The Voice of Zambia

CHIEF Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says some senior opposition politicians are allegedly involved in a syndicate of smuggling mealie meal out of the country. Mr Mweetwa revealed that a Patriotic Front (PF) councillor has been arrested for allegedly stealing 450 50kg bags of white non-genetically modified organisms (GMO) grade A maize meant for vulnerable people in his ward in Chipangali, Eastern Province. The minister said the councillor, Robert Phiri, was cornered in the bush with his accomplices, following a tip-off. “Information reaching my desk suggests that he was not operating alone, that he is operating within a cartel, with some other senior political bigwigs in the opposition who are running a syndicate of illegally exporting or smuggling mealie meal and maize across the borders of our country,” he said..

ABOUT K110 million has been disbursed to over 4,500 beneficiaries countrywide under the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) that offers specialised financing solutions to small and medium-scale farmers, says Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mutolo. The facility is focusing on those not covered under Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) but have one to five hectares of farmland and it is primarily for maize producers but will soon expand to soya and wheat and eventually include livestock, poultry and fisheries. SAFF is an initiative of Government in partnership with five banks – Zanaco, Natsave, Indo-Zambia, Atlas Mara and Absa Bank Zambia – and backed by the Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme to offer loans at 12 percent interest rate and repayable at the end of the farming season..

RECRUITMENT of health workers for 2024 is starting this month but the positions will not be advertised because the Civil Service Commission already has a database of applicants. And recently recruited health workers who are yet to report at their work stations will be replaced. Acting Civil Service Commission chairperson Choolwe Beyani says this year’s recruitment will broaden the base of health workers because it will focus on new entrants. He said this here yesterday when he called on Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Paul Thole. “The commission is commencing another recruitment exercise for this year and it’s commencing earlier than last year. As early as January going into February we shall begin the process. As indicated earlier, we are not going to advertise those positions because we already have a database of the earlier applicants, but the recruitment process will go through the same guidelines and procedures…

SIAVONGA Town Council has suspended the Monday market activities at the harbour due to the escalating cases of cholera in the country. The market, which operates on Mondays only, attracts traders from Lusaka, Gwembe, Mumbwa and Chikankata, among other areas. Different produce from various areas are brought to the area to give an opportunity for people to buy products which cannot be found in Siavonga. Siavonga Town Council chairperson Given Kwapu said the move is meant to curb the spread of cholera into the district. “The market will remain closed until further notice,” he said, according to a statement issued by council public relations officer Gwendolyn Mchenga…

  PARENTS and guardians should avoid living complicated lives that will make their children rebel into uncultured citizens, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango has said. Mrs Nalumango says parents should endeavour to instil good morals in their children by not leaving the task to society, as there are many vices with potential to ruin lives. The Vice-President said this when she officiated at the launch of a book titled, ‘Living for Posterity – My Remarkable African Mother’, written by Sibeso Luswata, fourth-born daughter of late Wabei Lisulo. Ms Lisulo, commonly known as Bo Ma – Matauka, was a renowned Christian who established a church in Western Province..