Intelligence information is emerging that President Edgar Lungu ordered the security forces to aim to kill the rioters at the height of the gassing incidents that rocked Zambia.

Highly ranked government officials have revealed that President Lungu ordered the military and police officers patrolling the streets to shoot at people in an effort to quell the violence.

It is believed that President Lungu met the Service Chiefs at State House over two weeks ago where the instruction was issued.

The sources said President Lungu has assured the security forces that his government will protect officers and that one would be indicted for murder.

President Lungu’s position has been backed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Dora Siliya who justified the killing of people by security forces.

During a news briefing this week, Mrs Siliya said Zambians should be comfortable when the police shoot in order to maintain peace during riots.

Ms. Siliya said police have every right to shot at protestor’s as a way of quilling unrests.

But opposition NDC President Chishimba Kambwili has condemned the justification by Ms. Siliya on extra judicial killings.

Dr. Kambwili is shocked that Ms. Siliya is seemingly encouraging the police to be killing innocent citizens.

Dr. Kambwili has since demanded for an apology from Ms. Siliya for justifying the henious killings of innocent persons by police.

He has since urged President Edgar Lungu to fire the Chief Government spokesperson saying her reasoning is questionable especially on important fundamental principles such as the right to life.

Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili has called on the church to align itself with the national values and principles embedded in the republican Constitution.

Reverend Sumaili notes that the tribalism, hate speech, and violence being experienced in the nation should have no room in a Christian nation like Zambia.

Rev. Sumaili says the church should stand up, speak with one voice and protect the nation from falling prey with bad vices.

She said the church must be a shining light where people have faith and trust the institution by promoting peace and unity in the nation.

She added that the church is mandated to act as a unifying tool for people in the country through preaching the gospel and evangelising the word of God, hence the need to take a leading role in embedding national values and principles among the Zambian people.

The Minister was speaking at a Fellowship Breakfast meeting held at Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka today.

National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister noted that government will continue supporting the church in ensuring that peace, love and unity prevails in the country, regardless of challenges inflicting people of Zambia.

Meanwhile, the Minister has disclosed that the self-regulatory framework in which the church should regulate itself has been completed.

Rev. Sumaili said the framework was initiated by the three church mother bodies but is being spearheaded by her ministry, with regards to coming up with the piece of legislation.

And Pentecostal Assemblies of God Representative Harrison Sakala said the church must not be compromised because it has a mandate to speak the truth.

Bishop Sakala urged the clergy in the country to be strong and remain steadfast in the wake of the challenges being experienced in the country such as gassing and falsehoods bent on dividing people in the nation.

President Edgar Lungu has warned that all those breaking the law by taking advantage of the prevailing situation in the country will be dealt with by the law.

The President says government is governing well in the matter, by providing leadership as regards to addressing the gassing and instant mob justice.

The head of state adds that the law will not spare anyone found wanting regardless of whether they are politicians, religious men or of any high standing in society.

President Lungu was speaking at State House in Lusaka when he met the European Union diplomats to discuss issues of common interest.

And President Lungu assured the EU delegation that he will address the nation concerning the gassing and the instant justice mob at an appropriate time.

He said he is aware that there are people that are eagerly waiting to hear from him despite the timely updates being made by the Minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo.

And President has stated that there is transparency in the investigations and nothing is being hidden as the Minister of Home affairs has given sufficient information.

And European Union Head of Delegation to Zambia, Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, indicates that the EU will continue to strengthen its relations with member states such as Zambia through various collaborations.

Mr Jankowski said the EU and Zambia including other member states have continued to enjoy a long standing, and close collaboration in security trade investment, agriculture energy, social protection and good governance among others.

He further indicated that the Union will continue to maintain high levels of partnership with Zambia in achieving the 2030 agenda.

Mr Jankowski revealed that the EU’s total investment in Zambia is currently at 1.3 billion euros and that the Union will this year celebrate its 45 years presence in Zambia.

Government has cautioned the media against being sensational in reporting on issues relating to the ongoing gassing and mob justice activities that have terrorized the country for months now.

Speaking at a Joint media briefing with Ministers of information and General Education in Lusaka yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Hon Stephen Kampyongo said the media ought to be professional in the way they report.

The Minister who is Ruling Patriotic Front National Chairperson for Security said that it is dangerous for the media to continue to sensationalise their reports on the gassing and mob justice activities.

“Those Guns you see the police carrying are not toys for playing games with they are meant to be professionally used by the police to maintain law and order in the country by all means necessary” Hon Kampyongo emphasized.

Hon Kampyongo took turns to address the issues of sensational reporting when Chambwa Moonga a Mast Newspapers reporter asked if government does not feel the ‘Blood on its Hands’ as a result of the police shooting down some of the criminals who had been suspected of gassing innocent citizens and his News Diggers Newspaper Colleague Tenson Mkhala whose employee (News Diggers) ran a screaming headline accusing the Home Affairs Minister of having said that UPND’s life president Hakainde Hichilema was behind the gassing of innocent citizens.

“You see colleagues the problem we have now is that even you as Journalists want to be sensational in your reporting of these very serious matters that border on your personal security along with that of the entire nation by practicing sensationalism in the way that you report. These are very serious security issues which you as a fourth estate should play a part in bringing to an end using your various platforms of communication” Hon Kampyongo said.

And Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Hon Dora Siliya said the media have an important role to play of sensitizing members of the community against taking the law into their own hands by mating mob justice on individuals suspected to be behind the gassing.

Hon Dora Siliya says that it is more worrying when police fail to bring to justice the criminals terrorising citizens than to worry about government having blood on its hands when police gun down criminals.

The Ministry of Tourism and Arts has announced the death of two rhinos that were hit by a truck along the Livingstone-Kazungula road in the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park on Wednesday night.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sakabilo Kalembwe revealed that Romeo, a male juvenile and Lubinda, an adult female were killed by a speeding truck of Nambian registration Number N 12311 WB whose driver totally disregarded road signage and speed limits set in the national park.

The driver of the truck has been identified as Ashes Gumbo aged 37, of Zanimuone in Lusaka.

He is currently in police custody and a docket has since been opened.

At the time the rhinos were hit, the mother Lubinda was dragged on the side of the tarmac while the calf, Romeo remained at the middle of the road injured sitting on its hind legs.

Efforts were made by park management staff to give treatment on sight and called reinforcement from the Victoria Falls Wildlife trust of Zimbabwe who crossed the border in the night in the quest to save the two members of the iconic species.

The two rhinos had severe injuries and despite the quick response by the veterinary team, they did not survive.

Lubinda died a few minutes later as her injuries were severe and little could be done to save her life.

Romeo suffered a suspected fractured spine and hind legs were paralyzed.

He died soon after being sedated for treatment.

Mr Kalembwe said the Department is in the process of drawing up legislation aimed at dealing with matters of road kills in national parks especially when high value species are involved.

He said this will be in consultation with the Road Transport and Safety Agency and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Mr Kalembwe said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife shall also continue engaging the road development agency on the possibility of having speed humps especially on known animal crossing points in the parks.

“We would like to appeal to members of the public to always adhere to the prescribed speed limits as they drive on the trunk roads passing through national parks. The rhino species were completely wiped out during the poaching scourge experienced in the late 80s and early 90s,” he said.

“It is deeply saddening to lose two members of the breeding herd in such a manner. Finally, we would like to thank the Livingstone community both government and members of the public and also the victoria falls veterinary trust of Zimbabwe who came to the aid of the park management team when they reached out for support.”