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By GRACE CHAILE

A DIRECTOR at Price­Water­House­Coopers (PwC), Tonderai Luwisi has been sentenced to 20 years simple imprisonment after he was found guilty of stabbing to death his wife, Pellegia Muligwi.

Lusaka High Court Judge, Bonaventure Mbewe in his ruling said the convict stabbed his wife several times with intent to kill, with one of the stab wounds being 11 meters deep.

In his defence, Luwisi, 45, a Zimbabwean, submitted that he stabbed his 38 -year- old wife several times after she told him that he was not the father of their two children. 

The two had been married for 18 years.

According to evidence on record, Muligwi had moved out of their matrimonial home in Foxdale because of the convict’s extra-marital affairs.

She rented a house at 121, Jesmodine, where she lived with the two children of the family.

Muligwi was murdered at her house on December 10, 2022.

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After menopause, an estimated 1 in 4 women may develop irregular heart rhythms—known as atrial fibrillation—in their lifetime, with stressful life events and insomnia being major contributing factors, according to new research published today in Stroke.

By LUCY PHIRI

A HUMAN resource manager at Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has told the Lusaka magistrate court that Hibeene Mwiinga paid more than K1million to purchase two properties.

Mr. Francis Phiri, 39, a human resource and administration manager at ZDA Henan Gorge Development Company said Hibeene Mwiinga bought house number 014 and paid K744, 192 in full.

Mr. Phiri said Mwiinga also paid K744, 132 in full for the purchase of house number 031.

In this matter, Mwiinga, his wife, son and company pleaded not guilty to 72 counts of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime valued at more than K41 million and more than US$238, 900 cash.

Mwiinga, 60, of Mwembenshi area in Lusaka is jointly charged with his son Hakaantu Mwiinga aged 33 and wife Mercy Mwenda aged 56 years old for being in possession of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mwiinga, Mwenda, son and the representative of Hichikey farm Limited Company all denied the 72 charges.

Mr. Phiri testified that in December 2021, he was approached by Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) officer who wanted information on certain properties indicated on the warrant of access. 

“I checked on the data base to search for the property numbers and after confirming I printed some statement relating to the same properties. I handed over the statements to officers. Properties were house number 014, 031, 091, 220, 346. A statement was recorded from me. The documents indicates owner of the houses, purchase price and amounts paid and balance, he said.

He said house number 220 was bearing the name Hakaantu Mwiinga and US$50, 000, was paid in full. 

“House number 014 bearing name of Hibeene Mwiinga K744, 192 was paid in full. House 031 bearing the name Hibeene Mwiinga, K744, 132 was paid in full. House number 220 bearing the Hakaantu US$50, 000 was paid in full. 

House number 091 bearing the name Michael Mafunda costing K489, 500 but only K55, 000 was paid with K434, 500 balance. House number 346 bearing the name Priscilla Mpanza, Purchase price was K884, 500 and K621, 909 was paid with Balance of K262, 590,” he said.

Trial continues today for scene visit to Silverest area in Chongwe.

Senior magistrate Irene Wishimanga is the magistrate presiding over the matter.

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By PRINCE MABUMBA

MORE than 800 students from Chalimbana and Kwame Nkrumah universities have been awarded student loans by the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) for the 2022/2023 academic year.

The student loans have been awarded to 835 eligible first year students at Chalimbana and Kwame Nkrumah universities. 

HELSB senior corporate communications officer Chiselwa Kawanda says, the board had received about 1,565 applications for sponsorship at Chalimbana University, out of which 1,354 applicants were eligible while 211 were ineligible for sponsorship, representing 81 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Ms Kawanda said the HELSB had received 8 applications from students living with disabilities for sponsorship at Chalimbana University while 7 applications were received for sponsorship at Kwame Nkrumah University. 

She said  839 applications were received for sponsorship at Kwame Nkrumah University out of which 725 were eligible and 119 were ineligible for sponsorship representing 86 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

She said the ineligible applicants were because they were pursuing diploma programmes, while others were due to having completed their grade 12 before 2019, non-attachment of required documents to the student loan applications.

She said other reasons were having more than 30 points in 5 subjects, being awarded student loans at other universities and being older than 24.

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Fresh discoveries about a certain type of immune cell could give lung cancer patients a more accurate prognosis and better identify who will benefit from immunotherapies.

…as Govt single-sources Agro-Fuel to import processed low Sulphur diesel through the converted TAZAMA pipeline

By PRINCE MABUMBA 

THREE consignments of low Sulphur diesel worth about US$70 million each have been procured by government without tendering process, sparking an uproar among Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

MCs

TAZAMA

Government has single-sourced Agro-Fuel Company Limited to import processed low Sulphur diesel through the now converted TAZAMA Pipeline, a decision the Oil Marketing Companies Association of Zambia (OMCAZ) has described as promoting unfair and uncompetitive business practices.

And Brian Mundubile has said it was unfortunate that the United Party for National Development (UPND) government had made single-sourcing as the only mode of procurement in total disregard of public procurement laws.

The OMCAZs has described as unfair business practice for the government to have excluded other players in the sector who could have had competitive bids to participate in the market.  

Speaking in an interview with Millennium TV news, OMCAZ president, Kafula Mubanga disclosed that Agro-Fuel was only sub-contracted to clean up the pipeline in readiness for operations, a contract that must have already come to an end by now.

Dr Mubanga however said it was surprising that Agro-Fuel was awarded a contract to import low-Sulphur Diesel without any tendering process which could have seen other players participate and make the procurement process more competitive. 

Dr Mubanga explained that TAZAMA pipeline was supposed to be open to all OMCs to allow for competition unlike the current situation where it is being run by a single -sourced entity.

“Government must come clean on this matter and clearly state what is the objective, why are we keeping Agro Fuel for a longer time and not open the pipeline for competition purposes and if the objective is to reduce the cost of transporting products, why is Government not having a decision over Agro Fuel?” Dr Mubanga questioned.      

Dr Mubanga stated that the operation of the TAZAMA pipeline by a single-sourced entity had a made it difficult to push for a reduction in the pump price of fuel as there were limited stakeholders in the operations of the pipeline. 

“The TAZAMA pipeline was supposed to be open to allow competition but this kind of uncompetitive practice should come to an end in the industry. It kills the objective of us having a pipeline if only one particular company will be able to push in products and regulate it. The implication is that we cannot have competition and we cannot push the price of fuel down,” Dr Mubanga said.

But Mr Mundibile, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament said it was not surprising that the UPND had adopted direct bidding as the only means of procuring goods and services because the people in government were in a hurry to enrich themselves through corruption.

Mr Mundubile, who is Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate, said although single-sourcing was provided for among the modes of procurement, the law was clear on when single-sourcing could be used in procurement.

“We know that single-sourcing is the only way that they can help their friends and it is a source of corruption,” Mr Mundubile said.  He said the usage of TAZAMA pipeline by one company was distorting the business model for the other participants in the petroleum sub-sector.

“We condemn the use of the pipeline by one participant because we feel the people of Zambia are not getting the value for money in the conversion of the pipeline,” Mr Mundubile said.

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REPORTS of escalating violence have prompted the police to take swift action in the face of a mounting conflict between the Lunda and Luvale in Zambezi. The conflict has resulted in significant damage to local structures and injuries to several individuals. In a statement, police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said the area have recorded 25 […]

By NATION REPORTER 

THE re-election of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as President of Zimbabwe is a reflection of the trust and confidence the people of Zimbabwe have in his leadership, Zambia’s sixth President Edgar Lungu has observed.

Former President Lungu says he has all the confidence that President Mnangagwa would continue to steer Zimbabwe towards progress and prosperity during second term of his presidency. In his congratulatory message to President Mnangagwa for his resounding victory in the just ended elections, former President Lungu commended the Zimbabwean leader for his dedication to serving his nation.

He said he was wishing President Mnangagwa the best in his endeavour to build a better future for Zimbabwe and its people.    

“Congratulations on your re-election as the President of Zimbabwe! Your victory reflects the trust and confidence that the people of Zimbabwe have placed in your leadership. I have every confidence that you will continue to steer the country towards progress and prosperity during your next term.”

“Your dedication to serving your nation is truly commendable, and I wish you all the best in your endeavours to build a better future for Zimbabwe and its people,” former President Lungu said.

Mr Lungu has joined many other former and serving world leaders in congratulating President Mnangagwa on his re-election. 

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New research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention finds that engaging in administrative tasks to estimate costs or pay for care among a cohort of cancer patients and survivors was associated with an 18% increase in cost-related treatment delays or nonadherence. Meredith Doherty, Ph.D., LCSW, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), led the study.

It’s “liquid courage,” not necessarily “beer goggles”: New research indicates that consuming alcohol makes you more likely to approach people you already find attractive but does not make others appear more attractive, according to a report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.