A march-past and prayers have been conducted in Ndola City on the Copperbelt against the reported case of abduction in the country.

Several church members under the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) Ndola Chapter held a march-past from Jacaranda Shopping Mall to St. Paul’s -United Church of Zambia, Masala Central Congregation where prayers were conducted against the spirit of abduction.

The march-past and prayers follows the recent reported abduction of 22-year old Pamela Chisupa of Lusaka whose whereabouts is unknown three weeks after the information filtered through social media.

Chisumpa disappeared from her business place on Cairo Road in Lusaka, only to appear – a few days later – in a video pleading for her life while her alleged kidnappers hit her.

Chisupa’s torment in a video has brought fear among citizens.

She was reported missing in mid April, 2022 by her sister.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the march-past, one of the organisers, Rev. Margret Mwape of the United Church of Zambia, Masala Congregation said society and the church must rise and speak against child abuse especially abduction and trafficking.

“Today we have an important event to pray over what is happening in our nation Zambia concerning the girl child. We are marching from here (Jacaranda Mall) to St. Paul’s -United Church of Zambia, Masala Central Congregation. We are saying that the girl child in our society is not protected. The girl child is not safe from abuses like child trafficking and abduction. We have risen as a society and as churches under the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ).Our theme is standing with one voice against abduction. We need to stand up so that we can protect the girl child from abuse. You are aware of the case in Lusaka where a child Pamela has gone missing and her whereabouts are not known,” Rev. Mwape said.

“Only God knows what has happened to her (Pamela). As society and as Church we can’t just sit idle when our children are being trafficked or abducted. Some children are being trafficked to places where they are being used in brothels and some people are making profits over innocent children. People may just know that children have gone missing without realizing that they have been trafficked. We are up as a Church trying to protect the girl child,” she said.

“We won’t sit and relax no matter what we are going to fight to protect our girl child. It is our prayer that children should be safeguarded. Children should be taught to be wary of people coming to them to pretend that they are good Samaritans. People should be aware and should not tolerate such people. This vice must come to an end. We should not allow abductions in our country where people are even demanding ransom. Even though we hear some high profile people are connected to these vices, we are demanding that this must come to an end,” Rev. Mwape added.

Meanwhile, Police are yet to provide more details regarding their investigation into the disappearance of Pamela.

Police just refuted recent information on social media that the mobile money agent Pamela who is alleged to have been abducted has been found dead.

Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga recently said in a statement that police have not received such information.

Mr Hamoonga said if at all there is anyone with such information or any other information that may help in the ongoing investigations, they should report to the nearest police station.

He also warned persons that are in the habit of posting falsehoods on social media that the long arm of the law will catch up with them.

President Hakainde Hichilema has described the late former Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda as a resilient and focused man who served the nation with perseverance.

Mr. Hichilema said the late Mr Chikwanda, with his many other colleagues, were among the young people at that time who fought for the independence of Zambia and later on worked to improve various sectors such as health, infrastructure and education.

He said this when he visited the late Mr. Chikwanda’s funeral house in State Lodge in Lusaka yesterday.

President Hichilema noted that the late Mr. Chikwanda and others implemented various policies such as the free education policy up to university level, which benefited many Zambians.

He observed that young people must emulate the life of the late Mr. Chikwanda and ensure that they serve the public with all their very best ability at all times.

“He obviously started early as a youth in the struggle for independence and then went on to do many things for the country which many of us benefited from. He occupied key positions during the infancy in the building of our nation. Because of that, we thank him and his other colleagues, some of whom are gone by now,’’ said President Hichilema.

The Head of State added that the late Mr. Chikwanda was known not just inside Zambia but also abroad.

President Hichilema further said he shared a personal relationship with the late Mr. Chikwanda for a long time and served together in the Barclay Bank board.

“I found him there with his friends. He had that commercial economic side which was extremely good but he also had the social side which I knew for a long time,’’ he said.

He has since urged the general citizenry to mourn the late Mr. Chikwanda in a peaceful and respectful way.

‘’We wish the family our sincere condolences on the sad loss of Mr. Chikwanda and obviously he did a lot for this country and because of that we thank him for his work,’’ said Mr. Hichilema.

Mr. Chikwanda, 84, died on Tuesday May 3, 2022 in Lusaka after an illness. He served in various ministerial positions including that of Minister of Finance from 2011 to 2016. He will be put to rest tomorrow at Leopards Hill Memorial Park in Lusaka.

The University of Zambia Caretaker Committee has terminated the contracts of Vice Chancellor Prof Luke Mumba and his Deputy Dr. Tamala Kambikambi.

In a news statement, UNZA Registar Theresa Chalwe said the termination of contracts is with effect from today, May 6th 2022.

“The termination are in line with the relevant clauses of their respective contacts of employment. The Caretaker Committee has thanked the Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice Chancellor for their immeasurable services to the University of Zambia and wish them the best in their future endeavors.”

The Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) has called for reforms in the way Judges are appointed to the bench in the country.

JCC Chairperson, Vincent Malambo said there is a need for a transparent and merit-based system to appoint Judges in the country through broader participation to ensure equity in the delivery of justice that will give the public confidence in the system.

The JCC Chairperson said the general public has a critical role to play in the fight against corruption by ensuring that they resist and report it.

Mr Malambo said one of the cases it handled indicates a clear failure of the judicial appointment system where a complaint was already known before the ratification of a named judge.

Mr Malambo thanked the complainant for taking the matter to the JCC and appearing before the commission.

He said the hearing was held in camera as provided for by the constitution.

Mr Malambo said there is need to send a clear message that there is no place for corrupt judges in Zambia.

He said the general public can help by providing information during the verification stage in the appointment of judges so that people of integrity and credibility are appointed to the bench.

And receiving the reports at State House in Lusaka today, President Hakainde Hichilema said appropriate action will be taken in line with the provisions of the law.

The Head of State said no person in the country is above the law and that judges found to be corrupt will be dealt with in line with the constitutional provisions.

President Hichilema assured the JCC that his administration will not interfere with the operations of the Judiciary but will ensure that erring and compromised judges are appropriately dealt with by law.

“The Executive will continue to support your work. We will not interfere with your operations,” said President Hichilema.

The President noted that Judges are held in high esteem by society and viewed as infallible to corruption.

Mr Hichilema hoped that the work of the JCC would be able to foster public confidence in the judiciary with regards to appointment of judges and delivery of justice.

President Hichilema commended the JCC for the work done so far despite being new and urged the commission to expeditiously hear all reports and cases brought before it.

“We need to encourage ordinary citizens to come out and report” said President Hichilema.

Mr Hichilema urged the Judiciary through the JCC to exercise patience and allow the Executive leverage to act on the reports in the same way that government has not interfered in the operations of the commission.

He said his administration will consult the JCC as it looks to act on the reports stating that Zambians are expecting to see the next step over the reports.

Central Province Minister, Credo Nanjuwa, says it is important that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) join the government in quest of improving the livelihoods of the people.

Speaking when the Kwesu Kwilala Na Ba Swaka Trust Limited paid a courtesy call on him at his office this morning, Mr Nanjuwa said he was grateful with the organization’s objectives of engaging people in remote areas of the province with a view of improving their welfare.

The Minister said it is important that other organisations such as the ‘Kwesu Kwilala Na Ba Swaka Trust Limited’ join efforts with the government to serve the citizenry.

He said the government is there to serve the people and see to it that the citizenry receive the services that they require and improve their livelihood.

Mr Nanjuwa said the government deliberately increased the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as a way of empowering the constituents.

He explained that the CDF has been categories in bursaries, projects, youths and women empowerment to allow the marginalized groups to benefit.

Meanwhile, Kwesu Kwilala Na Ba Swaka Trust Limited National Information and Publicity Secretary, Ivy Ndhlovu, said her organisation is looking for ways of empowering the poor of the poorest in remote areas in order to achieve sustainable development.

Mrs Ndhlovu said the organisation intends to reach out to the poorest by identifying the remotest areas of central Province.

She said the identification process started with Serenje district and soon will be in Chisomo area of Kapiri Mposhi District where people reportedly are lagging behind in almost everything.

And Kwesu Kwilala Na Ba Swaka Trust Limited Chairperson, Lewis Chisenga, said the organisation was registered into a company last year in order to support the government’s efforts of improving the welfare of the people.

Mr Chisenga said his organisation is supplementing the government’s efforts especially in far-flung areas where government presence may not be felt.

The National Road Fund Agency- NRFA says it will soon be funding the construction and rehabilitation of trunk roads on the Copperbelt.

NRFA Chief Executive Officer, Wallece Mumba confirmed receiving numerous complaints from members of the public on the bad state of roads on the Copperbelt and assured that roads will be worked on.

Mr. Mumba said people will soon start seeing tangible results on the ground and able to realise the benefits of the money they spend on toll fees.

Mr. Mumba said in Ndola today during a stakeholder meeting called by the Committee on Transport, Works and Supply at Ndola City Council chambers.

And Ndola City Council has called for the introduction of a system that will allow allocation of a certain percentage of toll fees to local authorities to sustain their road maintenance programmes.

NCC Director of Engineering Services, Elias Mwalaba said the local authority has realised it is not meeting the much desired results for road maintenance from funds generated locally.

He said the introduction of the specific revolving fund will enhance the council’s road maintenance programmes.

“From the locally generated funds, we are not meeting the demands for road maintenance. We have the toll gate, but we need a certain percentage to be allocated to road maintenance at the local level,” he said.

And Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia- PTAZ Secretary General, Benson Tembo called on government to consider suspending toll fees collection on the Copperbelt until such a time when roads are worked on.

” the state of the roads on the Copperbelt poses a danger to tankers besides compromising transportation of goods, so why collect fees when roads continue to be bad. Mr Tembo asked.

Provincial Minister, Elisha Matambo has told the Parliamentary Committee on transport, Works and Supply that called on him today in Ndola that the roads in the province need urgent attention.

Mr. Matambo said despite the province having five toll gates, nothing tangible is coming out to improve the road Infrastructure.

“We have about six toll gates, but several roads are in bad state. Copperbelt was given a raw deal when it comes to roads. Roads are terribly bad in Ndola and the Copperbelt at large,” Mr. Matambo said.

And Committee Chairperson, Mubika Mubika assured stakeholders that the concerns will be submitted to relevant offices for consideration.

Mr. Mubika said the committee is on the Copperbelt to check on the toll gates to see how they are operating and assured that the concerns will be attend to soon.

Meanwhile, Ndola Chamber of Commerce and Industry representative, Vernon Shone said the new dawn administration has inherited a mess in the road sector but should quickly rehabilitate them.

Mr. Shone has attributed the deteriorating of roads to overloading by many truckers and urging the road development agency to up its game where inspection is concerned.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata has cautioned against engaging in corrupt activities during the recruitment of health workers.

Stressing that those found wanting will be dealt with severely, Mr. Kamalata says that the recruitment exercise should be free and fair regardless of race, religion, political affiliation among others.

ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary was speaking during the induction of the Human Resources management subcommittee in Lusaka.

Mr. Kamalata noted that the response from the applicants was overwhelming and the exercise should be treated with seriousness.

The team undertaking the selection of the successful applicants should avoid corruption practices adding that government will not protect offenders.

Mr Kamalata urged the team to be professional and treat every applicant equal regardless of where they belong in society:

And Lusaka Province Health Director Consity Mwale said that the recruitment exercise will address the low staffing levels in province.

Dr. Mwale said that rural health posts in the province have a minimum of one qualified health worker.

He said that the recruitment of the health workers will help cushion the low staff levels in the health facilities: