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AFTER finally appearing in court in following their arrest almost two weeks ago, 11 suspects in the gold scam case where yesterday received by a certificate to deny them bail. The State, through DPP Gilbert Phiri, indicated in the certificate presented in court that granting the 11 suspects bail would be prejudicial to the interest […]

…the Drug Enforcement Commission arrests, charges five Egyptian nationals, senior police officer with espionage, joining Zambian suspects slapped with the same treasonable offence

By NATION REPORTER 

THE gold and US$5.6 million scandal that has since sucked in some State House officials yesterday took a salacious dramatic turn after the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) arraigned five Egyptian nationals after charging them with the treasonable offence of espionage.

The DEC in collaboration with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) formally arrested and jointly charged the five Egyptians and six Zambians including a senior police officer for espionage contrary to section 3 (a) of The State Security Act Cap 111 of the Laws of Zambia.

The five Egyptians who have jointly been charged with Zambia nationals include Walid Refaat Fahmi Botros, Mounir Shaker Gerges Awad, Mohamed Abdelhak Mohamed Gooda, Yasser Mokhtar Abdelghafor and Micheal Adel Micheal Batros.

The Zambian suspects, now arrested and charged with espionage include Shadreck Kasanda Kapasa, Patrick Kwangu, Mulungu Oswald Diangamo, Francis Maluba Makai-Mateyo and Robinson Moonga. 

The arraignment of the five Egyptians come after Makebi Zulu Advocates, the Attorneys for Shadreck Kasanda, exposed the States covert preferential treatment of the foreign suspects in the gold and cash scandal, who it was disclosed had been accommodated in some luxurious government Lodge in Kalundu.

Makebu Zulu Advocates had asked the State to immediately withdraw criminal charges against Kasanda one of the suspects arrested in the country’s now infamous gold and cash scandal or the law firm would commence court proceedings which would lead to naming and shaming State House personnel involved.

According to the indictment, the occupations of the Egyptians include, general manager, factory owner, pensioner Colonel, Health and Safety Environment Officer and businessmen.

The number of Zambian suspects in the gold scandal has officially risen to six, after Francis Mateyo, a senior Police officer while a Patrick Makayo believed to be a UPND operative but stationed at State House has also been fingered.

All the 11 gold and cash suspects are said to have been jointly and whilst acting together, did enter a protected place, namely Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) for purposes that were prejudicial to the safety and interest of the Republic of Zambia.

“Particulars of the offence are that Walid Refaat Fahmi Botros, Mounir Shaker Gerges Awad, Mohamed Abdelhak Mohamed Gooda, Yasser Mokhtar Abdelghafor, Michael Adel Micheal Batros, Shadreck Kasanda Kapasa, Patrick Kwangu, Mulungu Oswald Diangamo, Francis Maluba Makai-Mateyo and Robinson Moonga on August 13, 2023 at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, jointly and whist actong together, did enter a protected place, namely Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for purposes that were prejudicial to the safety and interest of the Republic of Zambia,” reads the indictment.

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FIVE family members have died in Nchelenge after their canoe capsized on lake Mweru due to strong wind. The family members who drowned and died on the lake have been identified as Diwell Chongo 25 and his wife Memory Ndebele 23 and three children. Among the children is Albertina Kabemba of unknown age and a […]

For people with severe alcohol use disorder, a new gene therapy trial could lead to an effective treatment that would involve chemically rebalancing the area of the brain associated with addiction.

FASHION Sakala’s goal in the Saudi Pro League yesterday saw him go level on three goals with his idol Cristiano Ronaldo in the new season. Sakala’s goal may have not been enough to help his side Al Fayha win but it keeps him in the running for the golden boot although it still is a […]

…the association is deeply concerned that the UPND in government has continued stifling citizen’s rights, freedom of assembly using an archaic law

By NATION REPORTER 

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is deeply disappointed with the UPND government which has continued to abuse the archaic Public Order Act (POA) to stifle citizens’ rights and freedoms after promising it would end such kind of cruelty.

Langisani Zulu, the LAZ president says it is saddening that the UPND in government has continued to abuse f the archaic POA to stifle citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed human rights of association, assembly and expression.

In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Zulu said with the ushering of the UPND into government, LAZ like many citizens had hoped the abuse of the provisions of the POA experienced under previous governments would come to an end but regrettably, little had changed under the leadership that had promised to govern the country according to the rule of law. He said the latest episode which saw Zambians witnessing the Police denying the PF’s request to hold a political rally was the manifestation of the UPND government propensity to violate the rights and freedoms of citizens using an outdated and colonial law.

Mr Zulu said the Zambia police had cited the old excuse of security reasons in foiling the PF mass political gathering on the basis that they did not have enough numbers of officers to police the event, but strangely, were able to mobilise more numbers to prevent the holding of the political rally.

Mr Zulu said having suffered the same tactics under previous administrations, it was hoped the new government would correct the past abuse of the Police Service to curtail constitutionally protected freedoms, but alas, the UPND was treading on the same tactics the governing party suffered while in opposition.

He said the Supreme Court has guided on numerous occasions, including in the case of the LAZ vs Attorney General Appeal No. 8/2014, that the abuse of the provisions of the POA violates citizens’ freedoms of association, assembly and association.  “We would like to remind government of what the Supreme Court said at page J21 of that Judgement: Clearly, the Police were content to keep the alternative date nebulous, which is contrary to what the law specifically states. We do not think that this is the Sisyphean task to suggest an alternative date even when security concerns are raised. This state of affairs supports the argument that the POA is not being applied fairly by the Police to all the parties concerned,” Mr Zulu said.

He said Zambia as a growing democracy, should collectively seek ways to advance the life blood of a democracy, being the free exercise of the citizens’ rights of association, assembly and expression, entrenched in the Bill of Rights.

He said the fact that wrong things were committed in the past should not comfort the UPND government to repeat the same mistakes. 

Mr Zulu also said the continued trend of detaining suspects pending investigations by law enforcement agencies, which the association had been condemning was of great concern.

He said suspects, regardless of their nationality, should not be detained for investigations, and in any event not beyond the prescribed 24 hours before being brought before court.

“We call on the government to immediately take corrective action to remedy the continued abuse of the POA, including attending to its urgent reform as per the government’s commitment to do so, as well as bringing to an end the deplorable practice of detaining suspects for investigation purposes and beyond 24 hours before being brought before the courts of law.,” Mr Zulu said.

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FIVE people have died while three others sustained serious injuries after the vehicles they were traveling in collided in Chisamba District on Great North Road. Police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said the deceased, all male persons, have not yet been identified including the driver of the Hino Ranger bearing registration number ABR 2565. Mr Mwale […]

…accuses them of not answering phone calls from stakeholders seeking an audience with them, thereby frustrating President Hichilema’s open door policy

By NATION REPORTER

JOHN Mambo has accused Cabinet Ministers under the new dawn administration of not embracing stakeholders for dialogue on development issues, rendering the open door policy mere lip service.

Bishop Mambo, the president of Chikondi Foundation says Cabinet Ministers are frustrating President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to ensuring an open door policy by his government was implemented.

Bishop Mambo said ministers were not embracing stakeholders in the development space who wanted to offer objective checks and balances for the betterment of the country.

He complained that Cabinet Ministers often ignored calls from stakeholders who were keen to help and participate in the progression of the country.

Bishop Mambo stated that even mere answering of phone calls had suddenly become an issue for Cabinet Ministers and that it was becoming difficult for stakeholders to have an audience with the ministers to chat development matters.

Bishop Mambo said ensuring inclusive development would need concerted effort from all stakeholders, which would not happen if ministers were not embracing the open door policy.

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Reaching the age of 90, 95 or 100, known as exceptional longevity, was more likely for women who maintained their body weight after age 60, according to a multi-institutional study led by University of California San Diego. Older women who sustained a stable weight were 1.2 to 2 times more likely to achieve longevity compared to those who experience a weigh loss of 5 percent or more.

A soft ball designed to support mental health by ‘personifying’ breath has been invented by a computer science student at the University of Bath.