Posts in category: Uncategorized

Four people were injured and a minibus burnt to ashes after a Zimbabwean fuel tanker caught fire on Mungwi Road in Lusaka’s light industrial area.

The incident happened after police fired warning shots in a bid to disperse a crowd that attempted to decant fuel from the tanker.

Onlookers explained that the tanker, which was leaking petrol was besieged by scavengers seeking to decant fuel.

The magnitude blocked Mungwi Road and police who rushed to the scene allegedly fired in the air resulting in a stampede and fire.

And the driver identified as Mr Karembera said one of the reserve tyres hit the ground, which caused the leakage while he was driving on Mungwi Road near Zambian Breweries.

And police spokesperson Danny Mwale said that the police were still on the ground and would give a comprehensive statement later.

 AN illegal miner of Chambishi on the Copperbelt province has died after he was hit with falling stones. The incident happened yesterday at NFCA Mine Portal 06, in Chambishi. Facts are Brian Lufuma 40 together with other illegal miners commonly known as ‘Bakafuka’ were at Portal 06 within NFCA Mine doing illegal mining around 10:00 […]

 CABINET has approved for publication and introduction the controlled substance Bill,2023 among five other bills that were also approved at the third meeting. The cabinet approved for publication and introduction in parliament six Bills and made four other policy decisions. It was observed that the current law on controlled substances is inadequate in providing for […]

A new study claims insomnia patients are 69% more likely to have a heart attack.

The agency released a health advisory warning people of the potentially serious public health concern.

By LUCY PHIRI 

ENERGY Regulation Board (ERB) board chairperson Reynolds Bowa says Government is committed to accelerating the energy sector reforms to support the energy transition and manage pathways to sustainable alternative forms of energy. 

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Inonge Mwenya, Mr Bowa said there was need to have reforms aimed at improving the current regulatory framework in line with the emerging global and regional trends.

He said while in South Africa, his team would meet the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and other stakeholders for benchmarking purposes by learning best practices and how their counterparts have overcome challenges in the sector. 

Mr. Bowa said Zambia’s participation in such meetings is important because it gives an opportunity to share knowledge with entities which have vast experience in the sector. 

He said information and knowledge sharing between the two countries is vital as it would lead to enhancing efficiency and increased investment opportunities in the new energy. 

And in welcoming the ERB delegation, Ms. Mwenya reiterated the Mission’s commitment to continue playing its part in ensuring enhanced ties between Zambia and South Africa in various areas.

Ms. Mwenya expressed confidence that the timely visit would indeed provide a platform for both entities to benefit from the collective wealth of experience within the energy regulation space. 

She reiterated the Mission’s commitment to continue playing its part in ensuring enhanced ties between Zambia and South Africa across various areas, including energy.

A series of engagements have been lined up so that the two countries can share their best practices.

By RUTH YAMBAYAMBA

ZAMBIA Republican Party (ZRP) president, Wright Musoma has advised the new dawn administration to address the high cost of living instead of justifying policy inconsistencies in the governance of the country.

This follows last Sunday’s press briefing by six Cabinet Ministers at which they dispelled social media reports suggesting that President Hakainde Hichilema was exhibiting dictatorial tendencies by making decisions without his Cabinet’s involvement.

Mr Musoma said in an interview with Millennium TV that having six ministers address policy inconsistencies of the new dawn administration was a sign that Government was headed for disaster.

“So to us as ZRP, that press briefing which was held by the ministers of UPND, it was just a circus and a sheer waste of time altogether. Let them begin to address the suffering of the people, fuel prices are high, the cost of living is out of this world, it is too high.

“This is the reason why there are a lot of suicide cases, people killing themselves in the prime of their lives,” Mr Musoma said

He added that cabinet ministers were allegedly chocked by the appointing authority’s micromanagement of national affairs. 

He noted that Government’s priority should be to address the high cost of living affecting the people.

“This is why there are a lot of accidents on our roads even on water bodies because people are moving with problems. This is why there are many divorce cases because people are failing to run houses,” Mr Musoma said. 

He said according to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for the month of January 2023, the cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka stood at K9, 047.31

“How many people in Zambia are getting K9, 000? Those are the things that they should address themselves to and not bragging. They can brag and lie all they want but we know that so far, UPND has done nothing and no Zambian will be cheated. 

Let them stop panicking, let them do the right thing and let them give us back Mopani [Mopani Copper Mines) and KCM [Konkola Copper Mines],” Mr Musoma said.

By NATION REPORTER

OVER 55, 000 hectares of customary land was dubiously converted to state land without following the due process of the law in the last two years of PF in government, President Hakainde Hichilema has said.

President Hichilema said the manner in which land was converted was questionable and he wondered who authorised the conversion of such a huge portion of customary land to state land.

He said the new dawn will not encourage a situation where land is converted from customary tenure to state tenure without following due process.

Speaking during a meeting with traditional leaders in Lusaka, President Hichilema reiterated his commitment to work with traditional leaders without segregation to improve their livelihoods and that of their chiefdoms.

 FIVE men have been severely burnt when a fuel tanker truck carrying carrying 45,000 litres of Petrol which was destined for Vivo Energy in Mungwi road caught fire. Police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said the five who are yet to be identified were severely burnt and rushed to Matero Level 1 hospital. “They were later […]

By ROGERS KALERO

GOVERNMENT Institutions must start paying water bills to enable the water utility companies provide quality services to their various customers within their areas of operations,’’ Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company (KWSC) Acting Managing Director Joe Mbewe has said

Mr Mbewe said KWSC which, operates in Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti was owed more than K91 million in unpaid water bills by various Government institutions on the Copperbelt, a situation which was adversely affecting the service delivery by the water utility company Mr Mbewe was speaking in Ndola during a stakeholder’s consultative meeting which was attended by provincial and district heads of government departments drawn from Ndola Luanshya and Masaiti and also discussed salient issues among them, the outstanding debt owed to the utility by state institutions. Mr. Mbewe said more than 270 government institutions were in arrears on their water bills, representing a figure of 0.3 percent of the total customer base of KWSC with government customers accounting for 30 percent of the company’s total revenue per month.

“As a water utility company, KWSC is owed more than K91 million in unpaid water bills. government customers account for 30 percent of the company’s total revenue per month. I’m optimistic that after today’s engagement, Government institutions will start paying their obligations,’’ Mr Mbewe said

Mr Mbewe said he was grateful to the government for the support it has continued rendering to the institution in terms of capital investments and payment of water bills to the company

And Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri has encouraged Government departments to offset their outstanding water bills owed to KWSC so that it can operate effectively and continue to provide service delivery

And Luanshya District Commissioner Oncemore Ngonomo was concerned at the rampant increase in vandalism and theft of KWSC infrastructure and water installations, which he described as retrogressive.