Battered Petauke journalist was warned not to air political programme on voting day – Liswaniso
UPND National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has condemned the beating of a journalist in Petauke by suspected ruling party cadres but says it was wrong for PASME FM to air a political programme on the day of a by-election. And Liswaniso says the collection of money in bus stations and markets is simply a “chilimba”…...
Milingo withheld documents showing how $45m lent to KCM was utilised, PAC hears
THE Public Accounts Committee has heard that Konkola Copper Mines through its former liquidator Milingo Lungu refused to avail financial documents to the Ministry of Finance when government tried to monitor the utilisation of the $45 million lent to the mining firm. And the Committee has heard that the Ministry of Finance is not aware…...
Japan commits $11m grant to support rice production in Zambia
THE Japanese government has committed US$11 million in form of a grant to support rice production in Zambia under a project titled ‘Development of Rice Seeds Production Field and Training Facilities’. Japan ambassador Ryuta Mizuuchi says the grant will ensure the construction of new training facilities for the Mount Makulu Research Station in Lusaka and…...
None of our presidential aspirants will be jailed – PF
PF national chairperson Davies Chama says none of the party’s presidential aspiring candidates will be imprisoned because the accusations against them are fictitious. And PF presidential aspirant Emmanuel Mwamba says the party’s general conference and campaigns should guard against possible divisions and emergence of splinter parties. Commenting on former vice president Enock Kavindele’s remarks that…...
Diesel was mixed with petrol at 2 service stations in Chipata hence fuel shortage – Kapala
ENERGY Minister Peter Kapala says the reported shortage of fuel in Chipata was as a result of diesel being mixed with petrol at two filling stations allegedly belonging to Mount Meru. In an interview, Kapala said he was hopeful that the fuel situation would soon normalise as some tankers were headed there. “Yes I’m aware…...
Cost of living for family of 5 in Lsk drops to K8, 537.78
THE cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka as measured by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for the month of October has reduced by K312.6. Meanwhile, JCTR has insisted on the need to address public revenue leaks in order to reduce the high cost…...
Zesco explains power outages, insists there’s no load shedding
ZESCO Limited Board Chairperson Vickson Ncube says the power utility company will be the first one to announce to the nation when it commences load shedding. Ncube says there will be power cuts caused by maintenance works, especially now that rains have started, but adds that people should differentiate that from load shedding. And Ncube…...
PAC hears how Foreign Affairs Ministry signed $19.5m contract to procure Zambia Chancery in Turkey without PS’ approval
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation yesterday had a tough time explaining to the Public Accounts Committee why government entered into a sales contract amounting to $19,500,000 for the procurement of a Zambia Chancery in Turkey without approval from the Permanent Secretary. The Committee further expressed displeasure that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…...
Govt ponders decriminalisation of petty crimes, as inmate population swells to 24,000
THE Zambia Correctional Service has revealed that the country’s prison population currently stands at 24,000 against a holding capacity of 9,150, translating to an overpopulation of 162 percent. And Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe says government is considering decriminalisation of petty offences and the use of non-custodial sentences. Speaking during the launch of the 2022 prisons…...
Don’t be apologetic, speak out against wrongs, Chikoya tells clergy
THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has urged the clergy to unapologetically speak out on abuses, injustices and other wrongs in the country. And CCZ has condemned the violence recorded during the just-ended by-elections, saying UPND can do better. In an interview, CCZ general secretary Fr Emmanuel Chikoya, however, advised the clergy not to…...