The International Organization for Migration (IOM), has empowered 11 Livingstone based vulnerable families, with startup capital worth thousands of kwacha, to reduce poverty at household level.

IOM Protection Officer, Chibalani Katongo, said the startup capital was in the form of reintegration items that would enable the vulnerable families
engage in grocery business and chicken rearing as income generating activities.

Ms Katongo said the identified families consisted of sexually abused young girls who were human trafficking victims, and those at risk of falling into human trafficking networks.

She however, explained that the startup capital was for the parents of the vulnerable girls.

Ms Katongo said the COVID19 pandemic had brought about negative effects which had driven families to push their children into vices which resulted in them frequenting brothels and engaging in illicit activities.

ZANIS reports that Ms Katongo was speaking during the handover ceremony of reintegration items for the 11 vulnerable families.

The items included chickens, feed for chickens, eggs, rice, tissues, sugar, salt, cement and iron sheets among others.

She said IOM had been supporting the government with programs aimed at reducing the vulnerability of families that have fallen into trafficking networks.

“The support we give includes reintegration support aimed at reducing poverty shocks. These help families to return their children to school and also gives them an opportunity to fend for themselves, “she said.

Ms Katongo further said the beneficiaries underwent business startup training to help them in record keeping and sustainability of their businesses.

And Livingstone District Commissioner Pascalina Musokotwane urged the beneficiaries to desist from detrimental vices and focus on growing their businesses and keeping their girl children in school.

Ms Musokotwane advised the parents of the victims not to use the past against them, but to encourage them to focus on the future and on activities that would help rebuild their lives.

She said it was imperative for the beneficiaries to grow their businesses as doing so would reduce poverty and their vulnerability to detrimental vices.

Meanwhile, Senior Social Welfare Officer ,in the Department of Community Development and Social Services, Nicholas Goma said the empowerment program was an opportunity for the beneficiaries to have a bright future.

Mr. Goma said it was not too late for the exploited girls to go back to school to realise their dreams and aspirations.

“We are excited as a government to work with our partners to save these girls’ lives and prevent the worst that could have happened had we not intervened,” he said.

Five Patriotic Front (PF) aspiring parliamentary candidates have so far applied for the Kankoyo seat in Mufulira district, Copperbelt Province.

And incumbent Kankoyo Member of Parliament, Brian Mushimba says the PF is a democratic party and that anyone willing to contest for adoption should feel free to do so.

Dr Mushimba however, expressed optimism that he will carry the day as electorates in Kankoyo have seen his numerous projects he has initiated during his tenure.

Dr Mushimba was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on PF Mufulira District Chairman, Dominic Mwale today.

Dr. Mushimba said it was not his wish to be absent from the constituency for the past months, but was due to sickness.

“I am paying for over 5000 pupils in the constituency, I have also implemented empowerment programs for women, we have upgraded the roads, schools have also been upgraded, Dr Mushimba boasted.

Meanwhile, Dr Mwale disclosed the names of people who have applied for the Kankoyo seat as Mufulira Mayor, Gift Mushinge, Derick Musonda, Mwambanya Miti, former Local Government, Permanent Secretary, Eddie Chomba, and the incumbent MP, Dr. Brian Mushimba.

“Don’t feel as though people are trying to remove you from being MP, just accommodate everyone and feel free to contest for adoption as incumbent MP,” Dr Mwale encouraged Dr Mushimba.

The Zambia Police have arrested eight people for suspected illegal possession of government drugs and illegal operation of drug stores.

Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) Senior Public Relations Officer, Christabel Mutale Iliamupu, has disclosed this in a press statement issued to the media in Lusaka today.

She said among the arrested, are five men aged between 24 and 40 identified as Stephen Mumba, Allan Ngoma, Apson Phiri, Francis Banda and Fredrick Ngoma who have been charged for operating pharmacies without certificates of registration Contrary to Section 14(1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act (3) of 2013.

She said others are two women identified as Mary Tembo 24, 35 years old Everlyn Phiri and Andsen Phiri 47.

‘The suspects have been detained at Chipata Central Police station and will soon appear in court,” Mrs Illiamupu stated.

Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe has assured Copperbelt residents that the province has enough medicines and medical supplies for all health facilities in the region.

Mr Nundwe said this when he toured the Zambia Medical and Medicines Authority (ZMMA) Copperbelt hub in Luanshya that he was happy with the medical stock and the distribution of medical drugs in the province

He said matters of health of the people are a priority to government, and establishing of the regional medical hub is to ensure medicines are available on time for the wellbeing of people.

He said he will not allow any deficiencies or pilfering of drugs at health facilities as this has potential to affect service delivery to the people.

“We do not want to see drugs expiring at the hub when people need them, this calls for alertness of members of staff at the facility, don’t allow stock to deplete, order on time,” PS emphasized.

ZANIS reports that the PS has since directed ZMMA regional hub to ensure the facility has enough stock off medicines and medical supplies and distributed to all the health facilities in the province.

“President Edgar Lungu pays high premium to issues of health because in the absence of good health, the country cannot develop, he said

And Copperbelt Province Health Director Dr Robert Zulu said the facility is strategically positioned in the province to enable people access medicines at facilities in their communities.

Dr. Zulu said his office was looking forward to have the facility commissioned so that it becomes fully operational to enhance service delivery in the province.

Hub Manager Mathews Fwambo said since the establishment in 2018, the facility distributes medicines and medical supplies to 6 districts while others are serviced by third party partners up to the health centers.

GOVERNMENT says it remains committed to prioritizing the coordinated delivery of social service protection programmes as close to the people as possible as contained in the Seventh National Development Plan.

Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Pamela Kabamba said in a speech read on her behalf by Central Province Permanent Secretary Bernard Chomba during the handover of Information, Communication Technology equipment (ICT) that communication of available social services improved due to translated information in six districts.

Mrs Kabamba commended the first six Single Window Service Delivery System districts commonly referred to as ‘’Champion Districts’’ which include Kafue, Mpulungu, Samfya, Mongu, Lunga and Mambwe for having made tremendous progress in designing and implementing coordinated stakeholder mapping and engagement which has resulted in reduced fragmentation of social protection interventions.

‘’The Ministry has also noted the reduction in the silo approach to the implementation of social protection programmes in the implementing districts,’’ she said.

And Mrs Kabamba further noted that the system has resulted in value for money not only on the part of government but also for other stakeholders involved in social protection service delivery.

Speaking earlier, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Acting Director Planning Marrian Tembo said a lot of lessons had been learnt from the districts implementing the single window initiative which will go a long way in enhancing efficiency in the districts.

And ILO Country Office Representative for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Kelobang Kagisanyo said social protection played a critical role in the national development agenda as it provides sustainable security against deprivation and extreme vulnerability as outlined in the 7 National Development Plan.

He said ILO was pleased to note the efforts of government to strengthen the coordination of social protection programming at national, sub-national and district levels.

‘’One key approach to enhance coordination, is the Single Windows Initiative, as reflected in the 7NDP. It lays a practical framework for improved coordination at district and community level, as well as to improve ease of access to social protection services, ‘’ he said.

He also commended government for establishing a comprehensive policy that was pro-poor and for increasing funding to the social protection programmes as evidenced by the 2020 national budget.

The procured equipment includes six desk top computers, six laser jet printers, five canon digital cameras and three sony digital cameras.

Government adopted the national social protection policy in 2014.

Government says early marriages is another form of Gender Based Violence (GBV) especially for pupils.

Community Development and Social Services Minister Kampamba Mulenga says government places high priority to ending child marriages and all forms of GBV in the country.

Mrs. Mulenga called on parents and guardians to join hands with government to protecting young girls from being married off at a tender age.

Mrs. Mulenga said government recognizes the vulnerability of women and girls go through but accord them an opportunity to complete their education.

Mrs. Mulenga reiterated that the Ministry of General Education has ambitious empowerment programs such as Keeping Girls in School and Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) among others that attract girls to be in schools.

The Minister says government is committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfill their potential and effectively contribute to national development of the country.

She was speaking in Gwembe district yesterday when she addressed girls, parents and guardians who gathered at the Freedom Square.

“Child marriage is an appalling violation of human rights and robs girls of their education, health and long-term prospects.

Therefore, I’m calling upon you parents and guardians in communities to work together with government and end early marriages,” Mrs. Mulenga added.

She observed that girls are more vulnerable to intimate partners and that there are more complications of pregnancy at childbirth leading deaths in young girls.

Mrs. Mulenga reminded the parents that adolescence have more chances of staying healthier, better their education and build a better life for themselves and their families.

She urged girls, parents and guardians to report men to the police and other law enforcement agencies selfish men bent on perpetrating the vice.

“Ending child marriage requires multi-stakeholder efforts from governments, parents, cooperating partners, cultural and religious institutions and the media to take action towards the elimination of the harmful practices,” the Minister said.

And Gwembe District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Benson Zemba said Keeping Girls In School program is a success.

Mr. Zemba told the Minister that over 200 girls this term have been retrieved from their ‘forced’ marriages in the district and they have returned back to school.

The DEBS however, appealed to government to deliberately consider supporting young girls beyond just Grade 12 for those who get good results.

“Girls who obtain good results at Grade 12 should automatically be taken upon to tertiary level so that they become a testimony and encourage others of the importance of education,” Mr. Zemba said.