The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has cautioned school authorities and parents to ensure that pupils use appropriate modes of transport as Schools close on Friday, April 22, 2022.

RTSA Information Officer, Roy Habaalu cautioned school authorities, parents and guardians to ensure that trucks and other open vans are not used to ferry pupils back home.

Mr Habaalu said the agency expects an increase in traffic on the road network as pupils travel back to their respective destinations.

He pointed out that the expected increase in the number of vehicles using roads during this period will pose a great risk to pupils and other road users. “The RTSA has observed that trucks are often used for transportation of pupils contrary to the traffic rules and regulations. Appropriate modes of transport such as buses should be used to avoid road traffic accidents which in the past have resulted in tragedies in which many lives have been lost”, said Mr Habaalu.

In a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Habaalu stressed the need to safeguard the safety of travelers and advised drivers to follow traffic rules and regulations.

Mr Habaalu said RTSA and Zambia Police will be deployed and put on high alert to ensure that PSV drivers do not overload and over speed in contravention of traffic laws in order to avoid traffic accidents.

He said all PSV drivers are encouraged to observe public health guidelines in order to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 among the travelling public.

Catholic Diocese of Monze Priest Rev. Fr. Kenan Chibawe has allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself. Sources said Fr. Chibabwe shot himself on Thursday morning in Namwala District Southern Province.

Fr. Chibabwe, who has been in the priesthood since 1999, was aged 50. Police are yet to issue an official statement on the issue.

At the time of his death Fr. Chibawe was the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Parish in Namwala.

Meanwhile, the head of the Catholic Church in Monze Very Rev. Fr. Francesco Airoldi, has announced Fr. Chibabwe’s death without giving details on the circumstances leading to his demise.

Fr. Airoldi, the Monze Diocese Apostolic Administrator, confirmed in a written communication that Fr. Chibabwe died on Thursday morning.

He said Monze Diocese will greatly miss the priest’s contribution to the evangelisation mission of the Church.

“My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With deep sorrow and sadness, I regret to announce the demise of our beloved Rev. Fr. Kenan Chibawe this morning Thursday, 21st April 2022.Rev. Fr. Chibawe was born on 18th October 1971 and was ordained priest on 14th August 1999. Up until his death, he served in many parishes as Assistant Priest and Parish Priest,” Fr. Airoldi wrote.

“At the time of his death he was the Parish Priest of Holy Cross parish in Namwala. We shall greatly miss his invaluable Contribution to the evangelizing effort in our Diocese. For more details, we will keep you all posted as funeral arrangements are being made. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace,” Fr. Airoldi added.

Ndola District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NDCCI) President Paul Chisunka has called for enhanced joint efforts in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Chisunka said the Ndola Chamber believes that the fight against corruption belongs to both civic and business leaders.

He said the crusade against corruption is essential to Zambia’s economic development and the preservation of democratic ideals which support a free market.

Mr. Chisunka said the prevalence of corruption does not only fuel lawlessness but it also pushes up the cost of doing business and exacerbates developmental inequalities.

He has urged the Government and cooperating partners to revive initiatives aimed at fighting corruption.

“The Ndola Chamber believes that the fight against corruption belongs to both Civic and Business leaders because it is central to Zambia’s economic development and the preservation of our democratic ideals which support a free market. The prevalence of corruption does not only fuel lawlessness but it also pushes up the cost of doing business and exacerbates developmental inequalities,” Mr. Chisunka said.

“Therefore, we urge the Government with Cooperating partners to revive initiatives such as those under The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) where Government, Civil Society and the Private Sector combine efforts in a well structured system that galvanises support and fosters Joint Action Against Corruption at all levels of society starting from Governance to Business and even Households,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chisunka has hailed the government over its efforts in actualising the 2016 Zambia – Angola Bilateral Trade Agreement.

The new dawn administration has decided to restore stalled bilateral agreements with Angola.

According to Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga, Angola and Zambia need to work together to enhance the Zambia-Angola economic relations and foster long lasting partnerships between the two countries.

In a statement, Mr. Chisunka said under the principle of reciprocity the business community in Ndola was ready and eager to start receiving and competitively respond to trade inquiries from Angola.

He said the agreement signed between Angolan and Zambian companies have to be regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure that the deliverables are met.

“We congratulate the Minister of Commerce Hon. Chipoka and his team for ensuring the operationalisation of the 2016 Zambia Angola Bilateral Trade Agreement through the Addendum recently signed. The importance of this is that it now activates a long term reviewable preferential trade relationship between Zambia and Angola which will expand the export market for both countries. Under the principle of reciprocity our members are ready and eager to start receiving and competitively respond to trade inquiries from Angola,” Mr. Chisunka said.

“To fully actualize trade between Zambia and Angola the two governments should coordinate and prioritize the implementation of a harmonised customs and standards framework in order to break down any trade barriers that might hinder trade between the two countries. The MoU signed between Angolan and Zambian companies has to be regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure that the deliverables are met,” he said.

Mr. Chisunka added:”The Government’s Technical Working Groups must work very closely with the private sector in order to ensure we extract maximum benefit and attain our strategic trade and economic objectives as a country – and to ensure the inclusive participation of various industries and businesses in this bilateral trade agreement.”

A Zambian female student has been arrested in Russia for allegedly “rehabilitating Nazism” by twerking in front of a war memorial.

The 21-year-old — identified by local media as Zambian national Rebecca Ziba — was detained after she posted a video of herself on Instagram.

In the footage — posted alongside a joking caption — she can be seen dancing next to a World War II memorial in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Russian investigators have described her actions as “obscene” and “insulting” and have charged her under Part 4 of Art. 354.1 of the Criminal Code, which accuses a person of “rehabilitating nazism”.

The regional Investigative Committee said in a statement that the video of Ziba dancing had been posted on social media “accompanied by an offensive inscription”.

The student faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 3 million roubles (€34,430) if found guilty of “desecrating a symbol of Russian military glory”.

The Memorial of Glory in Khanty-Mansiysk is dedicated to soldiers who died during the “Great Patriotic War” against Nazi Germany.

The Russian Investigative Committee also published a video of Rebecca Ziba sitting in what appears to be an interrogation room, where she confesses and apologises for her actions.

“I didn’t want the video I posted to be offensive and disrespectful to the dead. I didn’t know what the memorial signifies. I apologise very much to everyone,” the student says in English.

It is unclear under what kind of conditions she is being held and whether she had access to any legal representation.

Euronews has contacted the Zambian embassy in Moscow to confirm whether any contact had been made with the student.

Euronews

Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga has revealed that wild animals that at former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo’s Chamba Valley House were acquired legally.

During an operation to seize Mr. Lusambo’s properties, a number of wild animals including Zebras, and Impalas were spotted roaming Mr. Lusambo’s property.

Mr Muhanga said in an interview that Mr. Lusambo purchased most of the said animals from private game ranches and that all the processes were followed.

He said there is nothing illegal in the manner in which Mr. Lusambo acquired the animals.

“We have reviewed all the records and yes it is true that Hon. Lusambo purchased most of them animals from private ranchers with only a few from Impalas Mulungushi International Conference Centre during the translocation to pave way for construction works there and the records are there,” he said.

Mr. Muhanga however pointed out that removing the animals from Mr. Lusambo’s property can only be considered if the property remains unoccupied for a longer period of time.

“We can only say that the animals are at risk when there is no one staying in that House permanently but that matter has not been settled yet so we cannot move in and confiscate the animals right away until the matter is resolved by competent authorities,” he said.

The government has announced plans to establish digital transformation centres across the country to enhance access to information communication technology (ICT), especially among rural communities.

Smart Zambia Institute National Coordinator, Percy Chinyama, said this is in an effort to ensure that members of the public utilise and appreciate the Government Service Bus (GSB) initiative.

Mr Chinyama explained that to achieve this, the government intends to deploy wider area network coverage in all parts of the country, starting with 50 per cent of the districts that are situated in the remotest parts of the country.

He was speaking when he visited the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), Registrar of Societies and the Patent and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) offices in Lusaka today.

He said to this effect, Smart Zambia will engage other stakeholders such as Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and mobile service providers to address issues of poor internet and reduce the cost of connectivity.

“We will soon deploy the government-wide area network especially in critical areas that have internet problems and we also intend to create digital transformation centres for people to easily access the ICT services,” he said.

Mr. Chinyama has since advised the government institutions on the GSB to work together and improve the delivery of services to the public.

He observed that there is need for all government departments to effectively utilise the GSB initiative and come up with one marketing strategy that will pitch all the services that government offers to the public.

He added that doing so will make it easy for people to appreciate and access the various services that government is offering through the GSB.

“There is need for collaboration among yourselves as government institutions, you shouldn’t work in silos if government services are to be consumed by the public. Create one marketing strategy that will market all government services,” he stated.

Meanwhile, RTSA Director, Gladwell Banda, has disclosed that since the launch of the GSB portal in 2020, the agency witnessed a growth in the number of transactions done, resulting in 85 percent increase in revenue collection.

Mr. Banda, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RTSA, said K13 million was collected in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the 7.1 million in the first quarter of 2021.

“The implementation of the GSB has had a positive impact on the agency on multiple fronts. Firstly the GSB has accelerated our efforts to decongest RTSA service centres, and it has also reduced the cost of doing business for RTSA. The agency is saving about K20 million as a result of reduced use of consumables in the form of security paper used for printing certificates,” he said.

And PACRA Acting Director and CEO, Wilson Banda has thanked the government for coming up with the GSB, adding that it has enhanced efficiency in the registration of companies in the country.

Mr. Banda disclosed that from November 2021 to April 2022, PACRA has received over 40,000 company registration applications and has so far registered about 4,330 businesses.

For the department of Registrar of Societies, the coming of GSB has improved the general performance of the department with revenue collection in the first quarter of 2022 standing at over K4.2 million, exceeding the annual target of K3.3 million.

Chief Registrar of Societies, Thandiwe Mhende, added that by using the GSB, the department has also reduced audit queries of financial nature as no officer is handling cash.