A gassing masterminder arrested?

A PERSON suspected to be one of the masterminds coordinating the gas attacks has been arrested on the Copperbelt, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has said.

Mr. Kampyongo said the arrest had created another base for police to investigate on who was sponsoring the gassing activities across the country.

H e a lso said the police had so far arrested 26 people for alleged chemical spraying out of which, two were male identified as Brain Maipambe and Lazorous Mwape who were being charged with terrorism acts.

Mr. Kampyongo was speaking at a joint press briefing with his Information and Broadcasting Services as well as Ministry of General Education counterparts in Lusaka today.

Speaking at the same event, Minister of General Education David Mabumba dismissed reports that schools will close amidst the gassing situation in the country. Mr. Mabumba said the ministry will instead engage relevant authorities to police schools across the country for safety.

Meanwhile, Government has dismissed reports that Zambian diplomats are languishing abroad due to failure to fund foreign missions in the past four months.

In responding to questions from journalists Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the story wasfake as government has been on time in paying allowances to diplomats.

And Ms. Siliya who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said Government has a liquidation plan of paying arrears in few instances where it still owes some diplomats some allowances.