President Edgar Lungu has assured the people of Chilubi district that government will engage the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to work on the embankments to improve the road network in the area.

President Lungu says government is committed to ensuring that all the development earmarked for the district are delivered on time.

He explained that this is why government will ensure that ZNS moves on site to start the construction works before the onset of the rain season.

The Head of State was speaking when he met the village headmen and women from the Chiwanagala Chiefdom from Chilubi district.

“I have been told the challenges you are facing, especially with embankment but I want to assure you that ZNS will soon move in with all the machinery to start working before the rain season,” he said.

And President LUNGU directed the area Member of Parliament (MP) Mulenga Fube and the PF candidate for the Chilubi Council chairperson, Rosemary Chimbini, to work together and ensure that plans to upgrade Mofu primary school which started in 2016 are actualized.

“The issue of upgrading the school I have been reliable informed started in 2016,I therefore urge the MP and the incoming Council chairperson to ensure that this issue is addressed for the benefit of the children in this area,” he added.

He reiterated that government will continue to engage traditional leaders in order to foster development in all parts of the country.

President Lungu further thanked the people of Chilubi voting for the PF candidate in the last parliamentary by-election and urged them to do the same in the coming Thursday by election.

“I thank you people of this area forgiving us a PF MP to work with and also vote the PF council chairperson for continued development,” he stated.

And the representative of the village headmen and women Mathews Nsofu thanked government for the various developments that are taking place in the area.

Mr. Nsofu said Chilubi both the main and the island have record a number of infrastructure development that once completed will improve the living standards of people in the area.

He also appealed to President Lungu to quickly find a lasting solutions to transportation challenges that people are currently faced such as the roads.

“Your Excellency we are happy to see you here again, and we want to thank you for the many developments that are taking place in the area in a short period of time, we are hopeful that once complete these projects will change our lives. But we have few challenges that we need your intervention such as the poor roads and the upgrading of Mofu to a secondary school” said Mr Nsofu.

The Chilubi council chairperson seat fail vacant following the death the incumbent Daniel Mwila who died in August 2020.

Four political parties are vying for the seat and these include the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) who have filled in Rosemary Chimbini, People’s Alliance for Change(PAC) have Mark Mpundu, Risto Mushembe is standing on the United Party for National Development (UPND) while United Peaceful and Prosperous Zambia has Standford Chikuma.

The by election will be held on Thursday October 22 2020.

The government says it is amending the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) act to address among others, issues surrounding the export of maize.

Vice President Inonge Wina who was speaking in Chipata when she held a meeting with the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) said the current restrictions on maize export is not meant to punish farmers, but an effort to safeguard lives by ensuring there is enough food in strategic reserves.

She disclosed that the government fed up to 2.7 million disaster victims in 2018/19 and part of 2020.

Ms Wina was responding to concerns raised by Chipata District Farmers Union Chairman Vigil Malambo who said the government should allow farmers to export maize especially in instances where FRA fails to give a competitive price.

He said the current situation is not benefitting anyone as farmers have opted to smuggle the commodity.

“Government should consider giving export licenses to traders who will be paying tax to allow them sell the grain anywhere, this way everyone will benefit”, he said.

In her response, the Vice President said the act has been tabled to parliament with the view of amending it to maybe consider giving export permits.

“Government is working with the FRA act to see how best this can be done so that hopefully, changes can be made with regards to exports in the next marketing season”, Ms Wina explained.

She further said government targets to reserve 1 million tonnes of maize every year but has had a challenge with grain marketers who rush into buying the grain even before the moisture content adequately drops.

She said some of the people who buy maize are foreigners who sometimes follow farmers in their respective fields to buy the grain.

“Because of this trend, FRA finds limited stocks by the time it starts buying. This is why government is forced to put in these restrictions, to ensure there is enough good to respond to unforeseen situations” she noted.

The Vice President used the platform to thank the Chamber for the role it has been playing in safeguarding business and being a key development partner.

And Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) Vice President Laurian Haangala appealed to government to encourage companies it deals with to register with ZCCI as a way of getting assurance that such companies are genuine.

Mr Haangala noted that ensuring that companies register with the chamber will also give confidence to foreign investors.

“It is important that business companies belong to the Chamber, this will rule out uncertainties on the genuineness of such companies. And government is key in ensuring this is attained”, he said.

The chamber also tackled among others, the effects of covid- 19 on business in the region saying business has been negatively affected imploring government to make it easy for local companies to seek redress.

Zambia Police has said that calls by the United Party for National Development (UPND) officials, calling for people will be tantamount to unlawful assembly or conducting an illegal procession that is against the law.

In a statement released to the media by Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo, Zambia Police advised the people wishing to do so not to proceed with their plan.

“There is no need for sympathisers , in this regard, to come into conflict with the law. As per our mandate of maintaining law and order in the country, we will be at hand to do just that,” Mrs Katongo said.

“We therefore advise all those planning to travel to Muchinga Province for the above mentioned reason to rescind their decision,”

Mrs Katongo further said that it is not true that the opposition UPND leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema is among those summoned.

Movement for Democratic Change MDC President Felix Mutati has called on the church in Zambia to preach peace and unity, especially that the 2021 general elections are fast approaching.

Mr Mutati who took part in the day of national prayer, fasting and reconciliation at St John’s UCZ congregation in Kabwe observed that the country is sliding towards the crossroads and eroding the fundamentals as well as the vision enshrined in the national anthem of togetherness.

He attended the church service at the invitation of renowned lawyer Kelvin Bwalya Fube KBF and was also joined by opposition Democratic Party President Harry Kalaba.

“Our conversation must be about preaching the unity in diversity, preaching peace and preaching reconciliation. As a nation, we have many challenges and sometimes have a feeling that we are sliding towards the crossroads, eroding the fundamentals and our vision that is enshrined in the national anthem of ‘Ubuntu’ oneness.” He said.

Mr Mutati said the day of national prayer, fasting and reconciliation is of great significance hence the need for the church to focus on preaching unity in diversity, peace and reconciliation beyond 18th October only.

Mr Mutati said people also need to utilize the day to reconcile and heal wounds that they might have inflicted on each other.

He further called on the people to pray for politicians who are bound to error because the responsibility of what those in politics do lies in the same people.

And Mr Mutati called on Zambians to choose leaders wisely as the elections approach because as voters, they hold the power to elect credible leaders that will drive the country towards achieving its developmental aspirations.

“We ask you to choose leaders wisely because you are the ones that hold the power to elect anyone, we do not have that power as politicians” Mr Mutati said.

This is according to a statement issued by MDC Deputy Media Director Edmond Mbanga Miti.