United Party for National Development (UPND) Nchanga Constituency Aspiring Parliamentary Candidate Derrick Chilundika has said that it is not the Saturnia pension scheme that is holding on to ex-miners’ money but the current law that governs pension schemes and called for its immediate amendment.

Reacting to reports of ex-miners threatening to march on UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema to demand their dues, Mr. Chilundika said that miners should blame the current government who have failed to amend the law.

Mr. Chilundika dispelled insinuations that UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has failed to pay former miners their dues.

“The current KCM pension scheme is no longer in Regina Saturnia as alleged by some propagandists who want to serve face. People and particularly ex-miners should know that their private scheme is under an organization called BENCON financial services and not Saturnia.

“The truth of the matter is that under Regina Saturnia scheme, miners used to get their full (100%) retirement package, unlike the current situation. The Copperbelt has 22 MPs out of which 20 are for the ruling PF. Are they telling us that they are not aware of this law,” Mr. Chilundika asked.

Mr. Chilundika said the UPND is demanding for the immediate amendment of the current pensioner’s scheme law and income Tax Act and avoid pointing fingers at innocent private individuals while knowing very well that the hold is a statutory and not institutional problem.

“Why is it that in November 2019 the Miner’s union went to parliament to meet the mines and finance ministers if this issue does not concern the Government. As the UPND, we are not going to relax until miners start getting their benefits in full. The pf government should stop telling lies and pointing fingers at an innocent individual because what is holding the ex-miners is a statutory instrument which was introduced by the same PF government. Am now urging all serving miners, ex-miners and their families to become UPND campaign managers, he added.

In a letter dated 3rd July 2020 addressed to the Executive Committee of ex-miners, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said the ex-miners request to waive statutory provisions in order to allow their members access the remainder of the 50 percent of the pension through a lump sum as opposed to monthly annuities is not legally tenable.
Mr. Yamba advised the association to subscribe to the monthly annuities as provided for in the KCM pension scheme rules and in line with the provisions of the income tax Act and pension scheme regulations.

Ex KCM miners through their Chairman Ilunga Kasompe threatened to march against President Hichilema on Friday this week unless Regina Saturnia provides a roadmap on how it intends to dismantle their remaining pension dues.

A number of senior Council Officers and Counsellors have been named in a cases of illegal land allocation in Kitwe on the Copperbelt.

During the Adhoc Committee investigating cases of illegal allocation of land in Kitwe which commenced sittings yesterday, names of the Officers and Councilors at the City Council came out prominently as perpetrators of illegal land allocation.

Several members of the public who appeared before the committee, claimed to have acquired land through named council staff members and Councilors who work with private land agents.

The complainant submitted that they have paid money for the land to the Councilors and Council officers but have not been given documents to support their land acquisition.

Making a submission before the committee, one of the Leaders of the Luyando Community, Howard Mwema explained that his members are in need of offer letters for their plots.

Mr Mwema said the Luyando Community Association had identified a piece of land in Mindolo-North, which is believed to be idle and applied to the Ministry of Lands for the same portion of land.

Mr Mwema said the Association paid money amounting to K30, 000 for surveying, which the Ministry of Land asked for and expect land to be made available for them.

The failure by the Ministry of Land to give them plots after paying led to the association going on the ground to demarcate the plots to its members.

“We followed all the procedures when acquiring the land, we went to the Ministry of Lands and we have been here at the council,” he said.

The association leaders have been allocating land illegally to its members in Mindolo-North, which led to the demolition of structures by the council and Mopani, the owners of the land in question.

Meanwhile Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga, who is part of the committee reminded Mr Mwema that this is the third time that structures are being demolished in the area because the piece of land belonged a private developer.

Mrs Katanga said the law enforcement officers demolished structures belonging to members of the association first in 2014 and then later this year.

She however, said there is need for the Ministry of Land to communicate to the associations or individuals that apply for land on the status of the particular piece of land.

But Copperbelt Region Chief Lands Commissioner Harry Shamende said communication was made to the association on the status of the land in Mindolo- North, where structures were recently demolished.

Mr Shamende said the members of the association had actually built houses on land belonging to Mopani Copper Mines.

Kitwe Town Clerk Seke Mbulo also confirmed that the association was informed about the status of the land but that they went ahead to build the houses.

And Adhoc Committee Chairperson Adam Jere warned the leaders of the association to stop collecting money from members on the pretext that they have land to offer.

Mr Jere said should the association leaders continue collecting money from members, the land administrators will ensure that they are punished.

He also asked the leaders to always inform their members whenever they receive communication from the local authority.

He further told the association that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the council and the District Commissioner’s office have identified a piece land where the members of Luyando community will be relocated.

The Kitwe City Council was recently suspended due to suspected cases of illegal land allocation.

President Edgar Lungu says government remains resolute to closely working with the newly elected Prime Minister of Japan to cushion the global challenges such as the COVID-19.

President Lungu has congratulated Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, stating that his election has come at the time when the world is grappling with social and economic challenges.

The Head of State expressed confidence that with Prime Minister Suga’s experience in leadership, Japan and Zambia will jointly fight social and economic challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Republican President said this in a statement availed to ZANIS in Lusaka today by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.

“Your election comes at a time when the world is faced with a myriad of social and economic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am, however, confident that, with your vast experience in leadership, the Government and people of Japan will overcome the effects of the pandemic,” The statement read in part.

President Lungu described Mr Suga’s election as a clear testimony of the trust and confidence that the Japanese Parliament has reposed in his ability to steer Japan to greater prosperity.

The President reaffirmed the Zambian Government’s appreciation of the development assistance received from Japan, including the help to alleviate COVID-19 related challenges.

“I look forward, Your Excellency, to work closely with you as we continue to further strengthen the bilateral relations shared by our two countries,” the President said.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga succeeds Shinzo Abe who announced his resignation last month citing ill health.

Mr Suga’s Conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) received 314 out of 462 votes cast on 16th September 2020.

The Ndola City Council and Zambian Breweries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to curb irresponsible alcohol consumption among Ndola citizens.

Ndola Mayor, Amon Chisenga said during the ceremony that the combination of efforts by the two institutions will open up new avenues to save people’s lives.

ZANIS reports that Mr Chisenga observed that despite alcohol being a key component in the city’s commerce and trade, its abuse remains a source of social misery, moral degradation, and other bad social vices.

The Mayor has since stressed the need to increase efforts by all stakeholders to curb irresponsible alcohol consumption.

“I’m glad to see Zambian Breweries take the lead in developing initiatives that will save the younger generation from plunging into delinquency due to alcohol abuse,” Mr Chisenga said.

He stated that the MoU will undoubtedly enhance health education on responsible alcohol consumption.

“It is also vital for all bar and night club owners and their patrons to observe the laws and regulations that govern the operations of these establishments and the COVID 19 preventive measures,” he said.

He added that the local authority will with full force pounce on offenders of irresponsible alcohol consumption.

He further warned that the council will soon be clumping down on manufacturers of illicit beer commonly known as ‘tujilijili and kachasu’.

And Zambian Breweries Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jose Maron said his company which is the country’s largest beer manufacturer has a big role to play in promoting smart drinking.

Mr Maron said the breweries has already been doing sensitisation campaigns on responsible drinking in Lusaka and hopes to reach all parts of the country.

He said bar owners equally have a huge responsibility to sensitise consumers against irresponsible drinking.

“We as Zambian Breweries also will be donating safety kits to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 to bar and night club owners,” Mr. Maron said.

Choma District Commissioner, Protacial Mulenga has appealed to school authorities in the area not to turn away pupils who have not paid their school fees.

Mr Mulenga explains that this will allow learners to swiftly catch up on lessons missed while schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ZANIS reports that Mulenga said this in Choma today, when he visited Macha central Basic school, where he also handed over a 1 x 2 classroom block.

“There will be disciplinary action against those who will not comply with the directive,” Mr Mulenga asserted.

And the District Commissioner has also announced that the government has released 25,000 Kwacha to the department of Social Welfare in Choma, for the payment of school fees to the vulnerable pupils on government bursary.

Meanwhile, Mr Mulenga has similarly warned of disciplinary action against teachers who receive housing allowance and yet they occupy government houses.

Mr Mulenga said it is not in order for teachers who receive housing allowance to put pressure on the government to also provide accommodation for them.

ZANIS/ENDS/RJS/PM……………. PIX