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:

Mwembeshi Ward Councillor, Crispin Kabole, has said the continued problem of malnutrition among children in the area was due to lack of access to proper nutrition among households.

Speaking during a sensitisation meeting in Matero ahead of the Scaling Up Nutrition First 1,000 Most Critical Days II Programme Midline Survey slated for this month, Mr. Kabole said poor nutrition in communities is as a result of lack of income among many families.

He observed that this economic situation is contributing to stunting in Lusaka.

He however expressed confidence that the midline survey will assist the government and its partners on how best to improve nutrition status on individuals in the community, especially women and children.

And National Food and Nutrition Commission Provincial Nutrition Support Coordinator, Fanwel Kabbila, said government remains committed to fighting malnutrition in Lusaka.

Mr. Kabbila said this is why various interventions and initiatives such as the Midline Survey among others, has been put in place.

He stated that tackling the challenge of malnutrition requires coordinated and concerted efforts from different stakeholders.

The objectives of the midline survey is to assess progress of the SUN II programme addressing under nutrition which includes stunting, wasting and underweight among children under two years of age from the baseline conducted in 2019.

The study will be conducted from May to July 2022 targeting 250 households in 10 wards of Lusaka district.

The wards include Mwembeshi, Muchinga, Nkoloma, Kamwala ward 10, Roma, Justine Kabwe, Mtendere, Kanyama, Harry Mwaanga and Munkolo.

The Ministry of Land and Natural Resources has disclosed that it has far issued over 26,000 certificates of title to land owners under national land titling programme.

Government in 2018 embarked on a national land titling programme aimed at improving land tenure security and increasing transparency in land allocation.

The national land titling programme involves a systematic registration of all property in the country in order to provide security of tenure to property owners.

Speaking during the certificate of title handover ceremony in Lusaka on Thursday, Ministry of Lands permanent secretary Daphne Chabu said the ministry has approved the electronic signature developed by Medici land governance for land owners to get certificate and title for their land.

Mrs Chabu said that the use of the electronic signature will expedite the issuance of offer letters and certificates of title that will enable them to reach their target of issuing 4 million titles deeds to land owners by 2027.

“There will be a quick turnaround in the titling Programme with the use of E-signature which is a great milestone in the production and storage of land records,” she said.

Mrs Chabu said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will continue to explore ways in which they can leverage technology to increase efficiency in the Titling process.

Speaking at the same event, Medici Land Governance CEO Ali El Husseini said a title deed is an investment in the future generation.

“It’s empowerment and unlocking capital from your property. Paying for the title will have long term effects on all of Zambia,” he said.

In the past some people have expressed their concerns over the pace at which the national land titling programme was moving.

Some stakeholders say this process needs to be expedited so that all those that own land can start enjoying the full benefits.