The South African Government has donated 160 elephants to Lusenga Plains National Park in Zambia's Kawambwa Disrict.

In a landmark ruling on 15 July, the High Court in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, ordered the government to pay about US$13,000 compensation to a 15-year-old school girl raped by her class teacher. Mary Muyunda* brought a civil action against the teacher, the school and the minister of education.

Former Kaizer Chiefs' Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma is finally expected in South Africa tomorrow morning (Tuesday) from Istanbul, Turkey.

James Odit, Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) in Africa, has praised the Zambia Youth Workers Association (ZYWA) as a 'model' organisation for youth workers across the continent.

A well-planned area or settlement is easy to service with amenities such as water, electricity, education as well as health facilities.

AT 13, Nchimunya has already experienced the pain of labour in child-bearing, although she never saw the intended results as she had delivered a still-born baby.

ALTHOUGH the nations of the world have over years made serious attempts to curb the abuse of elderly people in society, the problem is still rampant especially in developing countries like Zambia, which have no social security schemes for senior citizens in place.

FORMER Access Financial Services (AFS) chief executive officer, Faustin Kabwe yesterday told a magistrate's court that he wanted Zambia Security Intelligence Service (ZSIS) director general, Regis Phiri to continue handling business with his company even after former intelligence chief, Xavier Chungu left office.

THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded a contract worth more than K100 billion to Raubex Contractors to maintain the Kasama-Mbala- Mpulungu Road.

THE Government has maintained that it will not release funding to councils that fail to submit returns to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing until they clean up their houses.

THREE schoolboys in Solwezi died on the spot at the weekend in Kang'wena area on the Solwezi-Chingola Road after a Toyota Corolla driven by a mine employee hit them.

VICE -President Rupiah Banda has condemned the continued bickering among MMD members saying it is portraying that there are divisions in the ruling party when in fact not.

RED Star Holdings says the performance of its Zambian branch since it started trading in April has surpassed the break-even point.

PRESIDENT Mwanawasa who is admitted to Percy Military Hospital in France has continued responding well to treatment, Chief Government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, has said.

We welcome the decision by the Ndola City Council (NCC) to confiscate a public address system, which was being used to play loud music and promotional messages from a shop on Chisokone Road.

THE last time I was in Lusaka -- a few months ago during a Sadc summit -- what hit me with the force of a pile-driver was the optimism of the people, just ordinary people going about their normal business.

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema, has dismissed suggestions for the appointment of a medical board to ascertain the health of President Mwanawasa who is currently admitted to a French hospital.

CHRIS Aka is a name that no longer needs introduction to music fans and enthusiasts on the local front. The dread-locked artiste has indeed earned himself a place on the wall chart of Zambian music.

A consignment of 90,000 tonnes of crude oil which was expected in Zambia by Monday will be delayed for a week because the Government is yet to sign an importation deal with the financiers.

MY prayer is for President Mwanawasa to receive favour from the Lord in Jesus' name. Fellow citizens, this is not time for finger-pointing and character assassination. It is a very unique time, a time of prayer and silence so that we can see, and listen from God (Habakkuk 2:1-2).

MINEWORKERS Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union of Mining and Allied Workers (NUMAW) yesterday signed a 15 per cent pay rise under the 2008 collective agreement with Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) management in Kitwe.

MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga, has said he cannot constitute a committee to deal with party spokesman, Ben Tetamashimba's case because he has not received a copy of the party official's charge letter.

WE note the observations made by Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (Zulawu) general secretary, Oast Choongo, about some difficulties faced by councils, whose budgets were turned down by the ministry of Local Government and Housing.

Pope Benedict XVI yesterday appointed Fr. Ignatius Chama of the clergy of Mansa as bishop of Mpika Diocese.

A HEALTHY nation, as the old saying goes, is a prerequisite for enhanced development both in the social and economic sectors. On the other hand, a nation of ailing citizens provides a breeding ground for sustained hunger and poverty, which sets the pace for vices to flourish much to the detriment of the nation as a whole.