Buyzed campaign founder Evans Ngoma is happy that the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) has announced an increased production capacity of Compound D fertilizer for the coming farming season.

Mr. Ngoma says it is a positive step that many local companies have ceased the opportunity to venture into fertilizer production in the wake of disruption in supply due to the tension between Russia and Ukraine.

He noted that with plans by NCZ to produce more than 50.000 metric tonnes of compound D and Chemical Capital (UCZ) fertilizers to manufacture top dressing (urea), the country can manage to address the high fertilizer prices that have affected many farmers.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that with the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine which are the country’s major sources of fertilizer imports, it is gratifying to see that local companies have come on board.

He said the coming on board of local firms such as NCZ, UCZ, among many others, will go a long way in mitigating the negative impact that the continued war is likely to put on the country’s agriculture sector.

Mr. Ngoma added that with heightened political will that government has shown towards the agriculture industry, it is vital for local manufacturers to consider investing more in fertilizer producing ventures, in order to caution any shortages that may arise as a result of disturbances in supply.

He said that with support that government has shown towards supporting farmers as a way of boosting production for national food security, there is need for producers to also increase their capacity and ensure that they produce enough to meet the local demand.

And Mr. Ngoma has called on farmer input suppliers and agro dealers to locally source the commodities and exhaust all the local production before considering importing from other countries.

He noted that, doing so will help grow the sector, as producers in order to create market and demand for the local fertilizer companies.

Some concerned parents in Iyendwe Ward of Mpulungu district have appealed to government to scale-up monitoring mechanisms for teacher performance.

The parents noted that some teachers have a tendency of being away from their stations, thereby denying pupils in rural areas an opportunity to receive quality education.

They said measures should be taken before deployment of new teachers to ensure that learning is not disrupted by absence of teaching staff.

The concerned parents said this during a meeting addressed by Mpulungu Constituency Member of Parliament Leonard Mbao at Fundia Mali Primary School.

One of the parents Wellington Chitalu said pupil performance in examinations has been negatively affected by inadequate learning.

Another parent Godfrey Sikazwe said routine inspection of schools by Education Authorities can help to address a number of challenges.

And Mr. Mbao, who is also Northern Province Minister, assured parents that government is taking the necessary steps that will enhance teaching and learning in schools.

He said it is unacceptable that teachers choose to stay away from their stations leaving pupils unattended to.

Mr. Mbao revealed that he will engage education authorities over the matter.

The Mpulungu lawmaker said the new administration has placed premium on education, hence the recruitment of teachers and introduction of the free education policy.

Meanwhile, Mpulungu District Council Chairperson Deo Sichilengwe has implored education authorities to support government’s vision to improve the quality of education.

President Hakainde Hichilema has urged the church in the country to embrace unity through evangelism and taking the country to the desired level.

Speaking when he attended a church service at Kalewa Seventh Day Adventist church in Ndola today, the President said national unity is key in attaining national development.

He added that restoration and national building remains a priority on government’s agenda.

And Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo has encouraged the congregants to establish personal relationships with God.

The Minister noted that spiritual life is about individual accountability, saying no one will have company to face judgement.

Meanwhile Pastor Mayboy Muchabwe urged government leaders to look to God for guidance as they lead the country, saying real life begins when one acknowledges God in life.

The President who arrived in the province yesterday is on the Copperbelt on a three day working visit, where he is engaging with various stakeholders on issues of national interest.

The President is scheduled to meet political party officials later this afternoon before officiating at a gala dinner hosted by the United Party for National Development (UPND)

Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) Commissioner-General, Fredrick Chilukutu, has revealed that the correctional institution has suspended 12 officers for corrupt-related offences.

Mr Chilukutu said the institution, instituted an inquiry, especially in the recruitment process, which has been concluded and has revealed some elements that the officers misconducted themselves.

He said the correctional organisation has taken drastic measures and that so far 12 officers have been suspended for corrupt practices.

“It is interesting to learn that members of the public can go and expose themselves through paying officers to have their people recruited.

That is being an accomplice in a corrupt matter or practice. It calls for those members of the public to be found and arrested because that is aiding corruption,” Mr Chilukutu said.

The Commissioner-General noted that the institution is currently reviewing the cases and has warned that if the evidence will be overwhelming, the affected officers will be dismissed from the service.

He disclosed that the institution has interacted with relevant authorities, including the police and is presently looking for those members of the public so that such behaviours are discontinued.

“We have instituted an inquiry which has come to conclusion and have found elements from among us that misconducted themselves and collaborated with the members of the public. We are taking very drastic measures and so far we have suspended 12 officers.

We are reviewing their cases and when we have concluded and found that evidence is overwhelming, they will definitely be dismissed,” he said.

And Mr Chilukutu has described the Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility murders that shocked the nation last year, as the lowest point in the history of the reformatory institution.

Mr Chilukutu said the institution did what was supposed to be done under the circumstances and as far as the system was concerned, one of the suspect inmates portrayed all the good traits of a well-behaved and well-reformed inmate.

“We did not know his heart was something else. I think we say we mourn with our citizens over what transpired. It is still a very sad occurrence and very disturbing even to talk about it,” Mr Chilukutu said.

He, however, said that measures have been instituted to discipline erring officers who were at the formation where the inmate was domiciled at the time of the crime.

Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility came into the public eye last year following a series of murders that were committed by allegedly serving inmates and is currently the case in the courts of law for trial.

Meanwhile, ZCS Commission Chairperson, Evaristo Kalonga, notes that the law will take its course against officers associated with the Mukobeko Maximum facility murder saga.

Mr Kalonga said what happened at the country’s biggest correctional facility is crime and officers involved must be disciplined.

“Officers involved in the Mukobeko Maximum Correctional facility murder saga, the law will take its course. What happened at the highest security facility was criminal and such officers need to be disciplined,” Mr Kalonga said.

The ZCS Commission Chairperson, who was responding to the media, explained that discipline has many facets that include dismissal from service and demotion in rank among others, depending on the gravity of the case.

Mr Kalonga has also said the institution will not entertain corrupt acts and engage in partisan politics among the correctional officers.

He has since announced that an audit will be carried out to ascertain the allegations that some officers who could have graduated from Nyango Training School did not have the requisite qualifications or maybe corruption was involved.