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Psoriasis is associated with rheumatic diseases, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

By ROGERS KALERO

THE Patriotic Front (PF) on the Copperbelt has said that with less than a week before UPND clocks two years in government, majority poverty stricken Zambians have nothing to celebrate about their decision to replace the former ruling party with because poverty and hunger has continued to worsen with the price of mealie meal sky-rocketing,.

PF Copperbelt Spokesperson Munalula Moola said, apart from the worsening poverty and hunger, the UPND has continued to exhibit arrogance, dictatorial tendencies and lack of regard for the majority stricken Zambians who are now regretting their decision to replace the PF and Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) with the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema.

In an interview in Kitwe at the weekend, Mr Moola said, because of the worsening poverty and hunger, high cost of mealie meal and other essential commodities, arrogance and hypocrisy being exhibited by the UPND leadership, most Zambians were missing the humility of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) who has now become a darling of most right thinking Zambians.

He said most Zambians were missing the PF and Mr Lungu because, unlike the UPND government which was giving tax holidays to multinational companies and subjecting struggling Zambians to pay taxes, the PF was setting a stage for Zambians to run the mines.

“Under the UPND government, we are seeing a situation where Zambia is being given to multinational companies being supported by the Western countries. 

“From the time, the UPND formed government, poverty and hunger has continued to worsen in communities. 

There is serious poverty and hunger in communities such that even those who voted for UPND are cursing themselves for making such a blunder. UPND will be clocking two years in government, but there is nothing to talk about, but poverty and hunger, Mr Moola said.Mr Moola has also said it was not only ridiculous, but also mockery of the worst order to the majority poverty stricken Zambians for the ruling UPND to be singing its own praises when poverty and hunger has continued to worsen in various townships.

Mr Moola said the reality on the ground was that poverty and hunger has continued to worsen in townships and the majority poverty stricken Zambians were not only feeling agitated, but also feeling mocked by the UPND government which was singing its own praises in the midst of worsening hunger and poverty.

He said, instead of working quietly to prove its critics wrong by delivering on its campaign promises, the UPND had resorted to singing its own praises in the midst of hunger and poverty and calling the PF and its leadership all sorts of names.

“As PF, we are not shaken or worried about the conduct of the UPND government because it is a party has always thrived on propaganda and lies. Even its victory in the August 2021 elections was out of propaganda and lies. This is why even today, they are singing their own praises in the midst of poverty and hunger.

A research team led by Prof. Zhu Shu from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) illustrated the role of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) protein in immunity tolerance to food in the small intestine. The study was published in Cell.

Children who experience discrimination based on weight, race, or sexual orientation have significantly greater odds of being suicidal one year later, according to a new study in the Journal of Pediatrics led by researchers at the Uniformed Services University.

Receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine or booster during pregnancy can benefit pregnant people and their newborn infants, according to findings recently published in Vaccine. The paper describes results from the Multisite Observational Maternal and Infant Study for COVID-19 (MOMI-VAX).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recalled a brand of soft-serve ice cream after linking it to listeria cases in Pennsylvania and New York.

The death of Indiana woman Ashley Summers over the July 4th weekend has sparked discussion about the dangers of water toxicity.

A single hardwired brain circuit might be responsible for male sexual drive, a new mouse study reports.

By GRACE CHAILE

FORMER Postmaster General Macpherson Chanda and two others have pleaded with the Economic and Financial Crimes Division-High Court, to set aside the two years jail sentence passed by the lower court, contending that there was no evidence adduced to prove that they fraudulently benefited from the Social Cash Transfer funds.

In July last year, Mr Chanda was jailed together with two former ZamPost directors, Mr Best Mwaichi and Mr Isaac Kamwimba, by the Ndola subordinate court under the Financial and Economic Crimes Division on 13 counts of theft by public servant involving over K300 million.

Ndola Magistrate, Kaunda Sakwanda ordered the Attorney-General to recover, on behalf of the State, the K335 million Social Cash Transfer funds, which the three unlawfully diverted.

The three challenged the conviction and sentencing in the superior court raising seven grounds of appeal.

At the hearing of the appeal held yesterday before Judges Ann Malata-Ononuju, Pixie Yangailo and Vincent Siloka, the appellants’ lawyers argued that there was no relationship between the 13 counts levelled against the trio and the evidence produced by the prosecution (State).

They argued that the State failed to prove how the ex Post Master General and the other two benefitted from the accrued interest from the principal amount which was deposited in the said fixed account.

It was further contended the record showed that there was no amount of money that had left the coffers of ZamPost into the pockets of the appellants. 

Counsel Jonas Zimba contended that their clients were subjected to an unfair procedure making the proceedings a nullity.

“I wish to stress the point that there is no witness on record that established any fraudulent conduct on the part of the appellants now before you. In the absence of such an element, it is my submission that failing to prove the key element of an offence should not result in a conviction.  Sitting at the centre of the offences the appellants were charged with was an element of fraudulent conduct and that element was never proved,” he submitted.

Counsel Lawrence Matibini earlier also argued there was in fact tampering of witness by the State which undermined the integrity of the trial, but surprisingly the lower court was passive about it.

He explained that a witness, legal counsel Mulao Mwaba, who was subpoenaed to testify in the case by the lower court was interviewed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officer before he did so.

But deputy chief state advocate Ms Chipanta Mwansa submitted that the superior court tampers with the sentence upwards as the 24 months simple imprisonment was inadequate.

“The appellants sat in that meeting and decided to open another fixed deposit account where the Social Cash Transfer funds could go and earn interest before disbursement. It showed the intention to deprive the beneficiaries of that fund as they made profit out of that which was not in the interest of the public,” she said.

She argued that the indictment gave sufficient reasons as to the nature of the charge and the three took plea with legal representation and were convicted, therefore it was too late in the day to challenge it.

The court reserved judgement in the matter to November 1, 2023.

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