Private airliner Proflight has revealed that it has withdrawn the aircraft that was involved in a hailstorm on Tuesday.

The airline says the Bombardier Dash 8 Turbo prop aircraft will be out of service until the aircraft undergoes thorough maintenance and is certified to fly again.

In a statement, the airline confirms that confirms on Tuesday, while descending through cloud, its aircraft encountered severe hail as it came into land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

It said the aircraft had 41 passengers and five crew members on board and landed safely and that no one was injured during the incident.

“The damage caused by the hailstorm was significant and there was potentially a lightning strike in addition but this is pending closer inspection and not yet confirmed,” it said.

Flight P00705 departed Livingstone Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport at 14:26 and arrived in Lusaka at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 15:26.

“As a result of the incident, the aircraft will be out of service until the aircraft undergoes thorough maintenance and is certified to fly again. In the meantime, Proflight is working closely with its operations and safety departments to minimise disruption to schedules.”

“Safety is Proflight Zambia’s primary concern in order to provide the highest world-class aviation services to Zambia,” said Director Flight Operations, Captain Josias Walubita.

“Weather incidents are not uncommon in the aviation sector at this time of year, and Proflight has robust systems and procedures to ensure safety.
“We commend Capt. Walter Nhliziyo and his crew for their professionalism in dealing with the incident in the manner in which they are trained to do, and thank the passengers who were on board for their support.”

And some passengers shared terrifying accounts of the incident moments after landing at KKIA.

Swithin Haangala said the accident was one to the most horrifying episodes of his life.

“On take off pilot warns us about storms and turbulence between Choma and Mazabuka. As we climb, there is the usual turbulence, nothing untoward. We settle into flight and all is calm. I notice a turn and think to myself that the pilot is avoiding some clouds,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

“We are now just over thirty minutes into the flight and by my calculation we are definitely between Choma and Mazabuka. The announcement from the pilot comes. We have started our descent. I feel relaxed. It seems the storm warning was just a precaution.”

“And then a loud bang, a whoosh of noise and heavy rain pelts the plane. We lose altitude and start dancing in the air. Still nothing to worry about. The cabin attendant who is preparing for landing takes the seat next to me. “Time to sit down”, he tells me. I am seated, my hands now firmly gripping the seat rest in from of me. I let out a nervous laugh. “Are you scared, I ask him”. He smiles assuringly at me. “If I get scared how would you react with the other passengers.” A few minutes later and the plane has ridden the storm and he goes to his usual seat.”

He added, “Everything is all calm, but I have a searing pain in my left ear and my head feels like it’s being torn off. I look around. Everyone seems calm but my head is pounding and the pain in the ear is becoming unbearable. After a few moments the pain calms down a bit and we land safely and smoothly.”

“As we come out of the plane, we see the damage on the plane. Surprisingly all of us share the pain of the headache and the pounding ear. We seem to have just survived a near disaster but thanks to the pilots and crew, none of us realize the danger we have been in thanks to the Proflight crew.”

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cautioned political parties to desist from engaging into violent acts or risk being suspended.

ECZ Commissioner Derrick Simwinga said the commission will not condone violence from any political party.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Simwinga said this in Milenge yesterday during a senstisation meeting ahead of the Milenge Town Council Chairperson by-elections slated for 5th December 2019.

Mr. Simwinga said any political party that will incite violence will be barred from participating in elections and be suspended.

The ECZ Commissioner has further urged political parties to desist from ferrying cadres from one district to another noting that it was the outsiders that cause confusion.

Mr. Simwinga has since called on the police to be vigilant and ensure people entering the district do so with right motives.

He noted that although citizens have a right of movement to any part of the country, it should not be with the aim of breaking the law and disturbing order.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simwinga has called on traditional leaders to desist from engaging in partisan politics.

He said this during a sensitisation meeting on traditional leaders and the electoral process which was held in Milenge today.

Mr. Simwinga urged traditional leaders to instead embrace every candidate and political party to champion peace and unity.

And ECZ Principal Electoral Officer for Voter Education, Mataa Sikota, told traditional leaders to allow their subjects to vote for their preferred candidates without intimidating them.

Mr. Sikota said traditional leaders should not instill fear in their subjects or threaten them for favouring a particular candidate.

“Do not force your subjects to vote against their will. Let them choose the leaders they want,” he advised.

And acting chieftainess Sokontwe of the Ushi people, Florence Chipe, advised her fellow traditional leaders to protect their integrity by being politically neutral.

Mrs. Chipe noted that chiefs lose credibility the moment they begin to exhibit partisan politics.

CNN compiled a list of Africa’s biggest music stars. The list includes the likes of Burna Boy , Sho Madjozi , Mr Eazi among others. Zambia’s very own Slap Dee made the list! Writing about him the article read: “Mwila Musonda, aka Slapdee, is a Zambian hip rapper who uses his record label to raise donations for local orphanages and children’s hospitals.” ( See full article HERE) .

See full list below.

1. Burna Boy (Nigeria)

2. Angelique Kidjo (Benin)

3. Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

4. Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

5. Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

6. Wizkid (Nigeria)

7. Mr.Eazi (Nigeria)

8. Sho Madjozi (South Africa)

9. Busiswa Gqulu (South Africa)

10. Slap Dee (Zambia)

Mosi presents the official music video for #WeAreZed featuring Yo Maps, Jay Rox, Mic Burner and Natasha Chansa.

The music video was directed by Kenny Roc Mumba while the song was produced by Mr Stash.

The Lusaka High Court has quashed the application by Raphael Nakachinda that sought the stay of execution of the recent judgment where Nevers Mumba was declared as Party President.

Judge Sharon Newa has ruled that the appeal is not eligible to operate as the stay of execution of the judgment.

Judge Newa has relied on Order 53 rule 13 of the Supreme Court of London.

She further ruled that a stay is not warranted where the execution of the judgment has already been done.

Recently Mr. Nakachinda together with another MMD member George Kangwa filled the application for the stay of execution of the judgment where Dr. Mumba who is also former Republican Vice President was declared as legitimate MMD President.

The application was made pending the determination of their appeal before the Court of Appeal.

The two lodged an appeal in the Court of Appeal after the Lusaka High Court’s Judgement on November 5, 2019.

The State has asked the Constitutional Court to assess the amount of money that Ministers who stayed in office after Parliament was dissolved in 2016 are supposed to pay back.

Principal State Advocate, Francis Mwale says the state wants to effect the Judgment as guided by the Court.

Mr. Mwale says the court registrar should, therefore, assess the amounts that are supposed to be paid and would like the court to attend to its request.

He says the state wants to comply with the judgment and but has challenges in both addressing the recovery of emoluments and considering the question of indemnity as the exact emolument to be recovered have not been agreed by the parties, three years after
judgment.

This is according to an affidavit in support of the assessment of the amount that is supposed to be paid back by the affected people.

On August 8, 2016, the Constitutional Court ordered former cabinet, Provincial and Deputy Ministers to pay back to the State all the allowances and salaries they received during the period.

The Law Association of Zambia -LAZ- petitioned the court to order the former ministers who stayed in office after the dissolution of Parliament to pay back the monies they received.

In this matter, Ngosa Simbyakula, 63 others, and the Attorney General were the respondents.

The Constitutional Court of Zambia is set to deliver the Judgment this Friday, 29th November, 2019 on whether the Constitution of Zambia Bill No. No 10 to amend the Constitution of Zambia was submitted to the National Assembly in violation of the Constitution.

When the matter came up on Monday, the Law Association of Zambia and Chapter One Foundation made closing oral submission in which they told the Court that the petition was not meant to dispute the powers of the National Assembly to amend any part of the Constitution.

Mr. Chimankata, a lawyer from Sangwa and Simeza said the Law Association of Zambia was only challenging the decision by the President to initiate the Bill based on powers conferred on him by virtue Article 92 of the Constitution and the Attorney General to have signed the Bill based on powers granted to him based on Article 175 of the Constitution.

The lawyers from Sangwa and Simeza stated that the President and Attorney General should not have signed the Bill which their witnesses had claimed was made by the National Dialogue Forum without paying attention to the national values contained in Article 8 and 9 of the Constitution.

However, Founder and lawyer for Chapter One Foundation Linda Kasonde differed with LAZ that their petition goes to the core of the substance contained in Bill 10. She submitted that the Constitution contains a basic structure which cannot be amended by Parliament without consulting the people.

In reply to the submissions, the Attorney General Likando Kalaluka, Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa and Public State Advocate Mr. Mujuda took turns to dissect the submissions by the petitioners by submitting that the National Dialogue Forum had no powers to enact any law and only Parliament has power to enact laws.

They trio submitted that the national values do not apply to processes by bodies like NDF in drafting the law but that they apply when Parliament is enacting the law, and referred the court to Articles 9, 62(3) and Article 79 of the Constitution.

The Attorney General also extensively quoted the recent judgment of the Court in Godfrey Miyanda versus the Attorney General in which the Court affirmed that the basic structure in the Zambian Constitution only exist in theory as Parliament has power to amend any part of the Constitution, provided the procedure in Article 79 has been adhered to.

The Solicitor General also stated that all the witnesses presented by the two petitioners confirmed that there has been need to amend the Constitution. It was thus his submission that the only body mandated to alter any part of the Constitution as suggested by those who made submissions before and during the NDF was Parliament.

Meanwhile the Constitutional Court by the majority decision of 6 to 1 threw out the application by Ms. Kasonde for a conservatory order as it was filed in defiance with the directions of the Court. The Court emphasised that procedures in any court are necessary in the dispensation of justice as affirmed by both the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court itself.

The session was attended by different civil society activists either support or oppose the Bill who were seen sharing notes. All activists were heard hailing the court for the efficient manner in which it has proceeded to hear the matter.

Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya has with immediate effect dissolved the Board of Directors for the Zambian Information and Communications Technology Authority.

The Minister has also dissolved the Board of Directors at ZAMPOST.

Mr Kafwaya said the disolution of the Board at ZICTA is in accordance with section 4 part 1 of the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority Act No. 15 of 2009 and the powers vested in him.

He said the dissolution of the Board at Zampost is in accordance with the first schedule (section 3) of the Postal Services Act.