First Lady Esther Lungu Registering as a Voter in Pictures
Zambia, Sweden launch partnership on statistics …As Africa celebrates Statistics Day
Ministry of National Development Planning Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala has commended the launch of a joint cooperation project between the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) and Statistics Sweden.
Mr. Chabala was speaking at the annual African Statistics Day commemoration in Lusaka where ZAMSTATS and Statistics Sweden launched the joint bilateral project.
“As a demonstration to the importance of partnerships in improving production of statistics and its use, today we will witness the launch of a joint cooperation project between the Zambia Statistics Agency and Statistics Sweden. The overall objective is to enhance statistical capacity in ZAMSTATS to ensure production of timely, demand-driven and quality statistics and data for policy formulation,” said Mr. Chabala, who is in charge of Development Planning and Administration. “The specific areas of support are: strengthening the national statistical system; improved range and quality of statistical production; improved user access and understanding of existing statistics; and a robust ICT environment that supports efficient production of statistics.”
The theme for this year’s African Statistics Day is: “modernising national statistical systems to provide data and statistics to support sustainable peace and development in Africa.”
Mr. Chabala said the theme was chosen to raise awareness among decision-makers, technical and financial partners, data producers, researchers and the general public on the importance of governance and socio-economic statistics in achieving the goal of a free Africa.
He said the theme underscores the need for sustained peace, good governance and inclusive economic growth as essential ingredients to build a harmonious African community underpinned by vast social and economic opportunities for its citizens.
He said the the Zambian Government is cognisant of the need to undertake statistical reforms in order to promote production, understanding and use of official statistics.
Mr. Chabala said the new Statistics Act No 13 of 2018, which is being implemented will broaden statistics beyond the traditional areas of social, economic, financial, environment and agriculture but to include governance and other appropriate statistics.
And Deputy Head of Mission at the Swedish Embassy in Zambia, Susanna Hughes, said the role of Statistics Sweden will be to support ZAMSTATS in its capacity development and to provide advice on determining relevant and suitable methods and procedures for statistics in Zambia.
“The cooperation is premised on a peer-to-peer approach to development cooperation where the partners at ZAMSTATS work hand-in-hand with their peers from Statistics Sweden. By working together there is sharing of experiences and knowledge, and thus capacity is jointly developed,” said Ms. Hughes. “Our cooperation aims at increased access by the users to unbiased, reliable and quality statistics that are timely, accurate and relevant to meet their needs.”
And UNFPA Assistant Representative Sibeso Mululuma said it was gratifying that the Government of Zambia remains commitment to the successful undertaking of the Census.
“UNFPA wishes to reaffirm its commitment to collaborating with the Government and other stakeholders in: aadvancing institutional and ethnical capacity development for data collection, processing, analysis and use; uundertaking of the 2020 housing and population census; generating and practical use of geospatial data; ssupporting other national studies that relate to population and development, including the on-going Population Situation Analysis,” said Ms. Mululuma. “As we start to collectively engage in stakeholder consultation processes that will ultimately inform the development of the 8th National Development Plan; the use of disaggregated data by age, sex, geographic location, wealth quintile and all other variables relevant for the country is important.”
And speaking for United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Dr. Sizo Mhlanga acknowledged the growing interlinkages between development, peace security and human rights.
“Development cannot happen when there is no peace and without development peace is precarious and the respect for human rights in times of conflict is never threatened,” said Dr. Mhlanga.
This is according to a media statement issued by Ministry of National Development Planning spokesperson Chibaula D. Silwamba.
Bank of Zambia leaves policy rate unchanged at 8.0%
The Bank of Zambia has left its main lending rate unchanged at 8.0%.
Governor Christopher Mvunga said at a news conference Wednesday morning adding that the Policy Monetary Committee had to balance boosting the economy with attracting inflows and supporting the Kwacha.
Mr. Mvunga pointed out that successfully navigating a debt restructuring following a sovereign default was essential for Zambia to return to fiscal fitness.
He said while the rate of price growth is expected to moderate over the next two years, it’s likely to remain above target.
Mr. Mvunga said risks to the inflation outlook remain tilted to the upside adding that the economy will probably contract by 4.2% this year and recover at a slower pace than previously thought due to limited fiscal space.
“Successfully navigating the debt-restructuring process to restore debt sustainability and implementing fiscal and other structural reforms are critical to return to fiscal fitness,” Mr. Mvunga said.
He said the Policy Rate has been maintained at 8.0% to moderate risks to financial stability and support growth, lives and livelihoods.
Mr Mvunga said this decision also allows monetary policy measures taken earlier in the year to take full effect adding that this is despite inflation being projected to persist above the 6-8% target range throughout the forecast horizon
“The Committee noted that financial stability remains fragile despite signs of marginal improvement in economic activity in the third quarter following the partial relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.”
CSOs detail number of voter registration kits in ECZ manipulation scheme
A consortium of civil society organisations and students have detailed the number of registration kits distributed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia personnel responsible for elections in a scheme described as a manipulation of the electoral process to register more voters in UPND strongholds.
Speaking on behalf of CSOs during a media briefing this morning, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) President Andrew Ntewewe outlined how 308 registration kits have been distributed in Southern Province with Monze District ranking highest on the list.
“These kits are distributed as follows in Southern Province: Monze (41), Choma (36), Mazabuka (31), Katombola (30), Livingstone (24), Namwala (23), Sinazongwe (19), Chikankata (18), Pemba (16), Kalomo Central (15), Gwembe (15), Mapatizya (15), Siavonga (15), Dundumwezi (10),” said Ntewewe.
He contrasted the 308 voter registration kits allocated to Southern Province with the 202 kits allocated to Lusaka, which accounts for half of the kits needed in Lusaka province. He said Copperbelt has also been allocated 327 kits when it needs about 380 to 450 kits.
The CSOs said challenges voters in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Eastern are facing with registration is because of this unfair distribution of kits and that no one must complain of slowness in registration if they are ready to defend the distribution of kits by ECZ.
The CSOs have also brushed aside the defence of autonomy by the Commission as a way to avoid scrutiny. They said the enjoyment of autonomy does not immunise ECZ from scrutiny and criticism.
“It is not the first time nor will it be the last when stakeholders will bring ECZ and its staff under scrutiny. The very members of political parties such as UPND and CSOs who falsely champion the autonomy of ECZ have been the worst culprits when it comes to criticising ECZ,” said Ntewewe.
Signs Chibambo Laments Nakambala Leopards’ League Withdrawal
Retired Nakambala Leopards striker Signs Chibambo has expressed mixed feelings over the going down of his childhood club.
Zambia Sugar, the owners of Nakambala, last month announced that it was withdrawing the club from FAZ organised leagues after suffering demotion from the Super Division.
The Sugar firm said Nakambala has been turned into an academy with the aim of promoting grassroots football in Mazabuka.
On the road to being relegated, Nakambala had failed to play the last three matches of the 2019/20 season that was cut short by Covid-19.
In a recent interview, Chibambo, who launched his career at Nakambala around 2006, said he was saddened to learn that his old club won’t be competing in the top league.
“It is a sad story about my former team Nakambala Leopards,” said the ex-Zambia Under-23 forward.
“It is a very sad story but I spoke to one of the bosses at Nakambala who explained the decision. I was told the club wants to start from the grassroots.”
“It is bad thing that the club is not there anymore but I think it is a good idea to start afresh like sponsors have said. If the sponsors said we are going to do this no one can oppose because they are the sponsors,” Chibambo said.
Chibambo further asked Zambia Sugar to hire competent administrators to run the academy.
“They need people who understand football, who understand the business with exposure. People to be in the executive need exposure. They need to understand what football is, that is when they can make it as they want to start afresh,” said the former Zesco United and Hapoel Ra’anana striker.
Electoral Commission of Zambia captures over 1 million voters in a week , despite challenges
Despite the hiccups to the start of the voter registration, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has managed to register slightly over 1.1 million voters countrywide in the first phase of the voter registration exercise.
Giving a ministerial statement in Parliament today in response to a point of order raised by UPND Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu who wanted to find out whether ECZ will manage to register its target of 9 million voters, Vice President Inonge Wina said that more data will be provided by the ECZ at the end of the registration exercise.
Mrs. Wina assured the nation that the ECZ will be able to review the voter registration exercise after each phase and that the officers will be able to go back to capture those that will be left out.
Meanwhile, The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed happiness at the steady improvement of the voter registration exercise in Kitwe.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, PF Kitwe District Chairman Evaristo Chilufya said the first phase of the exercise at the beginning had a lot of challenges but following quick interventions by the Electoral Commission, the process has become faster.
“The process is slowly improving, it cannot improve in one day, as stakeholders we are concerned with the slow pace at which the process was going on in the first phase, we are engaging the ECZ and other stakeholders in trying to address the situation otherwise the process has improved and it is going on smoothly,” Mr Chilufya said.
Recently, the ECZ disclosed that it had reinforced manpower in registration centres to try and quicken up the process.
On Monday this week, the Commission also withdrew voter Education Facilitators from the field and redeployed them to registration centres so as to beef up man power in the registration centres.
And Mr. Chilufya has downplayed the concerns by some people that registering people in the night is exposing them to attacks by criminals and that the new cards would be grabbled from them by unscrupulous people.
But Kitwe Pastors Fellowship has expressed worry that the pace at which the voter registration exercise is going on in the district is still slow considering the estimated number of eligible voters.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Kitwe Pastors Fellowship chairperson Reverend Raddy Lewila said the Electoral Commission will not be able to capture the nine million target voters if nothing is done.
“The Electoral Commission should do something to improve the situation, otherwise the 9 million voter target will not be captured and a lot of people will not be able to vote, there is no way one person can be handling one person through all the stages taking over 30 minutes,” Reverend Lewila complained.
He also noted that the one week duration allocated for each registration centre was not enough given the slow pace at which the process is going.
He said the government should intervene and correct the situation before many people are disfranchised through failure to obtain voters’ cards.
He said he has been to several centres around the district and the situation is the same everywhere.
Lusambo calls for truce over development of land surrounding Kenneth Kaunda International airport
Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has directed the Zambia Airforce and Chongwe council to ensure that all developments on the disputed land between private developers and the National Airports Corporation is resolved.
Speaking when he inspected the land under dispute less than a kilometer from Kenneth Kaunda International airport this morning, Mr Lusambo directed ZAF chief of operations, Brigadier General William Lungu to enhance surveillance activities to ensure that there are no developments taking place in the area.
Mr Lusambo observed that 35 private developers have sued the NAC over the land in question, saying no developments should take place until the matter is addressed.
And Brigadier General Lungu said ZAF is determined to safeguard the security of the airport and sewer ponds that are situated on the land in dispute.
“We don’t want to compromise the security of the airport,” he said.
And Commissioner of Lands George Sindila noted that though offer letters were given to the private developers, the Ministry of Lands will wait for the court to determine whether or not the developments are taking place on the NAC land before the next course of action is taken, as the matter is in court.
“We as the Ministry of Lands are not in a position to create property on top of other properties, so we will wait for the courts to decide over the case before we take the next course of action.
“ We cannot proceed if it is discovered that it falls within the airport boundary, we cannot proceed, but if it is outside the airport grounds we will proceed,” he said.
And Chongwe council legal counsel, Namakau Sumbwa said the council which wanted to start numbering the area halted its plans but was stopped by the Ministry of Lands.
COVID-19 is a ‘wake-up command’ to address Africa’s challenges – Tony Blair
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, November 17, 2020/ — We have the same problems but what we also have is vastly increased urgency – Blair; Agriculture offers Africa its best opportunity for industrialization…the key is how does Africa raise productivity, develop the integrated technology in rural areas? – Adesina
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the challenges and opportunities of Africa’s development landscape, former British prime minister Tony Blair said on Monday in a lecture organized by the African Development Institute in Abidjan.
“We have the same problems but what we also have is vastly increased urgency…not so much a wake-up call but a wake-up command,” Blair said.
The former UK prime minister addressed a virtual audience on the topic Building Back Better in Post COVID-19 Africa: The Role of Technology and Governance, as part of the Kofi A. Annan Lecture Series. The series, launched by the African Development Bank’s African Development Institute in 2006, has covered a range of African and global development topics, including economics, finance, regional integration, human development and the environment. The lectures have been a forum for eminent persons to share policy insights on development challenges in Africa.
Over 4,500 delegates from across the globe including Government Officials, Governors and Executive Directors of the Bank Group, the Bank’s Senior Management, and leading experts and heads of institutions tuned in to the lecture.
In opening remarks, Rabah Arezki, Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management of the Bank described the task ahead as “vast and challenging.”
Blair, in his first ever virtual lecture, outlined three aspects which in his words would make a big difference to Africa: investing in industrialization, accelerating technological innovations, and building capacity for institutions to get things done. “There are components to the Bank’s High 5 priorities. All of those things which define the challenges that Africa has – all of those are now given added urgency by Covid and its impact,” Blair said.
To build back better, West Africa, for instance, could capitalize on its rich source of cotton for garment production and the textile industry. Elsewhere on the continent, Africa was already leading in the digital technology space which can be scaled up.
“Around the world you are seeing governments use technology effectively…I know this is a great ambition of the African Development Bank. This is critical,” Blair said.
Blair highlighted the four Ps of government delivery – prioritization, policy, personnel and performance management. On prioritization, Mr. Blair called on African governments to identify and focus on their comparative advantages, and focus on delivery…focus on key transformative projects and manage expectations,” Mr. Blair said.
“In the end, only Africa can do it, we are partners in Africa’s story…in Africa’s progress,” Blair said.
Blair’s speech was followed by a conversation with Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina, who said the lecture series brought global and national perspectives to the development issues discussed.
“We need to constantly push the frontiers of dialogue in the public sphere,” Adesina said. “Nothing is more topical today than the challenges posed by Covid-19. The pandemic has upended economic growth,” Adesina noted.
Agreeing with Mr. Blair about the importance of the culture of delivery, Adesina said agriculture offered Africa its best opportunity for industrialization. “The key is: how does Africa raise productivity in agriculture…how does it develop the integrated infrastructure in those rural areas…that will allow the creation of new economic sources of prosperity out of what it has?” Adesina asked.
Although the Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative had allowed it to reach millions of farmers with agricultural technology and is boosting yields in wheat, there is still the need to scale up. “We have a lot of pilots…The name of the game is scale,” Adesina said.
Adesina cited other key interventions by the Bank, including a $10 billion COVID-19 Response Facility to provide budget support to African countries and its innovative $3 billion COVID-19 social bond, to save livelihoods.
After leaving office, Blair launched the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which works to equip leaders to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies in an interconnected global world.
Speaking after the seminar, Prof. Kevin Urama, Senior Director of the ADI said the priorities are well mapped out for Africa to build back better. The African Development Institute (ADI) has been at the forefront of accelerating capacity development, technical assistance and policy dialogue on the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Luanshya man found murdered, tied to a tree.
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.
NHIMA targets one million members in 2020
National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) says it is targeting to register one million citizens on the insurance scheme this year.
NHIMA Director-General, James Kapesa says the Authority has so far registered 820, 000 members on the National Health Insurance Scheme adding that it also targets to register three million in the next five years.
Speaking during the NHIMA Media Orientations Workshop in Lusaka today, Mr Kapesa said the workshop is aimed at orienting journalists on the operations of NHIMA because they play a major role in communities within their jurisdiction.
He stated that journalists are key partners that will help educate the public on the services that NHIMA offers.
Mr Kapesa urged journalists to monitor how the Authority is operating in all parts of the country after undergoing the training,
And NHIMA Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation, Mpuma Kamanga said 132 public facilities across the country and eight private facilities have been accredited by NHIMA to provide health services to its members.
Dr Kamanga explained that 120, 000 membership cards have been issued to registered members across the country.
He further explained that the health scheme covers high cost services adding that the Authority has procured 70 high cost beds for Levy Mwanawasa Hospital.
“Services are provided in a cashless manner and they include cover of the pre-existing conditions, limitless access to benefits, covers high cost services and dedicated NHIMA wards,” Dr Kamanga said.
Dr Kamanga disclosed that NHIMA receives over 21,000 medical claims a month from members accessing the scheme.
He added that the Scheme aims at complementing efforts towards universal health coverage by introducing innovative financing solutions for health care.
National Health Insurance Management Authority was established after President Edgar Lungu signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act Number 2 of 2018 and supported by SI 63 of 2019.
NHI is a risk mitigation mechanism by which the insured is protected against financial catastrophe resulting from medical expenses.
Northern Parts of Ndola in Water Shortage Crisis for almost a week
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.
Mapoma calls for safety of journalists in Zambia
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.
Micho Stays Positive Despite Dimming AFCON Hopes
Chipolopolo coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic insists their 2021 AFCON dream is not over.
Zambia lost 1-0 away to Botswana on Monday night in Francistown to return to the bottom of Group H on 3 points with one win and three defeats in hand with two games left and facing the prospect of a third successive AFCON absence.
“We are not giving up, we are not retreating, we are not surrendering in order to qualify for the AFCON,” Micho said.
But the Serbian was remorseful with the manner of the defeat after earlier beating Botswana 2-1 in the first leg on November 12 in Lusaka.
“We are a work in progress, we put in all our efforts, threw on all the attacking options that we had on the field that we had available and I am really shocked like all of us with the lack of concentration in the moment that we were supposed to turn the game in our favour. I deeply regret it and I am sorry,” Micho said.
Zambia are a point behind third placed Botswana, Zimbabwe are second on 5 points and leaders Algeria, who have qualified with two games to spare, have 10 points.
Algeria will visit Zambia during the 2021 March international break in a penultimate Group H game before Chipolopolo wrap-up the qualifiers away to Zimbabwe during that same break.
Nkana Visit Green Buffaloes in Mid-week League Restart
After a bittersweet international match break, the FAZ Super Division resumes on Wednesday with Nkana seeking to enter the top four for the first time in the early phase of the 2020/2021 season.
Wednesday will also mark the return of fans to stadiums for the first time since March following Governments’ lifting of Covid-19 lockout from all games but social distancing and strict health protocols will be observed during sporting events.
The defending champions together with three other continental envoys are in action on Wednesday and over the weekend before turning their focus on their respective preliminary stage engagements that start on November 27.
Champions League envoys Nkana visit Green Buffaloes at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Nkana have 4 points and sit in 9th spot but face a 12th placed Buffaloes who are unbeaten with three successive draws.
A second successive win for Nkana, after starting the league title defence with a defeat and draw, is likely to see them move into the top four on 7 points where leaders Forest Rangers and second placed Green Eagles are tied on 7 points.
CAF Champions League debutants Forest will be a way in Kafue to play promoted Young Green Eagles and they will be banking on in-form, goal-a-game striker Adams Zikiru to inspire to victory and add to his three-goal tally.
At President Stadium in Kabwe, promoted Prison Leopards staying power in the top five will be tested by CAF Confederation Cup representatives Eagles.
Prison are 5th on 4 points but will be looking to bounce back from a 1-0 home loss at the same venue to third placed Red Arrows on November 7.
Arrows, who have 7 points, are not in action until Saturday when they host Power Dynamos.
And at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Napsa Stars visit 4th placed Buildcon.
The CAF Confederation Cup reps will be in Ndola seeking their first league win of the season after three straight draws that have left them languishing at number 11 on the log.
Napsa will also welcome back defender Luka Banda from Chipolopolo duty after featuring in the 2021 AFCON Group H qualifier doubleheader against Botswana.
Ndola maid pleads innocence over child theft charge
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.