Posts in category: Uncategorized

Scientists in Montreal have identified a key mechanism involved in the growth of nerve cells that are critical to mediate binocular vision, which allows people to see the world in three dimensions.

An experimental drug targeting a genetic variant linked to Parkinson’s disease had no effect on patients, according to the results of a new clinical trial published in The Lancet Neurology.

No amount of grandstanding can redeem the shambolic Zimbabwe election that saw thousands of voters denied their right to  vote.

The vote failed regional and international standards.

Voters turned up at polling stations, which either opened late, or had insufficient ballot papers and more seriously discrepancies  between the voters roll and names posted outside the stations denied many would be voters a chance to exercise their right.

The voters roll itself was a matter of contention. It was never  availed to opposition parties and observer missions and yet this a very basic  document that underpinning any valid election.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has never denied these shambles as a result an extra day had to be added to make up for the deficiencies and irregularities that challenged the credibility of the exercise.

In reality a pattern of abuses and sheer incompetence by the ZEC  worked to disqualify the election from being free and fair. 

It is regrettable that the shambles are being blamed on Nevers Numba who led the SACC observation team. 

It is just as well that former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano was not the leader of the SADC team otherwise these deficiencies would have been swept under the carpet, as had been the case in the past.

Mr Chissano says that he had never heard of a foreign observer mission criticising a sovereign country’s legidlstive frame work during polls observation.

True previous observer missions were perfunctory. No more, the continent must be disabused of this notion.

Elections must not only be seen to be free and fair, but must be held in a framework that truly enables all eligible voters to exercise their right without fear, intimidation and interference. Nothing should be sacrosanct. If  the law transgresses this principle a clear condemnation must be made.

It was not the team that fell short of providing voting materials and availing the voters roll. This was the fault of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which effectively defranchised citizens.

It is a notorious fact that voters in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe and opposition stronghold stood in line for more tha 12 hours becaujse ballot papers and other materials were not available. The opposition has rightfully charged, voter suppression in their strongholds.

To its credit, it is not only the SADCC observers that have cried foul, the European Union has equally questioned the credibility of the elections on account of blatant irregularities that included intimidation of rural voters.

It is about time that we Africans began to accept that elections on the continent are hardly the tools that democracies envisage for holding the leadership to account. The tradition is either that elections are an ethnic census or indeed a highly manipulated exercise to give power to a corrupt regime.

We salute Dr. Mumba and his team for their courage for exposing deficiencies that would have gone un-noticed.

Compromised as the Zimbabwean judiciary has already indicated, we would still want the opposition, for the sake of posterity, to challenge the election in order to give full vent to discrepancies that marred the elections.

Time has come for election observers to be forthright and tell speak the truth in the interest of promoting democracy and social justice.

There is no room for diplomatic nicecities and ideological nonsense.

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A Yango driver of Libala South in Lusaka has been  gruesomely murdered by unknown criminals who attacked him using sharp instruments. Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale said Nicholas Chishimba 38 was found lifeless trapped between a Toyota Sienta and a wall fence. Mr Mwale said in a statement that the body was found […]

By NATION REPORTER

ZAMBIAN suspects in the now infamous gold and cash scandal that has since sucked in some State House personnel have been charged with the treasonable offence of espionage by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

Shadreck Kasanda, a businessman, Dr Jim Belemu, the chief executive officer of Mahogany Airline, Osward Diangamo and Patrick Kawanu have been charged with espionage and obtaining money by flase pretenses.

Makebi Zulu of Makebi Zulu Advocates has confirmed that Kasanda, Dr Belemu, Mr Diangamo and Mr Kawanu were the only ones who had been charged from the 11 gold and cash suspects that included five foreign nationals.

But when contacted for a comment, DEC director general Nason Banda said he was unable to comment on the matter and that he would only do so through a press conference to be held today.

Mr Zulu disclosed that the four Zambian suspects were taken to Police Force Headquarters where they were charged with the unbailable treason offence of espionage while the foreign suspects had not been charged but have instead been accommodated in some luxurious government Lodge in Kalundu.  

Mr Zulu said as lawyer representing one of the accused in the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) gold and dollar scandal Makebi were shocked that only Zambian suspects had been charged with Espionage and not the other foreigners.

Mr Zulu said there was something fishy for foreign nationals not to have been charged when their Zambian counterparts had been given two more charges.

Four of the Zambians accused in the gold gate scandal Shadreck Kasanda, Osward Diangamo, and Jim Belemu and Patrick Kawanu wereon Saturday given more   charges of espionage and obtaining money by false pretense.

But Mr Zulu said his law firm would escalate the matter because the charges did not make sense when the other co-accused had been omitted.

He said Makebi Zulu Advocates would today make an application to the court since the DEC had ignored all their concerns regarding the Zambian accused persons.

Meanwhile, some online media house has revealed that the amount of money originally found on the jet at KKIA was US$11. 6 million and not the US$5.6 million as announced by the DEC.

It has been reported that many of the officers from the law enforcement agencies had been identified and have since started returning money they had received as bribes from the gold and cash scandal

Some senior named Zambia Police Service officers stationed at the KKIA have paid back as much as US$ 50,000 with some low ranking officers taking back as less as US$3000.

Other reports are to the effect that a senior military official stationed at the KKIA has also paid back US$50,000.

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AFTER a heavy drinking spree, a woman of Isoka woke up to a shock after she found a bottle of beer inserted in her private parts. It is also suspected that the victim was gang raped by six men whom she can identify if seen. Muchinga Province Deputy Commissioner Ronald Zambo said the 30 year […]

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has rolled out the first phase of Electronic Bond Management System (E-Bonds) expected to deal with challenges encountered during the manual process.

The E-bonds system, although not fully rolled out, was launched on August 4, 2023.

ZRA acting Commissioner General, Ernest Sigande, at the official launch of the system on Friday said the authority had started receiving and processing electronic applications for new and additional bonds.

So far, Mr Sigande confirmed that ZRA has successfully managed to configure 16 guarantors on the system and also received and processed one application for a customs bond.

“We have encountered a number of challenges with manual processes, and manual customs bonds are not spared.

“As at end of 2022, we had outstanding transit obligations valued at K564.54 million and covered by customs bonds. These were broken down as K228.81 million Removals in Transit and K335.73 million for Removals in Bond,” he said.

Mr Sigande said the system would enable real time involvement of the guarantor in the issuance and approval of the bond unlike was currently the case under manual setup;

He said it would also eliminate the inherent human errors in updating of information, among others.

Meanwhile, Pensions and Insurers Association acting Registrar Namakau Ntini said the sector was ready to work with ZRA to ensure that efficiency was achieved in bonds management.

Ms Ntini raised concerns how some industry players had been underwriting bonds and hoped that with the development, ZRA would better manage its interaction with insurers participating in the underwriting of Customs Bonds.

“This is especially as it affects claims management. When, claims are reported real time, there will be no lags in reporting claims.

“Aside from being a revenue management tool, this platform also promotes regional trade and integration, therefore, we should all embrace it,” she said.

And Insurers Association of Zambia Executive Director Nkaka Mwashika, was hopeful that the E-Bonds would resolve challenges experienced during the manual processing of bonds previously.

Dr Mwashika pointed out calling up on bonds several years after they had expired as one of the challenges experienced in the past.

“Insurance cover is for a fixed period of time and holding bonds in per perpetuity is not possible nor practical. We trust that if any bonds need to be called up they will be within a reasonable period of time,” he said.

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THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is dismayed with alleged abuse of the provisions of the Public Order Act by the Zambia Police under the New Dawn government. In a statement availed to the media, LAZ has stated that it is deeply saddened by the continued abuse of the provisions of the Public Order Act, […]

By MILLENNIUM REPORTER

THE Zambia Union and Nurses Organization (ZUNO) has expressed confidence that government will address the challenge of allowances for nurses and midwives especially those deployed to rural areas.

ZUNO secretary general Gray Michelo says as stakeholders go for consultations next month, the organization is hopeful that the challenge will be tabled as it continues to be a thorn for the nurses and midwives.

Mr Michelo said the conditions of nurses and midwives were still poor and hence the need for the consultations on the improvement of the conditions that would commence next month.

On settling allowances, Mr Michelo said nurses and midwives sent to rural areas often got the money after a long time, which made it hard for new nurses and mid wives to settle and work.

Mr Michelo said government should look into the plight of nurses and midwives posted to remote areas for often times, they felt neglected by their own government.

He said government should endevour to motivate civil servants such as nurses and midwives as it had been a concern for many years.

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By MUKWIMA CHILALA

A US based Philanthropist Patrick Djomaly is seeking to give back to Africa and Zambia in particular by building schools and Orphanages in a bid to complement the government’s efforts on the provision of free education.

Djomaly through his Djomaly Foundation has partnered with his Andy Crossman are planning on coming to set up Schools in Zambia with Choma and Shibuyunji set to be among the beneficiary.

Speaking in an interview Crossman says through the Djomaly Foundation , they will be embarking on a transformative journey of giving back and making an impact in the lives of vulnerable children a cross African.

Djomaly a Congolese by decent, lived in Zambia for seven years before he relocated and obtained a US Citizenship.

But Mr Crossman says the Foundation’s passion is education and as such they will laying a foundation for Africans children bright future through building of schools across Africa.

He said that the Foundation’s mission is not confined to classrooms as it reaches beyond touching the very fabric of the communities.

” Our Passion is education, the greatest gift we can offer to these young minds on the continent , eager to learn , to explore to dream , Through the Djomaly Foundation, a beacon of hope  and compassion, we are building schools in Africa , laying the Foundation for the brighter future .” Crossman said.

But our Mission is not confined to classrooms , it reaches beyond , touching the very fabric of the communities we serve , By building schools we are building futures , providing jobs for the dedicated teachers .

And Crossman said the path is one of the sensitivity, cultural understanding and collaboration with the locals.

The Foundation will not only build the schools in Zambia but other African Countries as well.

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