SUMMARY POINTS FROM PRESS BRIEFING BY ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COPPERBELT MINISTER
Today the Acting Minister of Information and Media Hon. Collins Nzovu, MP and Copperbelt Province Minister, Hon. Elisha Matambo, MP, held a joint press briefing at which they discussed a number of issues, among them the following:
- Government acknowledges the statement issued by the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) in which a number of issues of national importance pertaining to governance were raised.
- Government appreciates the statement and further notes that issues raised therein are largely similar to those recently raised by the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB).
- Government reiterates and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to dialogue with all stakeholders including the church on important national matters.
- To this effect government has already begun to actualize the process of dialogue as earlier stated in the last media briefing not too long ago.
- Government further thanks the Catholic Bishops for accepting to dialogue with it on matters that they raised which are similar to those of the CCZ.
- Government urges citizens to remain calm and be expectant of the outcome of the dialogue process as it believes that the dialogue process that has been put in place is sufficient to address all the issues raised.
- The Minister stressed that President Hakainde Hichilema repealed the Defamation of the President Act in order to allow citizens democratic space to express themselves and participate in the governance of their country.
- He stated that the proposed Access to Information Bill is also an effort to by Government to confront corruption meaningfully by brining on board active civic participation by citizens.
- And Copperbelt Minister Hon. Elisha Matambo stated that government is saddened by the death of a 15-year boy of Mufulira, Chrispin Mbunda who was shot dead yesterday.
- He expressed Government’s deepfelt condolences to the family and the people of Mufulira on the unfortunate demise of the juvenile.
- Government regrets what transpired and has since tasked investigative wings to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the killing.
- Government will provide all logistical and material support to the family during the funeral and stands with the family during this difficult time.
- Government appeals to residents of Mufulira to remain calm while investigations are underway to ascertain what really led to the death of the 15-year-old boy.
- Government appeals to members of the opposition not to politicise the funeral by inciting residents to take the law in their own hands.
- Government is of the view that during such sad and unfortunate incidences, all must put aside politics and hold hands with the bereaved family.
- Government expects a report from the investigations at the earliest possible time.
- Government is seriously and aggressively dealing with issues of smuggling and security wings have been since been mobilized to curb this vice.
- Patrols are ongoing everyday resulting in the impounding of over 30,000 bags of mealie meal with 22,000 bags discovered in Chililabombwe.
- Government is making sure that mealie meal stays in the country even though smugglers are also changing tactics of how they smuggle the commodity through means such as repacking and changing labels on mealie meal bags.
- On the disasters that occurred in the province following a heavy down pour on 20th November, 2023 in which 6 districts have been affected, Hon. Matambo said government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will