Author Archives: Mwape Martin

The Food Reserve Agency FRA says it will continue buying maize from farmers until October 31^st 2021 despite reaching the purchase target.

FRA Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe says the agency has so far purchased over 534, 000 metric tonnes exceeding this year’s target of 500,000 metric tonnes.

Mr. Chipandwe has dispelled rumors indicating that the agency has stopped buying maize since it has reached its purchase target. Mr. Chipandwe has encouraged farmers to continue delivering their maize to their nearest FRA depots.

The Katete District Child Protection Committee has retrieved eight boys from the Gule Wamukulu initiation ceremony in Kadzakalowa resettlement scheme under Chieftainess Kawaza’s area.

The eight boys, who are of school going age, were retrieved from the Gule camp on August 23 by Chieftainess Kawaza’s Induna, Atenge Phiri.

This followed a complaint made to the Social Welfare Department from a concerned member of the community.

The traditional leadership in Katete instituted by-laws that ban the recruitment and initiation of school going children, which the child protection committee is using to protect children.

ZANIS by reports that this is contained in a statement by the District Social Welfare Department.

Chieftainess Kawaza of the Chewa people of Katete and Sinda Districts, said by-laws in her area do not allow school going children to be initiated into Gule Wamukulu.

Meanwhile, Katete District Social Welfare Officer, Joyce Msoni, said initiating children into Gule Wamukulu violated their right to education and other related rights.

She said the children were retrieved on the basis that they are below the age of 18.

The Human Rights Commission has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for setting up a clear national agenda that respects human rights and upholds the rule of law.

Commission Chairperson, Mudford Mwandenga, is happy with the President’s directive to the Zambia Police Service, to carry out thorough investigations before arresting suspects.

Mr. Mwandenga says the commission is also happy that the police service was directed to consider granting police bonds for bondable offences, in order to avoid violating the constitutional right to personal liberty, as provided by the Laws of Zambia.

This is contained in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

And Mr Mwandenga has called on the police to adhere to the Presidential directive and the provisions of the law in order to end violation of the right to personal liberty.

He clarified that the implementation of the Presidential directive has the potential to contribute to ending violations of human rights of suspects and accused persons, such as prolonged pre-trial detention, overcrowding, lack of access to adequate water supply, sanitation and food before and pending trial. 

Zambia has continued recording a reduction in Covid-19 positive cases.

In a statement to the media, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama, however says despite the country recording a reduction in cases, Northwestern Province has in the past one week been a source of concern.

Dr. Malama says appropriate support in surveillance and case management is being provided. 

He says Eastern Province has recorded 12 more cases out of One Hundred and Eighty-Two cases recorded countrywide.

He says it is clear that there is need to prioritize more focus on rural areas in the COVID-19 response so that they are not left behind.

Dr. Malama says during this window of reduced cases and positivity, focus is much on system strengthening to inform investment as the country anticipates the fourth wave later in the year or early next year.

He says three more people have died from Covid-19 related complications, with all of them being above 60 years.

The Alliance for Good Governance has commended President Hakainde Hichilema on his call to the defense forces to ensure that no party cadres wear any military uniform.

Alliance for Good Governance president, Joseph Chileshe said it has been his organization’s wish to see sanity in the country and discouraging cadres from wearing military uniforms being the right step taken to having achieving sanity.

Mr. Chileshe called on political party leaders to help the security agencies to adequately respond to the Head of State’s call by making sure that they discourage them from wearing attire that is synonymous to military.

He said the use of counterfeit military attire has potential to plunge the country into flames as it is one of the major sources of political violence which the country has been witnessing because cadres want to outdo their opponents.

The Alliance for Good Governance leader also called on all political party cadres to be disarmed with immediate effect as they remain a danger to society.

He noted that a good number of cadres are in possession of guns which they have been flushing in the public with intent to instill fear in vulnerable members of society. Mr. Chileshe said the Head of State’s pronouncements have so far instilled confidence in the general citizenry that has been moving and living in fear because if the heavy presence of political party cadres that had engulfed many public places

Residents of Kaluwawa village in Kasenengwa district are asking the new government to consider grading Chipata-Msoro road and repair all the crossing points in the area.

Jennipher Sakala says rehabilitating feeder roads will help easy movements among farmers, who are currently finding challenges to transport their produce to the markets.

And Onesta Phiri says people in the area are wondering why the PF government ignored the challenges people are facing in rural areas despite several promises. She claimed that a number of people lost their lives at Kasenengwa Bridge, which was washed away after heavy rains.

Seventeen suspects of Mchini Compound in Chipata who were charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace yesterday appeared in the Chipata Magistrate Court for mention.

James Banda and 16 others who appeared before Magistrate Moses Phiri participated in the riot that broke out in Mchini last month, after the death of a Magazine resident.

Magistrate Phiri has set September 23^rd 2019 as a day for commencement of trial.

He said the suspects will remain in custody, until they meet the bail conditions. Each suspect is required to pay 500 Kwacha cash and present two working sureties, attracting a sum of 5,000 Kwacha in their own recognizance.

The Ministry of Agriculture has reviewed modalities to be used under the 2018- 2019 conventional system of input distribution.
Agriculture Marketing Directed Kezia Mbita Chityamba says the ministry has targeted a total of one million farmers to benefit from the 2018-2019 farming season countrywide.
Mrs. Chityamba says farmers will still be required to deposit their contribution the way it was done under the electronic voucher card.
She explained that farmers under the conventional system will get three bags of D Compound fertilizer, three bags of Urea and a ten kg bag of maize seed of different varieties.
Mrs. Chityamba adds that additional packs of groundnuts, Sorghum and Soya beans will be given to farmers, in a continued effort to promote variation in the agriculture sector.
She was speaking in a separate interview with journalists at the 2018-2019 Farmer Input Support Program FISP sensitization meeting in Chipata yesterday.

ZAMPOST Postmaster General Mcpherson Chanda has been suspended with immediate effect.
This is to pave way for investigations relating to the administration of the Social Cash Transfer Scheme.
Mr. Chanda has been suspended together with the Director Finance Best Mwaichi, Director Operations Isaac Kamwimba, and Assistant Director Operations Moses Musonda.
ZAMPOST Board Chairperson Musenga Musukwa confirmed the development in a statement to the media.
Mr. Musukwa said a Special Board Meeting was held to discuss the administration of the social cash transfer scheme and resolved to suspend the officers in management for a period of SIX months.
He explained that the Board has resolved to appoint an interim management team, with Brighton Ngoma as Postmaster General , Stanely Phiri Director Operations and Ms Dorothy Mulenga as Finance Director.

The Zambian Kwacha is now trading at more than 11 Kwacha against the United States dollar.
The country’s currency is struggling to maintain its stability against other convertible currencies.
A check by Breeze Business News, found that the United States dollar is buying at 11 Kwacha 14 Ngwee and selling at 11 Kwacha 35 Ngwee.
The British Pound is buying at 14 Kwacha 70 Ngwee and selling at 14 Kwacha 98 Ngwee.
The Euro is buying at 13 Kwacha 4 Ngwee and selling at 13 Kwacha 29 Ngwee while the South Africa Rand is buying at 77 Ngwee and selling at 78 Ngwee.
The poor performance of the Kwacha this week has already worried the business sector that fear it might have an adverse effect on the economy.