President Edgar Lungu has donated a Higer bus to the Northern Division Police command in Northern Province.

Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja handed over the bus to the Northern Division Command on behalf of President Lungu.

Mr. Kanganja commended government for empowering the Zambia Police Service with necessary equipment aimed at enhancing proficiency of the institution.

He observed that there has been unprecedented development among the security wings in the country citing the construction of over 12,000 housing units for police officers and other security wings as examples of development.

And Mr. Kanganja said the donation of the bus also shows the commitment the President attaches to uplifting the welfare of the Zambia Police Service.

He explained that the bus will assist in the movements of officers from Michael Mataka Police Camp in Kasama district to areas of operation.

The Police Chief has since thanked the President for the wonderful and timely gift.

He however cautioned the police officers against misusing the vehicle adding that he will not hesitate to discipline anyone found misusing it.

And Northern Province Police Commissioner Richard Mweene said the bus will help address the mobility challenges that officers under his command are facing.

Mr. Mweene said he will ensure that the vehicle serves its intended purpose of delivering services to the people.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police paid a courtesy call on Northern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Davison Mulenga.

Captain Mulenga commended the Northern Division Command for its commitment towards promoting security in the region.

He has since pledged government’s support towards improving the welfare of the men and women in uniform.

President Lungu had promised to donate a bus to the command when he commissioned the Michael Mataka Police Camp in Kasama.

The Patriotic Front (PF) leadership in Mbala district has welcomed and supported the endorsement of President Edgar Lungu’s candidature for the 2021 general elections.

The PF officials registered their support when they conducted a solidarity march past along the President Avenue before gathering outside the ZANIS offices in Mbala today.

And speaking after the march past, Mbala district PF chairlady, Matildah Makungo predicted that President Lungu will win the 2021 general elections.

Mrs. Makungo said Dr. Lungu has exhibited good governance adding that the President’s vision is to transform Zambia into a better country.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Makungo has called for unity among PF members in all the wards, constituencies and districts.

And Mbala deputy mayor, Aaron Chungu said the PF is ready to face the opposition in the political field without fear or favour during the 2021 general election.

The government’s response to issues affecting the agriculture sector should be a source of concern for every Zambian who has hope of seeing this country develop.

The people’s Alliance for Change is disappointed with the Ministerial statement issued to Parliament by Finance Minister Michael Katambo which did not give any hope to a farmer whose inputs have been withheld by agro dealers over delayed payment for inputs supplied in the previous farming season.

Like everyone else, PAC expected Mr Katambo to tell the Nation when the K374 million owed to agro dealers will be released but to our surprise, the Minister sounded clueless on when the money would be paid.

It is disheartening that a who has been mandated by the Head of State could shamelessly tell the nation that he is not aware when the money will be released to pay the agro dealers to ensure efficiency in the distribution of inputs.

We want to remind the PF in case they have forgotten that the reason why we are facing this hunger in Zambia today which has affected over 2. 3 million people, is because we had no rains leading to most farmers harvesting nothing. Why then should the PF create man made famine because of lack of Vision?

Should the PF fail to sort out these issues among them the payment to agro dealers, Zambia is heading for another food crisis created by the Patriotic Frong.

Farmers have prepared adequately and should be given the inputs on time to enable them plant.

Government should realise that agro dealers are critical in managing the e voucher system under FISP hence the need to pay them the money because failure to do so will spell doom for Zambias agriculture sector.

The ruling Patriotic condemned the attacks on Sean Tembo, Leader of the Patriots for Economic Progress.

Party Media Director Sunday Chanda says Mr. Tembo is a stakeholder in the affairs of this country and at 55 years of age, Zambia can and must tolerate divergent views including decisions taken by individuals in pursuit of their democratic participation.

“We all have a duty to guard jealously the democracy we have and commit ourselves to tolerance and the maturity to accept that we will not always agree but even under those circumstances, we must restrain ourselves from becoming personally disagreeable and violent”, he said.

Mr Chanda has called on members of the public with any information regarding Mr. Tembo’s assailants to cooperate with the Zambia Police.

He said the culprits must be brought to justice.

And All Peoples Congress Leader Nason Mson says the barbaric attack on Mr Tembo and his members is uncivilised and people behind it have no further business being in government.

Mr Msoni said no normal-right-thinking human being can do such things to another human being for merely expressing his opinion in a democratic society.

“We think that such criminal behaviour further strengthens the legitimate argument for regime change in Zambia and to bring all the perpetrators of such criminal violence to book”, he said.

Mr Msoni said his party will hold the PF leaders responsible for the criminal conduct of their members.

“Clearly, the perpetrators are sponsored and bankrolled by senior leaders of the PF who take pleasure with glee to see criminals inflicting maximum harm on a defenceless human being and drenched in his own blood. Shame”, he added.

Patriots for Economic Progress Leader Sean Tembo was yeaterday attacked by people he has termed as aggravated robbers along Cairo Road while they were undertaking their 13th peaceful protest against the $42 million fire tender which had full permission from the police.

The incident occured between National Milling and Farmers House where the attackers arrived on the scene in about three Toyota Corollas and were clad in black t-shirts and blue jeans, and a few of them had applied white powder on their faces, ostensibly as a disguise.

Mr Tembo said the attackers were about 12 in number and carried an assortment of weapons ranging from pistols to machetes and assulted PeP members who ran in all directions.

The protest followed the Party’s victory against the Zambia Police Service in the Lusaka High Court where the Court ruled that the Police had violated the Constitution and abused their powers in their previous attempts to stop the fire tender protests.

The Court also awarded the Patriots for Economic Progress a sum of K50,000 in damages plus costs of suit.

One person has died while another one has been evacuated to Livingstone central hospital after heavy rocks fell on them at Nkandabbwe Colum Coal Enterprises Mine Limited in Sinazongwe District.

Mine Manager Ketson Munthali confirmed that three miners were involved in a mine accident which left one dead, another one seriously injured while the third one survived with minor injuries.

In his briefing to Sinazongwe District Commissioner at the mine’s shaft two offices, Mr. Munthali said the accident occurred around 11:30 hours yesterday at mineshaft one when the deceased and two others were on duty underground the mine.

He identified the deceased as Stanley Bulongo aged 44, Trust Simulombela aged 39, who has since been evacuated to Livingstone Central Hospital, and the survivor Teddy Siakulya.

Mr. Munthali explained that the trio were hit by heavy falling rocks underground which resulted into the death of one miner.

He assured the bereaved family that the company will provide assistance in terms of requirements for the funeral until the deceased employee is buried.

Mr. Munthali added that it was unfortunate that life was lost in such an accident.

He said the mining company has been conducting safety talks every day with the miners before they go to work underground.

Meanwhile, Sinazongwe District Commissioner Protacial Mulenga has expressed sadness over the loss of life in an accident at the mine.

Mr. Mulenga has since called on the Nkandabbwe Colum Coal Enterprises Mine Limited to strengthen and intensify safety measures and regulations for its employees.

He said the company must ensure that miners are provided with protective safety clothing and sensitized every day before they are dispatched to go and work underground.

In another incident, police in Sinazongwe district have discovered a body of a female person.

The unidentified body was discovered yesterday around 16:00 hours in Nangombe ward around Siamfunde village.

The body was found in a decomposed state and will be buried today at the site where it was found because it could not be taken to the mortuary due to its bad state.

Police has since instituted investigations to gather details of the deceased and circumstances that led to her death.