The Zambian News

04/06/2024

Today's edition of News Diggers

12/01/2024

POLICE OFFICER DETAINED FOR STEALING MOBILE PHONE

A Livingstone based Police Officer, Erasmus Phiri, is in custody after he attacked and stole a phone from a local resident on 11th January, 2024.

The victim, Norex Mushokabanji, 32, who sustained a swollen right arm and general body pains, reported the incident to Mbita Police Post, indicating that he was robbed by two male persons who went away with his Tecno Spark 8 Phone valued at K2550.

The incident is said to have occurred around Maramba MB Area when the victim was coming from A1 near Maramba Market having had gone to meet his young brother around 22:50 hours who scheduled to travel to Kazungula for job interviews the next day.

On his way home, the victim had noticed that he was being followed by a male individual, hence upon reaching his yard around 23:30 hours, asked the pursuant why he was following him.

In response, the suspect said he was a Police Officer who wanted to ensure that the victim arrived home safely.

It was at this point that the victim thanked the man and told him to go back because he had arrived home, but when he turned towards his house within the yard, he was hit with a blow on the back of the neck.

When the victim faced the attacker, he hit him again, hence falling to the ground, with the suspect getting his phone and threw it over to another man who ran away.

The victim then held on to his attacker and started shouting for help, with neighbours coming to his rescue, and after a struggle managed to take the suspect to Mbita Police Post, where he was identified as Constable Erasmus Phiri, a Police Officer based at Linda Police Station.

The incident was relayed to Byta FM News by Southern Province Commissioner of Police, Auxensio Daka.

Credit: Byta FM

10/01/2024

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) vice president Given Lubinda has been dragged to court over allegations that he refused to surrender a diplomatic passport to the State.

https://www.facebook.com/100064560977290/posts/778080224354003/

Mr Lubinda, a former Minister of Justice, has charged with two counts of failure to surrender a diplomatic passports and holding more than one passport.

In count one, allegations are that between January 1 and October 26, 2023 in Lusaka, the accused, without any reasonable cause, failed or refused to submit or surrender diplomatic passport number ZN873367.

Allegations are that the passport was supposed to be presented to the Chief passports and citizenship officer when required to do so.

In the second count, allegations are that between the said dates, the accused, without reasonable excuse, did hold on to two diplomatic passports numbers ZN873367 and ZN943878.

When the case was called, it was allocated to Lusaka magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli, where the accused, who is represented by lawyers, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The court set February 22 this year as date for starting of trial.

And addressing journalists after the court appearance, Mr Lubinda accused the Government of having failed to handle the cholera outbreak and also bemoaned that the PF was refused from taking part in cleaning the central business district to help avert cholera.

(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 9th January, 2024)

26/12/2023

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Stanley Kakubo resigns

18/12/2023

BREAKING NEWS

Monday, 18th December 2023

The Socialist Party has Appointed Brian Hapunda as Party Media Director

Congratulations Comrade Hapunda on your well deserved appointment

29/11/2023

JUST IN: Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) raids SPAX Mining Limited..

29/11/2023

UPDATE:

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 l Lusaka

ESPIONAGE charged businessman Sedrick Kasanda and his four co-accused have been granted bail and will now be coming from home for their trial in connection with the thwarted gold scam scandal.

26/11/2023

ZAMBIA RAILWAYS PASSENGERS TRAIN DERAILS IN KAFUE

By Kafue Times Reporter l Saturday, November 25, 2023, Shikoswe

A south bound Zambia Railways Passengers train has derailed at Shikoswe railway crossing in Kafue after being involved in an accident with a Howo truck belonging to Sinoma Zambia.

The Howo truck and trailer registration number ADE 8091 and ADE 8076 respectively which was carrying coal and moving from north to south direction was hit by a Zambia Railways passenger train as the driver tried to beat the train before it approached the railway crossing.

A Kafue Times News Crew that rushed to the accident scene found a long queue of motorists who could not cross to either side as the train had blocked the way.

Scores of Shikoswe and Kalundu View residents thronged the acciden scenet to catch a glimpse of the gruesome accident with others having intentions to fetch litres of diesel that was leaking from the damaged locomotive engine.

Eye witnesses told Kafue Times that the accident happened when the truck driver attempted to beat the train which had approached Shikoswe railway crossing and decided to overtake three stationery vehicles which had given way to the train but was his by the passenger train which has been fairly damaged.

The truck driver has been rushed to Kafue General Hospital and no case of death has been recorded.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Motorists intending to use the Kafue - Lusaka road via Shikoswe Railway crossing should opt for alternative routes as the derailed passengers train has completely blocked the road.

Kafue Times

24/11/2023

22/11/2023

POLICE in Lusaka have arrested a 28-year-old woman of John Leing compound after she sold her child to another woman.

Source: Mwebantu

22/11/2023

40 TRAINEE POLICE OFFICERS INJURED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT

Wednesday, November 22, 2023 l Chainama, Lusaka

We recorded a Road Traffic Accident around 06:30 hours involving a Zambia Police Service Truck bearing registration number ZP 4122 which was carrying 57 Police trainees from our training school in Sondela to Sikanze Police Hospital for medical examinations.

The accident happened when the driver identified as Sergent Bwalya failed to Negotiate a curve at Lafarge area in Chilanga District causing the vehicle to flip to the left side.

40 trainees sustained injuries while 17 escaped unhurt. The injured victims were rushed to the University Teaching Hospital and Sikanze Hospital where they were treated as outpatients and later discharged.

Danny Mwale
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer

Picture for illustration purposes .

07/11/2023

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security held a Press Briefing to discuss the issuance of Statutory Instruments on the Minimum Wages and Conditions of employment.

Below are the highlights:

✅ Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in conjunction with the Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) has approved an upward adjustment to wages for domestic, shop and other general workers effective 1st January, 2024.

✅The approved Minimum Wages and Conditions of service were arrived at after an extensive consultations with the tripartite consultative Labour Council and other stakeholders.

✅ Government would also like the nation to take note that the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Service are only applicable to non-unionised and vulnerable workers across all sectors.

✅ Additionally, Government has devised a number of incentives to employers which includes:
• The penalty rate has been reduced and is applicable under the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) from 20% to 10%
• Cabinet has approved the issuance of the statutory instrument under NAPSA penalty waiver which among other things
• Reduce the debt burden for businesses and allow employers to clear their outstanding dues with NAPSA with the incentive that part of the debt will be written off.
• Provide relief to businesses that were hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Encourage small-scale businesses including employers from the informal economy (such as employers of domestic workers) to register their employees with the NAPSA without worrying about high penalties for non-payment of past contribution.

✅ Further, the nation may also wish to note that the prescribed Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Statutory Instruments provide for the rates to be paid per hour, day, weekly or monthly to the workers
✅ Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be conducting trainings at no cost for the businesses domiciled within Lusaka, in order to build the productivity capacities of enterprises.
Here below is the approved gross Minimum Wages by categories:
✅Domestic workers approved minimum wage stands at K1, 300.00

Shop Workers
✅ Handy person or Office Orderly’s approved gloss minimum wage stands at K2, 313.10
✅Driver, Sales Assistant; or Packer’s approved gloss minimum wage stands at K2, 722.57
✅Assistant bicycle Assembler; Assistant Dispatch Clerk’s gross minimum wage stands at K3, 137. 75
✅Bicycle Assembler, Check-out person or Typist’s gloss minimum wage stands at K3, 365.96
✅Dispatch Clerk; Sales person’s gloss minimum wage stands at K3, 865.20
✅Audio Equipment Repair, Machine Operator’s gloss minimum wage stands at K4, 099.43
✅Credit controller, Supervisor’s gloss minimum wage stands at K4, 464.94
✅Qualified Bookkeeper’s gloss minimum wage stands atK4, 638.25

General Orders
✅A General worker not anywhere specified; a Cleaner’s gross minimum wage stands at K2, 313.10
✅A person engaged as a Watch Person or Guard’s gloss minimum wage stands at K2, 313.10
✅Assistant Sales Person, Parker or Book Binder’s gloss minimum wage stands at K2, 722.57
✅Driver, Pump Attendant’s gross minimum wage stands at K3, 135.00
✅A typist; or Receptionist’s gross minimum wage stands at K3, 365.96
✅A Salesperson’s gross minimum wage stands at K3, 865.00
✅ Qualified Clerk’s gross minimum wage stands at K4, 099.77
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069038505521&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Henry Kapata
Director and Spokesperson
Ministry of Information and Media