The Free Press Initiative (FPI) says the conduct of Sun FM journalist Kausa Mbasela is unacceptable and far from the behaviour journalists are expected to exhibit.

On Thursday last week, Mr Mbasela hosted Socialist Party National Spokesperson Ms Rehoboth Kafwabulula on a live call-in programme on the station’s flagship current affairs programme dubbed Public Forum.

As the programme went on, Mr Mbasela used the moment to cause embarrassment to Ms Kafwabulula by asking her personal questions such as; “who are you sleeping with?” and “are you still a virgin in the political space?”.

“What manner of questioning by Mr Mbasela is not only insulting to women but the entire journalism profession that we dearly cherish and currently trying hard to restore the confidence and trust lost among our people.

If Sun FM values professionalism and respect for women, they must immediately institute disciplinary action against Mr Mbasela for his embarrassing conduct,” FPI Zambia founder and coordinator Joan Chirwa has said.

“What we must not forget is that the power of the media can also be misused to the extent that the very functioning of democracy is completely threatened. As the FPI Zambia, we do not wish that such happens to our dear country. We categorically state here that Mr Mbasela clearly abused his power as an interviewer to embarrass someone and as FPI, we condemn his behavior and demand that he apologises to Ms Kafwabulula, and withdraws his sentiments henceforth.”

She said even if freedom of expression is guaranteed as a basic human right, it is not without limit.

“Mr Mbasela went too far in his questioning and he deserves unreserved condemnation. The FPI further urges journalists to always be ethical as they serve the public’s right to know,” Chirwa said.

The United Nations (UN) in Zambia has commended the Government for its announcement that the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curriculum would be subjected to a multisectoral technical review.

In a statement released to the media, the UN said that the recent statement by the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, Ms Inonge Mutukwa Wina, MP, provides a way forward, a platform for more discussion of the national CSE Framework, and an opportunity for all actors to find out more about the content of the Framework and results from its implementation.

The UN further said that it believed that the CSE Framework provides an important tool to address early and unintended pregnancies, HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), child marriage and Gender-Based Violence in Zambia and that the UN stands ready to provide support to the Government of the Republic of Zambia on the planned review.

The statement further said that the UN believed that children and young people should have access to accurate, factual, age-and culturally-appropriate information about relationships as they transition to adulthood.

“Contrary to recent rumours and misleading information circulating on social media, the CSE Framework (2014) was developed by the Government of the Republic Zambia through a thorough and consultative process involving education sector stakeholders, traditional leaders, faith-based groups and Civil Society Organisations, resulting in an age-appropriate curriculum respecting Zambian cultural values. The CSE Framework in Zambia has been delivered to learners as an integral part of examinable subjects and not as a standalone subject. It has contributed to reduced teenage pregnancies and drop outs from school, and mitigated the spread of HIV and other STIs among young people in school and out of school,” the statement concluded.

The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has appealed to the government to invest in the training of teachers in the use of various ICTs to deliver quality online education.

ZANEC Executive Director George Hamusunga says there is a need to ensure that teachers are trained to use various ICTs to deliver online learning in order to mitigate the crisis of limiting education to the physical presence of a teacher.

Mr Hamusunga stated that reshaping teaching methodologies is crucial in today’s digital era where learning should also be provided to out of school children.

According to a press statement issued to the media in Lusaka on Monday, Mr Hamusunga was speaking during the commemoration of the 2020 World Teachers Day under the theme “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future”, which falls on October 5.

Mr Hamusunga has since described teachers as the true Covid 19 heroes in the education sector.

“Among others, we have proved that removing teachers and replacing them by remote technology is not effective enough to bring about the learning that our children require. This has manifested itself in the low reach of the alternative modes of education designed to provide continuity of learning at home through television, radio and e-learning, hence the recent decision to just reopen schools,” said Mr Hamusunga.

He lamented that the prevailing high teacher – pupil ratio of 1 to 36.9 at secondary level and 1 to 61.9 at primary school level, is too high for teaching recommended under the Covid 19 pandemic.

Mr Hamusunga explained that such a scenario entails that teachers are being subjected to many shifts in order to observe the social distance among the learners in order to ensure the prevention of Covid 19.

“Investment in digital skills and equipment is therefore not an option but a must”, said Hamusungu.

He pointed out that ZANEC research has shown that remote learning initiatives that involved physical contact with children were more successful than others given the many ICT access challenges teachers and pupils face.

ZANEC has since called upon the government to urgently recruit 20,000 teachers in order to reduce the huge burden and workload that teachers are currently carrying as they deliver lessons amidst the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Coalition has since reminded all teachers in community schools, Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres, primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions and Adult Literacy Instructors to continue being role models to learners.

The Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) and Christopher Katongo Foundation (CKF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide educational and social services through sport among young people.

OYDC Chief Executive Officer, Fredrick Chitangala, disclosed during the signing ceremony that the Centre will assist CKF with sport and other services needed to achieve a shared vision of improving sport in the country on mutually agreed terms.

“Our aim is to collaborate with organisations like Christopher Katongo Foundation to achieve our goals of empowering young people through different activities the OYDC conducts. We are happy to partner with CKF and this partnership will see the revamping of some of our programmes aimed at promoting literacy and encouraging the engaged athletes to get into formal schools,” Dr. Chitangala said.

Christopher Katongo Foundation, Executive Director Emmanuel Kunda, said his organisation remains resolute to work with the OYDC adding that the foundation wants to see more young people empowered and subsequently excel in life.

He disclosed that CKF has picked a hockey player by the name of Joseph Simpanze, who has been awarded with a 100% scholarship to complete his secondary education as a starting point for the partnership.

“We are happy to partner with OYDC in supporting young talented people not only through sport but also to get them back in formal school. Our first person to support is Joseph whom we have given 100% scholarship to get back to school. We hope this will inspire others,” he said.

Meanwhile, the hockey player who could not hold back tears of joy after being told that he had been offered a 100% scholarship, thanked OYDC and CKF for the gesture saying it will help in shaping his future as he enrolls back to school.

This is according to a statement issued by OYDC Communications Manager, Noah Silomba.