Zambian leader Rupiah Banda on Saturday joined local chiefs in a traditional ritual to ask ancestral spirits and God for rains.

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defense and Security is to hold a Heads of State summit of to iron out sticking points in Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement (GPA).

A new campaign in Zambia backed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) calls for an end to gender-based violence, the second biggest scourge in the nation, following HIV and AIDS, according to the African nation's leader.

FOR a long time now, gender based violence, especially that inflicted on women and girls has been accepted as normal in our society.

THE Government has with immediate effect fused the Task Force on Corruption into the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in line with the National Anti-Corruption Policy, Vice-President George Kunda has said.

INSPECTOR General of Police Francis Kabonde has expressed concern at the number of firearms which are still in wrong hands in various parts of Zambia with only about 200 weapons surrendered to the police this year under the arms amnesty.

THE MMD in Northern Province has suspended its provincial youth chairperson, Danny Chisanga for three months for misconduct contrary to the party constitution.

FIVE unions from the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU) have bemoaned the inadequate allocation of funds to the two institutions and called on Government to provide additional funds to allow them operate normally.

THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has prodded the media to play its advocacy role in the utilisation of minerals and other natural resources in Africa so that benefits can trickle down to the people.

FORMER secretary to the treasury, Benjamin Mweene yesterday told a Lusaka magistrates' court he never owed the defunct Access Financial Services (AFS) because he did not entered into any agreement with the company.

ACTING Local Government and Housing Minister, Bradford Machila has advised councils against compromising on the implementation of Market and Bus Station Act.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has described violence against women and children as the worst form of human rights violation and said the Government will do everything within its means to end the crime.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday held a closed-door meeting with former president of Burundi Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, where they discussed various issues affecting the Great Lakes Region.

FOUR candidates yesterday filed in nominations for next month's Solwezi Central Parliamentary by-election amidst violence between MMD and Patriotic Front-United Party for National Development (UPND) Pact supporters.

MORE than 235 households which have encroached on the land reserved for future expansion of the Lusaka International Airport will be relocated to Palabana in Chongwe District, Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said.

Zambian ambassador to Angola, Marina Mukolokota Nsingo, said Wednesday in Luanda that politico-diplomatic relations between the two countries are based on principles agreed at the first permanent conference of cooperation, held in 1979.

LATE Republican president Levy Mwanawasa's eldest daughter, Mirriam has advised her younger brother, Patrick against issuing statements that are likely to divide the nation.

THE outcome of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission shows not only confidence in the Government programmes but also is confirmation that Zambia is on course in its economic development path.

OF late, there appears to be a calculated move to discredit democratic institutions such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Judiciary, a development that risks eroding public confidence or whatever is left of it.

THE MMD in Solwezi Central constituency has welcomed the adoption of former Solwezi District Commissioner (DC), Albert Chifita as the party candidate in the November 19 Solwezi Central parliamentary by-election.