NATIONAL Democratic Congress NDC president Chishimba Kambwili has pleaded with President Edgar Lungu to have mercy on UPND deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka and release him from prison. And Kambwili says because he loves President Edgar Lungu, he is telling him that the 2021 budget is a joke. Meanwhile, Kambwili says NDC will hold protests...

LUSAKA Principal Resident Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile has fined a 24-year-old woman and her lover K5,000 each for concealing the death of the woman’s baby, failure to which they will be jailed six months’ simple imprisonment. In this matter, Praxides Sikamena, a hairdresser and Davison Simunji, 32, a machine operator both of Lilayi Estates were charged...

DEPUTY Inspector General of Police in charge of operations Bonny Kapeso yesterday chased some MMD cadres from police headquarters who went to offer solidarity to their leader, Nevers Mumba, saying he doesn’t want "ifyabupuba". And Police spokesperson Esther Katongo has confirmed that police summoned Mumba because of remarks which he issued that the recently held...

FINANCE Minister Dr Bwalya Ng’andu says there is nothing embarrassing about Zambia’s request to suspend Eurobond interest repayments because it is normal procedure and the first step towards the country’s debt restructuring programme. And Dr Ng’andu says government deliberately did not alter the existing 2019 mining fiscal regime to make Mineral Royalty Taxes (MRT) tax...

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has argued that Musicians Chama Fumba, popularly known as Pilato, Maiko Zulu, Brian Bwembya and others are prematurely before the Lusaka High Court as the commission is guided by the Electoral Process Act in carrying out the voter registration exercise. ECZ adds that the law provides for a redress...

WILLIAM Nelson Cromwell Professor of International and Comparative Law Muna Ndulo says it seems that in Zambia today, the police have taken over the constitutional responsibilities of the Director of Public Prosecutions, a situation which has led to many people being unfairly charged with serious non bailable offences. In an article titled “The moral arc...

DEFENCE Minister Davies Chama says people criticising the budgetary allocation to his Ministry are arguing from an ignorant point of view because defence personnel need resources to continue safeguarding national security. Last Friday, Finance Minister Dr Bwalya Ng’andu unveiled a K119.6 billion 2021 national budget, which proposed to spend over K5.6 billion, representing 4.7 per...

SENIOR chief Sikoongo of the Tonga speaking people of Chirundu and Siavonga districts has sued his former deputy chief and his former representative in the Lusaka High Court for allegedly selling land to foreigners without his consent, while he was unwell. Senior Chief Sikoongo (Isaac Muzokela) and his son Israel have sued Peter Choonga (his...

LUSAKA lawyer and UPND Lusaka Central aspiring candidate Mulambo Haimbe says the PF have interpreted the Constitution relating to President Edgar Lungu’s eligibility to stand in 2021 to suit their own interests. In an interview, Haimbe expressed disappointment that the PF had repeatedly interpreted the law to suit their own interests by insisting that the...

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) says discussions are underway regarding the Zambian government's plea for emergency relief assistance towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to a press query, IMF senior communications officer Lucie Mboto Fouda said discussions with the Zambian government were ongoing. “The Zambian authorities have requested fund support for their economic programme to restore...