Minister of National Guidance and Religious affairs Hon. Rev. Mrs Godfridah Sumaili says government is working hard in inculcating positive cultural values in its citizens.

Speaking this morning during the launch of the National Guidance and Religious Affairs policy, implementation plan and service delivery charter Rev. Sumaili said government is working hard in ensuring that its people uphold good national values and positive cultures such as respect, hard-work, honesty, good neighbourliness, teamwork and patriotism, as a way of developing the country.

Rev. Sumaili said Zambians should refrain from copying negative cultures that are contrary to the national traditions and religious cultures.
She said the culture of insults and disrespect should be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians.

The Minister noted that the policy seeks to transform people’s mindsets, attitudes and behaviours in order to enhance socio-economic development and reverse the social ills affecting the country.

She added that the policy will further guide the nation in the inculcation and application of the country’s shared values drawn from the constitution, the vision 2030 and the seventh national development plan, under the strategic area “creating a conducive government environment for a diversified and inclusive economy”.

Rev. Sumaili said the policy will among other things address several key challenges that negatively affect the achievement of Zambia’s developmental objectives, as enshrined in the seventh national development plan (7NDP).

Meanwhile Rev. Sumaili explained that the client service delivery charter was developed to outline the principles and ethics that will guide the ministry in the execution of its mandate efficiently.

She added that the charter was developed in the context of government’s strategy for enhancing the quality of service delivery in government institutions.
The Minister further thanked all stakeholders that took part during the consultative process and have continued to offer support to the ministry.

The Ruling Patriotic Front party says it will start distributing all COVID-19 materials it has received from its well-wishers to various schools and hospitals run by the churches in various provinces next week.

Party Secretary-General Hon. Davies Mwila said these have been identified as the needy areas requiring urgent attention.

Leading the Multi-sectorial approach on COVID-19 in Zambia, President Edgar Lungu has adhered to the World Health Organization’s guidance on the possible prevalence of the pandemic especially in the cold season and has been strategic unlocking sectors of the economy under the new normal.

And Hon. Davies Mwila said the party has targeted the most vulnerable areas where its donations from several well-wishers will be channeled.

“One of the beneficiaries will be Chilonga Mission in Mpika another one in Kasama, Mbebeshi in Mwansabombwe, St. Pauls in Nchelenge, Chikankata, St. Marys in Lufwanyama and also there is a school and a hospital in Mansa” he said.

Hon. Mwila was speaking when he received COVID-19 materials from the Communist Party of China to the Patriotic front at the Chinese embassy on Tuesday.

He has on behalf of President Lungu and the party’s Central Committee thanked the CPC Secretary General Xi- Jingping a demonstration of the warm relationship between the two entities.

Meanwhile, the CPC representative who is also the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said the donation was to help Zambia cope with the COVID-19 situation, considering the fact that PF offered solidarity to China when the pandemic was on its peak.

Various teacher Unions have welcomed the proposal by the Public Service Commission that government considers introducing a debt swap policy to lift some civil servants out of indebt.

National Union for Private and Public Educator’s (NUPPEZ) National Secretary Nelson Mwale says teachers are as some of the civil servants who are highly indebted.

Mr Mwale has told ZNBC News that some civil servants are highly indebted which has adversely affected their work.

And Mr Mwale said the Union has also applauded government for the K30 million Youth Fund that has been approved for youths across the country.

And Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) General Secretary Kangwa Musenge said the move has been appreciated.

Mr Musenge said once the indebtedness is cleared this will motivate teachers.

He said the Public Service Commission must ensure that the pronouncement must be implemented as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Basic Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Spokesperson Kabika Kakunta said there is need to conduct an audit to see which teachers are owed and the level of their indebtedness.

Mr Kankunta said the majority of teachers are owed and that the debt swap will benefit their member.

The University of Zambia (UNZA) has officially reopened for graduating students after being closed for almost three months due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

A check by ZNBC News at the UNZA Great East Road main campus found some students preparing to go for lectures.

University of Zambia Head of Communications and Marketing Brenda Bukowa said fourth year students and those that are in their 7th year in the school of medicine have reported back.

Dr. Bukowa said necessary health measures have been put in place and all students have been accommodated stressing that no squatting be will allowed.

She said only one person will be accommodated in each room to avoid congestion.

Dr Bukowa said the University will continue conducting E-learning for Non-graduating students and is expected to hold a virtual graduation ceremony next month.

Mwila Nsofu-Five people have died on the spot while three others sustained serious injuries in an accident on the Chirundu – Kafue road at Kapilingozi Hills yesterday.

The accident involved a light truck, ladden with bags of potatoes and nine passengers on board and a Volvo Truck.

Police Spokesperson ESTHER KATONGO has confirmed that the incident happened when the light truck allegedly developed break failure as it was descending the hill, and hit into the Volvo truck before overturning.

Mrs Katongo says the light truck was being driven by LAWRENCE MWEENE, 28 years of Highlanders in Mazabuka while the Volvo truck was driven by RODGERS MUTINTA, aged 42 of Duban, South Africa.

She says the injured victims are admitted to Mtendere Mission Hospital in Chirundu, while the bodies of the deceased are in the same hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Ms KATONGO told ZNBC News that in another incident, a male pedestrian died on arrival at UTH, while another person sustained injuries in an accident which occurred on yesterday at 06 00 hours on Kamloops road in Lusaka’s Kalingalinga Compound.

She said involved was a motor vehicle Toyota Allex and a pedestrian David Tembo aged 47 of Kalingalinga Compound, who is now deceased.

Ms KATONGO said the accident happened when the driver lost control of the motor vehicle and hit the pedestrian who was off the road.

The body of the deceased is UTH mortuary awaiting postmortem.

MEANWHILE, Police in Lusaka have observed an increase in the number of females being attacked by criminals after hiking vehicles on Great North Road between Heroes stadium and SOS.

Ms KATONGO said in the past one month, Police have recorded five cases of aggravated assault in which all victims are females discovered in unconscious state with head injuries, and dumped in Kabangwe area.

The recent attack involves a female adult identified as SHARON LUFINO who was attacked yesterday around 9;00 hours and dumped off Ngwerere road.

Ms KATONGO said the victim is said to have hiked a motor vehicle at SOS with a view of going to 15 miles but was later found with deep head injuries and was in an unconscious state.

She said police have instituted investigations in all cases recorded and has advised the public to desist from hiking motor vehicles especially at heroes Stadium and SOS as this has proven to be unsafe.

Ms KATONGO called on the public to always get on public transport from designated bus stations to avoid falling prey to criminals.