Chipolopolo skipper Kennedy Mweene has been ruled out of Saturday’s Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group K qualifier against Namibia due to injury.

Caretaker coach Aggrey Chiyangi said fit-again Zanaco shot stopper Toaster Nsabata has been drafted as a replacement.

Speaking at National Heroes Stadium this morning, Chiyangi said all the players summoned for duty were geared for victory on Saturday.

He said that only the Orlando Pirates duo of Augustine Mulenga and Justin Shonga were being awaited to join camp after their CAF assignment in Guinea over the weekend.

“Mweene is injured, we cannot risk if he is just recovering, he still needs time,” he said.

Chiyangi said selecting the starters would not be hard for him despite having invited a number of players having a good run at their clubs.

“It won’t be difficult (picking starters) because for us what is important as coaches is to observe. We have called everyone, but at the end of the day we will observe and see those that will be ready to play the game on Saturday,” he said.

“The competition levels are very high, looking at the players we have called, where they are coming from, they are playing very well, even those that are going to play are expected to play well.”

He added: “The only thing that you have to understand is that playing for the club and the national team are two different things because maybe the way they play at the club is different from the way we are going to ask them to do here.”

Zambia and the Brave Warriors of Namibia square off at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Kickoff is at 18:30 hours.

FULL SQUAD

Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos)

(DEFENDERS)

Simon Silwimba, Clement Mwape (Zesco United), Gift Zulu (Nkana), Lawrence Chungu (Zanaco), Isaac Shamujompa (Buildcon), Kabaso Chongo (TP Mazembe-DRC), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes)

(MIDFIELDERS)

Salulani Phiri (Polokwane City-RSA), Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Mike Katiba (Green Buffaloes), Ernest Mbewe (Zanaco), Clatous Chama (Simba-Tanzania), Augustine Mulenga (Orlando Pirates-RSA), Donashano Malama (Chippa United)

(STRIKERS)

Justin Shonga, (Orlando Pirates-RSA), Lazarous Kambole (Zesco United), Moses Phiri (Buildcon), Musonda Mwape (Black Leopards-RSA), Lameck Silwaba (Buildcon)

TICKETS CURRENTLY ON SALE VIA COMPUTICKET!

Zambia vs Namibia

AFCON Group K Heroes Stadium

23^rd March 18:30hrs

South/North wings K20.00

West/East wing K50.00

VIP K200.00

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Two miners have died in a fatal mine accident at Mopani Copper Mines South Ore Body shaft 3010ML in Kitwe.

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Joseph Chewe has confirmed the development in an interview.

The two have been identified as Ackleo Musomali, 42, a mine Captain of house number No.K 17, Chamboli Township Kitwe and Crispin Mwaba, 29, a Boomer operator of house Number H 577 Chamboli Township Kitwe.

“The accident happened at 3510ML’- Position 1106 Access between 06:00 hours and 07:00 hours. On the same date after the two were caught up in a blasting incident,” Chewe stated.

And Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe has expressed sadness on the death of the two miners.

He has implored Mopani Copper Mines to invest in safety to help address mine accidents.

Nundwe said it is unfortunate that the province has lost two miners just two months after three others died.

The post Two Miners Perish in Mopani Accident appeared first on Zambia Reports.

A man of Chief Chikuwe’s area in Chipangali district has died after taking sexual boosters to enlarge his manhood.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Luckson Sakala said a known herbalist who administered the sexual boosters to the victim, is being held in police custody to help the police with investigations.

Sakala said the victim Timothy Onde became unconscious after taking the sexual boosters and that he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Muzeyi health center yesterday at around 23 hours.

The Police Commissioner told journalists in Chipata that the herbalist has been charged with murder, until the post-mortem is conducted.

He said the police will further be guided after the postmortem results.

The post Sexual Boosters’ Kill Chipangali Man appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Constitutional Court has granted the 44 opposition UPND Members of Parliament the right to subpoena Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini and ZNBC Director General Richards Mwanza.

Making a ruling in the matter in which a Kabangwe resident Richard Mumba is seeking that the Constitutional Court declares vacant the 44 seats of the MPs who shunned President Edgar Lungu’s address to parliament, the court ruled that the parliamentarians could subpoena the two officials as submitted in their application.

Justice Enock Mulembe granted leave for issuance of the summons or subpoena Dr Matibini and Mwanza after the respondents requested the court to give them guidance on the application to subpoena the witnesses.

The court ruled that the defendants would be allowed to subpoena witnesses when all parties file the record of proceedings and the skeleton arguments.

Justice Mulembe advised Mumba to file his skeleton arguments by March 5, 2019 and allow for a status conference on March 7 in which the defendants may respond on March 19.

The court is expected to hear the matter on March 26.

The post ConCourt Allows UPND MPs to Subpoena Speaker and ZNBC Director General appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Police have arrested a 42-year old man of Lusaka’s Makeni area for forging the credentials of State House spokesperson Amos Chanda.

Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said Richard Joseph Mutale had been charged for the offences of Forgery contrary, Uttering a false document and Obtaining Money by False pretences Contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

“Richard Joseph Mutale is alleged to have forged the signature of the Special Assistant to the President Mr. Amos Chanda purporting that Mr. Chanda had written and signed a letter dated 13th March, 2019 addressed to the Managing Director for Truck and Trailer Sales Ltd, a company based in the United Kingdom for a business appointment with the Head of State and demanding a payment for fixing an appointment” she said.

Katongo stated that using the said forged letter, Mutale obtained K10, 000=00 from the General Manager of Truck and Trailer Sales Ltd and later issued him with a forged General Receipt as payment for Presidential Appointment for non-Zambians.

“Upon arrest, a search was conducted and the suspect was found in possession of various forged documents among them were documents bearing forged signatures of the Republican President, His Excellency- Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu,” she explained.

The suspect is detained in police custody and will appear in Court soon.

The post Lusaka Man Arrested for Forging Amos Chanda’s Signature appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to Kenya Brenda Muntemba has died.

Ambassador Mutemba was on the 22nd of February 2019 involved in a road traffic accident in Kenya.

Muntemba was evacuated to a Nairobi hospital where she had been in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until her death.

Prior to her appointment as High Commissioner, Brenda Muntemba served as Southern Province Police Commissioner and Chief Program Officer at UNESCO in Zambia.

Muntemba also served as Zambia Police Service spokesperson.

She was born on July 2, 1970.

The post Brenda Muntemba Dies appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Zambia Army has urged women married to Zambia Army officers to observe the customs and traditions of the military because they apply to them too by virtue of being married to military personnel.

Speaking when he addressed officers’ spouses at the army headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia Army deputy commander and Chief of Staff Major General Sitali Alibuzwei said the code of conduct by army ladies must replicate order, discipline and oneness as observed by the combats.

He has since called for change of mindset and has encouraged the ladies to learn, understand and correctly implement customs and traditions of the military.

And the Zambia Army Ladies Club Board chairlady has thanked the command for the guidance given and pledged that the ladies will carry themselves in a manner befitting the military.

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Heavy Rains in Kalumbila’s Tundula area have left several houses collapsed, leaving most families in the cold.

Chief Mumena of the Kaonde speaking people in Kalumbila has confirmed the development in an interview, describing it as sad.

The traditional leader said about 83 houses collapsed after a heavy downpour and most families have been left without shelter.

He has since appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to quickly move in and help the affected families.

“Yes, we had a heavy downpour, that was on Sunday, which led to the collapse of over 83 houses in Tundula area. This is an unfortunate incident and we have already engaged the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit and other well-wishers to quickly move in and respond to this emergency,” said chief Mumena.

District commissioner Robson Kalota, who is also the District Management and Mitigation Unit chairperson, said he had written to the DMMU at both provincial and national level to assist the affected families.

“We have made a request for assistance of about 200 tents. The current situation is not conducive; we need to protect the lives of our people. You know the area is prone to floods,” said Kalota.

The post 83 Kalumbila Families Homeless after Heavy Rains appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Suspended National Democratic Congress (NDC) Kitwe chairman Steve Chewe has charged that the party is on the path of self destruction because those at the helm are exhibiting high levels of nepotism and dictatorship.

Chewe, who was suspended after he argued with the decision to suspend Mwenya Musenge, the NDC secretary general, has accused party consultant Chishimba Kambwili of imposing his relative as candidate in the Roan Parliamentary by elections.

“As a founder member of NDC, I am very disappointed at the way the party is being run by Mr Kambwili. There is no democracy and whoever wants to stay in NDC has to dance to the tune of Mr Kambwili, whether the song is in bad taste or not,” Chewe alleged.

He said the NDC was not founded on grounds of nepotism and dictatorship.

Chewe has further said despite an announcement having been made through the media of his suspension, he had not yet been served with the said suspension letter.

Confusion started when Roan Constituency Women secretary Mutale Mutale led other party members in denouncing the adoption of Joseph Chishala as the party’s candidate in the April 11 Roan parliamentary by-election.

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The Zambia Under-23 National Team recorded a significant 1-0 away win over the junior flames of Malawi in the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Belgium based Fashion Sakala powerfully headed in the winner in the 76^th minute to keep the ‘Bola Na Lesa’ spirit alive.

Zambia was unlucky to have Patson Daka’s effort that could have taken the tally to 2-0 not allowed by the referee on account that it did not cross the line.

The two sides will now face off in the return leg on Sunday at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Coach Beston Chambeshi will be happy the bulk of his 2017 Africa Cup winning side lived up to their pre-match hype and will be hoping to dowse the junior flames before the home ground.

Winner over two legs will face either Burundi or Congo Brazzaville in the final qualifying round for November 2019 Olympic qualifying tournament.

The post Zambia U23 Win Away in Malawi appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The ruling Patriotic Front has dismissed a letter circulating online purporting that Zesco Limited has made a payment of K3 million to the party.

A letter addressed to Zesco managing director Victor Mundende purportedly from the company’s finance director Saidi Chimya is alleged to be in response to a request of K10 million from the PF, but only K3 million was said to have been made available.

But PF media director Sunday Chanda has stated that the ruling party “does not receive any funding whatsoever” from Zesco Limited or any government institution.

“It has come to our attention that there is a letter purported to have been issued by ZESCO authorizing a payment to the Patriotic Front Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila. We wish to inform the general public that the said letter is the imagination of small and disgruntled criminal minds. PF does not receive any funding whatsoever from ZESCO or any government corporation; neither does any corporation pay anyone at the Patriotic Front Secretariat. These parastatals are audited and its therefore a no-brainer that no such funding exists,” Chanda has stated.

He advised Zambians to disregard the letter “emanating from those who refuse to accept that Patriotic Front remains Zambia’s number one (1) Party of choice”.

“We are actually shocked at the lack of creativity characterizing the Opposition’s propaganda machinery,” stated Chanda.

The post PF Dismiss Zesco Letter appeared first on Zambia Reports.

A miner has been crushed to death by an electronic locomotive at Konkola Copper Mines’ Underground Shaft 4 in Chililabombwe, barely a day after two others died at Mopani’s SOB shaft.

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) general secretary George Mumba has confirmed the death of James Katai, 48, of House Number 969, Buchi Township in Kitwe.

Mumba said the deceased was working as a Whistleman at Master Mining Services (MMS) under JCHX.

And Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga has said the accident happened around 04:00am today when Katai was working at level 3,150 feet in section 1075.

She said the deceased sustained multiple head injuries.

Katanga said body of the deceased was found trapped and preliminary investigations have been launched.

Katai’s body is in Konkola Mine Hospital mortuary.

The post Another Miner Dies Underground appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Zambia Police Service has said it is saddened by the death of former police commissioner Brenda Muntemba Sichilembe who was until her demise Zambia’s High Commissioner to Kenya.

“Before her appointment by His Excellence the President of the Republic of Zambia, we worked with Ms Muntemba in the Zambia Police where she diligently served the nation in different positions, most prominent ones being that of Zambia Police Public Relations Officer and Commissioner of Police, the rank she held until her appointment into the foreign Mission,” stated Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja. “She will greatly be missed by the entire Zambia Police Service and the nation at large. We stand with the family of Ms Muntemba Sichilembe through out this difficult time. May Her Soul Rest in Peace.”

Muntemba died yesterday following an accident in Nairobi last month which left her in the intensive care unit.

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The Anti-Corruption Commission in Choma has arrested a former mayor of Choma for conflict of interest in a matter involving allocation of plots.

Professor Mwaanga, 46, of Silukiya Village in Choma has been charged with one count of conflict of interest contrary to Section 28(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia.

Details of the offence are that on dates unknown but between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 in Choma, Mwaanga, as Mayor of Choma Municipal Council, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons, failed to declare interest in writing when he took part in the selection process for allocation of plots in which his wife, Dainess Maingaila, was an applicant.

Mwaanga has since been released on bond and will appear in Court on April 17, 2019.

The post Ex- Choma Mayor Arrested for Corruption appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu will head to Eastern Province today on a three-day working visit.

According to the program, President Lungu will arrive in Chipata around 09:45 hours and immediately head to Iphendukeni Palace for courtesy call on Paramount Chief Mpezeni.

The Head of State is expected to oversee a number of developmental projects including commissioning and administrative block in Sinda District, flagging off relief food in Eastern Province and commissioning of the Edgar Chagwa Lungu Technical High School in Petauke.

President Lungu is expected back in Lusaka on Saturday.

The post Pres. Lungu Dates Eastern Province appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) says government has not revised the schedule for traffic offences as reported in some segments of social media.

RTSA Public Relations Manager Fred Mubanga, said fines of traffic offenses remained as indicated in the Statutory Instrument of June 2015.

“Contrary to information circulating on social media suggesting that government recently issued a new revised schedule for traffic offences, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), wish to inform members of the public that the Government of the Republic of Zambia has recently not made any adjustments to traffic fines,” Mubanga said.

“All traffic fines and fees which are currently in force are based on Statutory Instrument Number 41 of 2015.”

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Trial in the Ronald Chitotela case has opened in the Lusaka Magistrate Court with a witness testifying how shocked she was after discovering that the property she was selling to the Housing and Infrastructure Minister was being paid for in the name of another person.

When the matter came up for trial, Mary Lubinga, a director of human resource at the Ministry of Local Government said she was shocked that that the contract of sale for a property in Makeni that she was selling to Chitotela and his wife were in a different name.

Lubinga said that she sold plot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makeni to Chitotela between July 3, 2016 and October 2016.

She said that she was approached by Mrs Chitotela through a real estate agent and later met the Housing and Infrastructure Minister when he came to view the property.

The State witness further told the Court that she sold the said house to Chitotela at K1.6 million from the initial price of K2.5 million.

Lubinga said the transaction was processed in Chitotela’s office at the Ministry of Housing and infrastructure.

This is the matter in which Chitotela and three others are facing four counts of concealing and being in possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In the first count that Chitotela, Gregory Chibanga and Brut Holdings Limited, between July 3, 2016 and October 30, 2018 in Lusaka, concealed plot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makeni disguised in the names of Diris Mukange, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.

In the second count, the trio between the same dates is accused of concealing part of subdivision A lot 22183/M situated in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, disguised in the name of Diris Mukange, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In the third count, Diris Mukange between the same dates jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people possessed lot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makeni in Lusaka, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In the fourth count, Mukange between the same dates possessed part of subdivision A of lot 22183/M situated in Ibex Hill.

Trial continues.

The post Chitotela Corruption Trial Commences appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu says he will soon sit with some government officials to see how Zambia can assist neighboring countries affected by cyclone Idai.

Speaking on arrival in Chipata this morning, President Lungu said Zambia needs to mourn with Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe that were

affected by cyclone Idai.

“We want to give them little food that we can afford, so we should think of our colleagues affected. So I am asking you to be praying for our colleagues who are faced by this big problem. Like I said, mzako akapya ndevu mzimile. so we have to mourn with the people in Malawi, we have to mourn with the people in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The fact that we are not hit doesn’t mean that we are not affected, we are affected. I would urge those of you who have food to look after the food properly,” President Lungu said.

And Mpezeni, the Paramount chief of the Ngonis, said he was grateful to President Lungu and the government for supporting last month’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people.

Mpezeni said this when the Head of State, who is on a three-day working visit to Eastern Province, paid a courtesy call on him this morning.

President Lungu also paid a courtesy call on Kalonga Gawa Undi, the Paramount chief of the Chewas, before proceeding to Sinda to commission the district administration block.

The post Lungu Considers Help for Countries Hit by Cyclone Idai appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Consumer Unity and Trust Society has said the electronic Farmer Input Support Programme (e-FISP) delivers on the commitment to support growth in the Seventh National Development Programme (7NDP).

CUTS, in a statement, stated that the e-FISP empowers farmers with choice, “enabling them to improve their incomes and graduate from the programme, a long-elusive goal of the traditional FISP, under which poverty has remained stagnant”.

The statement followed last month’s meeting with key stakeholders in the agriculture sector to analyze the implementation of the e-FISP in the 2018/2019 farming season.

“Over the last month, politicians, farmers and traders have been dissecting the effectiveness of the e-FISP following governments announcement of the 60-40 scale back. On 6 February, the Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) brought together key stakeholders in the agriculture sector to analyse the implementation of the e-FISP in the 2018/2019 farming season. The meeting found that the e-voucher remained overwhelmingly positive with the agro-dealers, fertiliser companies and more especially the farmers, who are empowered with choice over inputs, and was creating much-needed off-farm jobs in the private sector,” CUTS stated in a statement.

“However, it was highlighted that one of the key factors hindering its success was government arrears to agro-dealers which delayed the delivery of inputs to farmers.  At the meeting, a broad coalition of farmers, agro-dealers, suppliers, civil society and think tanks emphasised their commitment to the e-voucher, applauded government progress on farmer registration through ZIAMIS and identified a clear fix for next year’s rollout – the immediate payment of agro-dealers. CUTS has long advocated that a key benefit of the e-FISP is the increased farmer input choice, bringing diversification to reality.  The ability to choose which inputs to access and which traders to purchase from is a key component of the e-voucher.”

It noted that the farmers made testimonies about how the current system  allowed them to diversify through choice over inputs, with one saying she had now embarked on poultry and livestock farming.

“The e-FISP crowds-in the private sector by utilising agro-dealers to provide, store and transport inputs to beneficiaries which has provided a ‘win-win’ by creating jobs and reducing government expenditure at a time of austerity. At the CUTS event, agro-dealers highlighted the jobs created in districts under the e-FISP, confirming IAPRI estimate that 3,000 jobs were created in agro-dealerships alone in the 2017-18 season – as well as the jobs lost in districts which reverted to the Direct Input Supply (DIS) system this year,” stated CUTS. “The e-FISP enables government with two key factors – the creation of jobs and reducing government expenditure.  Agro-dealers are essential to the e-FISP, but there was a problem this year with late payments by government, which hindered the overall success of the programme. Under this years system, agro-dealers are paid directly by government for providing farmers with their inputs. However, delays meant that agro-dealers suffered from cash flow issues, leaving them unable to provide farmers with their inputs on time and, in some cases, forcing them to close…

The e-FISP can work – and key area of focus is in achieving success is in ensuring timely payment to the agro-dealers.”

The post CUTS Supports E-FISP appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Drug Enforcement Commission’s Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested an accountant of Lusaka for money laundering activities involving over K500, 000.

Deborah Mwila Kabila, 34, of House No. 49, Nyumba Yanga in Lusaka, has been arrested for theft by public servant and money laundering, contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Kabila, on dates unknown but between January 1, 2018 and November 30, 2018, in her capacity as a payroll and payment officer at a named financial institution, created various fictitious transactions amounting to K507, 157.13 which she transferred to four personal accounts and to her mother’s account held at the same institution she was working for.

The suspect further acquired two motor vehicles, a Mercedes Benz C200, a Honda Civic and used parts of the stolen funds to construct a semi-detached house up to roof-level in Chalala.

The suspect has since been released on Police bond and will appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, the Lusaka Magistrate Court has convicted two people for trafficking and importing 24 kilogrammes of cocaine, the highest quantity recorded in Zambia.

High Court Judge Kenneth Mulife, sitting as magistrate, has sentenced Sydney Mwansa, an Assistant Manager of Taqua Bus Services of Tanzania and Likuta Shaibu Abilahi, a Tanzanian of Mbagra in Dar-es-Salaam, to eight years and ten months imprisonment with hard labour in each count with the sentence expected to run concurrently.

The duo was arrested by the Commission on February 22, 2016 for trafficking and importing 24 packets of cocaine weighing 24.19 kilograms.

The post Lusaka Accountant Nabbed for Money Laundering appeared first on Zambia Reports.