANIS – Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate court has sentenced a 27-year-old man of Kapiri Mposhi district to three years imprisonment with hard labour for theft from a motor vehicle.

Before Magistrate Brenda Chiganda was Kingsley Kanchulubwa of Zambia Compound in Kapiri Mposhi who stood charged with one count of theft from a motor vehicle contrary to section 276 (c) Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Facts before court were that Kanchulubwa did steal a firearm named pistol with 26 rounds of ammunition on 19 May 2013 property of Mary Simubali of Kitwe.

Kanchulubwa snatched the gun after he managed to open the rear door of the moving Toyota Rav 4 vehicle registration number ACD 2351 which Simubali was driving around 19:00 hours near Continental Filling Station along the Great North Road in Kapiri Mposhi.

The gun and ammunition were later recovered from an unsuspecting member of the public who had bought them at Kr 800. 

Kanchulubwa readily admitted the charge as read out to him when the matter came up for plea last week.

However, but Magistatrate Chiganda deferred sentencing in the matter to today after noting that Kanchulubwa was not a first offender because he had been jailed before for similar offences.

Kanchulubwa was early this year convicted and jailed for two consecutive six month jail terms for theft.

In mitigation Kanchulubwa asked the court to be lenient on him as he was the sole bread winner of the family.

But in passing judgment Magistrate Chiganda noted that theft from motor vehicles has become rampant in Kapiri Mposhi stating that the court should mete out strong sentences to deter would be offenders.

Magistrate Chiganda also observed that stealing of a firearm was a serious offence because it posed a great security threat to society as the gun could be used for criminal activities and to harm innocent people.

“Since you readily pled guilty to the offence and you did not waste the court’s time I’m going to be lenient to you by sentencing you to three years imprisonment with hard labour,” Magistrate Chiganda said.

And magistrate Chiganda ruled that the firearm and rounds of ammunition which were recovered from the convict be given back to the owner within 14 days.

This was after an application by the state under the Criminal Procedure Code Cap 88 of the Laws of Zambia that the gun restore to the owner.

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Randy 80 year old great grandfather walks to his freedom

Luwingu,July 3^RD , 2013,  ZANIS — A 80  year old blind man of Fitaliyano village in chief Chipalo of Luwingu district in the Northern Province who was accused of defilement of a girl below the aged of 16 years has been acquitted by Luwingu magistrate court.

Magistrate Davy Simfukwe acquitted Anderson Mutambo because of lack of corroborative evidence and the prosecution failed to establish beyond reasonable doubts the age of the girl.

Mutambo was facing one count of defilement contrary to section 138(1) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia as read together with the act number 15 of 2005.

Particulars of the offence were that Mutambo on 17^th January 2013 did have unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16 which he pleaded not guilty.

The girl told that court that Mutambo defiled her when her mother had gone to the funeral and she remained alone at home.

She told the court that her grandfather called her to his bed room where she was asked to undress and they started having sexual intercourse.

She explained to the court during the sexual intercourse, she did not cry neither did she shout for help because she had sex with Mutambo on five different occasions in his bedroom and she did not reveal to anyone in the village.

The girl however only revealed her ordeal when she became sick and the matter was reported to the Zambia police station.

Delivering a 30 minutes judgement Magistrate Simfukwe said ther biological mother to the girl Ivy Mwamba told the court that she could not remember the exact date and the month when her daughter was born but only remembered the year of which she was born.

Mwamba 35 of Fitaliyano village said that her daughter was born in 1999 and that she could not produce an under-five clinical card to prove the age because her house was set ablaze by unknown people resulting to an under-five clinic card and other items burnt in an inferno.

Another witness a medical doctor Dr Brian Chibosha told the court that he attended to the girl on 22^nd January 2013 and his findings were that, there were no visible bruises on her private parts but the hymen was broken.

Mr. Simfukwe said that according to Dr Chibosha’s opinion there was no penetration and there was no spermatozoa found in the vagina.

“having summarized the whole evidence in this matter I will now state findings of the fact, the girl was defiled by somebody as per medical evidence produce herein and marked P1, at the time of the alleged defilement the girl was said to be 14 years old having been born in 1999,” he said.

“There was no proof of the exact age of the girl as the mother could not remember the day and the month when the girl was born and no documentary evidence was adduced to that effect, the girl was examined by a medical doctor on 22^nd January 2013 five days after the alleged defilement had occurred,” magistrate Simfukwe observed.

Mr. Simfukwe said having stated the facts of the case, the fundamental question that ought to be answered everyone is who defiled the girl.

“In an attempt to answer the above question I will proceed to apply the law to the above facts. In order to approve the offence of defilement the following ingredients must be established that the girl was below the age of 16 at the time of the alleged defilement, the accused had unlawful carnal knowledge and that there was penetration of the manhood into the vagina of the girl,” he explained.

Mr. Simfukwe explained that in resolving the case the following legal issues must be contained such as the identity of the offender, the age of the girl and the issue of corroborative evidence respectively.

“In sexual offences there must be corroboration of both the commission of the offence and the identity of the offender in order to eliminate the dangers of false complaint and false implication,” he added.

And passing judgement, Mr. Simfukwe said there was no corroboration of the girl’s evidence in this case and coming to the medical examination, the girl was alleged to have been defiled on the 17^th January and was only medically examined by a medical doctor on 22^nd January 2013 which was five days after the alleged defilement.

He said the prosecution did not explained why it took five days before the victim could be examined adding that it was difficult for the court to conclusively hold that there was no any other person apart from the accused who tempered with the girl during five days period before she was medically examined.

“There is no court properly directing its mind to the facts of this case and the law applicable that could uphold conviction. Having said that I hold that lingering doubts have been created in my mind as to the guilty of the accused person,” he said.

Mr. Simfukwe said court found Mr. Mutambo not guilty of the offence and acquitted him forthwith and set him at liberty.

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Kapiri man jailed for three years for gun theft

Kapiri Mposhi, 3^rd July 2013, ZANIS – Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate court has sentenced a 27-year-old man of Kapiri Mposhi district to three years imprisonment with hard labour for theft from a motor vehicle.

Before Magistrate Brenda Chiganda was Kingsley Kanchulubwa of Zambia Compound in Kapiri Mposhi who stood charged with one count of theft from a motor vehicle contrary to section 276 (c) Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Facts before court were that Kanchulubwa did steal a firearm named pistol with 26 rounds of ammunition on 19 May 2013 property of Mary Simubali of Kitwe.

Kanchulubwa snatched the gun after he managed to open the rear door of the moving Toyota Rav 4 vehicle registration number ACD 2351 which Simubali was driving around 19:00 hours near Continental Filling Station along the Great North Road in Kapiri Mposhi.

The gun and ammunition were later recovered from an unsuspecting member of the public who had bought them at Kr 800. 

Kanchulubwa readily admitted the charge as read out to him when the matter came up for plea last week.

However, but Magistatrate Chiganda deferred sentencing in the matter to today after noting that Kanchulubwa was not a first offender because he had been jailed before for similar offences.

Kanchulubwa was early this year convicted and jailed for two consecutive six month jail terms for theft.

In mitigation Kanchulubwa asked the court to be lenient on him as he was the sole bread winner of the family.

But in passing judgment Magistrate Chiganda noted that theft from motor vehicles has become rampant in Kapiri Mposhi stating that the court should mete out strong sentences to deter would be offenders.

Magistrate Chiganda also observed that stealing of a firearm was a serious offence because it posed a great security threat to society as the gun could be used for criminal activities and to harm innocent people.

“Since you readily pled guilty to the offence and you did not waste the court’s time I’m going to be lenient to you by sentencing you to three years imprisonment with hard labour,” Magistrate Chiganda said.

And magistrate Chiganda ruled that the firearm and rounds of ammunition which were recovered from the convict be given back to the owner within 14 days.

This was after an application by the state under the Criminal Procedure Code Cap 88 of the Laws of Zambia that the gun restore to the owner.

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Unscrupulous traders make a ‘ buck “ on new kwacha note in Kasama

Kasama, June 03^rd, 2013,  ZANIS  —   There was panic among residents of in trying to meet the Bank of  Zambia deadline of changing old currency to new currency which fell on Sunday, June 30^th, 2013.

A random survey by ZANIS in the provincial headquarters over the weekend revealed that most of the residents where making desperate attempts of having their old Kwacha currency notes changed into new ones.

At Kasama Post Office  long queues where found reminiscent of  essential commodities of yesteryears as people waited for their turn to change their old Kwacha currency notes for new ones.

One female Zampost service customer assistant was almost beaten up by an  irate mob but was rescued by her workmates from the Main Post office.

However, unscrupulous traders used this as an opportunity to  make a quick buck as they started  accepting the old currency at a small fee .

And a resident of the second class trading area Cosmas Phiri  has expressed concern on why there was panic among many people despite being informed of  the money change before  the 30^th June, 2013 deadline.

Mr. Phiri added that despite 30^th June being the last day to transact with the old currency he has advised those still keeping the old currency to take the money to any commercial bank and any designated agencies.

In another development, K1 coins run short in Kasama forcing most traders not to accept big denominations of money like K20 and K50 notes because they were unable to give change to their clients.

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Catholic men challenged to take up responsibilities of running the church

Kasama, July, 3^RD , 2013,  ZANIS – A Catholic clergyman has challenged his cleric in Kasama to take an active role in improving the affairs of the church than leave the mammoth work to Women organisations who have dominated the situation.

And   Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) Chairman Albert Bwalya says his team has planned to embark on sensitising other men to join the organisation.

ST. Johns Catholic Priest Fr. Gervas Nonde  says men should take up their biblical responsibilities in the running of the church.

ZANIS reports that the Catholic Priest was speaking during the official launch of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) at St. Johns Cathedral in Kasama yesterday.

He observed that most men have negative roles of only going to church on Sundays without attending Small Christian Community meetings where people learn to resolve some problems which the church is facing.

He bemoaned that only women have shown keen interest in carrying out most of the church’s work when men are supposed to keenly be involved in sorting out issues of the church.

The Parish Priest also said it is disheartening to find other churches, which have just emerged, have already bought mini-buses for their churches when their church has none to utilise during vocation trips.

Fr. Nonde added that most men have taken to too much beer drinking resulting them in failing to send their children to schools and other important family errands.

He urged leaders of CMO to work extremely hard to establish the organisation in other centres in Kasama Archdiocese.

Speaking during the same function which was attended by over 60 men, CMO Chairman Albert Bwalya said his team has planned to embark on sensitising other men to join the organisation.

Mr. Bwalya also echoed the same views of Fr. Nonde by urging men to join hands in working for God as it is their responsibility to improve the affairs of their church and should desist from leaving the work to women alone.

And St. Johns Parish Catechist Ignatius Mulenga urged Church Councilors to empower their Small Christian Communities (SCC) with knowledge to effectively operate in their areas.

Mr. Mulenga added that families should not sell the food crops to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and briefcase business men and women to avert hunger in their families.

He observed that families run out of food immediately after the selling of crops in completed which is dangerous as the situation is prone for hunger and malnutrition to family members.

Mr. Mulenga also urged families to engage themselves in promoting sustainable food production to fight against hunger and poverty in families.

He said most families have depended on Government for their Agricultural inputs which can be avoided through proper planning and get weaned from Government support for their farming activities.

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Kasama Municipal appeals for utility vehicles

Kasama July 3, 2013,-ZANIS-Kasama Municipal has appealed to Government to procure utility vehicles for the Department.

Council Public relations Officer Mutale Kabwe says  the department finds it difficult to discharge its duties as it does not have any utility vehicles.

She explained that the department needs to have a fire service machine to help them fight fires in the community.

ZANIS reports that the Council Public Relations Officer said this in an interview in Kasama today.

Ms. Kabwe the council usually fails to fight fires in the area as they wait for the fire service machines to be released from the department of Civil Aviation at Kasama airport.

She  added that the department also does not have any vehicles to help its staff to conduct inspections in the area.

The Public Relations Officer further disclosed that the council usually asks for vehicles from other departments to help them with work.

She noted that if the department is given the utility vehicles, it will help the council to be conducting inspections in the area on the regularly basis.

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Govt. expresses concern on the deplorable Kaluulu Bridge in Kasama

Kasama July 3, 2013,-ZANIS- Government  says  it is saddened by the deplorable state of Kaluulu Bridge.

Kasama District Commissioner Kalanga Bwalya says  the bridges are a death trap and he will not seat back and relax as his people are suffering.

ZANIS reports that the District Commissioner said this said this when he toured three bridges in Kasama, over the long weekend.

Mr. Bwalya said that the three bridges are pathetic and are going to result into disaster soon and lives will be lost if the situation is not checked.

He said the PF government   is concerned about the well-being of people, hence, the need to ensure that the current drastic situation is corrected.

He also lamented that school-going children and pregnant mothers are always cut off during the rainy season and it is very important that something is done before the onset of the rains.

Mr. Bwalya said it is not fair for people to complain about the some bridges year in and year out.

He has since appealed to Members of Parliament  (MP’s) to get concerned about such issues.

 And a resident of Kaluulu village Fidelis Mutale appealed to the government to construct the bridge before the rainy season.

He said that the people of Kaluulu village are suffering especially that most people depend on farming and their farm produce have to be transported to town for sale through the sama bridge.

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Govt. pledges support of Gonde Lwiindi ceremony

Monze, July 3, 2013, ZANIS—  Government has pledged it continued support towards the successful hosting of the annual Gonde Lwiindi ceremony in Monze District.

Southern Province  minister Daniel Munkombwe says government will support the annual event on condition that  the event organisers continue to guarantee peace devoid of political confrontations.

Mr. Munkombwe has also suggested that opposition political figures whose presence at the ceremony cause political clashes be not allowed at such events.

ZANIS reports that the provincial minister said this when he officiated at the Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony 2013 in Monze yesterday.

Mr. Munkombwe said no traditional ceremony belonged to a particular political party adding that Zambians should be free to attend such events in order to understand the country’s heritage.

He expressed happiness that this year’s ceremony has been peaceful and devoid of political confrontation and assured of Governments support to the successful hosting future events provided a peaceful atmosphere continued to prevail.

 UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who is also patron of the Lwiindi Gonde ceremony did not attend the ceremony.

So was  his Monze Central member of parliament Jack Mwimbu although both were officially invited.

Mr. Munkombwe implored traditional leaders hosting ceremonies to bar politicians who cause political anarchy because they were undermining the purpose of the ceremony.

He said politicians should not preach hatred but love stressing that if their presence in certain places would cause confusion they should rather stay away.

And Senior Chief Monze expressed happiness at the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed at this year’s Gonde Lwiindi ceremony.

The Chief said the ceremony was devoid of political confrontation.

Chief Monze was however disappointed at the excessive bear drinking by youths at this year’s ceremony.

He urged the Gonde organizing committee to consider putting an age restriction in future adding that the behavior exhibited by youths was unacceptable.

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Chinsali Mobile phone dealer set free

Chinsali, June 4, 2013, ZANIS —  A Chinsali Mobile phone dealer  has walked to his freedom
after the magistrate’s court find him with no case to answer on
charges of breaking into his office and committing a felony therein.

Appearing before magistrate Shaderick Chanda for ruling yesterday  was
Kennedy Musukuma, 31, of Chinunda Village in Senior Chief Nkula`s area
in Chinsali District.

Musukuma is charged with one count of breaking into a building and
committing a felony there in contrary to section 303 (a) (b) chapter
87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that Musukuma on 28th April 2013 did
break into the shop at night and stole  talk-time and cash
money all valued at K69, 000.

Detective Sergeant Mubita Mujuku from Chinsali Police Station
testified before the court that he received a complaint from Musukuma
that the shop in question had been broken into and that Airtime and some money
had been stolen.

Detective Mujuku said with the company of two other officers they
visited the scene of crime were it was discovered that the front door
and that of the Shop manager had been tempered with.

He added in his testimony that both the manager`s door and the Shop
main door were opened by force thereby damaging the locking systems.

Detective Mujuku said the manager`s door had two metal bars locking
the door from inside which could have made it impossible to open the
door from outside.

 He said that some particles of the door which had fallen at the time
of breaking showed that the force was applied from inside.

Detective Mujuku further said that it was also discovered that apart
from breaking the building upon entry, a key was also used.

Detective Mujuku said it was discovered that the complainant who
turned out to be the prime suspect had the keys for the Shop.

The police officer said he suspected the accused person to have been
the one who allegedly broke into the building and stole the said money
after it came to light that he was the one who was keeping the office
keys.

Musukuma was later arrested and remanded at Chinsali Police Station
where upon being questioned, gave a free and voluntary reply denying
the charge.

Making a ruling on the matter yesterday, magistrate Chanda said that
evidence adduced in court by the prosecution witnesses did not show
any reliability.

Magistrate Chanda stated  that they were a lot of lapses in the manner
investigations in the matter were conducted, among them, failure to
uplift finger prints from the scene of crime so that the accused
person could be connected to the commission of the offence and
reluctance from the police to follow-up the contractor who installed
the safe.

He said that failure to carry out or conduct procedural steps amounts
to total failure of duty by the concerned officers.

Magistrate Chanda said the court had no option but to set free the
accused person basing on the foregone facts.

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Rising cases of GBV cases in Kapiri  worries Govt

Kapiri Mposhi, 4 July 2013, ZANIS – A senior government official is saddened by the increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases against women being recorded in Kapiri Mposhi district.

Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner Beatrice Sikazwe described the violence being perpetrated against women and girls in the district as cruel and degrading.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Sikazwe said this today when she visited Juliana Paipi, a 32-year-old woman of Chisengamang’a village in Kapiri Mposhi who is battling for her life in Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital where she has been admitted for four days now.

Mrs. Paipi was admitted after her husband brutally beat her up for refusing to have sex with him.

And on Tuesday a 52-year-old woman of Mutesha Village in Chief Mukonchi’s area was beaten to death by her husband following a marital quarrel.

The deceased identified as Maureen Musonda sustained fractured legs, arms and a deep cut on her forehead.

Her body is lying in Kapiri Mposhi district Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Police have since arrested the two men and charged them with assault and murder respectively.

They will appear in court soon.

Ms. Sikazwe pointed out that some men have taken advantage of the economic dependence of the women folk on them to perpetrate violence against them (women).  

She has called on the members of the public to be vigilant and report all forms of GBV going on in their areas noting that most cases go unreported.

And Ms. Sikazwe has called for renewed approaches to fighting women’s rights violations in the country.

The DC noted that regardless of the efforts being implemented to fight GBV in society the cases of GBV have continued to rise and claiming lives of some women.

 “It is sad that Gender Based Violence  and defilement cases continue to rise in the face of efforts by government and NGOs does this mean we are not doing something right, we need to revise our approach before our women and girl children are decimated”, Ms. Sikazwe said.

She challenged the church and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) operating in the district to come out and condemn GBV and defilement.

Ms. Sikazwe also appealed to the courts of law to mete out maximum sentences against perpetrators of GBV cases to serve as a lesson and in order to deter would be offenders.

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Hunger stalks Kapiri

Kapiri Mposhi, 4 July 2013, ZANIS – Hunger is looming in Lukanga Swamps in Kapiri Mposhi district.

ZANIS reports that Mukamumba Village Senior Village Headman, Snovias Chikabo confirmed the development in an interview, today .

Headman Chikabo said the hunger situation being experienced in the area has even forced most children to pull out of school.

He said the area was having food shortages due to acute crop failure experienced in the last farming season.

The headman said farmers in Lukanga Swamps experienced poor crop yields because of floods and poor rainfall experienced in the area last farming season.

The Senior Headman has since appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to supply the people in the area with relief food to arrest the hunger situation.

“ We have a situation of hunger here some children have stopped going to school because of hunger government should help us before lives are lost from hunger,  “  he said.

He said 5 Kilogram of maize was going at K5.00 making which has made it hard for most families to afford to provide food for their households.

Lukanga Swamps is predominantly a fishing area and few people engage in agricultural activities.

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Govt. committed to solve human/animal conflicts – Mumba

Luangwa/ 4^st July, 2013/ZANIS  — Luangwa District Commissioner, Eunie Mumba says the PF Government is working tirelessly to solve the human/animal conflict in Game Management areas in the country.

Mr. Mumba says this is aimed at  ensuring  that there is harmony between human beings and animals.

ZANIS  reports that the District Commissioner was speaking at the burial of 47 years old Ben Zulu a village scout who was killed by an elephant held at Chitope sub boma over the weekend.

Mr. Mumba said Government is putting in all its efforts to ensure that human beings are protected from animals.

He said his administration has put in measures to use constituency development funds to put up solar wire fences in areas where animals especially elephants are attacking human beings.

The District Commissioner said he was aware that the elephants have increased in number in the District and the putting up of solar wire fences will help protect people from these jumbos.

Ben Zulu a village scout under the Zambia wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in Luangwa District was killed by an elephant on Thursday night at around 19:00 hrs in Janeiro area as he was coming from seeing his relatives at a nearby village.

Zulu has left behind a wife and five children.

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Siavonga District’s civic center  construction to take off soon

Siavonga, July 4^th,  2013, ZANIS — The construction of a civic centre that was mooted by government in Siavonga district will soon resume after the ministry of local government promised to release some funds.

Council Secretary Venture Kafula  says  that the ministry of local government will release the balance of 3.9 Million Kwacha to take it to 4.7 Million Kwacha that is needed to engage a contractor.

‘’ The ministry has assured the council that they will make available funds very soon so that we can have the civic centre construction resume through a contractor, ‘’ he said.

ZANIS reports that the Council Secretary said this in an interview in Siavonga District today.

Mr. Kafula said as the local authority they happy that government will soon release the funs at once describing it as a move in a right direction.

‘’ The council will be given all required amount at once so that we engage a contractor to complete our civic centre on schedule.

“ Indeed it’s good news and as for me it’s a move in a right direction because of that assurance.  We are happy that the civic centre will be constructed,’’ he said.

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Govt. committed to solve human/animal conflicts – Mumba

Luangwa/ 4^st July, 2013/ZANIS  — Luangwa District Commissioner, Eunie Mumba says the PF Government is working tirelessly to solve the human/animal conflict in Game Management areas in the country.

Mr. Mumba says this is aimed at  ensuring  that there is harmony between human beings and animals.

ZANIS  reports that the District Commissioner was speaking at the burial of 47 years old Ben Zulu a village scout who was killed by an elephant held at Chitope sub boma over the weekend.

Mr. Mumba said Government is putting in all its efforts to ensure that human beings are protected from animals.

He said his administration has put in measures to use constituency development funds to put up solar wire fences in areas where animals especially elephants are attacking human beings.

The District Commissioner said he was aware that the elephants have increased in number in the District and the putting up of solar wire fences will help protect people from these jumbos.

Ben Zulu a village scout under the Zambia wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in Luangwa District was killed by an elephant on Thursday night at around 19:00 hrs in Janeiro area as he was coming from seeing his relatives at a nearby village.

Zulu has left behind a wife and five children.

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PF government committed to economic development

Solwezi, June 30, 2013, ZANIS— Youth and Sports Deputy Minister, Stephen Masumba says the Patriotic Front government is committed to ensuring that economic development trickle down to the poor communities in the country.

Chief Chizela of the Kaonde speaking people in Mufumbwe district has appealed to government to conduct  more consultations with stakeholders over subsidies removal to avoid misconceptions..

Mr. Masumba said government realized that maintaining subsidies was not economical as government was buying maize at a higher price and selling to millers at a lower price yet that money could have been utilized to address many challenges facing the people.

He said by removing the subsidies government will save money that will be used to carry out projects that will help the people such construction of the standard police station which the chief requested and many others that will benefit the majority poor.

On the opening of the district hospital, Mr. Masumba said works are underway to put the necessary machinery in place and by July, this year everything will be in place and the hospital will be operational.

The deputy minister, who is also area Member of Parliament added that the tendering process for 14 rural health centers for the district has been concluded and by next week officers will be in the district to check on sites where the health centers will be constructed.

He further disclosed that government has allocated 50 boreholes in the district and directed the council to ensure that they include chiefs palaces when allocating areas for drilling the boreholes.

Chief Chizela of the Kaonde speaking people in Mufumbwe district has appealed to government to conduct  more consultations with stakeholders over subsidies removal to avoid misconceptions..

The chief said the removal of subsidies may receive misconception because most people may not understand what it means.

Chief Chizela said there is need for government to consult more with stakeholders on the matter because the concept was not explained to them before the policy was implemented.

ZANIS reports from Solwezi that the  traditional leader said this in Mufumbwe yesterday in a speech read for him by Ntongo traditional ceremony association Chairperson, Starick Mwanaute.

This was during the commemoration of the this year’s ceremony at his palace.

Meanwhile, Chief Chizela commended government for constructing a boarding secondary school in the district but appealed to government to facilitate the quickening of the constructions so that school is opened next year.

He further appealed for government’s facilitation to quicken the full operational of a district hospital in order to reduce costs of referrals to hospitals in other districts.

Chief Chizela also appealed to government to construct a standard police station in order to curb the rising crime in the district due to rising population.

Speaking on behalf of chiefs, Senior Chief Musele appealed to government to relook the land clause in the draft constitution to strengthen chiefs authority over their areas because they draw their strength in the people and the land in their respective areas.

He said as chiefs in North-western province, they are not comfortable on the provision that gives traditional leader only surface rights excluding resources under the surface such as minerals and the waters rights in the rivers that are in their chiefdoms.

The traditional leader, nevertheless, commended the PF government for establishing the chiefs and traditional affairs ministry to look into the affairs chiefs.

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Govt constructs K 475,000 dam in Manyinga District

Kabompo, July 4, 2013, ZANIS–Government has constructed a KR 475,000 dam for poverty reduction irrigation scheme at Kasamba in the newly created Manyinga district in North-western province.

ZANIS  reports from Manying District that Lands, natural resources and environmental protection, Deputy Minister, Danny Chingimbu disclosed this when he addressed farmers in Manyinga , ovwer the long weekend.

The  irrigation scheme at Kasamba will cater for 100 vulnerable but viable small scale farmers who will be allocated with one lima each for growing vegetables, fruits, ground nuts, soya beans and wetland maize for income generation activities.

Mr. Chingimbu, who is also area Member of Parliament, has advised farmers in the new district to increase rearing of livestock such as goats, pigs, chickens and sheep for income generation and to improve their nutrition status.

He cautioned farmers in the area not to sell their entire farm produce  but should leave enough for their household food security up to next year crop harvest.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chingimbu assured the farmers that government will continue to support small scale farmers with subsidized seed and fertilizer under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) during the 2013/2014 farming season.

He said under FISP farmers will be required to contribute K100 per 50 kilogramme bag of fertilizer on which government will subsidize KR 150 give a free 10 kilogramme bag of maize seed to each farmer.

Mr. Chingimbu said Manyinga district has been allocated with 2,400 packs under FISP with each pack comprising two by 50 kilogramme bags of D-compound, two by 50 kilogramme bags of Urea and one by 10 kilogramme bag of maize seed.

He said the inputs will be distributed through the 86 registered cooperative societies for vulnerable but viable small scale farmers and cautioned that the inputs should not be distributed to well to do businessmen and women or civil servants.

Mr. Chingimbu told farmers that they Patriotic Front government will also continue to buy white maize from farmers through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) at KR 65 per 50 kilogramme bag delivered to FRA  depot.

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Crocs maul to death 26 year old man in Luwingu District

Luwingu, July 4^TH, 2013,  ZANIS – A 26 year old man of gravel village in Chilubi district in the Northern Province was on Thursday last week caught and eaten by crocodiles on Lake Bangweulu.

ZANIS reports that Chilubi district commissioner Boniface Mpundu confirmed the development in an interview in Luwingu  District , today.

Mr. Mpundu said Peter Mwanameshi 26 was caught and eaten by crocodiles on Lake Bangweulu where he was fishing at night.

“The issue of crocs on the Lake Bangweulu is critical and have written to the high authority on the matter and I am waiting for the response,” he said.

He said the number of crocodiles on Lake Bangweulu has increased forcing him to write to the Zambia wildlife authority to consider opening their offices at Chilubi Island and monitor the crocs behaviour on the lake.

“This year 2013 we have seen many villagers have been caught and eaten by crocodiles on Lake Bangweulu,” he said.

Mr. Mpundu said the PF government was concerned with the well being of the people in Chilubi island and it will ensure that the crocs of the lake reduced in order to alleviate the suffering people have gone through for many years.

Efforts to get a comment from the Northern Province Permanent Secretary Hlobota Nkunika failed as he was reported in a meeting.

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