Posts in category: Uncategorized

Strong parent-school relationships are central to a child’s learning, development, and well-being, yet when it comes to children with autism (ASD), it seems positive relationships are few and far between say UniSA researchers.

By NATION REPORTER 

THE Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) has expressed concern at the revelations that both Mopani Copper Mine and Konkola Copper Mine collectively owe suppliers and contractors in excess of US$200 million.

ANDD Executive Director Samuel Banda said this is the more reason why the organisation has been calling on Government to resolve issues at both KCM and Mopani mines.

Mr Banda maintained that the government of President Hakainde Hichilema should quickly give Vedanta Resources back KCM and quickly find an investor to manage Mopani Copper Mine.

“The recent news that KCM and Mopani mines collectively owe suppliers and contractors around US$200 million makes very sad reading. This is an indication that both Mopani and KCM are failing to pay the suppliers and contractors due to the financial constraints that they are going through. This demands that Government must take the plight of the contractors and suppliers seriously by unlocking KCM and Mopani mines,” he said.

He said ANDD thought that the only solution to clear all the debt that KCM and Mopani owed the contractors and suppliers was to give them investors. In this current state they didn’t have the capacity to settle the debt.

Mr Banda appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to unlock the two mines as this would help boost the economy in terms of promoting trade, commerce and help in creating employment and business opportunities. 

He emphasised the need for President Hichilema to intervene in the ongoing negotiations with Vedanta Resources and find a final conclusion. 

[/ihc-hide-content

Two Connecticut residents have died this summer from infections linked to a bacteria found in raw shellfish or seawater, the state Department of Public Health said Tuesday.

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley  Kakubo says President Hakainde Hichilema, President will attend the 43rd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government from 16th to 17th August, 2023, in Luanda, Angola. Mr Kakubo said the Summit, which is being hosted by President of Angola João […]

THE Patriotic Front (PF) has described the seizure of the gold and the more than US$5.6 million as yet another monumental scandal of the new dawn administration apart from Sujilite-gate that rocked the country a few months ago.

Yesterday, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) announced the seizure of US$5, 697, 700, five pistols, seven magazines, 126 rounds of ammunition, 602 pieces of suspected gold weighing 123.2 Kg and equipment used for measuring gold.

Raphael Nakacinda, the PF information and publicity chairperson said Zambians should demand answers and explanations from Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu, his Mines counterpart Paul Kabuswe, Frank Tayali , the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Denny Kalyalya, the Bank of Zambia Governor over the ‘gold’ and millions of dollars seized by law enforcement agencies on Monday. 

“We had been zooming at the KKIA and we are demanding explanations from the Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, the Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of Mines and the Bank of Zambia.

He claimed that the UPND government was allowing their crooked friends to use the KKIA to conduct their illicit business transactions, stating that Zambians knew the market of its minerals, especially where precious minerals were being traded.

Mr Nakacinda wondered why the UPND had resorted to what he termed corridor deals by allowing foreigners to use the KKIA to transact illegal business deals.

“How is it that the Ministry of Home Affairs through the DEC are being seen to be assisting and participating in the transaction? How is it that we have a plane cleared without knowing the passengers and the cargo it is carrying? How is it that we can have minerals shipped out of the country without Ministers knowing?” We know the transaction points to high-ranking officials in the UPND government, Mr Nakacinda wondered.

[/ihc-hide-content

People who have had a heart attack often report pain about a year later. Moderate or extreme pain after a heart attack—most commonly pain due to other health conditions—may help predict the likelihood of death over the next 8.5 years, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

By MUKWIMA CHILALA

A GOLD billion deal that should have been transacted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) was on Monday botched due to beneficial disagreements, leading to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) grounding the plane carrying about US$5.7 million to purchase the contraband, investigations can reveal.

According to Daily Nation investigations, there has been a thriving gold trade triangle over the years through the KKIA from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia often destined for North Korea.

It has been revealed that the gold, which impounded and later turned into copper and zinc was destined for North Korea where legal documentation is not a requirement.

The deal was arranged in such a manner that the transaction at the KKAI should have been a quick and short exchange of gold with money, but was to be botched after a whistleblower interrupted the transaction on account of dissatisfaction and disagreement.     

From page 1

Mystery has thence, surrounded the ‘gold’ bullions and several millions of dollars that were on Monday seized by alert security agencies at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) as the owners of the contrabands have remained hidden in the shadows  

The Gold as well as the US$5 million scandal that caused intrigue and left many Zambians in suspense at the KKIA is believed to be a highly organized syndicate could have gone bad.

The ‘gold’gate has so far seen a local pilot identified as Patrick Kawanu as the Zambian national that has been detained along with nine foreign nationals over the ‘Gold’ and millions dollar which has seen government clarifying that in fact, the gold was copper and Zinc.

By press time yesterday, reports were to the effect that the aircraft which had been grounded by DEC had been suspiciously cleared and allowed to fly off with its contraband that included millions of dollars.

But DEC director general Nason Banda when contacted refuted assertions that the plane had been cleared and had left Zambia with its contraband.

Mr Banda said the plane together with its goods comprising ‘gold’ and millions of dollars, guns, and ammunitions remained impounded as the investigations into the matter were active.

“It is not true that the plane has been released. It remains impounded and all the suspected gold which we now have been told is in fact copper and zinc remain impounded. The money that was seized is still in our custody and we just started the investigation this morning (yesterday) and we are not sleeping,” Mr Banda said.  

The DEC has so far detained 10 suspects including a Zambian in connection with the ‘gold’ and over US$5 million which were intercepted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Monday.

The DEC also seized 5 pistols, 7 magazines, 126 rounds ammunition, 602 pieces of gold weighing162.2 kg and equipment used for measuring gold where found on a Global TZ-WW aircraft.

According to the details, the local plane seized by DEC belonged to Sky Trails Airline.

It has been learnt that the operation could have been organised at high levels through a highly connected syndicate where a ‘gold deal’ was supposed have quickly transacted within the precincts of the KKIA airport old wing.

According to highly placed sources at the National Airport Corporation, the mission to smuggle the gold could have gone through un-foiled as the plane had landed with the guise to refuel.

“The plane landed around 03:00 hours on Sunday with a six crew member and three passengers. But the security through the tower noticed that a sky airline plane packed next to it while cargo was being offloaded on to the skyline plane. The foreign plane is said to have had all the necessary documentation to land in Zambia.”

“It packed though the Private hangers near the Executive air section. The guys had all the necessary documentation, but the only problem is that they didn’t declare the amount of money to ZRA.  It landed at 03:00 hours on Sunday, from Egypt but we suspect the other plane may have passed through Congo DRC,” the sources said.

[/ihc-hide-content

By NATION REPORTER 

HAD the grand theft of gold Zambians are witnessing under the patronage of President Hakainde Hichilema happened under former President Edgar Lungu, the UPND in tandem with civil society organisations would have gone to town to vilify, abuse and demonise the former head of State, Mutotwe Kafwaya has said.

Yesterday, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) announced it had seized two planes with US$5.6 million, five pistols, seven magazines, 126 rounds of ammunition, 602 pieces of Gold and machinery to confirm the Gold.

But Mr Kafwaya said former President Lungu would have been vilified had the theft of the Gold and millions of dollars that had been seized taken place during his tenure.

Mr Kafwaya said that former President Lungu had suffered as he was accused of a lot of atrocities even when he was not guilty.

“Can you imagine Edgar Lungu (former President) is in power and a plane lands with a sole purpose of getting processed Gold? Can you imagine how the politicians, CSOs would react? They would have grilled him mercilessly,” Mr Kafwaya said.

Featuring on Hot FM Radio on a programme dubbed Hot Seat yesterday, Mr Kafwaya said former President Lungu had really suffered as he was maliciously attacked by the CSOs which had ganged up with the UPND in the opposition at the time.

He said Zambians were now seeing real thievery under the UPND because the cash and Gold scandal which happened at the KKIA would have resulted into the country losing millions in dollars apart from Gold, its precious mineral.

“Edgar Lungu walichulile. Walichulile (Edgar Lungu, you suffered…you really suffered). This is when we are seeing bu kabwalala (grand stealing) of the highest order,” Mr Kafwaya said.

He said the PF had been vindicated because time and again, the former ruling party had indicated that Gold was being stolen on planes but that the UPND government had rubbished the allegations as mere rhetoric.

Mr Kafwaya said he was Minister of Transport and that there was no way a plane could have landed during his tenure without him or former President Lungu being briefed.

He said that he was sure that the plane would be cleared because the suspected owners were allegedly bankrolling the UPND activities, warning that it was just a matter of time before all involved would be made to account.

Mr Kafwaya said if the plane was allowed to leave, then the Zambia Revenue Authority should allow all the impounded trucks belonging to Zambians to be set free.

“Planes cannot land in the country without permission, it has all the permission. Somebody should explain this to the Zambian people. Sugilite was stolen in Kabwe, what we get is people 

[/ihc-hide-content

By GRACE CHAILE 

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has submitted that the State does not need to prosecute and prove former First Lady Esther Lungu guilty in a matter the DPP is seeking to seize her properties through the non-conviction forfeiture.

The State through the DPP has submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that there is no need for prior conviction against the former first lady for her 15 double storey flats to be declared tainted property.

“That the interested party has not exhibited the movement of money from her husband to her account or to the contractor’s account to substantiate her claim that he built the properties and further, there was need for the interested party to demonstrate to the court how and where her husband obtained the money to develop the subject real estate,” Emmanuel Khondowe, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) investigative officer submitted.

This is according to an affidavit in reply to affidavit in opposition to notice of motion filed before the Economic and Financial Crimes Division-High Court in Lusaka. 

Ms Lungu in her affidavit in opposition to the seizure of her properties via non-conviction forfeiture to the State of her properties contended that the DPP, Gilbert Phiri, was in breach of the constitution by attempting to forfeit to the State her properties without any prosecution to prove her guilty.

Ms Lungu admitted to owing the properties no.9334/1,9334/2 and 9334/4 Lusaka but denied that they were tainted and acquired from proceeds of crime.

She added that the properties are in fact matrimonial properties and that they were developed by her husband, former Republican President Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

But the DPP in an affidavit sworn by DEC senior investigations officer Khondowe, insisted that the said properties were proceeds of crime because an analysis of Ms Lungu’s income reveals that she lacks capacity to possess the properties. 

“I contend that despite a person not being charged with an offence, an application can be made against the property as it is the property that is in contravention of the law.  The offence of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime is not predicated on proof of the commission of a serious or foreign offence,” Mr Khondowe stated.

He submitted that his investigations at Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) revealed there was no registered tax returns either in the name of Ms Lungu or the non-governmental organisations or any entity associated with her.

He also said Ms Lungu never accrued any allowances on her foreign trips, neither did she provide proof of payment of the said allowances to support her allegation. Mr Khondowe said the former first lady’s claim that the properties were developed by her husband was not enough to prove that they were legitimately acquired. 

He contended that the burden of proof rested on Ms Lungu to prove the legitimate acquisition of the properties.

The DPP denied breaching her constitutional rights and said there was nothing unconstitutional necessitating reference

[/ihc-hide-content

“Landeni ichishinka, lekeni ukutushinga butter pamenso”, Chishimba Kambwili tells Mine and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe regarding who is behind the gold scandal. Patriotic Front (PF) presidential aspiring candidate Chishimba Kambwili has urged Mr Kabuswe to tell the nation who is behind the seized gold. The call follows yesterday’s statement by Mr Kabuswe that what was […]