Over 800 teachers in Luanshya District are set to benefit from a Land Empowerment Memoradum of Understanding between the Luanshya Municipal Council and the Ministry of Education in Luanshya district.

Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba and Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda signed the agreement which is expected allow teachers acquire affordable and decent housing at flexible payment conditions in Luanshya.

Dr Kalumba commended the Council and the district Education authorities for the initiative that was embraced by the two parties.

“Empowering citizens with land is the best incentive that government can offer to citizens, I want to thank the council and the DEBs for this initiative and I want to see this spirit spread to all districts countrywide” he said.

Dr Kalumba urged heads under the ministry of education countrywide to emulate the milestone set by Luanshya Municipal Council and the district Education Secretary.

“Land is one of the most important securities every citizen needs and also the best empowerment a government can give to citizens, which provides a sense of ownership, enhance patriotism and hard work and is a motivation to teachers to go an extra mile in their delivery of education service,” he said.

He said the MOU was a true government commitment to uplifting the standards of its citizens

He urged teachers not to resale the land that will be given to them by the local authority but regard it as an inheritance for future generations.

And Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda said the MOU is partnership which will serve as a milestone to future land and other empowerment programs between the local authority and Civil servants.

Mr Chanda disclosed that the partnership will allow teachers to pay statutory plot premiums in installments, while land development can commence.

“It is a milestone culminating into a series of partnership meant to enhance a suitable land acquisition and decent housing,” he observed.

Mr Chanda indicated that the MOU was in line with the National Housing Policy as well as the Patriotic Front manifesto which both entails providing decent accommodation for all by 2030, in line with the Vision 2030 and the 7th National Development Plan.

Luanshya District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe noted that the MOU will not only uplift the standard of living but will also serve as a motivation factor for teachers.

“This gesture will not only uplift the living standards but it will also empower teachers for life and help them to remain focused in delivery of education services,” he added.

Speaking at the same occasion, Luanshya District Board Secretary Chilombo Kabwe said empowering teachers with land will mitigate social challenges such as accommodation.

“This agreement came from the realization that teachers were failing to acquire land due to various social challenges such as loans among other issues,” he noted.

Luanshya has a total of 1,900 teachers spread across the district.

President Edgar Lungu is deeply saddened by the deaths of Supreme Court Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe, Chief Chibesakunda xl, Mr. Timothy Walamba, Mr. Augustine Seyuba and many other citizens who have passed on lately.

President Lungu has described Judge Muyovwe as an experienced and accomplished Judge who contributed immensely to the Judiciary.

President Lungu notes that Judge Muyovwe was an experienced and accomplished professional and an expert in jurisprudence whose expertise will be missed by the legal fraternity.

“On behalf of the Government, the people of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to express my sincere condolences to the bereaved family, the Supreme Court and the entire Judiciary on the death of Judge Muyovwe. We share your grief during this difficult time and we beseech the Almighty God for comfort and fortitude. May the Soul of Judge Muyovwe rest in peace,” President Lungu says.

And President Lungu says the death of Chief Chibesakunda XI is a big loss not just to the Bisa people but the entire country.

The President said his administration worked well with Chief Chibesakunda XI, and shared the same vision of developing the rural areas of Zambia.

Meanwhile, the President has hailed Mr. Walamba for his contribution to the welfare of miners when he was a vibrant unionist.

The President said Mr. Walamba equally served the country with dignity when he served as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Ghana under the Patriotic Front administration.

“The Government, the people of Zambia and I mourn Mr. Wayamba. To the bereaved family, our hearts are with you in this time of sorrow. May God Almighty grant you peace as you mourn, May His Soul Rest in Peace,” the President said.

And President Lungu has described the death of Mr. Seyuba in South Africa as another big loss to the country.

“His wealth of experience, particularly in public relations and marketing was exceptional and cannot be forgotten,” the President stated.

The President mourns with all those who have lost their loved ones in this difficult period of Zambia’s history blighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is according to a press statement issued to the media by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe in Lusaka yesterday.

A woman of Chainda compound in Lusaka has been found dead in her boyfriend’s house.

Police spokesperson Esther Katonga identified the woman, who was suspected to have been murdered, as Margaret Mudenda.

Ms. Katongo said in a statement to ZANIS today that the body of the deceased was discovered in her boyfriend’s house by the landlady and neighbours.

This was after the father of the victim begun inquiring on the whereabouts of his daughter on January 31, 2021.

She said according to some neighbours, Mudenda was last seen on January 30, 2021 at about 16:30 hours.

She said the landlady of Mudenda’s boyfriend and the neighbours decided to force open the door to the house of the deceased’s boyfriend.

“Upon opening, they discovered the body of the deceased lying dead on the bed and reported the matter to the police who visited the scene,” she explained.

Ms. Katanga stated that it is suspected that the victim was locked inside the house as the key to the door was not found.

The Police Spokesperson further disclosed that there was a stench of suspected poison detected in the room where the body was found.

She added that there was no physical injuries found on the body.

“The body has been taken to University Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem so as to ascertain the cause of the death and investigations have been instituted in the matter,’’ said Ms. Katanga.

The Ministry of Mines has expressed concern over the increase in illegal mining activities in Eastern Province. worries

Provincial Mines Officer Brian Nyambe says the number of illegal miners is growing because people now know the value of some of the minerals such as Gold.

Mr. Nyambe says the ministry has been emphasizing to the people the need to formalize their mining activities.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News on the sidelines of training for small-scale miners organised by the United Nations Development Programme in conjunction with African Caribbean Pacific and European Union.

The training, dubbed the Development mineral program, has attracted small scale miners from across the country.

And Saint Monica’s Alumni co-operative chairperson Alice Mkandawire said the training will empower them in many ways.

Dear Editor,

Kindly allow me space in your widely read publication. I would like to express my displeasure at the happenings at Mulungushi University.

I am a sponsor to one of the students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Mulungushi University under Open Distance Learning. The distance students are scheduled to attend a 2 weeks residential school starting on 7 February, 2021. In an effort to enforce covid-19 regulations, they are requiring (among other things) that each student presents a negative covid-19 certificate. Even those that are bringing the students are required to present the same. This presents very serious challenges for both sponsors and students.

Most people will fail to attend this residential session simply because they will not be able to afford. In addition to paying at least 50% of tuition fees, where are we going to find the extra K2000 for this covid test certificate? Mind you, we also have to look for transport to and from this institution as well as the money for upkeep and other expenses incidental to the residential school. Does management know how difficult it is to find money in the covid new normal? For those who will travel by public transport, how sure is management that they will not contract Covid on the way to the University despite presenting a negative result?

Other students had planned to be coming from out of compus (to save on cost) but are now being required to all be in residence. Will the lecturers and other staff also be staying in residence? If they will not be in residence, are they going to be testing them every day to ensure that they do not infect the student populace? If they have allowed the Postgraduates to attend virtually, why can’t they do the same to the undergraduates? Why are they hell-bent on putting students at risk?

Please Editor, ask these questions on our behalf. I have been trying to get answers from them, but these people are so rude that they don’t even answer their phones. When they do finally answer, they are not very knowledgeable.

Thanks in advance.