The Zambia Police Service has revealed that cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) have reduced in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year.

Police Spokesperson, Esther Katongo says the first quarter of 2021, 4,254 cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were reported countrywide compared to the First Quarter of 2020 where 5,040 GBV cases were recorded showing a decrease of 786 cases translating to a 15.6 percent reduction.

Mrs Katongo said 627 male adults reported GBV cases representing 14.7 percent, 2,277 were female adult victims representing 53.5 percent, 284 were boys representing 6.7percent and 1,066 girls representing 25.1percent.

She said in the first quarter of 2020, Police recorded 841 male adult victims representing 16.7percent, 2,768 female adult victims representing 54.9 percent, 294 boys representing 5.8 percent and 1,124 girls representing 22.3 percent of all victims of Gender-based violence.

Mrs Katongo noted that during the period under review, the Victim Support Unit counselled a total of 2,676 people for criminal offences comprising 1,651 victims and 1,025 offenders.

“2, 733 were counselled for non-criminal offences comprising 668 male adults, 1,685 female adults, 129 boys and 251 girls bringing the total number of people counselled to 5,409,” she said.

Ms Katongo revealed that Copperbelt Province recorded the highest GBV cases with 993 cases translating to 23.3 percent, followed by Lusaka with 949 GBV cases translating to 22.3 percent.

She stated that Luapula Province and TAZARA division recorded the lowest GBV cases at 47 each case translating to 1.1 percent respectively.

“Statistics from the rest of the provinces are as follows; Central Province recorded 453 cases translating to 10.7 percent, Western Province 451 cases translating to 10.6 percent, Eastern Province 415 cases translating to 9.8 percent, Muchinga Province 294 cases translating to 6.9 percent, Southern Province 227 cases translating to 5.3 percent, North Western Province 208 cases translating to 4.9 percent, Northern Province 120 cases translating to 2.8 percent and Airport 50 cases translating to 1.2 percent,” she said.

She further explained that under physical violence, during the first quarter of 2021, the Victim Support Unit recorded a total of 2,403 cases against 2,167 cases in 2020 showing an increase of 236 cases translating to 10.9 percent increase.

“According to the 2021 GBV Crime Report for the First Quarter, police recorded a total number of 523 cases of child defilement representing 12.3 percent of the reported cases, with 521 female victims and 2 boys as compared to the 2020 First Quarter Returns in which 633 cases were recorded showing a decrease by 110 translating to 17.4 percent decrease,” she said.

Mrs Katongo added that in the first quarter of 2021 Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of child defilement cases with 259 cases translating to 49.5 percent reported country wide followed by Central Province with 51 cases translating to 9.8 percent.

She stated that Southern Province recorded 47 cases translating to 9 percent, North Western Province recorded 35 cases translating 6.7percent while Eastern province recorded 32 cases translating to 6.1 percent.

This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today

Government says heavy investment activities must be conducted in a manner that does not threaten the sustainability of the environment.

Minister for Water, Sanitation and Environment Protection, Raphael Nakachinda says for this reason his ministry will ensure that all its projects it is conducting in the country do not threaten the sustainability of the environment that affect climate change and distort vegetation

“There are heavy investments and activities that are taking place here, we have to make sure that whilst there is economic benefit in that regard, those activities continue to be conducted in a manner that does not threaten the sustainability of the environment in order to prevent issues of climate change and distortion of vegetation,” he said.

ZANIS reports that the minister was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Kalumbila district commissioner Robinson Kalota in Kalumbila District yesterday.

Mr Nakachinda further stated that these activities are also undertaken with the critical resources like water that is drawn from water resources such as surface and ground water, hence the need to be monitored to ensure they are operating within the regulations.

He said government would love to see mining firms partnering with utility companies.

“What is important also is for me to make the pronouncement here that we would love to see that the mining companies work with the utility company to support the utility company and partner with the utility company in providing the critical service of water supply and sanitation,” Mr Nakachinda said.

Mr Nakachinda used the opportunity to appreciate the efforts of the mining firms in the provision of water and sanitation services.

“The efforts that the mining entities have made so far are highly appreciated but I think there is need for us to start facilitating a transfer of those facilities to the utility company so that there is sustainability and the utility company begins to implement its own plans on how best the communities here can be serviced,” Mr Nakachinda said.

He also observed that the district is in dire need of water and sanitation services due to population influx.

“A place like Kalumbila that is growing at a supersonic speed in view of the economic activities here, it places even a higher demand on the ministry and through the ministry, the utility companies and other departments to be able to provide the necessary services for our people here,” Mr Nakachinda said.

Its government’s aim to move from not only having hand pumps in terms of boreholes but to begin to put up water reticulation facilities where people can have piped water managed by utility companies, all in a quest to be able to achieve the vision 2030 that is to have every Zambian have access to clean and safe water.

Meanwhile, Mr Kalota appreciated the minister for visiting the district and shared some challenges regarding water and sanitation in the district.

“We appreciate your visit to our district…we have a planned central business district within Mumbezhi (CBD where the civic centre is at 95 percent completion. We are lobbying through your office to consider our CBD,” he said.

Mr Kalota said the population in the district has increased therefore, posing a huge demand for water and sanitation services.

The government has urged the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja to arrest United Party for National Development (UPND) presidential spokesperson Mubita Nawa and a UPND cadre for defamation of the President.

A video has since gone viral, where Mr. Nawa acting together with another man a “Mulenga” was allegedly insulting and defaming the Republican President contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Police are currently investigating the matter.

Transport and Communications Minister Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya said that demeaning the Head of State in such a manner should not be condoned.

Hon Kafwaya said that Mr Kanganja must ensure that these two individuals are brought to book immediately, adding that with the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, the law has sufficient provisions to deal with such crimes.

The Hon Minister says the law further provides for admission of electronic evidence into the courts of law making it sufficient to deal with such issues through out the entire process.

“Let me also appeal to HH (Hakainde Hichilema) to stop teaching his cadres insults. The insulting lectures that he gave in Lukanshya is now bearing very bad fruits,” he said.

“I think that HH must now own up and indicate to the nation that he is tutorials in Lukanshya were terrible resulting in what we are seeing.”

Government says it cherishes the political and military interactions that exist between Zambia and Bangladesh.

Ministry of Defense Deputy Permanent Secretary, Wesy Likeli noted that Zambia being the first country in Africa to recognize the sovereignty of Bangladesh, remains resolute to further cement the bilateral ties.

He pointed out that government will explore other areas of mutual interest in the Agriculture and health sectors in which Bangladesh is thriving.

ZANIS Reports that Mr Likeli made the remarks when visiting Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff, General Aziz Ahmed paid a courtesy call on him in Lusaka today.

“Zambia cherishes that interaction that exists between our two people both at political and military levels. You would recall that we were the first country in Africa, to recognize your independence and we remain firm to working closely with you,” he said.

And Visiting Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff, Aziz Ahmed has called on the Zambian government to explore other areas of mutual interest with his country.

General Aziz cited the health sector among the sectors that Zambia can benefit from stating that his country exports medicines to 150 countries globally.

“Our relations date back to 1983 when President Dr Kenneth Kaunda paid a state visit to our country and we saw the bilateral ties rejuvenated last year by the visit of Zambia Army Commander to our country, a thing that has gone down in the history of the two countries. We are thriving in the health and Agriculture sectors and Zambia can benefit immensely,” he emphasized.

And General Azizi later paid a courtesy call on Zambia Army Commander, Lt General William Sikazwe, where he reiterated that his country remains resolute to furthering the bilateral ties with the Zambian Army.

He stated that so far, at least 30 officers from Zambia Army have attended military courses from his country, which he said are still on-going.

Meanwhile, Lt General Sikazwe hailed Bangladesh for having played a significant role in the training of the defense force personnel.

He said his visit to Bangladesh and General Aziz’s visit to Zambia is a clear testimony of the growing bilateral ties between the two countries.

General Aziz who arrived in the country last week, will return to his country this week.

Chairperson of the Private sector Development Association Yussuf Dodia has urged both the Public and Private sectors to aggressively embrace technology to help mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 on the economy.

Mr. Dodia said this in an interview with ZANIS in Serenje adding that the two sectors need to be strategic in controlling the Covid-19 Pandemic to avoid an economic disaster in the country.

Mr. Dodia said since the Covid-19 is still with us the two sectors need to aggressively embrace technology to cushion its impact on the country’s economy.

“Covid -19 is something we have been struggling with hence the public and private sectors need to rethink new mechanisms to achieve the same results of how they will, for example keep employees employed even though they will not turn up to the office,” he said.

Mr. Dodia said the sectors may discover that the new mechanisms may be more profitable than the old ones.

He said players in the private and public sectors need to be mindful that when a lot of people get infected with the virus and become sick, a lot of national resources that were supposed to go to economic development will go towards health care.

Chief Justice, Irene Mambilima has commended the United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP) for the continued fostering of programmes aimed at enhancing environmental justice in Zambia.

Justice Mambilima notes that such programmes are inevitable and an important aspect to the environment, as they are designed to ensure that persons responsible for polluting the environment are taken to task.

The Chief Justice also stated that it is for this reason that UNEP working in collaboration with the Zambia Environmental Protection Authority (ZEMA) and the Justice System in Zambia, are working together in coming up with laws that best address pressing environmental concerns, in order to protect Zambia’s natural resources.

The Chief Justice said this in a speech read on her behalf by Justice Anne Sitali during the official opening of the Training of Trainers workshop for Judges, on the proposed guidelines on sentencing in Environmental, Crimes and award of Environmental damages and compensation.

And Justice Mambilima further said there is need to ensure that the environment is restored to its pristine state, in as much as offenders were taken to task for going against laws that bind environmental protection.

She reminded the judges to ensure that they remain proactive and use the guidelines to be formulated to aid them during their course of duty, when determining environmental disputes and crimes.

“Your invaluable contributions will go a long way in promoting environmental justice and sustainable development,” Justice Mambilima said.

The two day training workshop sponsored by UNEP is being done virtually with officials from the United Nations in collaboration with High Court Judges from across the country.

And UNEP Regional Coordinator, Robert Wabunoha has expressed optimism that the partnership between the environmental management authorities and the Zambian Justice system will enhance the execution of environmental justice in Zambia.

Mr Wabunoha appreciated the efforts from all the players, adding that there was need to strengthen capacities in Zambia, which he believed would be achieved once the proposed guidelines in environmental protection were officially formulated.

Meanwhile, ZEMA representative, Karen Banda also echoed the need for all stakeholders to ensure that laws binding the environment are tightened and persons responsible for going against the laws are taken to task.