No 777 K10 www.diggers.news Thursday September 17, 2020 Polling ERB rules out streams will fuel price hike By Ulande Nkomesha act as polling THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has ruled out any immediate hike in fuel stations to I’LL REMAIN prices despite the kwacha’s continued depreciation against major currency increase convertibles, saying the latest oil consignment is yet to be transparency received to determine any price changes. Story page 4 - ECZ By Julia Malunga Probe THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says during the 2021 elections, all polling PRESIDENT streams will transmit results HH, he directly to the totalling centre without waiting for the combination of results at is not poling stations. ...whether Hichilema The move is aimed at increasing transparency, special eliminating suspicions and achieving time efficiency, says ECZ chief electoral officer - Mwila Patrick Nshindano. Story page 5 In an interview, Nshindano like it or not - Lungu said the polling streams which By Julia Malunga for George Chisanga, the PF not him who doesn’t want will be turned into polling PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu candidate in today’s Lukashya Hichilema to appear on the stations will have their own says whether Zambians like parliamentary by-election, ballot paper, but the people of General Regulations Form 20. it or not, he will be re-elected President Lungu vowed that Zambia who are asking him to “The change will firstly for a third successive time as whether voters liked it or not, account for selling the country. enhance the time for processing Republican President in next he would still end up being re- “Ati ndemutina mu 2021 and announcements of results, year’s general elections. elected for a third time at the ndefwaya ekabako (They are each stream converted to a Speaking, Wednesday, 2021 general election. saying that I am scared of HH, polling...” Story page 5 when he drummed up support The President said it’s I don’t...” Story page 6 ZAMRA recalls toxic HoneyBee drugs By Sipilisiwe Ncube (ZAMRA) director general all batches of Paracetamol 14 days, saying it does not ZAMBIA Medicines Bernice Mwale has ordered tablets which it supplied to meet some specifications. Regulatory Authority HoneyBee Pharmacy to recall the Ministry of Health within And Mwale has asked HoneyBee to further submit to the authority a detailed report of the recall process, Northern Police nab 2 PF cadres which should include the quantity of drugs imported and those supplied to health facilities. for damaging UPND vehicle Story page 2 Story page 7 2. Local News www.diggers.news Thursday September 17, 2020 Zambia records 68 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths By Ulande Nkomesha Province.” total of 134,236 tests we have MINISTRY of Health And Dr Malama said conducted since the pandemic Permanent Secretary for the country recorded was confirmed in Zambia Technical Services Dr Kennedy two COVID-19 deaths in with 12,869 recoveries, giving Malama says Zambia has the last 24 hours which Zambia a recovery rate 90 recorded 68 new COVID-19 brought the total number percent and 326 deaths,” he cases out of 847 tests done. of deaths recorded to 326. said. And Dr Malama says the Dr Malama said three country has recorded two “We had one BID within million Zambians were at a COVID-19 related deaths in Lusaka who tested positive higher risk to COVID-19 by the last 24 hours. from COVID-19. On a sad virtue of old age or having Meanwhile, Dr Malama note we lost an adult male underlined conditions. says three million Zambians patient in Livingstone Central “The decision by His are at a higher risk of infection Hospital due to COVID-19. He Excellency the President due to old age or underlying had co-morbidities. Following Edgar Lungu to relax conditions. the two COVID-19 related some restrictions to enable Speaking during the deaths we are reporting today, economic and social activities routine COVID-19 briefing, the cumulative number of was based on surveillance data Wednesday, Dr Malama said deaths in our country stands that indicated an improving the cumulative figure currently at 326 which we have classified situation, particularly the stood at 13,887. as follows: 110 deaths due to reduction in positivity as we “In the last 24 hours, COVID-19, 210 COVID-19 continue testing. Nevertheless Zambia recorded a total of 68 associated deaths and six it is important to amplify new COVID-19 cases reported deaths which we are reviewing that this is not to say that in 12 districts. These districts pending classification and we COVID-19 outbreak is over. include Lusaka, 39, Kitwe, shall update the nation in due All of us remain at risk of the 12, Solwezi, five, Ndola, two, course,” Dr Malama said. infection. We respond, we react Livingstone, two, Chipata, He said 279 patients in to the infection to COVID-19 two, Zimba, one, Petauke, one, Lusaka were discharged. differently. We do have about Monze, one, Kazungula, one, “Today, we have discharged three million Zambians who Kalomo, one and Choma, one. 279 patients in Lusaka district. may be having a higher risk These new cases in the last 24 The number of patients still by virtue of old age or having hours are among the 847 tests under health facility isolation underlying conditions,” said we conducted as a country country wide stands now at Dr Malama. giving us a positivity of eight 34 with 10 on oxygen therapy “That is the main reason percent. The cumulativeand these are disaggregated as we should not under play number of cases in the country follows: Lusaka has 19 patients with COVID-19 where as is therefore 13,887,” Dr with six on oxygen at Levy the majority may mount an Malama said Mwanawasa isolation and effective response at individual “The new cases include treatment center, Copperbelt level in terms of humanity we in broad terms 37 which we we have seven patients, Ndola still have many other Zambians identified through health care Teaching Hospital has got four, who may not do so. So it is facility screening in which two on oxygen, Kitwe has three imperative that we work to 11 are from Kitwe and 26 in with two on oxygen, North protect all Zambians. Our Lusaka. We also had 24 which Western Province we have two positive [numbers] have been we detected through routine at Solwezi General Hospital; reducing but let us not take screening coming from Choma, Muchinga we have two at this for granted. As we have one, Kalomo, one, Kazungula, Chinsali General Hospital; eased the restrictions, allowed one, Kitwe, one, two from Central Province we have two social economic activities to Livingstone, nine from Lusaka, at Kabwe District Hospital; run, people are interacting one Monze, two Ndola, five Luapula we have one at Mansa more and more, there is a risk Solwezi and one Zimba. We General Hospital; Southern of a surge. We need to ensure also had five contacts to known we have one in Kazungula. that within the spirit of the new cases, these are Chipata two, This therefore in summary normal adherence to the public Lusaka three. We also had one gives us confirmed cumulative health and social measures is health care worker who tested numbers of COVID-19 cases maintained and are improved positive from Petauke Eastern in the country 13,887 out of a on .” Northern Police nab 2 PF cadres for damaging UPND vehicle By Daniel Chansa was unlawfully wounded. NORTHERN Province Police have arrested “During the same confusion, Janny Yamba two PF cadres for damaging a motor vehicle Yamba aged 34, the suspect in the case of belonging to a UPND official in broad daylight Malicious damage, reported to have been at Kasama Shoprite. unlawfully wounded by suspected UPND cadres And Police have launched a manhunt for a using a Matchet. The victim sustained a deep cut group of PF cadres led by Mubanga commonly in the head. Investigations have been instituted known as “Bargadi” of Ndola for threatening in the matter. We are warning all political players, violence and damaging UPND property. that Police shall not tolerate any thuggery by any In a statement, Wednesday, Zambia Police individual under the guise of politics. We urge Public Relations Officer Esther Katongo political players to be tolerant and concentrate identified the two PF cadres arrested in Kasama on promoting their ideals as opposed to taking as Jannie Yamba Yamba and Witson Mutanda. the route of violence. Police shall not spare any She said the two allegedly damaged a motor individual that will be found wanting,” she said. vehicle, a Toyota Vista registration number ABT Katongo has also revealed that Yamba 375, property of Jairos Simbeye. Yamba 34 is also facing a charge of assault. “The complainant who was in the company She said Yamba Yamba is alleged to have of his friend were about to come out of shop rite assaulted Mwila Kampamba aged 26 of Site and where they had gone to buy commodities when Service in Monze District. a group of people clad in PF regalia surrounded And Northern Province Police their motor vehicle painted in UPND colours. Commissioner Richard Mweene said the police Upon seeing the group , they went back in the are looking for a group of people seen in a video shop but one of them only identified as Gideon threatening violence and damaging UPND was recognised and followed by the thugs and property. assaulted him and he sustained injuries. The “I can say we are looking for that group. That thugs later damaged the said motor vehicle information has just come to our attention,” said which was parked at Shop rite.