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While COVID-19 can be transmitted via contact with contaminated objects, most studies have focused on airborne droplet transmission. Against this backdrop, scientists from Japan conducted detailed computational simulations based on real-life behavioral data to visualize how viruses spread to common household items shortly after people return home. Their results illustrate the importance of immediate hand sanitization upon returning to avoid contact infection, reinforcing the effectiveness of a good hygiene.

By NATION REPORTER

A SECOND run of by-elections in Kabushi and Kwacha Constituencies is imminent as Bowman Lusambo has announced his decision to petition the election of Bernard Kanengo following the Constitutional Court judgement that has declared he (Lusambo) and his Kwacha Constituency counterpart were eligible to re-contest their seats.

This is barely five months after the ECZ barred Mr Lusambo and Mr Malanji from re-contesting their respective seats on grounds that they had caused the by-elections.

But the Constitutional Court has ruled that Mr Lusambo and Mr Malanji were eligible to recontest their seats and now, the former Kabushi lawmaker is petitioning the election of Mr Kenengo whom he says was fraudulently elected.

Mr Lusambo has announced that he will be petitioning the Kabushi Parliamentary seat following the Constitutional Judgement that he (Lusambo) was eligible to recontest his seat after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) barred him and Mr Malanji from standing.

Mr Lusambo, the former Kabushi Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament says he has engaged his legal team to start the process of petitioning the Kabushi seat because the current MP was fraudulently elected.

Mr Lusambo in an interview said that he had engaged his legal team for them to start the process of petitioning after the Constitution Court ruled that former Kwacha and Kabushi Members of Parliament Joe Malanji and Mr Lusambo were eligible to contest the two by-elections.

He said the Concourt ruling was a win for democracy and proved that the judiciary was autonomous and could not be used by politicians.

“I have instructed my lawyers to petition the Kabushi seat because the court has proved that the elections were a sham and the MP is a fraud,” Mr Lusambo said.

He said it was unfortunate that the UPND was trying to stop the people from choosing the people of their choice by imposing on them leaders who were neither wanted nor electable.

Mr Lusambo said he and Mr Malanji had remained serious threats to the UPND and that was the reason the ruling party was determined to unlawfully knock them out of the race so that they could win the seats without other contenders.

“It is clear that we are threats that is why we are being fought in this manner by the current government, but kudos should go to the courts for being steadfast and not being swayed by politicians,” Mr Lusambo said.

He said that the ECZ was highly compromised because they allowed the illegality and went ahead to conduct an election when they knew it was illegal.

In a Judgement delivered by Constitutional Court judges Justice Palani Mulonda, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, Justice Judy Mulongoti and Justice Mathew Chisunka that the applicants (Malanji and Lusambo) were not disqualified and were eligible to contest after their seats were nullified by the courts.

The two former lawmakers challenged their case in which they challenged their disqualification from contesting the Kabushi and Kwacha Constituency by elections.

Researchers in China have successfully restored the vision of mice with retinitis pigmentosa, one of the major causes of blindness in humans. The study, to be published March 17 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, uses a new, highly versatile form of CRISPR-based genome editing with the potential to correct a wide variety of disease-causing genetic mutations.

 A BOOTH teller who recently pleaded guilty to stealing K70, 000 from her employer and used part of the money to bet has been sentenced to one year and six months simple imprisonment. Dainess Mulenga, 19, had earlier this morning pleaded with the court to have mercy and give her a suspended sentence so that […]

 THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested 18 individuals in a financial scandal at the Ministry of Finance in which investigations are currently underway. The investigations border on payments made for fictitious activities and theft of public funds. ACC head of corporate communication Timothy Moono has told Mwebantu that among those arrested include the Auditor-General  Dr. […]

FORMER defence minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has told the court that all his business dealings, bank transactions were genuine, honest, legal and his company has never been found in illicit business.

In his defense yesterday, Mwamba told magistrate Sandford Ngobola sitting under the Economic and Financial crimes court that he had a good relationship with the three banks he was involved with, and at no point did they mention that the accounts were suspicious.

“We had a relationship with Investrust bank, ABSA and First alliance bank, at no point did they mention that our account was suspicious. We have been running our business genuinely and sincerely. Associating our company to illegal business would be unfair.  And those who are associating our business to illicit dealings are unfair. Our companies has always been genuine in the operations and those who may want to think our dealing are illegal could be unfair to us,” he said.

In this matter, Mwamba pleaded not guilty to eight counts of conflict of interest, one count of money laundering and 15 counts of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Mwamba also testified that Arizona marketing and distributors limited are still the major grain buyers not only in Northern Province, but Lusaka and are currently sitting on not less than 10,000 tonnes of maize valued at US$4.7million.

“GBM Foods Supply Limited now (Arizona) was a supplier to Zambia defence forces. I was supplying fish, beans, rice, Kapenta and mealie meal. Thereafter I started growing my business. I opened a company called Germins Motor ways, it was a car hire. Which were hired out to the ministry of foreign affairs,” he said.

Mr. Mwamba also disclosed that when Germins Motor ways grew, he bought a fleet of brand new 40 Marcopolo buses at a cost of U$D60 million and these resources came from what he generated from Germins car hire.

He submitted that in September 2011, when he was appointed as minister of defense, he received a few friends who wanted to do business in the ministry.

Meanwhile, the state has objected Mwamba’s submission of a letter he wrote to the PS to declare interest in writing in relation to contract in count one to eight stating that it is a photocopy.

It is alleged in count one that Mwamba on unknown date but between December 27, 2012 and March, 31 2013 in Lusaka, being a public officer, namely, Minister of Defence, did fail to disclose interest in writing, relating to Contract No. MPC 111-12 for the supply and delivery of General Purpose Shelter Tents for Zambia Army, valued at US$ 1,220,000.00, a transaction that concerns the Ministry of Defence, a public body.

The matter has been adjourned to March 24 for ruling.

ZAMBIA under-17 national team coach Ian Bakala has confirmed to have dropped players from his squad because of age cheating.

Speaking after a 10-day assessment camp that attracted 45 players, Bakala said the technical bench was shocked that some players who were part of the camp preparing for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Algeria next month were over 20 years.

“The players were more than 25 despite the number we called in camp, I think some of them were coming without our knowledge but we gave them chance though some of them were over aged,” Bakala said.

“Some of the provinces were guided and even us on the technical bench we were surprised why they brought over aged players to the under-17 because it was surprising seeing a player, 22, 23 years being told by people who brought them saying no you just have to tell them that you are 15 years but when you look at the age of the player and after investigations we found a lot of players were over aged,” he said. Bakala cautioned scouts to be sincere by sending talented players of the right age especially at under-17 level which goes through the MRI Scan to determine the players right age.

“It is a national team and people can’t risk getting the national team suspended because of one player. They need to help us. We have some players who didn’t make it because of being over age and some their quality was below par,” Bakala said. Bakala said the selection process was done on merit after the Junior Chipolopolo squad was trimmed from 45 to 35 players.

He said the 10-day camp has helped the technical bench to assess the players ahead of the youth AFCON scheduled for next month.

“Going into the next camp I don’t think we will invite other players who are not on the list we just need to concentrate on the players who are on the list because time has gone. The next camp will be closed we are going to concentrate on players who are on the list,” Bakala said.

Zambia U-23

date Niger

Öas Coach Mutapa names final squad for AFCON qualifier

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

IN a quest to prepare adequately for the 2023 U23 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt, the Zambia under-23 national soccer team is today scheduled to face Niger in an international friendly match.

Coach Osward Mutapa has unveiled a 23-member squad ahead of the Niger friendly and Afcon qualifier against Egypt.

Mutapa has selected a squad consisting of two foreign-based stars in Miguel Chaiwa and Mannah Chiwisa who are expected to join the team on March 19.

Meanwhile, Under-23 midfielder Prince Mumba said the lads were ready to play both Niger and Egypt.

“Against Egypt it will be a different game for  they are a different team but with all the preparations we are ready for the match,” Mumba said.

“Playing Niger is very important for us because it will give us the confidence to say we can do it.” And Chambishi FC midfielder Martin Zulu said; “It is really encouraging for me. I have been working hard for this opportunity and it’s in my hands and I need to put in a lot for the country and work hard for the results that are needed for the country for us to qualify for the Africa Cup.”

After playing Niger, Zambia will travel to Egypt for the first leg of the Under-23 AFCON qualifier slated for March 22 with the second leg set for the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on March 27.

The winner over both legs will qualify for the 2023 U23 TotalEnergies Africa Cup which will be held in November.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers – Levison Banda (Zesco United), Francis Mwansa (Trident) and Mukuka Chilufya (Aguila Stars).

Defenders – Emmanuel Chembe (Nchanga Rangers), Matthews Chabala (Nchanga Rangers), Sharp Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles), Gift Mphande (Atletico Lusaka), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), John Chishimba (Zesco United).

Midfielders

Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Prince Mumba (Kabwe Warriors), John Kasamu (Green Buffaloes), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes) Martin Njobvu (Green Buffaloes), Martin Zulu (Chambishi)

Strikers – Jimmy Mukeya (Napsa Stars), Andrew Phiri (FC Muza), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Enock Sakala (Zesco United), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows)

Chaiwa and Chiwisa are also expected to join the team on March 19.

 MORE than USD$1 million in form of humanitarian aid has been flown to Malawi to help more than 40,000 house holds that have been displaced by Cyclone Freddy. Cyclone Freddy has caused havoc in the passed days in the neighbouring Malawi and has sadly claimed more than 300 lives. Defense Minister Ambrose Lufuma said another […]

Doctors in California who mail abortion pills to people in other states would be protected from prosecution under a new bill to be unveiled Friday in the state Legislature.

Down’s Syndrome is a genetic disorder at the onset of which a baby experiences developmental delays and has some distinguished physical attributes.