Call boys fight council police over tujilijili
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sat 28 Apr. 2012, 07:30 CAT
KITWE City Council police yesterday fought running battles with call boys and traders of illicit beer popularly known as tujilijili. And Kitwe mayor Chlileshe Bweupe said the city council would not succumb to the heavy resistance it was facing in some parts of the city in its effort to enforce the government's ban of the illicit alcohol in sachets.
Scuffles ensued in Chimwemwe township, Luangwa compound and Racecourse compound as the council police attempted to confiscate tujilijili from the traders and the call boys who were found drinking the illicit brew as early as 09:00 hours at the bus stations.
After the council police confiscated some bundles of the sachet in Luangwa compound, some traders and the call boys threw stones as the officers went after them in an attempt to make arrests.
Motorists and passers-by panicked as they scampered in different directions, damaging some makeshift trading stands and kiosks in the process.
Some youths fought their way out of the grip of the council police officers, who have embarked on an exercise to wipe out tujilijili from the streets of Kitwe.
The youths pelted police with stones.
A senior police officer who declined to be named said although the exercise was successful in some parts of the city, there was heavy resistance in many compounds.
"The problem we have is that people became addicted to tujilijili and these are young people who are supposed to be in school but they are found at bus stations and markets busy consuming this dangerous substance. We have a big challenge and without support from the right-thinking members of the public, our efforts will be in vain," a senior council police officer said.
And Bweupe, who confirmed that the council had dispatched the officers to enforce the government's directive to ban tujilijili, said members of the public must help the local authority to enforce the law.
"What is unfortunate is that even when you are trying to do well, you receive resistance like that. It shows you how bad these same sachets have been because it is like now our people are hooked on them," Bweupe said.
He said the ban on tujilijili was a policy directive as the illicit alcohol had already destroyed the moral fibre of society.
"You cannot have a society where school-going children are moving with tujilijili in their bags. You cannot have a situation where bus drivers are busy consuming this substance. We will fight this and we are determined to clean up the city," said Bweupe.
Labels: ALCOHOL, KITWE CITY COUNCIL
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Kitwe council presents K93.4bn budget
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 04 Jan. 2012, 13:25 CAT
KITWE CITY Council has presented a K93.4 billion budget for 2012 to be approved
by the central government.
According to the summary of revenue and expenditure estimates for 2012, more than K37 billion would be spent on personal emoluments that include salaries, wages, terminal benefits, personal allowances and other remunerations for workers at the council.
The budget shows that about K8.9 billion would be spent on supplies and services in the city such as purchase of equipment and tools, furniture, chemicals, medical drugs, uniforms, protective clothing and many others.
Under capital projects account from the central government, the council estimates to get about K4 billion.
In terms of income, the council estimates to get more than K89.4 billion in 2012.
The budget indicates that this year the council would get more than K26 billion from rates, K2.7 billion from local rates, K5.7 billion from licences, 1.6 billion from levies.
In other statutory revenues, Kitwe City Council hopes to raise K15 billion from charges such as plot premium and K772 million from permits.
Meanwhile, the Luanshya Municipal Council has presented a K22.6 billion budget for 2012.
In an interview, Luanshya mayor Nathan Chanda said the budget that was approved by the full council was realistic and balanced, based on activities supported by expected levels of income.
Chanda said K8.2 billion, representing 40 per cent of the total budget, would go towards service provision which was the core business of the local authority while K6.96 billion would go towards personal emoluments.
He said the remaining K7.43 billion had been apportioned for capital projects, purchase of motor grader and front-end loader, youth sport promotions and ward development fund among other projects.
Chanda said the estimates of revenue and expenditure have since been submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection for approval.
Labels: BUDGET, KITWE CITY COUNCIL
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Filth at Kitwe taverns shocks local govt official
By Correspondent
Sat 21 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
COPPERBELT provincial local government officer Solomon Sakala has expressed displeasure that
council health inspectors are not reporting the truth to him regarding hygiene of drinking places.
Speaking after he inspected some bars, taverns and other drinking places in Chimwemwe, Kwacha and Bulangililo townships on Wednesday, Sakala expressed disgust at the sight of human excreta in toilets at operating taverns.
Sakala, who was leading some officers from Cabinet Office in Ndola and the Kitwe City Council was shocked at the filthy state of Islamabad City Pub in Kwacha township where some heaps of human excreta were found in the toilets.
"After that tour we carried in the townships, it shows that council health inspectors are not telling the truth in the reports they were sending to the provincial office regarding the hygiene of the drinking places. You saw how dirty that place called Islamabad City Pub in Kwacha which was very dirty.
The place is so dirty with heaps of human excreta in the toilet, but when these healthy inspectors send reports to us, they paint a picture that everything is alright," he complained.
"This war of filthy drinking places can only be fought effectively when council health inspectors are truthful in the reports of their operations. We are receiving good reports which are painting a picture that everything is alright. We are receiving reports that drinking places are clean, but when we go on the ground, we find something else. We are finding dirty drinking places with heaps of human excreta in toilets."
Sakala said the Provincial Liquor Licensing Board would carry out periodical inspections to improve the situation in most drinking places.
At Sanjika bottle store, the team was shocked to find that both men and women were using the same toilet and that whoever goes in first, just needed to close the door to avoid the opposite sex getting in.
Many bar owners at Bulangililo market closed their premises after realising the presence of the health inspectors in the area.
Kitwe City Council health inspector Paka Nkonde expressed shock that some of the closed down drinking places in Kwacha and Bulangililo townships had been illegally opened.
He said most of the bars in the two townships were closed because they were dirty and filthy.
"We shall close them again," he said.
Labels: KITWE CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEALTH, SOLOMON SAKALA
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Musenge on Garnerton land
Written by Robby Musukuma, Australia
Friday, December 19, 2008 1:07:46 PM
My full support goes to Nkana PF member of parliament Mwenya Musenge for the stance he has taken on the allocation of 30 hectares of land in Garnerton, Kitwe because Zambians are having difficulties getting the same land which is being allocated to foreigners so easily.
A good case in point can be found in Chingola where local farmers in Chimfinsa Farming area have struggled to be allocated farming areas by the Chingola Municipal Council, and at one point these farmers were told not to plant [long term] crops like cassava because the area was to be given to someone else. But these farmers have been in this area for years to a point where they have formed a farmer’s co-operative.
The only time the allocation of farms to these Zambians is talked about is during election time when politicians take advantage of these vulnerable Zambian farmers in the Chimfinsa area to vote for them over the same issue but nothing is done. If these Zambians are to be removed from this area, they don’t even have another area to go to for farming and most likely, they will just be condemned to poverty, and yet the government wants to reduce poverty.
It takes express decisions at council meetings in Zambia to allocate land just to foreigners but not to our fellow Zambian citizens.
http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/2842/64/
Rupiah’s govt
Written by Concerned Citizen
Friday, December 19, 2008 1:08:17 PM
I do not mean to be disrespectful to Rupiah Banda but I am convinced that he was never ready to be President of this country. I believe Rupiah was not psychologically prepared because, as I recall, the man had resigned to his farm before Levy Mwanawasa appointed him vice-president.
Rupiah has no direction and this is why he has not told the nation how he intends to tackle the pressing issues which we are facing in this country like high mealie-meal prices and the effects of the global financial crisis.
Besides, we have had crippling load shedding and unfortunately, our government has never informed the nation on how it is going to address this problem.
It is my opinion that Rupiah and his government are weak, irresponsible and without direction.
Labels: KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND RIGHTS, MWENYA MUSENGE
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Sata directs PF-controlled councils to elect mayors
Written by Patson Chilemba, Lambwe Kachali, Mwila Chansa and Zumani Katasefa
Friday, December 19, 2008 12:44:55 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday directed PF-controlled councils to defy the government's directive not to hold mayoral elections.
But local government minister Benny Tetamashimba said he does not recognise the election of Stephen Chipungu as new Kitwe mayor.
Commenting on PF councillors in Kitwe who defied the government's directive that mayoral elections be postponed but proceeded to elect Chipungu as the city's new mayor, Sata congratulated the councillors for obeying the law and not human beings.
“First of all, I wish to congratulate the entire party on the Copperbelt, its leadership and councillors for knowing their obligation to the people of Kitwe in particular and Copperbelt in general,” Sata said. “And I wish to appeal to civil servants like [Jennifer] Musonda [Copperbelt permanent secretary] that they should recognise the limitations of the law. But if they want to be tools of oppression, we shall include them on the list of those to be defied. PF is the strongest party and has the mandate of the people. We shall obey the law and not human beings. And this should be a reminder to Rupiah Banda, George Mpombo and Tetamashimba that when PF decides to quick march, we shall quick march.”
Sata said in view of the brave action taken by councillors on the Copperbelt, he had directed all PF controlled councils to immediately hold mayoral elections. He said should Tetamashimba attempt to dissolve the councils, PF was ready to wipe out MMD in the elections.
Sata said Tetamashimba should ensure that the government co-operated with councillors because they had the potential to make governance difficult. He urged councillors to get rid of council chief executives who might attempt to prevent them from holding elections.
“We are looking forward to Tetamashimba dissolving all councils so that when we come back, we can come back as one party. We are going to wipe out even the two councillors they have [in Kitwe]. We shall not even waste time by going to court,” said Sata. “We want a council that is for the Zambians and not Chinese. Divo Katete danced to the tune of Chinese. Why doesn't he go to China and become a councillor in Shanghai?”
But Tetamashimba said the said election was illegal and would not be recognised whatsoever. He said as far as he and the government were concerned, Katete was still Kitwe mayor until legitimate elections were held.
Tetamashimba said he was reliably informed by Kitwe town clerk Ali Simwinga that as far as they were concerned, mayoral elections had been postponed and that no one was allowed to hold any election.
“Who conducted the election? Who was the returning officer? I am sure you know that there is supposed to be a returning officer for any election. What PF is doing is trying to bring in anarchy,” Tetamashimba said.
On Sata’s directive that all councils should defy the postponement and hold elections, Tetamashimba challenged Sata to tell the nation why he did not hold elections for four years when he served as local government minister.
“Ask Sata, there were four years when there were no elections. Ask him also that ‘is it possible for a minister to use his powers to suspend an election?’ Ask [Wynter] Kabimba, he was town clerk, to say there was a time when there was no election of mayors for four years. And if he says yes, then ask him 'what did the minister do not to have elections for four years?'” Tetamashimba said.
He bragged that Sata was nothing to him and had no powers to challenge his decisions.
“Who is Sata to direct me? Who is Kabimba to direct me? I am working according to the law; I don't work from what Sata wants. Why don't they go to court if I am going against the law?” Tetamashimba asked. “The Minister of Local Government has powers to suspend an election and that power, he can only exercise when he has a Statutory Instrument issued. The town clerk for Kitwe has told me that there was no election and the same for Chingola and for now I don't know about any election anywhere. The mayor I know for Kitwe is Divo Katete. As far as I am concerned, there was no election.”
And Kitwe council public relations officer Dorothy Sampa said as far as the council was concerned, no mayoral elections took place on Wednesday.
Briefing the press at her office yesterday, Sampa said the procedure of an election was that nominations had to be filed and the returning officer, who was the town clerk in this case, had to declare them valid and a vote had to be cast.
“So such a process never took place and if such a process does not take place, really in our view it just means an election never took place. So this is the position of Kitwe City Council,” said Sampa.
Meanwhile, Nkana PF member of parliament Mwenya Musenge, who is also PF Copperbelt Province chairman, said the decision to hold mayoral elections was final and within the law.
Musenge said PF was now awaiting Chipungu's installation so that he could start performing his mayoral duties.
“As far as we are concerned, we have a new mayor and a deputy mayor. We will wait for Tetamashimba to install the new mayor. There was no cost involved in conducting elections so we didn't see any need to delay the elections,” he said.
Musenge said people were free to say whatever they wanted because they had jobs to protect.
“But one thing that we need to take into account is that this country needs people who are principled, who are mature; people who have integrity; who will be able to stand up and condemn when things are not right,” Musenge said. “In our case, we speak for the silent majority out there and we are trying to protect the Constitution of the land which we shall not allow Tetamashimba to manipulate or abuse it anyhow.”
Musenge said PF councilors in Chingola also conducted elections and voted for Simon Chanda as the new mayor.
“Actually, they were the first to conduct mayoral elections before Kitwe councillors conducted theirs,” said Musenge.
And Chingola's Chitimukulu ward councillor McDonald Mulongoti said 15 councillors who included two members of parliament, Dr Joseph Katema and Wilbur Simusa, turned up for elections.
“In total, we were 15, we formed a quorum and we decided to go ahead with the election,” he said.
Mulongoti said there were 27 councillors in the district, and that the election was also attended by MMD Kalilo ward councillor Lozati Manengu.
Mulongoti said the election took place between 10:00 and 12:30 hours on Wednesday and that nominations were done, although the town clerk refused to sign the nomination paper.
“The two councillors went through unopposed and there was no council chief officer during the election,” he said.
He said councillors condemned Tetamashimba for continually postponing the election.
“Sylvia Masebo [former local government minister] is better than Teta. Teta thinks he is very clever, councillors are actually annoyed with him,” said Mulongoti.
And newly ‘elected’ Kitwe mayor Steven Chipungu said his priority would be to ensure that the city became clean.
“The city is facing a lot of challenges in terms of garbage collection, and street lighting. Actually we need to make the city look clean,” said Chipungu.
Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, KITWE CITY COUNCIL, PF, SATA, STEPHEN CHIPUNGU
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Zambian ‘apartheid’
Written by CM Mulenga, United Kingdom
Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:53:23 AM
The Kitwe mayor’s stance regarding the allocation of 30 hectares of land in Garnerton area for the Chinese nationals to construct 300 houses made very interesting reading and cannot pass without comment.
It is really sad that the local council can start segregating (more like in apartheid South Africa) between the Zambian and Chinese nationals, who in this day and era are supposed to be living side-by-side. It is against this background that we have to question the wisdom of Kitwe mayor Divo Katete and Kitwe City Council.
The mayor does not seem to appreciate the difference between an economic zone and a residential area.
This type of segregation is exactly what our freedom fighters fought against and should not be tolerated in this age.
The Chinese nationals should be given land amongst all other Zambians as they equally have to integrate with their local counterparts and the entire Zambian population so that they understand our way of life and we understand theirs.
Surely all Zambians want to see the country develop as this will benefit the entire Zambian population but this idea of having segregated townships and/or compounds between the races should be stopped by all progressive Zambian and Chinese nationals.
And those 30 hectares of land in Garnerton area to be given to the Chinese nationals will entail displacing the local community and resettling them in other areas the council will find “suitable” for them. Would it not be more fair and justifiable to give the local population the title deeds to the lands they have occupied for a long time and for generations in some cases?
http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/2797/64/
Rupiah’s leadership
Written by Ba Muzo
Thursday, December 18, 2008 10:00:14 AM
Mwauma nga pa cela (you have hammered the nail on the head). I totally agree with the editorial of the December 16, 2008. The problem we have now does not require threats and political statements in the tailored media. It requires facing the situation now or never. Let President Rupiah Bwezani Banda show leadership. He should be above all Zambians and show us that he deserves to be at Plot 1.
Real leaders are made in crises, and we thank God that we have these crises. Our friends in America are doing something. They are not blaming the economic global downturn but are bravely trying to find solutions to the crisis. As a father, I cannot sit and cry about hunger at my home and castigate my wife when she threatens to go back to her caring parents. I tend to wonder where Zambia is going. If indeed these leaders can find money to pay themselves, then let them also sweat for it.
One now can understand why the working class rejected the MMD presidential candidate during the recently-held election.
A prudent leader will sit down and ponder on why the workers voted against him. Most progressive workers, for instance, are fed up with the cut throat taxes they have been enduring during all the 44 years of being independent. A Zambian worker is a modern slave who toils for government leaders. A leader will look at this as an opportunity to reprieve such workers by reducing their tax so that money saved can be invested and thereby create employment.
Going back to the issue at hand, there are two things MMD needs to do; they should improve on their communication skills so that they know how to communicate with the Zambian populace. Obama won the American peoples black and white because he knew how to communicate to people.
We do not need intimidating leaders but inspiring leaders this time around. Let them explain all the lies they promised us and how they will deliver on their promises. We want fertiliser to cost K50, 000. Fuel prices should come down. Failure to fulfill these things will mean that they are not worth the salary they have been awarding themselves.
Secondly, U utwala pa nsaka tonaula, those in leadership should realise that they are not the most intelligent Zambians. Out there lies a large cloud of intelligent Zambian (politicians or non-politicians alike) who if they put their heads together can help the government come up with solutions to heal our country. This time around we do not need political overtones, but solutions to what is happening in the country.
http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/2753/64/
Rupiah’s complaints
Written by Joe Kasiya, Lusaka
Thursday, December 18, 2008 10:02:24 AM
We used to laugh and jest at Levy’s ill preparedness
to assume the office of president when he was awoken from slumber by former president Frederick Chiluba, but President Rupiah Banda is even worse.
The man appears to be groping in the dark like a blind man and leading us nowhere. He keeps referring to the global recession which in all probability he doesn’t even understand when the problems have been largely created by himself and his misplaced Cabinet.
President Mwanawasa (MHSRIP) took over the leadership of this nation when the economy was in tatters, an exchange rate that didn’t make sense and hyper inflation at its highest, but with prudent management of resources and zero tolerance to corruption, he was able to woo investors and bring normalcy to the economy within a short period of time.
His appointment of Ng’andu Peter Magande as finance minister speaks volumes about the fallen presidents great vision for the country.
Magande was to become Zambia’s longest serving and best finance minister.
Trevor Manuel, South Africa’s finance minister has held that portfolio for the last 14 years and is probably Africa’s longest serving finance minister. The financial and commodity markets react when he blinks or has the slightest of headaches.
The first statement by the new minister of Finance Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane was that Zambia was not going to be affected by the global recession. How naïve of this technocrat! The kwacha is today trading at K5, 300 to the US dollar and may hit six ‘pin’ before Christmas.
The leadership of this country does not inspire confidence in the majority of Zambians. Rather, it instills and infuse the notion of fear, confusion and each one for himself and ba Lesa for us all in the general citizenry, for how in hell does a whole president complain so openly the way this one does!
The whole Cabinet is forever complaining instead of offering solutions.
It is during moments like these that I miss Levy and Magande for their magnanimity, nobility, high-mindedness, fairness, boldness and generousity of spirit.
Labels: CHINESE, KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND, LAND RIGHTS, RUPIAH BANDA
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‘Dirt’ at Kitwe council irks Nkana MP
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:37:33 AM
NKANA Patriotic Front member of parliament Mwenya Musenge has vowed he will not accept to be part of the “dirt” being swept under the carpet in the name of being part of Kitwe council.
In a statement on Tuesday, Musenge also charged that there was a lot of manipulation of councillors at Kitwe City Council.
He was reacting to a statement by Kitwe mayor Divo Katete who advised him to desist from being “controversial for nothing” and instead provide leadership that would earn him respect.
On Monday, Katete said Kitwe City Council had no apologies to make over its decision to offer 30 hectares of land in Garneton for the construction of houses for 300 Chinese nationals.
Katete said whether Musenge liked it or not, he was part of the council that resolved to give 30 hectares of land for construction of the houses.
But Musenge said Kitwe City Council had failed Zambians.
“The land we have in Zambia was God given to Zambians and not to the Chinese. The first people who are supposed to benefit are the locals. I might be petty, I need to be guided, if it is in order for over 2,000 peope to apply to the council for plots and be charged K300,000 non-refundable fee on application and out of all these people, a paltry 200 or 300 people are allocated plots. Surely, is that in order?” he asked.
Musenge also wondered why land could not be gazetted for Zambians if the same could be done for Chinese.
Musenge also said the Keep Zambia Clean campaign seemed to have gone with the wind because even the five vehicles given to each constituency for the programme were now being used to transport council workers.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DIVO KATETE, KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND RIGHTS, MWENYA MUSENGE
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PF MP protests land offer to Chinese
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Friday, December 12, 2008 4:28:11 AM
Patriotic Front Nkana member of parliament Mwenya Musenge last Saturday walked out of a full council meeting in protest against the offer of 30 hectares of land in Garneton for construction of houses for 300 Chinese nationals.
In an interview on Monday, Musenge said he could not be part of a decision that would sanction the settlement of Chinese when thousands of applications for land by Zambians had been pending for years without being processed.
Kitwe City Council last Saturday resolved to offer 30 hectares of land to the Zambia China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone Development (ZCCZ) Limited.
ZCCZ had initially applied for 36 hectares of land in Garneton next to Chambishi Metals to construct houses, cafes, canteens, gymnasiums and a sports field for an expected number of 300 Chinese.
Musenge complained that Zambians had not been served first, hence his decision to walk out of the council meeting.
“I got a bit frustrated,” Musenge said. “I could not agree with the council resolution to give land to the Chinese in Garneton when we have the majority of our people, here in Kitwe, we have thousands and thousands of applications...and at the end of the day they cannot access that land. Meanwhile, we are able to give a large chunk of land to the Chinese.”
Musenge said in the council meeting, he asked that President Rupiah Banda re-look at the directive made by his predecessor late Levy Mwanawasa for the allocation of 30 hectares of land but that his idea was blocked.
“I had asked in that meeting that ‘what can we do because at this level there is no way we can allow this thing to go through?’ And they said ‘No, land is vested in the President and these directives came from the Republican President that we need to give land so there is nothing that we can do’,” Musenge said. “And I asked ‘why can’t we give Rupiah Banda to look at this issue and see whether it is in order to give such land?’ And they said ‘No, even if he looked at it there is nothing that he can do because it has already been given’. In that case, I decided to walk out because I did not want my name to be part of those that approved that resolution.
“From the look of things, we have created an artificial shortage of land…and because of that artificial shortage of land that we have created, there is now too much corruption in land allocation at the council.”
During the council meeting that approved the offer of 30 hectares of land to ZCCZ, councillors were told that some Zambians would be accommodated on the premises.
The council resolved to sign a memorandum of understanding with ZCCZ to indicate that Zambians would be accommodated on the premises.
Labels: CHINESE, FDI, KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND, MWENYA MUSENGE, PF, ZCCZ
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Kitwe mourners beatup gravediggers
By Correspondent
Thursday March 13, 2008 [03:00]
GRAVEDIGGERS at Kitwe’s Chingola Road cemetery were on Monday morning beaten up by mourners after they stopped them from burying their deceased relative at the high cost site. Kitwe City Council public relations officer Dorothy Sampa said the mourners beat up the gravediggers after they were advised that they could not bury their deceased relative at the high cost site unless they paid a certain amount of money. Sampa said the mourners went to the cemetery in a light truck registration number ACH 9498,.
“Yes, I can confirm that our gravediggers were beaten up by some mourners who wanted to bury their deceased relative at the high cost. The mourners wanted to bury their deceased relative at the high cost site, but they were advised that they needed to pay a certain amount of money but in turn the mourners ran amok and started beating up grave diggers,” she said.
Sampa said it was sad that mourners could fail to reason with gravediggers and resort to violence and physical confrontation.
She said the matter had since been reported to Mindolo police and appealed to residents to follow procedures on policy issues.
She said the people that dig graves were doing a commendable job as it was not an easy task and therefore needed to be supported.
“The people who prepare our final resting place are doing a good job and deserve to be respected for the good job they were doing, but it is saddening that some people could go to the cemetery and start beating up our gravediggers. This is very barbaric and inhuman. We have since reported the matter to Mindolo police station,” said Sampa.
Labels: KITWE CITY COUNCIL
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