Govt concerned with illegalities in churches

By Ann Zulu 

THE Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance will soon come up with a self-regulatory framework to curb illegalities in churches in the Zambia, says Minister Godfridah Sumaili.

Reverend Sumaili said that the framework was necessary to bring back sanity to Church and also ensure that churches met the set standards.

She said despite the Church being sacred, it was not exempted from abiding with the laws of Zambia.

“The Church in Zambia is not in well organised form, there are a lot of illegalities going on in these churches and this this might even go to worse if nothing is done immediately,

“So to address or control the situation, my ministry will soon come up with a self-regulatory framework which will scrutinise all churches in Zambia. It is unfortunate that some Churches that were supposed to live above board are involved in illegalities, so this framework will help in bringing back order in the Church,” Rev Sumaili said.

She also said her ministry would engage churches and church mother bodies in coming up with the framework.

“We will involve the Churches and Church bodies in this decision because we want the churches themselves to come up with these regulations and ensure that we have credible churches,” she said.

Meanwhile, Rev Sumaili has reiterated that her ministry would work closely with the ministry of home affairs to ensure there was compliance among clergy coming from outside Zambia to avoid illegalities and strange doctrines.

“We will work closely with the ministry of home affairs to ensure that those clergy that come into Zambia are upright and truthful,” she said.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo recently warned that government would not register any clergy from outside Zambia without recommendation from the ministry of national guidance and religious affairs.

ETHEN'S TRAGIC NEW YEAR‘GIFT’.......How a woman’s rage changed life of 8-year-old Lusaka boy.

By Ann Zulu

IT was  a horrendous criminal and barbaric act for Dorcas Mukondwa to blow off the fingers of her nephew, orphaned eight-year old Ethen Muleyi using fireworks on the eve the New Year.

Although bizarre, the act exposed a heart of evil and one look at Ethen’s ripped fingers leaves even the most hard-hearted person in tears.

Eight-year-old Ethen Muleyi with ripped fingers

With ripped fingers and stitches on his right hand, one would think that he is one of those children from war-torn countries. No, Ethen is from a home where hatred governed the emotions of the woman who was his care and whose frustrations had nothing to do with the boy coming home at 18:00 hours on the eve of New Year.

Eight-year-old Ethen Muleyi’s hand tells a tale of torture, wickedness and inhuman treatment from the woman who is supposed to protect him - his aunt.

Just like many adults were excited about entering the year 2017, children too were looking to the New Year with lots of expectations. But for little Ethen, the New Year started on a sad note for him, because something unimaginable happened to him on the second day of the year, on January 2.

On that fateful day, Ethen woke up all happy and went to play with his friends within the neighbourhood in Lusaka’s Chazanga compound where he lived with his aunt, Dorcas Mukondwa, 39.

Being a child, little Ethen forgot that he was supposed to be home early, he instead got home around 18:00hrs. His aunt was furious and as a way of punishing him, she tied fireworks with a string to his right hand and lit it with matches.

They exploded in his face and hand, blowing off two fingers.

Ethen’s aunt was on Monday January 23 jailed for four years by the Lusaka Magistrates Court after she admitted the offence of grievous bodily harm contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Ethen's aunt Dorcas Mukondwa before at Lusaka's Magistrates Court 

Even though the boy’s case seems to have a happy ending, his life will never be the same again, as he has been left disabled by the person he looked up to as his guardian.

The whole incident will also have a grave impact on his education as he will have to start learning to write with his left hand as the right one had the fingers ripped off. 

Like Ethen, many children in Zambia find themselves in situations where they are abused, tortured, battered and sometimes killed by people who are close to them.

Not long ago, a two-year-old boy was allegedly battered to death by his step-father for peeing on bed.

And recently a six-month-old baby was badly burnt and died from its wounds after the mother left all alone in the house and went out with her friends.

In reaction to Ethen’s touching story, stakeholders are calling for urgency in addressing and responding to issues of children’s rights and protection in Zambia.

Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) observed that the number of children who are sexually and physically abused, psychologically tortured and maltreated is alarming.

ZCCB president Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu implored church leaders to spearhead the fight against all forms of child abuse and ensure that they were protected, by making the evil of such acts a constant theme of their preaching.

“The church should stand ready in a singular position to spearhead this fight. Let us put together whatever we have in terms of reflections to that we can move ahead. We mobilise everyone in the church beginning from the family. Children are most abused and tortured by the people who know them.

“We have to mobilise Small Christian Communities, Lay Apostolic Movements, the clergy, the religious, just everyone, to fight child abuse and torture,” he said.

Media Network on Children’s Rights and Development (MNCRD) director Henry Kabwe says it is time the  Government and all stakeholders showed that they meant business in putting an end to the worrying trend of children being abused and tortured in the country.

Mr Kabwe reiterated that children’s rights are human rights, and deserve to be protected.

He states that Ethen’s story and that of many other children are a wake-up call for Government to strengthen and take up its statutory responsibility and duty to protect citizens from harm, especially vulnerable groups such as children.

He also called on NGOs dealing with children’s rights and protection to ensure that they scale up their efforts in addressing issues of violence against children.

“Many children in Zambia need protection from the risk and harm that threatens their rights and well-being. Both Government and NGOs need to do more if children are to be 100 percent safe,” Mr Kabwe said.

And Child Labour ambassador Samson Mutambo demanded that the desecration of the innocence of children and violation of their dignity which had constituted a dent on the soul of humanity must stop.

Mr Mutambo said there was need for all stakeholders to prevail on the Government to enforce the National Child Policy of 2006 which assures children’s protection from vices that violates their rights.

He emphasised that there was need to safeguard children nationwide and punish offenders including parents and guardians who abuse children and endanger their lives.    

“There is no way one can explain the effects of negative actions on children. Torturing a child is not the solution, in the end it does not change the child nor bring about appropriate behaviour,” Mr Mutambo said.

Children who are physically, emotionally and psychologically abused do not turn out better at the end of the day.

According to a psycho-social counsellor Charles Banda, such children in turn abuse others because they tend to see how they were treated as the way of life.

Mr Banda also notes that children that grow in abusive environment have 75 percent chance of developing mental illness and might be suspicious of people around them.

“After taking in so much punishment and inhumane treatment from those close to them, these children may become suspicious of other close relatives even when they have good intentions for them as well as strangers.

“Children should not be tortured just to correct them, all they need is therapy. The perception of such a child, that is, his thinking and his disposition to people will not be that positive anymore for a long time, except that it takes real intervention in terms of showing them consideration, love and compassion,” Mr Banda said.

Like the old Bemba proverb, “imiti ikula empanga” meaning children are the future, children are the future of Zambia and for Zambia to be a successful nation children’s rights ought to be protected.

Zambians must be vigilant and report cases of abuse of children around them. They need to report parents, guardians and anyone who violates children’s rights.

Livingstone’s Libuyu residents demand for better toilets

By Ann Zulu

RESIDENTS of one of Livingstone’s oldest townships Libuyu have continued to use unsafe latrines whenever answering the call of nature, posing a health risks especially during the rainy season.

And The Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWASCO) has stated that its project to build toilets in the area has stalled due to lack of funding.

The residents lamented that lack of toilets in the area was becoming a critical issue that needed to be addressed urgently.

Speaking on behalf of the residents Mary Mushota, told this reporter that people in the area were using unsafe latrines, while some have resorted to using plastic bags to relieve themselves, which she described as a health hazard.

Ms Mushota said the use of unsafe latrines and plastic bags was raising alarm of possible waterborne related diseases outbreak.

She appealed to government ensure that the project to construct toilets in area was completed on as soon as possible help curb the situation.

“People here have no toilets, they depend on pit latrines and nowadays some people have even resorted to using plastic bags to relive themselves which is not safe. Plastic bags filled with human faecal are all over

 “Government must come to our aid, and help us have decent toilets, because this is not health,” she said.

And SWASCO region manager Goodson Masheka the company was aware of the situation in Libuyu.

Mr Masheka said the utility was still waiting for the Devolution Trust Fund to fund its project of constructing toilets in the area.

He expressed worry that lack of proper toilets in the area might lead to outbreaks of diseases, hence the need to quickly fund the project.

“The project had stalled due to lack of funding, otherwise we are aware of the situation and its dangers,” Mr Masheka said.

He however, assured the people of Libuyu that NWASCO would deliver and complete the project as soon as funds are available.

The project dubbed toilets and jobs which started in 2009 was aimed to build new toilets and creating jobs for the local people.

IG bans police officers from marrying foreigners

By Ann Zulu

THE Zambia Police high command has with immediate effect banned police officers from marrying foreigners.

According to a memo addressed to police directors and signed by Inspector General of police Kakoma Kanganja, police officers who had already married foreigners have been instructed to declare their foreigner spouses to the office the Inspector General of police.

Police officers have since been urged to comply or risk attracting disciplinary action.

“Be informed that the police high command has with immediate effect directed that no police officer should marry a foreigner,

“Therefore, those already married to foreigners must declare their foreigner spouses to the office of the Inspector General of police,” reads the memo.

And Police spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed the development yesterday.

Ms Katongo said the directive was to enhance and safeguard the country’s security.

She explained that the law had always been there, but however, some officers had continued to ignore it.

“The issues of security are delicate. It is possible that some spouses can be spies and can sell the security of the country. In defence before one marries, they need to take their-would be spouses for interviews,

“ It is true that this provision has always been there, but now it seems some officers are ignoring it,” Ms Katongo said.

She also clarified  that according to Section 3 and 5 of the Police Act, the Inspector General had powers to come up with a standing order to guide the running of the police, which in this case the memo was a standing order for security reasons.

Zambia wouldn’t be what it is without Chiluba-Chileshe

By Ann Zulu

IT is morally and religiously despicable that second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba, a pioneer and hero of Zambia’s democracy has continued to be demonised and dishonoured even in his death, political activist Mubanga Chileshe has charged.

Mr Chileshe said Zambia would never have been what it is politically, economically, socially and religiously without Dr. Chiluba sacrificing for the country and that it is disheartening that the champion of democracy has remained a villain to be demonised in his death.

Reacting to the forfeiture of Dr. Chiluba’s Tedworth properties to the State by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mr Chileshe said he was disappointed with the Commission’s decision.

He told this reporter that there were no clear facts against the former Head of State which could lead the ACC to arrive at the decision.

Mr Chileshe said Dr. Chiluba was acquitted and died a free man, therefore, it was unfair and unacceptable for the Commission to forfeit his properties to the State.

“There is no way the ACC can treat Chiluba like that even in death. Courts of law have acquitted him, he died a freeman but how come the ACC want to dishonour him like this even in his death? We cannot have government wanting to honour him and on the other hand some institutions dishonouring him, it does not work like that,” Mr Chileshe said.

He stated that Dr. Chiluba was a hero of Zambia’s democracy who deserved to be respected.

Mr Chileshe indicated that Zambians today were enjoying democracy because of Dr. Chiluba who fought hard for it.

“Chiluba is a hero, he did a lot of great things for Zambia and it’s sad that people do not see all that. Today, Zambia is enjoying democracy because of Dr. Chiluba. Had it not for him, there would have been no democracy in Zambia. So, it is not right to continue scandalising his name as if he did nothing to this country.

“The ACC should let Chiluba’s soul rest in peace. There is so much plunder in the country that the Commission can pursue. The Auditor General’s Report is enough evidence, why continue dishonouring Chiluba?” he wondered.

Recently, ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono announced the forfeiture of former Head of State’s Tedworth properties to the State following a Supreme Court judgment.

Lungu markets Zambia’s investment potential

By Ann Zulu

BUSINESSMEN and women from around the world should take advantage of Zambia’s conducive environment for investment by establishing joint ventures with their Zambian counterparts, President Edgar Lungu has said.

President Lungu said Zambia had a lot of investment opportunities that should be exploited.

He cited the three multi-facility economic zones in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt as possible areas of investment.

The President said this in Lusaka yesterday when he received credentials from ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Zambia from Turkey, Uganda, Nepal and Malawi.

“Government has formulated attractive investment policies, thereby making Zambia a preferred destination for investment in the Southern African region. Examples of some of the investment opportunities include Zambia’s three multi-facility economic zones, one on the Copperbelt and two in Lusaka, with huge incentives and amenities,” President Lungu.

Diplomats who presented credentials to President Lungu were Mrs Sebnem Incesu, ambassador of Turkey, Ms Dorothy Samali Hyuha, high commissioner of Uganda, Mr Amrit Bahadur Rai, ambassador of Nepal and Mr Waren Bamus Gunda, high commissioner of Malawi.

President Lungu in his message to Turkish envoy Incesu said the upcoming visit to Zambia by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs was an indication of Government’s commitment to deepening ties between the two countries.

He condemned the recent terrorist attack on a night club in Istanbul, saying that Zambia stood with Turkey in fighting all forms of terror.

“Zambia and Turkey have maintained cordial relations for several years. Let me take this opportunity to join the rest of the international community in condemning the terrorist attacks in Turkey and assure Turkey of Zambia’s support in fighting this scourge,” he said.

The President described Uganda and Malawi as close sister republics that shared common ancestry, culture and warm relations.

On Nepal, President Lungu said that the two countries enjoyed cordial ties that were founded on shared values and mutual interests.

Earlier, Turkish ambassador Incesu described Zambia as an oasis of peace and stability on the African continent, saying the country had made strides in developing its economy.

And Ambassador Amrit Bahadur Rai of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal said he was looking forward to enhancing bilateral relations with Zambia during his tour of duty.

And High Commissioners Hyuha of Uganda and Gunda of Malawi said the personal and brotherly relations between the President and their respective Heads of States were a demonstration of close relations enjoyed by Zambia and their countries.