Posts in category: Uncategorized

A quarter-century ago, researchers discovered that adults, not just developing infants, can generate new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis. But it’s still not clear what role these new neurons play in health or disease.

DISAPPOINTMENT for Zambia at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, sprinter Rhoda Njobvu has failed to qualify to the semifinals after finishing seventh in heat six Njobvu took part in the 200m race running in heat six but failed to be among the top three in heat of eight runners to make it to the […]

By NATION REPORTER 

THE Kunda Royal Establishment (KRE) has said it is of the view that the recent attacks on former republican president Edgar Lungu at the Malaila traditional ceremony of the Kunda people at the weekend was sponsored by the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Recently, the former head of State was attacked by a mob of UPND cadres who disrupted proceedings of the traditional ceremony.

The KRE said it was of the view that the mayhem was perpetrated by members of the UPND as they had video footage which clearly showed Mambwe District Commissioner, Mr. William Banda pushing and shoving Police Officers in uniform, creating a scene right in the presence of the Kunda chiefs and the chairperson of the House of Chiefs. 

It said it was sad to witness a son of the Kunda land being at the centre of trying to disgrace the rich Kunda heritage.

The KRE said it wanted to put it on record that on August 1, 2023, they wrote to the provincial administration demanding the transfer of the DC, Mr Banda from Mambwe due to his hostile and repeated disrespectful behaviour towards traditional leaders. “His conduct was a hindrance to development and we cannot stand by and watch him contribute to the stagnation of our beautiful district.”

According to a statement, the establishment expressed deep disappointment and anguish at the regrettable displays of violent behaviour and insults by known UPND cadres. 

The ceremony which was held on August 19, 2023 at Luŵaneni in Mnkhanya Chiefdom became a scene of unruly displays of violent behaviour and insults by known UPND cadres who were protesting the presence of the former President at the ceremony.

As indicated in the statement by the House of Chiefs, Chairperson, Chief Chisunka “traditional leaders are non- partisan and traditional ceremonies are not political gatherings, but rather celebrations and preservation of our history and culture. It should be known by every Zambian that culture is not just our identity, rather, it also unites us and it’s a means through which we all come together to solve Malambo’s most pressing challenges and build sustainable communities.”

The KRE said it echoed the sentiments of the Chairperson of the House of Chiefs and was saddened at the blatant disrespect directed at Senior Chief Nsefu, his chiefs and subjects.

It said it was evident that the people who were at the forefront of this mayhem were people who did not regard the country’s national values as well as valuing the Kunda culture nor its leaders and people.

“We are of the view that anyone is free to attend a traditional ceremony, which usually attracts people from all walks of life and from across the globe as it creates opportunities to bring our communities together to experience the diverse cultures and foster unity, development and social change,” the KRE indicated. 

“We as the Kunda Royal Establishment stand for peace and embrace other people across the political divide. We have always embraced and worked with the government of the day and the administration of President Hakainde Hichilema is no exception. Let’s foster an environment of mutual respect and peace and it is in this atmosphere that we will prosper as a district and nation at large,” it indicated.

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Communities with poor access to mental health services are eight times more likely to be youth suicide “hotspots,” according to new Telethon Kids Institute research.

A 65-year-old woman repeatedly seeks medical help for her failing memory. She is first told it’s nothing to worry about, then, a year later, that it’s “just normal aging.” Until finally, the penny drops: “It’s Alzheimer’s. There is no cure.”

The worlds of pop culture and advanced imaging technology intersected recently when Kim Kardashian promoted a commercial whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service on social media as a tool to detect cancer and aneurysms.

THE habeas corpus hearing for four foreigners, among them Egyptians in the ‘gold scam’ case, failed to proceed today because the State was not ready. In the application for habeas corpus, the four foreigners are challenging their continued detention without being formally charged or taken to court. The four foreigners want a Judge to assess […]

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

SECRETARY to the Treasury, Felix Nkulukusa, has attributed Zambia’s delay in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the official creditor committee to summer holidays in the western world.

Zambia in June this year reached an agreement on a comprehensive debt treatment with its Official Creditors under the G20 Common Framework after several years of back and forth talks.

This, however, needs to be cemented through the signing of an MoU between the two parties.

Giving an update on how Government had gone in the negotiations, Mr Nkulukusa said the official creditor committee were on summer holidays hence the discussions were stalled.

“We are now negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the official creditor committee and I know someone will ask a question as to why it has taken so long.

“Ordinarily, for our colleagues in the West, July and August are summer holidays, schools close and almost everyone goes on leave for their summer holidays,” he said yesterday at a Mid-Year Economic Performance and 2024-2026 Medium Term Budget Plan yesterday in Lusaka.

He, however said the negotiations had resumed.  “But we have resumed and we are having the discussions and we are hoping to reach the agreement very soon.

“Once we sign that MoU, then we will go and have bilateral agreements of official creditors signed based on the MoU that we have signed with the official creditor committee.” 

Mr Nkulukusa also said Government had scheduled several meetings next month to advance discussions on a comparable debt treatment to private creditors.

Meanwhile, Mr Nkulukusa said the stock of central government debt excluding publicly guaranteed external debt as at end of June 2023 increased to US$14.07 billion from US$13.96 billion as at end of December 2022.

And speaking earlier, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, projected that Zambia would attain real Gross Domestic Product growth rate of at least 4.7 percent over the Medium Term from 2024 to 2026.

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THE Drug Enforcement Commission in Chipata Eastern Province has arrested three pharmacists at the Chipata District Health Office for theft of government drugs and possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime. The Commission has jointly charged Willard Mugala aged 42, Tamara Kamanga aged 42 and Fortune Mtonga aged 40 for Theft by Public […]

By PRISCA LUMINGU

GOVERNMENT has blamed the Patriotic Front (PF) for the UPND’s attack and harassment on former President Edgar Lungu at the Malaila Traditional Ceremony in Mambwe.

Mike Mposha, the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation says former President Lungu was attacked because the PF did not inform Government that former President Lungu was going to be at the Malaila Traditional Ceremony.

According to Mr Mposha, Mr Lungu was not supposed to attend the ceremony and was only sneaked into Mambwe and at the Malaila Traditional Ceremony by the former ruling party which angered the UPND cadres.

Mr. Mposha claimed the rumpus and helter-skelter that characterised the Malaila Traditional Ceremony was because former President Lungu was allegedly politicking and abusing the good gesture and environment the UPND had created.

He said the government should not be blamed for the harassment Mr Lungu suffered at the hands of the UPND cadres because according him, his (former head of State) handlers had decided to sneak the former President into the ceremony.

Mr Lungu was on Saturday  attacked, harassed and verbally abused by UPND cadres led by Malambo District Commissioner, William Banda who attempted to eject him from the arena.

The incident happened in the presence of traditional leaders and Cabinet Ministers that included Tourism Minister, Rodney Sikumba and other senior government officials.

He claimed the PF were trying to play to the gallery by portraying that the former President was harassed when they caused that themselves by sneaking the former head of State to the traditional ceremony.

“We were aware that ECL (former President Lungu) was intending to go for Malaila. For me who is one of the subjects from there, I did inquire from the organising committee which other high profiled individuals had been invited but from the list, the name of the sixth republican president was not among the invited people. I asked several times but the organisers through the chairman, Mr Peter Mwale said he was not invited,” Mr. Mposha said.

He said all government attempts to find out if Mr Lungu was going to attend the ceremony failed as the organising committee insisted that he was not invited.

Mr. Mposha said he also followed up the matter with Makebi Zulu who did not give him a definite answer on whether former President Lungu was attending the ceremony. 

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