Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe has hailed the Zambia National Service (ZNS) for taking up the initiative of running a shoemaking factory in Ndola.

Mr Nundwe was impressed with quality of shoes being manufactured when he toured the factory in the city’s industrial area.

Mr Nundwe commended ZNS for always being exceptional in their works throughout the country citing the areas of agriculture, security, and road works among others.

“ZNS is always smarter in the manner they deal with things. They have ventured into several economic activities in the country and Copperbelt in particular,” Mr. Nundwe said.

He added such initiatives have a blessing from government because they can help government to save a lot of money the country has been spending on the importation of footwear among other products.

Mr Nundwe noted that the products also have potential to increase foreign exchange in the country and help to strengthen the local currency when exported.

And ZNS Officer Commanding for the shoe manufacturing factory, Bright Chanda said the concept was birthed in the early 1990s but only got actualized six months ago when the government bought the shoe factory from MALAR industries at a cost of K3.3 million.

Major Chanda said the factory is able to produce 80-100 shoes per day with 8 working hours but has the potential to produce up to 1500 – 2000 shoes per day.

He disclosed plans of purchasing modern equipment and machines to enhance productivity and further improve skills development for the workers.

Major Chanda said the factory endeavours to become the major supplier of military, safety and school footwear in the country and possibly the region.

The Zambia National Men’s Network for Gender and Development (ZNMNGD) has bemoaned the increasing number of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases involving assault and murder despite recently commemorating the 16 days of gender activism.

ZNMNGD National Coordinator Nelson Banda said the recent case involving the Chitambo College of Nursing students calls for people’s input to curb such cases.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Mr. Banda said the growing number of GBV cases is fast evolving into a national crisis that must be quickly addressed.

“Just when we were coming from the commemoration of the 16 days of gender activism then such a case happens. This is an indication that we need to take the fight against GBV seriously by putting more effort in sensitizing the public,” he said.

He added that the right to life, freedom of thought, expression and equality before the law are being compromised by acts of GBV.

Mr. Banda noted that the reports of women experiencing some forms of physical or sexual violence is a hindrance to the country’s development which should come to an end.

He added that such acts are hindering the attainment of gender equality and the realization of the social and economic goals of Zambia.

“That’s why we are calling for men and boys to seek counseling services when pressed with serious emotional challenges which are not good for their health.

And a Ndola resident Mwenya Mwamba has called on youths in the county to always seek counseling, guidance whenever they feel depressed.

Mr. Mwamba noted that cases to do with GBV and suicides amongst young people were on the rise citing depression as one of the reasons.

He has called on parents to get involved in their children’s lives to prevent them from committing such bad acts.

“These young children think that they are grown-ups and seem to make their own decisions which should not be the case. Parents should be involved in these young people’s lives so that lives are not lost or crimes are not committed,” he said.

Early this week, a young man identified as Kaluwayo Mwika committed suicide after allegedly murdering his girlfriend Mapalo Masiku aged 21 who were both students at Chitambo School of Nursing.

The Zambian Network of Youths living with Disabilities (ZNYS) has strongly dispelled assertions that the ministry of education and the Examining Council of Zambia has neglected learners with special education needs sitting for examinations.

This follows allegations by a named federation that the Zambia education sector and the examining body were mishandling students with special needs by not giving them special attention in handling their examination answer scripts.

ZNYS Secretary General Cornelius Chitukwa who is also Luanshya District Education Standards Officer for Special Education said government had in the recent past effected numerous strides to better the handling of examinations for learners with special needs.

“On the contrary, the ministry of general education and the ECZ through circular No. ECZ/101/1/9 had come up with innovations to better the management and administration of examinations for the special education learners” Mr. Chitukwa said.

He indicated that other strides included coming up with different color codes of Temper Evident envelopes and specialized markers for various categories of disabilities.

He explained that scripts for visually impaired are packed in dark blue envelopes, while those for hearing impaired are Orange while scripts for physically impaired students are packed in brown envelopes”.

Mr. Chitukwa said the different Tempered color codes for examination scripts were further accompanied by separate registers indicating the names of the special needs students.

He noted that the examination scripts were also marked by trained and qualified special markers at the marking centers.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chitukwa disclosed that Luanshya district has enrolled a total of 40 special needs students sitting for examinations this year.

He stated that the 49 students were drawn from Dagama School for the physically challenged and Mpelembe secondary school special education unit.

Mr. Chitukwa indicated that the 36 students were physically challenged who included 9 students sitting for grade 12, 12 candidates sitting for grade 9, and 15 students sitting for grade 7 examinations respectively.

He said the other four candidates were hearing impaired students from Morlemve Secondary school all sitting for their grade 12 examinations.

Police in Lusaka have summoned Leader of the opposition UPND Hakainde Hichilema for questioning over reasons yet to be established.

Mr Hichilema has been asked to appear at the police Headquarters on Monday 21st December 2020, according to UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma.

Confirming the development, Mr Kakoma has explained that Mr Hichilema was summoned through his lawyers after attempts by the Police to leave the callout at the party secretariat failed.

But Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says Hichilema’s lawyers have asked the police to postpone the date for appearing from Monday 21st December to a later date.

“Police had summoned the President for the United Party for National Development (UPND) Mr Hakainde Hichilema to Police Headquarters and was expected to appear on Monday, 21st December 2020. We however recieved correspondence from his Lawyers requesting for the rescheduling of the date,” Mrs Katongo said.

She said police are still in discussion with the Lawyers on a new date on which the opposition leader should be availed to police.

President Edgar Lungu has yesterday afternoon paid a courtesy call on the Litunga of Western Province at his palace.

President Lungu was received by the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Prime Minister Ngambela Manyando Mukela and senior Indunas at the Limulunga palace, where he held a closed door meeting with the Litunga.

He was accompanied by Ministers of Agriculture Michael Katambo, Western Province Minister Richard Kapita, Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri, PF Southern and Western Province Chairpersons and other senior dignitaries.

The President is today morning expected to inspect the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP) and fish ponds in Sefula area of Mongu and will later attend the Western Province PF Party Convention.

Earlier, President Edgar Lungu called for restoration of discipline in the Ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Western Province. The Head of State noted with concern that the disorderliness being exhibited by PF members especially in western province, may negatively damage the image of the party.

President Lungu expressed his apprehension when he addressed Mongu residents who received him to a thunderous welcome at Mongu Airport yesterday afternoon.

President Lungu however, said as Head of State and the ruling party, will concentrate on delivering development to all parts of the country to improve the living standards of the Zambian people.

“My government is delivering on the much needed development in the country and we will concentrate on initiating more developmental projects as promised,” President Lungu stated.

And Western Province Chairperson, Kufuka Kufuka said the developmental agenda of the ruling party has spread to all parts of the country and Mongu has not been left behind.

The President is on a two day working visit to Western Province.

The government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit-DMMU has releases K4.1 million for the air-lifting of examination papers for all schools that are located in hard-to-reach areas.

Speaking to the media in Lusaka, DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe disclosed that the money has been paid to the Zambia Airforce (ZAF) that has since commenced the exercise to deliver examination papers.

Mr Chanda Kabwe said the government will further release another K3.5 million next week to fully settle the amount required to airlift the papers for all schools that cannot be reached by road.

Mr Kabwe said the government is working hard to ensure that no pupil or student is disadvantaged by the hazards that have been caused by heavy rainfall.
He emphasized that President Edgar Lungu values education so much that he has made sure that the progression of pupils across the country is not disturbed either by the epidemic or floods.

The National Coordinator said the Zambia Airforce have so far delivered papers to Ngabwe and Luano Districts in Central Province, Mazabuka District in Southern Province, Chama District in Muchinga Province, Mitete District in Western Province as well as Chavuma District in Northwestern Province.

He further disclosed that his office working together with line Ministries and Departments is providing the necessary sanitary facilities to ensure pupils are protected from COVID-19 as they prepare and write examinations.

He reiterated that the whole exercise has been made possible because of the multi-sectoral approach of working which the government with the guidance of the Head of State has adopted.