Police in Mpongwe district have picked a body of man aged 40, found murdered and tied to a tree by unknown people. Confirming the development to ZANIS in an interview, Copperbelt Deputy Police Commissioner, Bothwell Namuswa has identified the deceased as Evans Kamwemfu found hanging from a tree in sitting position with blood oozing from his nose and shoeless.

The incident happened yesterday between 11 and 17 hours. The late Kamwemfu was also found with a rope tied to his neck and unto to a branch of a tree of about 25 metres from the ground.

“It appears that this person was killed and then put in a position to show as if he had committed suicide. Police examined the body and found no physical external injuries,” he said.

Mr. Namuswa said the matter was reported to Mpongwe police by a man identified as Jabulani who found the deceased 2 hundred metres away from the main road, south of Mpongwe boarding secondary school where he took his animals for grazing.

No arrests have been made.

Meanwhile, Mr. Namuswa has disclosed that police in Mpongwe have launched a manhunt of two armed men who attacked a 70 -year- old man identified as Joe Bwalya of Kanyenda area in Mpongwe.

Mr. Namuswa said Mr. Bwalya was attacked while in his kitchen by the two men armed with a short gun who ordered him to lie down.

The two armed suspects then grabbed Mr. Bwalya’s phone and commanded him to take them to the room where he was putting money.

Thereafter, Mr. Bwalya took the two bandits to one of the rooms in the house where he gave them K 530 and later managed to grab both barrels of the short gun from them.

“He reported that he took them by surprise when he grabbed their short gun. Then they started struggling to get back their weapon until one of them managed to pull away and ran away.

“ The other one remained struggling with Mr. Bwalya but later freed himself and dropped a round of the short gun,” Mr. Numuswa said.

He said the matter was reported to the police adding that officers later rushed to the scene and picked the round of a short gun which will be used as evidence adding that no arrests have been made so far.

Mr. Namuswa has since called on residents in the province to avoid carrying cash while on the move and also keeping cash in their homes as bandits will want to take advantage of the situation.

Water blues have hit the northern part of Ndola district for almost a week making affected residents to appeal to the Utility firm , Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company to address the crisis immediately.

The affected areas are namely Minsundu, Northrise, Chifubu, Pamodzi, Mitengo, Kanini, Chipulukusu, Hillcrest,Kansenshi, Dolla Hill, Twapia among others.

“It is unacceptable going for seven days without water especially that we are already in the rain season. And surprising enough, Kafubu water has not engaged us on the matter,” lamented some affected residents

George Bwalya, a resident of Northrise on his colleagues’ behalf said people have now resorted to fetching water from shallow wells which he added are ‘breeding grounds for bacteria that cause diarrhea disease.

Mr. Bwalya added that the affected communities are now hesitant to use their flushable toilets whenever answering the call of nature.

“This is unacceptable. We can’t continue leaving like this. Why would people start running away from their own homes because of water? We are urging Kafubu to stop playing games, we want proper services,” Bwalya said.

And Isaac Simata said some sections of Chifubu Township last saw a drop of water from taps on Monday last week, describing the situation as ‘unacceptable.’

But when contacted for a comment, Kansenshi ward Councillor, Brenda Mwamba has expressed ignorance on the matter.

Ms. Mwamba said she is not aware of the erratic water supply in her ward.

Meanwhile, Kafubu water has attributed the erratic supply of water to technical power challenges currently affecting it’s Minsundu 1 and Minsundu 2 water treatment plants.

“Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company Limited would like to inform its esteemed customers that there is erratic water supply and no water in some parts of Ndola’s Northern zone, “ the utility firm’s Public Relations Unit said.

This is due to technical power challenges affecting our Minsundu water treatment plants,” read part of the statement issued by the public relations unit obtained by ZANIS.

Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director general Josephine Mapoma has called for continued stakeholder collaboration against incidences of harassment and violence against journalists in the country.

Speaking at the closure of a three day workshop in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Mapoma there is need to ensure that perpetrators of violence and harassment against journalists are brought to book.

The IBA Director general advised media owners and institutions should always engage Zambia Police Service whenever they are hosting political exposed persons or high risk programmes.

The workshop was conducted as a consequence of the realization that journalists in Zambia and the world over continue to suffer attacks perpetrated by various individuals and groups especially during elections.

“ On the other hand , lack of professionalism among journalists has sometimes resulted in a backlash and has impaired people’s confidence in the media,” she said.

She re-affirmed that her Authority commitment to promoting the safety of journalists in Zambia , especially as the country enters an electoral cycles where several incidences of violence and harassment of journalists is rife.

“We call upon political parties to stop attacks on journalists who disseminate relevant information to the public, we urge political parties to learn to co-exist with journalist as they need them for their manifestos to reach the masses,”Ms Mapoma said.

This is contained in a statement signed by the four implementing partners namely IBA, MQAZ, MISA and BBC –Action and made available to the media in Lusaka yesterday.

The workshop was held with the support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Democracy Strengthening in Zambia(DSZ)Project.

Among resolutions made during the workshop were that IBA and Electoral Commission of Zambia should work together in ensuring fair coverage of all political parties during elections.

Secondly, it was resolved that political parties, as revenant stakeholders, should engage the media for them to have adequate knowledge about their programmes and activities adding that the Zambia Police Service should apply the law fairly.

140 participants drawn from Civil society Organizations, Electoral Commission of Zambia , Human Rights Commission , Media Organizations , Zambia Police Service , Media owners and chief executives Officers , media bodies , political parties and line ministries attended the workshop.

A maid , who allegedly stole three children in Ndola recently, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. This is a matter in which 38 year old Mary Nakamba , is charged with child stealing which is against the laws of Zambia.

Nakamba who stood for plea before Ndola Magistrate Brain Simachela pleaded not guilty to the offence saying she had no intentions of hurting the said children.

Particulars of the offence were that on November 9 this year, Nakamba allegedly kidnapped Chileya Manda’s three children in Chifubu Township.

ZANIS reports that Nakamba who was working as a maid at the complainant’s house has been accused of fraudulently taking away the three named children, two of them under-fives.

The accused disappeared with the children after she informed neighbours that she was taking them to the under-five clinic but did not return.

Police arrested Nakamba in Kapiri Mposhi after a manhunt.

The eight-year-old was found in Ndola and the two babies were located at an orphanage in Kapiri Mposhi.

The matter has been adjourned to November 26 this year for trial.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji says the European Union (EU) has played a key role in the fulfillment of the Zambian development agenda.

Mr Malanji said EU has continued to be a reliable partner especially in the implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) with focus on economic diversification and job creation, among others.

Speaking at the opening session of the Zambia-EU Political Dialogue, the Minister emphasized the importance of the meeting noting that it will enhance the cooperation between Zambia and the EU.

“I must underscore the importance of the dialogue as we endeavor to increase and solidify cooperation between Zambia and the European Union. I have no doubt that this year’s dialogue will build on the successes of the previous ones, and will be another opportunity to consolidate our relationship and explore new avenues of cooperation,” Mr Malanji stated.

He stressed the need for collective efforts by the international community to heighten cooperation in research for vaccination and cure for the Coronavirus.

Mr Malanji noted that with concerted efforts, there will be equity access across the world to ensure effective control of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Minister said effects of climate change have negatively impacted on the agriculture and energy sectors, thereby causing food insecurity among other challenges in the country.

Mr Malanji explained that through bilateral and multilateral support from the EU, the government has put in place measures to control the ongoing challenges.

“Whilst the Zambian Government has put in place remedial measures, it is only through collective and concerted effort can such global challenges be overcome. I would therefore like to convey the Zambian government gratitude for the continued support at both bilateral and multilateral levels, in the area of climate change including the ongoing challenges of eradicating the African Migratory Locusts affecting Zambia,” he said.

He further indicated that the Zambian government remains committed to promoting principles of good governance, democracy and the rule of law, hence assured that the 2021 general elections will be free and fair.

The Minister is confident that the political dialogue meeting will further consolidate Zambia’s cooperation with the EU.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Zambia, Jacek Jankowski said Zambia and the EU continue to be strong partners in good governance and the rule of law, as evidenced by the engagement in the implementation of recommendations of the 2016 EU election observation mission.

Mr Jankowski assured that EU will continue to support the electoral process in Zambia, with the aim of strengthening electoral institutions and processes, and enhance conflict prevention in the coming elections.

He disclosed that EU and EU member states recently contributed more than K185 million through the United Nations Development Programme to the electoral process in Zambia.

“As you all know, governance is at the heart of the common values we share. Zambia and the Zambian people can be proud of their longstanding democratic tradition, and they deserve elections they can trust. We need to acknowledge that the upcoming 2021 general elections are going to be very sensitive,” Mr Jankowski noted.

The Ambassador welcomed the official invitation from the Zambian government for EU observers to be deployed for the 2021 general elections.

And Mr Jankowski said EU is in support of President Edgar Lungu’s view that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges that required urgent interventions.

President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Chipata district, Eastern Province for a six-day working visit.

President Lungu who arrived aboard a Zambia Airforce (ZAF) airplane, touched down at Chipata airport at 10.20 hours

The President was welcomed by Provincial Minister, Makebi Zulu and other provincial heads, security chiefs, and party officials.

The Head of State is being accompanied by Presidential Affairs Minister, Freedom Sikazwe and other senior government officials.

President Lungu took time to greet members of the public who thronged the airport to welcome him in the province.

The Head of State is expected to visit selected districts, inspect developmental projects, and interact with chiefs, the clergy and party officials during his visit in the area.

The President is also during his visit expected to launch 2020/2021 farming season.

Meanwhile, -President Edgar Lungu has donated 78 bicycles to village headmen in Lukashya constituency in Kasama district.

Lukashya Member of Parliament (MP), George Chisanga who handed over the bicycles on behalf of the President said the bicycles have been donated to help headmen in their mobility.

Mr Chisanga stated that the bicycles will go a long way in assisting headmen with their daily activities.

“You had requested for bicycles from President Lungu when he came for campaigns during the Lukashya Parliamentary by-elections and like he indicated, he could not give you then, because it was a campaign period but now that the campaigns are over, he has delivered,” Mr Chisanga said.

The Lukashya law maker said the President has earmarked to handover a total of 250 bicycles to all village headmen in the area.

‘We are today handing over 78 bicycles but we expect to deliver 250 in total and this will be done in phases. The President wants to work with you in delivering development in the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chisanga Village Headman, John Musonda praised the President for honoring his pledge of providing them with bicycles.

Mr Musonda said headmen in the area are thankful to President Lungu and have pledged to work and support him.

He assured that headmen in Lukashya are behind President Lungu.

National Democratic Congress (NDC) President Chishimba Kambwili has been found with a case to answer in a matter he is accused of defaming President Edgar Lungu.

Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma has placed Kambwili on his defence in the matter which Republican Progressive Party Leader Peter Chanda took to court alleging that he put the name of the President in ridicule by uttering defamatory words.

Particulars are that on 9th September last year, with intent to bring the name of the president into hatred, ridicule, and contempt, Kambwili published defamatory words.

It is alleged that Kambwili defamed the President when he insinuated that the Presidential jet is being used to carry drugs, the words which are suggestive that President Edgar Lung has been trafficking drugs.

When the matter came up for the continuation of trial, the state presented its last witness, Kamima Nyirenda, a pilot at the Zambia Air Force.