The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed social media reports that a Zambian Diplomat by the name of Musenge Mukuma appointed to the United Republic of Tanzania has been rejected by that country.

Dismissing the unfounded reports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer Chansa Kabwela states that her ministry is not in receipt of any letter of appointment for Mr Mukuma as a diplomat designated to the United Republic of Tanzania.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer Chansa Kabwela clarified in a statement issued to the media that the government has not made any such appointment as reported in social media circles.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia has taken note of reports of an alleged appointment of a Zambian Diplomat to the United Republic of Tanzania and the subsequent rejection of the appointment, ” she said.

Mrs Kabwela further indicated that the Ministry is not in receipt of a letter of rejection from the neighboring Tanzania as claimed on social media reports.

“The Ministry wishes to inform the public that the Government of the Republic of Zambia has not made any such appointment in respect of a Mr. Musenge Mukuma and is not in receipt of a letter of rejection from its sisterly neighboring country,” she said.

The Ministry has since advised the public to dismiss the article circulating on social media and other platforms with the contempt it deserves.

The matter has been referred to the relevant security wings for appropriate investigations.

The Ministry indicated that the false information circulating on social media was being peddled by unscrupulous individuals with motives bent on tarnishing the country’s image.

“The Ministry has since reminded the public to guard against the consumption and circulation of false and unverified information, which is peddled by unscrupulous individuals with motives bent on tarnishing the image of the Republic of Zambia.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains fully committed to promoting Zambia’s interests and maintaining good international relations in order to ensure sustainable development and national prosperity,” the statement read in parts.

According to social media reports, Zambian Diplomat to Tanzania was rejected by President John Magufuli because his name is insulting words in Swahili.

It is reported that Tanzanian President Magufuli left Zambians in shock when he rejected Mr Musenge Mukuma because of his name.

According to President Magufuli, the name is insult words in Swahili speaking societies.

Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Edward Banda has sentenced a 38-year-old housewife to one-year imprisonment for assault. Fridah Ngosa of Soweto compound in Kapiri Mposhi stood charged with one count of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (OABH) contrary to section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Facts before court were that Ngosa did assault Belony Mutupa, 42, her husband, by biting his manhood following a marital dispute.

This happened on 12 February 2021 around 21:00 hours in the couple’s bedroom after a fight ensued following a marital dispute.

A medical report before the court revealed that the victim sustained a cut on his scrotum and experienced headache and general body pains.

Ngosa who readily pleaded guilty to the offence, in mitigation, pleaded with the court to exercise leniency on her as she was looking after her three children and a three-month-old baby orphan adding that the children would suffer if she was imprisoned.

The sobbing Ngosa, begged the court for leniency vowing never to involve herself in fights with her husband.

But in passing judgement Magistrate Banda noted that cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were on the increase in Kapiri Mposhi and the country as a whole and therefore needed to be addressed by punishing perpetrators through custodial sentences.

Magistrate Banda advised couples to learn to settle marital disputes amicably.

” Cases of GBV are on the increase.. we are experiencing killings as a result of GBV … if you managed to rip off his testicles we could’ve been talking about a serious condition .. we are always hearing on the media of deaths as a result of GBV and government is very concerned,” he said.

Magistrate Banda then sentenced Ngosa to a one year custodial imprisonment as a deterrent measure to other couples involved in GBV.

Three people of Mambwe district in Eastern Province have been arrested for various offences relating to theft of government medicines, illegal sale of medicines and allied substances.

ZAMRA Senior Public Relations Officer Christabel Mutale Illampu confirmed in a statement that in one count Chawezi Zimba a female aged 39 years who is an Environmental Health Technologist in the Ministry of Health has been jointly charged with Patrick Phiri, male aged 32 years for being in Possession of government medicines suspected to have been unlawfully obtained contrary to section 319 of the Penal Code of the laws of Zambia.

In the second count, Ms Zimba has been charged for operating a Pharmacy without a Certificate of Registration Contrary to Section 14 (1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act (3) of 2013.

Among the drugs seized include Lumartem (Artemether + Lumefantrine 20/120mg tablets) HIV test kits, Malaria rapid test kits, and Medroxyprogesterone injection.

Meanwhile in a related incident, Chrisencia Miyoba, a female aged 50 years, of Mambwe district has been arrested for Operating a Health Shop without a Permit Contrary to Section 14(1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act (3) of 2013.

Ms Mayoba is said to be the proprietor of Fortune Drug Store situated at Mfuwe Cropping Area Market in Mambwe District.

During the operation, Prescription Only Medicines and Pharmacy Sale medicines were officially seized.

The trio have since been released on police bond and will appear in court soon.

The Authority says it remains vigilant and steadfast in its commitment of protecting public health through curbing illegal drug stores.

Zambia Correctional Service Commissioner General, Chisela Chileshe says government remains committed to ensuring that incarcerated members of the public are reformed and equipped with various survival skills, as they leave the correctional facilities.

Addressing inmates during his tour of Chaola Open Prison in Rufunsa district yesterday, Dr. Chileshe said government is devoted to ensuring that Correctional Centres reform the inmates and introduce them to different skills such as farming, carpentry, and tailoring among other survival skills.

He noted that the authority changed the name from prisons to correctional service centres in order to make it easier to reform wrong doers or offenders of the law, into good citizens through introducing them to different skills that will enable them contribute positively to national development.

“Government is also aware of the many challenges that the Correctional Service Facilities are faced with such as transport, and uniforms among others which government is already working on, to improve the skills training in the facilities.” Dr. Chileshe said.

He further told the inmates that government is already working on a mechanism to link them into society once they are released from the correctional facilities.

He called on the inmates to take advantage of the skills they are being taught, in order for them to better their lives once they are linked to stakeholders who require their skills.

And Rufunsa District Commissioner, Judith Chama has commended government for putting up a correctional centre in the area, adding that the skills being imparted in the inmates are contributing positively, to the food security in the district.

Speaking when the Commissioner General paid a courtesy call on her at the District Administration offices, Mrs Chama said the opening up of a correctional centre in the district has improved the food security in the area.

“During the 2019/2020 farming season, the correctional service produced more maize than majority of the people in the area which was sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).” Said the DC.

“I am glad to mention that the agricultural activities happening at Chaola Open Prison have contributed positively to the food basket in the district,” she added.

The District Commissioner however appealed to the Zambia Correctional Service to take advantage of the connection of the district to the National Electricity Grid by connecting electricity to the Correctional facility, in order to boost training skills and production.

Mrs. Chama told the Commissioner General and his entourage that people in the District were grateful for the developmental activities initiated, noting that the area has now become a good investment base for would be stakeholders.

She called on line ministries and other stakeholders to take advantage of these developments enhanced by government by investing in the rich farming environment.

Chaola Open Prison in Rufunsa District was established in the late 2017 by government in its continued efforts to decongest other Correctional service facilities across the country.

President Edgar Lungu has assured journalists that the State will not allow anyone to harass the media during the course of their duty.

President Lungu says he will not countenance violence on journalists adding that those who are in a habit of attacking journalists, whether Patriotic Front or opposition risk being prosecuted.

The President said this in a press statement issued by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.

The Head of State made the assurance this morning at State House when he held a virtual meeting with members of the Zambia Union of Journalist (ZUJ).

“ I must state that the space is not shrinking for journalists, it is not true. There are always bad eggs in society but it is the duty of the Police to ensure a safe environment for journalists. Violence against journalists is not part of the PF policy and anyone engaging in violence, whether PF or opposition will be arrested,” President Lungu warned.

The ZUJ members had requested to meet the President to discuss various matters affecting their members.

And President Lungu has allayed fears among journalists that there would be mass redundancies as result of the merger of Times Printpak Zambia Limited and the Zambia Daily Mail Limited.

According to ZUJ president Samuel Lukhanda, there is anxiety at Times Printpak Zambia Limited arising from the rumored merger of the two companies.

But President Lungu explained that the two companies will continue running separately despite having one Chief Executive. The two companies are under the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) whose chairman is President Lungu.

The Head of State disclosed that the two companies are in the process of restructuring and in the event that some redundancies happen, the affected employees will be paid their dues.

“Even if you are laid off, you will be paid and there is life after formal employment,” the President said, “I have heard of journalists who are now successful farmers of businessmen.

Meanwhile President Lungu has said the media plays a critical role in the democratic dispensation and this is why the government advocates for self-regulation of the media so that journalists operate freely.

He added that the government allows journalists to express themselves without hindrance.

At the same meeting, Mr Lukhanda informed the President that Journalists would like to be considered among the first people to be vaccinated against covid19 since they are also frontline workers to which the President agreed.

The ZUJ leader also informed the President that their salaries need to be improved and that they are in dire need of support from the government to cover the forthcoming elections.

In response to the request, President Lungu promised to help the journalists so that coverage of elections is not affected by logistical problems.

“Journalists need transport and other logistics, otherwise they will be susceptible to “blalizo”(Zambian journalists, term for corruption),” the President remarked.

Government has given Huan-cheng Mining Limited a two weeks ultimatum to improve working conditions for Zambian workers at its Manganese Refinery Plant in Kapiri Mposhi district.

Central Province Minister, Sidney Mushanga gave out the ultimatum when he made an impromptu fact finding visit to the company following reports of poor working conditions and mistreatment of Zambian workers at the Chinese owned company.

During the visit Mr Mushanga discovered that the workers had no proper protective clothing and were subjected to wages as low as K25 per day which is below the minimum wage.

Mr Mushanga also discovered that the employees work without signed contracts and were compelled to work without off days.

“What I have gathered is that there is no job security here and no job description because workers can be fired anytime and can be forced to do any job. We have also received reports of the bad abusive language you are using against the workers. I want to warn you to stop and follow Zambian labour laws,” Mr Mushanga said.

Mr Mushanga has since ordered management at the company to hire a human resource practitioner within a month’s time to manage working conditions related issues at the company.

“All these issues are as a result of lack of a formidable human resource personnel to help you strictly follow Zambian labour laws, so I’m giving you one month to engage one,” Mr Mushanga said.

He said government will endeavor to protect Zambian workers by ensuring that investors abide by the country’s labour laws.

” We want these investments to continue but we want these investors to do the right thing and follow labour laws,” Mr Mushanga said.

And Huan-Cheng Mining Director, Zhau Zongliang assured Mr Mushanga that management will attend to all the issues raised.

Huan-cheng Mining employs over 100 Zambian workers at its manganese refinery company producing Ferro Alloy.

More than 22, 000 girls fell pregnant in Lusaka Province, with Lusaka district recording the highest at 16, 000 in the year 2020.

Health Specialist at the Provincial Health Office Bushimbwa Tambatamba says that 22,824 teen pregnancies out of a total of 111,294 antenatal visits were recorded last year.

Dr Tambatamba however states in an interview that this represents a reduction of average of 21 percent in teen pregnancies in three consecutive years. She stated that 25,270 adolescent pregnancies were recorded in 2019.

“This was out of a total of 115,536. We recorded 25,511 teen pregnancies out of 106,902 in 2018,” she said.

The public health specialist explained that Lusaka has been recording the highest adolescent pregnancies in the Province.

“Last year, 15,928 cases were recorded in Lusaka while Chongwe recorded the second highest with 2,197 adolescent pregnancies.” said Dr Tambatamba.

She stated that Kafue and Chilanga had 1,491 and 1,299 respectively while 850 teen pregnancies in Chirundu were reported at various health facilities.

674 teen pregnancies were recorded in Chirundu while Luangwa recorded the lowest in the province with 385.

Some teen expectant mothers used to shy away from seeking antenatal care services because they felt that they were too young to access the services together with the elderly expectant mothers, noted Dr Tambatamba.

She said, “But since the introduction of youth friendly services where the younger ones are attended to by their fellow young caregivers and in an isolated area, we have seen a change as they feel comfortable in such an environment.”

Dr Tambatamba noted that each district provides youth friendly services under a focal point person.