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ZAMBIA Police Service Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani has said that the police was ready to police the Livingstone by election as it has sent 420 officers to Livingstone.  She said the police were not consulted before the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) made the decision to postpone the Livingstone by election. She was speaking in an interview, she said that it was costly to police Livingstone and called on ECZ to consider shorten the period that it had given for the by election to be held. “As police we are firm on the ground as we have enough officers who could have policed the bye election,” she said. “We can’t fail to police the Livingstone by election,” she said  Ms Libongani said the police had spent about KR 1,000,000 to facilitate the presence of the police officers in the tourist capital. The inspector general of police urged ECZ to consider bring the election date even before 14th of March as the police are not consulted over this. ...

THE Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Ambassador Peter Kasanda has expressed shock at the lack of development in Kazungula district despite the district existing for over 14 years. Speaking when he addressed heads of department in Kazungula district, Ambassador Kasanada said that the district is the nucleus of service as it was the beginning of service delivery. He was accompanied to Kazungula by Permanent Secretary for policy analysis and coordination division cabinet office Bernard Kampasa, Permanent Secretary of parliamentary business Dr Simon Miti, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga. He said that this is what was meant by bottom up approach and that Kazungula district was not peculiar to that. Ambassador Kasanda said that the civil servants need to remember that the country was in political dispensation under a party that has made promises to the people. “The promises that the party made are in the patriotic front (PF) party manifesto, I encourage...

The Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Ambassador Peter Kasanda said that Government was aware of the challenges that the civil servants are facing in implementing the programmes for the people. Speaking when he addressed heads of department in Livingstone district and toured, he said the Government would ensure that where it was not seeing any progress it moves in and ensure that things being to work. “The Government will ensure that where it does not see progress it works on it and that the reason why we are here to appreciate what are the challenges on the ground,” he said. Ambassador Kasanda said his team was on a mission to ensure that the Government programes are implemented on time. Ambassador Kasanada said the job of the civil servant was to implement government programmes.  “If the funding is given to them they would implement the Government programmes,” Ambassador Kasanda said. He said the issue of giving the funds to the ministries on time was being tabled...

THE police in Livingstone have released over 10 United Party for National Development (UPND) members that were arrested and screened to help the police with investigations in connection with various offences linked to the murder of Harrison Chanda a Patriotic Front (PF) official. Southern Province Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga confirmed to Sunday times in Livingstone yesterday that UPND director of strategy and mobilisation Request Muntanga had been released from custody for insufficient evidence that was linking him, who is also UPND MP for Kalomo to the murder.  She said that amongst those that had been released was UPND Livingstone district spokesperson Neto Halwabala and party chairperson for elections Ackson Sejani amongst others. Mrs Katanga said despite being re-arresting UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s special assistant William Banda on Friday, he has been released on police bond  awaiting court appear soon. She said that Mr Banda had other o...

By CHALI MULENGA A LIVINGSTONE resident from Malota Township Kenneth Kalomo, unknown age, has been sentenced to 18 days in prison for removing Patriot Front (PF) campaign posters in the city. This was after Mr Kalomo pleaded guilty to a charge of removing PF campaign posters in the city contrary to the laws of Zambia. Mr Kalomo appeared before Livingstone magistrate Chola Musonda yesterday. Facts before the court are that on the 5th of February Evans Mubanga was sticking posters in the compound and then saw the accused who was removing the posters. Mubanga then informed the police, who later arrested the accused. In mitigation, Kalombo said that he had two children, and he was an orphan and he was the sole bread winner for his siblings. Kalombo begged for forgiveness from the court and that he would never do it again as he had learnt his lesson. And in sentencing him, magistrate Musonda said that offence in question attracts a maximum sentence of two years but senten...

THE Patriotic Front (PF) Southern Provincial Political secretary Brian Hapunda has urged Livingstone residents to turn out in large numbers to vote for in the forth by –election. Mr Hapunda said that it is the responsibility of the        political parties that are contesting in this election to encourage their members to vote. “We need to engage the media to so that we carry out our messages,” he said. Mr Hapunda urged the people in Livingstone especially to remain calm as the party continues to mobilize. He said that the party will continue to engage with silent and media campaign. He said that the PF party is on the ground disseminating information on the need to vote. “If the people do not vote in the forth coming election, they should not blame anyone,” he said. Mr Hapunda said that PF is a democratic and that the party will accept the outcome of the elections. He also urged the opposition to accept the elections results that will be outcome. H...

By Chali Mulenga Police in Mazabuka have arrested Sandra Simutinti aged 21 years for abortion. Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the incidence in Livingstone yesterday in an interview, she said Simutinti of house 632 Kabobola compound terminated a three pregnancy. She said that the police acting from a tip off from members of the public picked up a fetus near Kabobola cemetery on Friday at 07 20 hours.  She said the termination of the pregnancy occurred at the Simutinti residence in Kabobola compound.    She explained that the foetus has been deposited at the mortuary at the district hospital.  And Police in Maamba, Sinazongwe district have arrested Joe Siyambonde and four others over the death of his girlfriend, who collapsed and later dead. She said the police on Thursday between 19 hours and 20 hours received a report from Jack Chabweka that Christine Mutente had collapsed of old ground compound in Maamba, Sinaz...

The Livingstone Top Stories: Vandalism worry SWASCO : By Chali Mulenga Southern water and sewerage company (SWASCO) has invested K80 million into replacing the vandalised man-hole covers wit...

By Chali Mulenga Southern water and sewerage company (SWASCO) has invested K80 million into replacing the vandalised man-hole covers with the concrete ones in Livingstone. SWASCO senior regional manager Gift Monde said the vandalised man-hole covers had contributed to the clogging of the sewerage system in Livingstone.  Speaking in an interview at his office in Livingstone, he said the company had lost a lot metal man- holes to suspected scrap metal dealers who were buying the metals.  “Since the man-holes are open it is very easy for sand to go in and block the sewerage, the heavy down pour has compounded to the problem,” he said. The senior regional manager said that Livingstone being sandy, most of the sand was finding its way into the man holes that had been left open by the people casing the vandalism.   Mr Monde said that the company was trying to change the man-hole covers in the city as the sand was going into the sewerage network thereby blocking it...

By Chali Mulenga THE First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda has called on the people in Zambia to support the Government of President Michael Sata because he is a hard working leader as well as progressive. Dr Kaunda said there is need for the people to give president Sata more time to govern this country. Dr Kaunda was speaking on Tuesday at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula international in Livingstone, where he was met on arrival by southern province permanent secretary,  Livingstone Mayor Aggrey Njekwa, Livingstone town clerk Vivian Chikoti and Airport manager Joseph Mumbi. “I have no problems in supporting him as I am supporting an innocent man, President Sata is looking after me, just give him some time to lead Zambia in a good way,” The first republican president said. He said he was not cadre for the Patriot Front (PF) Government but he was retired first republican at 88 years.   He said under the leadership young people like president Sata, Zambia would ach...

    By Chali Mulenga Southern province permanent secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga has called on the Government departments in the province not squabble in the issues but to uphold the law in a more humane manner. Speaking in Kazungula chamber during a stakeholders meeting with the Sekute development trust, Namapanda Resettlement Committee, Disaster Mitigation Management Unit, land resettlement unit, forest department and Kazungula district council, he said Government officers should stop implementing the law blindly but instead embrace the local people. “Don’t quarrel in the public work together and enforce the law in a more humane way to avoid conflict,” he said. “I don’t understand why two government departments can fail to agree to resolve an issue and if you explain to the people, then they will cooperate with your department,” he said. The permanent secretary called on the need to ensure that the original list is produced. Dr Mulenga said the level of defores...

Th e police in Livingstone have impounded a truck that was carrying scrap metal. Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the development in Livingstone in an interview. She said that truck and trailer registration number AJC 5538 that was loaded with scrap metal property of the Livingstone City Council. Ms Katanga said the matter was reported to the police by Livingstone mayor Aggrey Njekwa who reported that the scrap metal was sold without the knowledge and authority of the council. She said the police are still investigating the matter.   And police in Mazabuka has arrested Former MMD presidential aspirant Nason Musoni, 54 for threatening residents with a revolver in the district. She said that Musoni 54 who challenged Rupiah Banda for the 2011 MMD presidency was arrested on Wednesday and charged with threatening violence. “The incident happened in Mazabuka around 17:25 hours when Musoni went with his Toyota Hiace registration number AL...

By Chali Mulenga Government has called on the opposition to cast away their wrong perception on the public order act as they have the right to appeal. Deputy of Home affairs Stephen Mr Kampyongo said the people from the opposition have the right to appeal to the minister within 5 days to the minister of home affairs.  Speaking during a special radio interview on Falls FM in Livingstone yesterday, he said that there was a chain of command that should be followed. Mr Kampyongo said that the public order act had a provision for the convener to appeal to the chain of command and they exhausted all the channels then they should appeal to the minister.  “When PF was in the opposition, we managed to follow the public order act,” he said.  The minister called for dialogue on the public order act as the Government means well so there can be consensus.  “We acknowledge the challenges that the police service is facing, as no investment in the police service ha...

By Chali Mulenga Government would   remain committed to improve the welfare of the youths include those in prisons. Deputy home affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo said that the Government would work hard to ensure   that youths were educated about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. The minister was speaking at the Christmas celebrations organized for the youths at   Katombora Reformatory School, he said government would work with organizations working in prisons to help inform the youths in order for them to be good leaders of tomorrow. “The youths were instrumental in the coming into power of the PF, we will therefore remain committed to the welfare of the youths,” he   said. The minister said that it is necessary to equip the lads at the reformatory with knowledge and skills and also with educate on HIVAIDS so that they may be prepared for life outside the reformatory.    And prisons commissioner Percy Chato said the commission service would ...

By Chali Mulenga THE Zambia Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (ZAGO)has instituted a research study aimed at ensuring safe abortion care in the country. ZAGO secretary general Swebby Macha said the association wanted to determine the extent of maternal mortality resulting from unsafe abortion. Dr Macha said yesterday when he made a presentation on the draft constitution and women’s reproductive health in Lusaka. He  said there is high maternal mortality in the country which is related to unsafe abortion and it is also linked the 5 millennium development goals (MGDs). He said that the association has focused on the standards and guidelines that govern abortion provision in the country. “We have focused on ensuring there is a comprehensive abortion care, that includes aspects of family planning,” he said. Dr Macha said that the safe abortion care should focus on the family planning, safe abortion, post abortion management complications. He said that t...

By Chali Mulenga LIVINGSTONE Mayor Aggrey Njekwa has warned the council chief officer that failing to follow a council resolution is dismissible offence. He said as a result things are not moving in the city as in terms of development. Speaking during the full council meeting, Mr Njekwa has taken to task the Livingstone town clerk Vivian Chikoti for failing to have information on her fingertips on what is happening in the council. The mayor took task Ms Chikoti as she kept on referring to the chief officers to response to various issues that the councilors were raising. Mr Njekwa said that Ms Chikoti should have had the information on the operations of the council as the council management always has meetings where such matters are discussed.  He said that is unfortunate that people do not seem to know what is happening and urged the council management to take stock of what was happening in the council.   Mr Njekwa said that as a result a lot of shoddy works ha...

By Chali Mulenga   The Livingstone town clerk Vivian Chikoti has revealed that her council needs about K35 billion to ensure that it get a new engineered landfill in the city. The Livingstone council chief executive officer was speaking in Livingstone during a press briefing at Ocean Basket, on the solid waste management forward, she said that the current landfill is not properly situated as it is a threat to the airport as the birds scavenge in the area thus posing threat to the planes thus the need to relocate it. Ms Chikoti was quick to note that the council had put in place measures to ensure that the birds are controlled. The Livingstone town clerk said that there has never been any resource to ensure that the damp site is properly managed. “We would like to get funds for the project so that it can help us to manage the landfill and we are working together with ZEMA,” she said. She added the Livingstone city council was seeking support from the office of the prov...