Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba says the local authorities will start rolling out the Electronic Levy (E-levy) payment system in an effort to increase revenue base in all Councils.

Speaking when he opened the E-levy orientation workshop, Bishop Chomba indicated that the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic adversely affected economic activities in Local Authorities due to challenges faced in revenue collection.

The Permanent Secretary further observed increased pilfering among revenue collectors due to the physical cash handling system in the Local Authorities.

In order to enhance collection efficiency of Council revenues, Bishop Chomba disclosed that his Ministry devised the E- levy payment system at collection points in markets and bus stations.

“The roll out of the E-levy could not have come at a better time than when local Authorities are striving to expand their revenue base in the midst of constraint resource allocation. To this end, the need for Local Authorities to devise smart revenue collection mechanisms which aim to maximize collection efficiency is urgent,” Bishop Chomba stated.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the new system will support the operationalization of the markets and bus station funds.

He explained that from the collected revenues in selected markets and bus stations, 30% of the funds will be channeled to develop new trading places in needy areas.

Bishop Chomba added that the smart revenue collection mechanism will be a more convenient and secure payment alternative for clients.

“It will provide citizens with a convenient and secure online payment options for various services provided in the markets and bus stations,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the implementation of the E-levy payment system is a great milestone for the Ministry, which shows the transformational resolve of President Edgar Lungu vision to attain a smart Zambia.

He revealed that implementation of the E-levy payment system will first target Local Authorities that are poorly performing especially in Western and Southern Provinces to help build capacity and further extend to other Councils across the country.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute Acting College Principal, James Paipi assured that the institution was ready to train participants in order to build capacity for Local authorities.

Mr. Paipi stated that since a gap was identified in revenue collection activities, the training institute will take up its task of ensuring that training interventions are provided in order to improve the performance of Councils in service provision.

“One of the areas that has been identified and requires intervention is the issue of revenue collection by the Councils. Among the reasons observed is that due to the conventional systems which are being used in our Local authorities, in terms of generating revenue for various activities including markets as well as bus stations, the Local authorities have been losing a lot of revenue,” Mr. Paipi indicated.

In November 2018, the Ministry of Local Government entered into a contract with Dot Com Zambia Limited for the design and implementation of an E-levy payment system in order to maximize revenue collection efficiency in Local Authorities. The pilot was implemented at BH market which was successful. The programme will be extended to various Councils in phases starting with Southern and Western Provinces.

Government in partnership with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has launched the 1.2 million Euros Forests Landscape Project in Kafue.

Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Chief Research Officer Lishomwa Mulongwe said the five years project that is aimed at restoring the depleted forests will be implemented in Silowana complex of Sioma and Sesheke districts of Western Province.

Mr Mulongwe said the five years project is scheduled to come to an end in the year 2024.Mr Mulongwe said this at the inception meeting of the Forests Landscape Project in Kafue today.

He underscored that the project will help the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in addressing the hash effects of deforestation and climate change.

“This project is part of the regional programme which started in January 2020 and is being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. The program will on regional level aim for a regional exchange of experiences on Forests Landscape restoration among the three countries,” he stressed.

Mr Mulongwe pointed out that deforestation has been caused by agriculture expansion and charcoal burning among others, will also help government to come up with a framework for forests restoration.He underscored that during the scope of the project 1000 small holder farmers in the surrounding districts will benefit through trainings.

And WWF Zambia Acting Country Director Isabel Mukelabai said time has come for the actual value of forests to be achieved.Ms Mukelabai pointed out that the project will help halt the indiscriminate cutting of trees in the country.

She affirmed that her office will ensure close collaboration with the line ministry to achieve the intended purpose of the project.

“Agriculture expansion has rushed the forests to their knees. But some challenges are from weak mechanisms to halt deforestation in the country, now time has come to realize the noble call,” she charged.

The Forest Land Scape Project Inception Meeting was attend by different stakeholders from the forests sector in Zambia.

Zambia has reiterates its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara after it inaugurated its Consulate in the southern city of Laayoune.

During a joint press briefing following the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe stressed Zambia’s “abiding” position regarding Morocco’s right to territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.

Mr. Lombe considered the diplomatic move a “sovereign act of support and solidarity” towards Morocco on the question of Western Sahara.

Mr Lombe labeled Morocco as “a true friend of Zambia.”

Zambia’s Consulate is the eighth African diplomatic representation to open in the province of Laayoune in one year.

It is the 15th African Consulate in the southern provinces as a whole, as seven others have opened in the city of Dakhla.

Four other African countries opened diplomatic representations in Western Sahara this week alone.

Eswatini opened a consulate general in Laayoune today, while Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Burkina Faso opened embassies in Dakhla on October 23.

The recent inaugurations are part of an expanding recognition within the African continent of Morocco’s territorial integrity.

In 2016, Zambia withdrew its recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), consolidating pro-Morocco momentum on the Western Sahara dispute and boosting the growing ties between the two African nations.

In 2017, Zambia’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, said Zambia supports “the efforts of the United Nations to help the parties find a long-lasting solution to the conflict over the Western Sahara.”

A year later, Joseph Malanji, Zambia’s current Foreign Affairs Minister announced a “decisive break” with the separatist Polisario Front.

Mr. Lombe welcomed Morocco’s support for the training of Zambian students who benefit from scholarships in Morocco.

He went on to recall King Mohammed VI’s 2017 visit to his country.

The productive visit led to the signing of 19 agreements in various fields, including diplomatic consultations, economics, science, technology, education, mining, finance, and tourism, among others, with the aim to increase commercial and cultural exchanges.

Mr. Lombe also commended King Mohammed VI’s medical aid donation amid the COVID-19 crisis to 15 African countries, including Zambia.

The medical shipments included millions of protective face masks, 900,000 visors, 600,000 hygiene caps, 60,000 medical gowns, and tens of thousands of liters of hydroalcoholic gels, along with 75,000 boxes of chloroquine and 15,000 boxes of azithromycin.

Various Churches, Church Mother Bodies and Religious Organisations have thanked government for consulting and initiating empowerment fund as a response initiative to cushion the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has posed on society.

Speaking during the opening of a Consultative meeting on Church Empowerment Fund and minimum standards for Churches and Religious Organisations yesterday at government complex in Lusaka, the Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs said COVID-19 has affected all sectors of society and that the Church has not been left out.

Rev. Sumaili noted that programmes and projects run by the Church and Religious Organisations in communities have also been affected by the pandemic.
She explained that it is prudent that government responds to ensure that the Church and Religious Organisations continue offering the social services to their respective communities.

She added that the Ministry has since put up a proposal and modalities of how the funds will be disbursed and accessed.

Rev. Sumaili said, this is to ensure accountability, integrity and inclusiveness in the manner the funds will be handled.

Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia President Bishop Paul Mususu thanked government for considering and respecting its partnership with the Church, Church Mother Bodies and Religious Organisation by consulting them on matters relating to their affairs.

Bishop Mususu said it is not possible for government to successfully implement the empowerment fund without considering the views of the people affected.

And the Jewish Board Deputies Secretary General Ram Rabbi has called on government to put in place audit mechanism for beneficiaries to ensure that the fund benefits a good number of people among the targeted beneficiaries.

He stated that the COVID-19 empowerment fund was a good initiative and has come at a time when most people are affected by the pandemic.
Meanwhile Rastafari Priest David Kumalo has praised government for considering the church and religious bodies in its quest to review the economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic fight.

Priest Kumalo also thanked government for creating the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs adding that the Church and Religious Bodies for a long time have been looking for a voice to represent their affairs to government.

He expressed confidence that the empowerment fund if used and managed properly can bring change to society and help humanity.

On September 27th, this year President Edgar Chagwa Lungu assured the church of government support to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ), Apostles Council of Churches (ACOC), New Apostolic Church, Christian Mission in Many Lands (CMML) and the Presbyterian Church.

Others included the National Spiritual Assembly of Bahaí , Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia, Makeni Islamic Council, The Jewish Board of Deputies, Guru Nanak, and the House of Rastafari.

The body of Dr. Tasila Tembo, missing since last Friday has been found.

Her family reported to the Police that she missing last week on Friday.Her torso and severed head were found today near Mikango Barracks area.Her boyfriend who is a soldier is also missing since last week and reportedly with a fire arm.

The remains of Dr. Tasila Mercy Tembo will be buried on Thursday because of the extent of decomposition of the body.

Acting Police Spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed the death of Dr Tasila Tembo aged 47 and said her body was discovered in a decomposed state covered with leaves in Nanking Army Training Centre in Mikango Barracks area.

In a statement released to the media , Mr. Mwale said the police have since launched a man-hunt for the suspect identified as Lieutenant Nigel Mwaba aged 33 of Zambia Army in Lusaka.

“Police in Lusaka received a report of a missing person in which it was reported that a female identified as Dr. Tasila Tembo aged 47 of Plot number 1732 Meanwood, Ibex Hill went missing. This occurred on October 24, 2020 around 16 hours,” Mwale said.

Mwale said investigations into the matter and police discovered the body of a Dr Tembo in a decomposed state covered with leaves in Nanking Army Training Centre in Mikango area.

He said the body was temporarily buried at a traditional burial site in Mikango area and is awaiting Post-mortem to be conducted today at the University Teaching Hospital.

Mwale said Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect and has appealed to members of the public who may have the information of the whereabouts of the suspect to report to any police station.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga has called on citizens in need of National Registration Cards (NRCs) to take advantage of the five day extension of the mobile registration and acquire their identity cards.

Mr Kamanga who on Tuesday inspected the exercise in Lusaka and Kafue districts says all eligible citizens should ensure that they are captured before November 4, when the exercise will come to an end.

“There may be no other extension because this exercise is tied to the mobile voter registration whose commencement has also been rescheduled to allow more eligible voters acquire their NRCs before they can register as voters,” he said.

He observed that the extension of the exercise from October 30 will allow more people acquire or replace their NRCs.

And Mr. Kamanga expressed confidence that the Province will meet its target of registering 240 thousand before the end of the exercise.

“We have already met the targets in some districts like Kafue. Though we have high numbers in Lusaka, we will meet the target because we will capitalize on the extension period and ensure that we capture each person that comes for the registration,” he said.

Mr Kamanga stressed on the need for people aged between 16 and 35 above to acquire the symbol of citizenship whose use he said is not solely for voting.

“It is an identity card that is required even for one to get employment, acquire a passport and many other things.
Meanwhile, Mr Kamanga has advised citizens not to wait for the mobile issuance of NRCs which comes after five years saying they should seek the documents from registration offices whose duty is to issue NRCs on a daily basis.

“You don’t have to wait until after five years when there is a mobile registration to acquire your NRCs, the registration offices issue these documents on a daily basis. In Lusaka district, the department has also decentralized to the sub districts and people can get their services in a number of sub districts,” he said.

The mobile issuance of NRCs which started on September 20 and was scheduled to finish on October 30, will come to an end on November 4.

The programme which is also taking place in Central, Muchinga, Western and Southern Provinces among others is targeting to issue a total of 730,000 NRCs.

Meanwhile, Muoyo Ward Councillor Musenge Mahongo has welcomed the extension of the mobile issuance of the National Registration Cards (NRCs).

Mr. Mahongo told ZANIS in Nalolo today that the extension is a good move because it will enable many people acquire NRCs in places where the exercise started late.

“The extension is appropriate because in some places, the mobile issuance of NRCs started late due to certain challenges hence this will give chance to more people to participate,” he said.

Government extended phase two of the mobile issuance of NRC for five days, which will see the exercise end on November 4, 2020 instead of the scheduled October 30, 2020.

Councillor Mahongo has also appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that all logistics are put in place when the voter registration commences, considering that the rain season will soon start.

“We are about to start the rain season hence many people will not get voters cards if necessary logistics are not put in place, “said the Civic Leader.

He also asked ECZ to clarify on the matter that was raised in Parliament that the old voters cards will not be discarded.

But speaking recently during a media briefing, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano clarified that all voters in the old register need to move to the new one by visiting registration centres during mobile registration period.

Meanwhile, the mobile voter registration exercise which was expected to begin today, October 28, has been rescheduled to start on November 9, 2020 and will end on December 12, 2020.