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Coach Israel Mwanza has ditched demoted FAZ Super Division side Kansanshi Dynamos to join Chambishi F.C as head coach.
Both Kansanshi and Chambishi have confirmed the development separately.
Mwanza was an assistant coach at Kansanshi after being demoted earlier in February when the club engaged Beston Chambeshi as head coach.
“Yes, coach Israel Mwanza has joined us. He will be assisted by coach Easy Man (Dennis Njapau),” Chambishi spokesperson Chali Katongo said on Monday evening.
Njapau was Chambishi head coach prior to Mwanza’s arrival at the National Division 1 side.
Mwanza, the former Zambia and Nchanga Rangers defender, made headlines last year when he propelled Kansanshi to their maiden FAZ Super Division promotion.
“We would like to confirm that the first assistant coach Israel Mwanza has resigned from his position with immediate effect,” Kansanshi said in a statement released on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, Kansanshi have announced the departure of another member of the bench Reuben Njavera.
“We would also like to confirm that the club has opted not to renew the contract of statistics coach Reuben Njavera,” the club stated.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people has said that he refused to meet United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema because of his political partners in the opposition alliance referred to him as a misplaced and wrong person on the throne.
The Chitimukulu said that there was no way he could have met individuals that demeaned him.
He says Mr. Hichilema refused to distance himself from the statement issued by the opposition, while NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili apologized to him.
The Traditional leader said Chiefs are supposed to be impartial but work with the government of the day.
He said this is why he has been welcoming opposition leaders to his palace.
The Chitimukulu said this when President Edgar Lungu paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mungwi today.
The Paramount chief also complained that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for 2019 has not been utilised by Mungwi District Council.
Paramount chief wondered why the money has been idle in the Bank since 2019, when people want development.
The Ministry of Health says there is a general drop in compliance with Covid-19 health guidelines following the easing of some restrictions.
Health Permanent Secretary in charge of Technical services Kennedy Malama says President Edgar Lungu was categorical when he opened some sectors of the economy, that it will be dependent on strict adherence to health guidelines without which restrictions ma
be reinforced.
Dr. Malama says with increased interaction, there is a chance of a spike in COVID-19 cases especially if the guidelines are not followed.
Speaking during the daily COVID-19 update in Lusaka, Dr. Malama announced that in the last twenty-four hours, Zambia has recorded ninety-nine cases out of 7-hundred and 47 tests conducted.
He said two brought in dead -BIDs- were recorded with two facility deaths.
Two hundred and 10-people have been discharged while 45 people are admitted at various health facilities of which 14 are on oxygen therapy.
And Infectious Diseases Director Lloyd Mulenga urged parents to ensure children are protected because they can be key carriers of COVID-19 even without symptoms.
Professor Mulenga said four percent of all infections have been recorded in children.
Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Charles Banda has warned of stiff action against proprietors found operating outside the curfew on the partial opening of bars, nightclubs and casinos, from Friday to Sunday.
Dr. Banda said that the law will follow those found wanting and their operational licenses will be revoked.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Dr. Banda said local authorities countrywide have been guided on enforcement measures and public monitoring of compliance has begun.
He said all proprietors of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants will be expected to notify the councils on measures they will take to combat the spread of COVID-19.
President Edgar Lungu on Friday directed the partial reopening of bars and nightclubs from 18 hours to 23 hours on weekends.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ambassador Chalwe Lombe says his Ministry will consider engaging the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on the possibilities of creating a platform for which Zambians living in the diaspora would participate in next year’s tripartite elections.
Ambassador Lombe, who is in charge of International Relations and Cooperation noted that the creation of a platform on which Zambians in the diaspora would cast their votes was important.
In a statement released to the media by Mrs Naomi Nyawali, First secretary Press and Public Relations and Zambia High Commission South Africa, Ambassador Lombe said this during the African Missions virtual meeting on the diaspora policy when he answered a question from Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Major General Jackson Miti who asked what considerations the government was making for people in the diaspora to take part in voter verification exercise and voting in Missions abroad to capture would-be voters who may not be able to travel to Zambia due to travel restrictions in their domicile countries.
Ambassador Lombe observed that lack of voting among Zambians abroad was a problem as they did not have access to exercise their franchise.
He encouraged Mission abroad to make submissions to the Ministry to enable them to engage relevant institutions with a view of putting up measures in place that would allow people in the diaspora to register and cast their votes.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Lombe said Zambian Missions abroad played a critical role in the successful implementation of the Diaspora policy.
He implored Missions staff to understand and appreciate the diaspora policy in order to effectively coordinate diaspora communities in various countries.
Anti Corruption Activist Gregory Chifire says the decision by the Judicial Complaints Commission to recommend the removal of controversial Lusaka Magistrate David Simusamba from presiding as a judicial officer is an indictment on Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima.
There have been various complaints against the conduct of Magistrate Simusamba, the latest being a case where Chishimba Kambwili reported him to the Anti-Corruption Commission before asking the Chief Justice to compel him to recuse himself from handing the opposition NDC leader’s case.
In December 2019, Kambwili wrote to Chief Justice, Irene Mambilima, complaining about the manner in which Magistrate Simusamba was handling the matter.
This was after a complaint filed by MMD president Nevers Mumba two years ago over the manner in which Magistrate Simusamba behaved in the case of trespassing.
In April 2018, Mumba, through his lawyers Simeza, Sangwa and Associates, wrote to Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima over Magistrate Simusamba’s alleged judicial misconduct, which suggested that he was pushing a political agenda.
In a letter dated September 8, 2020, addressed to the MMD leader, the JCC stated that it had advised the judiciary management to commence an internal process that should result in the removal of Simusamba, who is now a Lusaka High Court Registrar, from the bench.
There have been various complaints against the conduct of Magistrate Simusamba, the latest being a case where Chishimba Kambwili reported him to the Anti-Corruption Commission before asking the Chief Justice to compel him to recuse himself from handing the opposition NDC leader’s case.
And Gregory Chifire says the recommendation for removal of Simusamba as Magistrate by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) is a serious indictment on the Judiciary.
Mr Chifire said the decision flies in the face of the Chief Justice who even after Mr. Kambwili wrote to her about Simusamba’s solitation of bribe by the latter, she refused to act.
“I was jailed by the Supreme Court on two counts. 1. For writing a letter to the Chief Justice 2. For saying that there was corruption in the Judiciary.“
He added, “The other counts where dropped because they were neither published nor authored by me. I won’t go into details over this today because the matter is still active at the African Commission. But one day I shall speak. Note that Simusamba is being punished for an old complained filed by Dr. Nevers Mumba. Dr. Mumba like many government critics was unfairly treated and jailed. The truth can never be concealed, it will always find its way out.”
Inspector-General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has warned suspected United Party for National Development UPND cadres who stormed a registration center in Chitamba village in Lukashya of Northern Province.
The cadres are alleged to have destroyed some machinery being used during the ongoing mobile National Registration card exercise, stealing some equipment as well as beating up officers they found at the center.
In a statement to the media, Mr. Kanganja said that the police condemn the action taken by suspected UPND Cadres and that the action taken by UPND cadres to search the registration office and steal equipment is a big setback to the process being undertaken countrywide and cannot be condoned.
Mr. Kanganja said police are open and ready to receive complaints from anyone concerned regarding the exercise if there are any suspicions or concerns.
He said police will follow this matter to the latter and will take punitive action against all those found wanting.
The Police Inspector-General has also called on Zambians to respect Government workers who have sacrificed to perform this noble task of serving members of the public through the issuance of National Registration Cards unlike victimizing them.
Below is the full statement
Lusaka/14th September 2020.
I wish to sound a strong and timely warning to the suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) Cadres who stormed a registration centre in Chitamba village in Lukashya of Northern Province on 13th September, 2020 and destroyed some machinery being used during the on -going mobile National Registration card (NRC) exercise, stealing some equipment as well as beating up officers they found at the centre.
As Police , we strongly condemn the action taken by suspected UPND Cadres. We are all aware that the mobile registration exercise is not a hidden process because there has been maximum publicity about this activity way back before this process was commenced. Further, this exercise is being done in broad day light and not at night.
Therefore , the action taken by UPND cadres to ransack the registration office and steal equipment is a bid draw back to this process being undertaken fountrywide and can not be condoned.
If there are any suspicions or concerns, police are open and ready to receive complaints from anyone concerned regarding the exercise.
In addition, this process has no bearing on the by-elections currently taking place in Lukanshya and Mwansabombwe Constituencies but it is being done in preparation for the 2021 general elections. It is therefore disheartening to note that Political Parties that pledged to maintain peace during and after the by elections are the ones in the forefront perpetuating violence.
I wish to warn that police will follow this matter to the latter and will take punitive action against all those found wanting.
Let us respect Government workers who have sacrificed to perform this noble task of serving members of the public through issuance of National Registration Cards unlike victimising them.
The Zambian government has secretly imported a globally banned insecticide that scientists believe causes breast cancer and reduces sperm quality for its malaria control program.
The Ministry of Health has since received the consignment from state-owned Indian company HIL Ltd of 114.2 tonnes of organochlorine insecticide DDT to Zambia for a malaria control program.
“This is the last phase of dispatch out of the 307-tonne order received from Zambia’s Health Ministry,” HIL Chairman and Managing Director S P Mohanty said in an official statement.
HIL, the sole manufacturer of DDT globally.
“India is committed to manufacture and supply quality products at reasonable prices to the Southern African region, which will strengthen our bilateral relationship,” the ministry added.
And Environmentalist Robert Chimambo has condemned the decision by the Ministry of Health to secretly import DDT.
Mr. Chimambo said according to the Stockholm Convention to which Zambia is a Party, the use of DDT, an environmentally dangerous Chemical has been banned.
“Why is ZEMA and Government now allowing the importation of this dangerous chemical into the country?”
Mr. Chimambo questioned whether Zambia is now a dumping ground saying the country is now awash in dangerous cancer-causing Chemical Fertilizers.
“Agro-Chemicals, Glyphoset, Atrizine, etc. Now, are we again adding DDT to this Chemical brew? What’s happening to our Country.”
DDT has not been sprayed in Zambia since 2010 when evidence of mosquito resistance to it began to emerge.
The pesticide DDT has been banned in the developed world for years now and in 2006, the WHO joined forces with the UN Environmental Program to completely phase out DDT worldwide by 2020.
And Dr Brenda Eskenazi of the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health who has just completed a review of more than 500 studies on pesticide and human health backed WHO’s decision to ban DDT.
Dr. Eskenazi describes the health problems associated with DDT: “The studies that have come out have suggested that there are associations with breast cancer, there are associations with effects on the neurobehavioral development of children, there are associations with spontaneous abortion. And there are quite a number of studies that have looked at DDT and diabetes and found an association.“
“But the most interesting work is working out of South Africa in a community where DDT was being used using indoor residual spraying where they actually spray the insides of the mud huts to prevent the mosquitoes from lodging on the walls. And they found that the men that lived there had a dose-related decrease in semen quality. And it was very profound, but there are also very, very few studies that have been conducted in the communities where DDT is actively being used in the method it’s being used currently.”
First Quantum Minerals Ltd has announced that it plans to expand operations at the Kansanshi mine.
In a technical report, the company said it plans to expand the sulphide ore processing facility at the Kansanshi mine by 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), which will boost annual throughout to 52 mtpa.
First Quantum expects to spend nearly $650 million for the expansion in about two years, starting in the second half of 2023.
This expansion plan will continue to be further refined before project approval is sought, the company added.
The mine expansion had been previously approved and commenced but activities were halted in 2013 as a result of market conditions and a challenging fiscal environment.
The earthworks, foundations, steelworks and the filtration facilities (currently operational) for the S3 Expansion were completed prior to the cessation of activities.
“Once internal approvals are granted, construction could potentially re-commence in 2023 with completion by late 2024. An estimated $408M of capital would be required for this construction, inclusive of $25M for upgrades and enhancements to existing processing facilities. The current scenario has the majority of spending occurring between the second half of 2023 and early 2025. The timing of the S3 Expansion could be advanced or delayed depending on capital availability, commodity prices and the Zambian fiscal regime,” the company said.
“The total capital required for the S3 expansion project is expected to be approximately $650M, to be spent over approximately two years starting in the second half of 2023. This expansion plan will continue to be further refined before project approval is sought which is expected within the new two years.”
It added, “In addition to the processing plant expansion and upgrades, the Kansanshi smelter will be increased to 1.65 Mtpa capacity during 2022/23, an increase from current performance level of 1.38 Mtpa. Rather than constructing the originally proposed second smelter, the capacity increase will be achieved partly through enhancing copper concentrate grades by lowering the carbon and pyrite content of the Kansanshi and Sentinel concentrate feeds.”
“Concentrate processing capacity will be further expanded through modifications to the existing high pressure leach (HPL) circuit. These expansion measures are sufficient to accommodate the majority of the increased concentrate production from both Kansanshi and Sentinel, with some excess concentrate to be marketed to other Zambian smelters. An estimated $80M is expected to be spent on the smelter expansion and an additional $15M, on the concentrate cleaning and HPL plant modifications.”
Zambia has experienced adverse impacts of climate change in the past years such as drought, flash floods and changes in growing season. This is one of the reasons the country needs to move into a different direction in relation to farming. It is widely know that diversification of crops is in high demand as the staple crop being maize has hit by effects of climate change in several provinces around the country. The traditional ways of farming and types of crops farmed have no choice but to adapt in order to deal with changing climate around the country & the world. Farmers are beginning to grow climate resilient crops like cassava but could a crop like cassava be grown on a larger scale in Zambia. What it is holding it back from upscaling the farming sector of Zambia?
Cassava is believed to have been introduced to Zambia via the Congo basin where crops were well established by 1650 (Jones 1959). According to Journal of Plant Pathology (Chikoti, 2019) : The immigration of the Bemba people from the Lunda Luba Kingdom (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), cassava became an important crop in Northern Zambia by the 1700s. The importance of the crop has steadily increased in other parts of the country. The resilience of the cassava plant enables it to grow well under a wide range of agroecological zones, including zones where maize and other crops cannot thrive.
The production of cassava is confined to the north, western and north-western parts of Zambia and is exclusively produced by over 350,000 smallholder farmers. The first cassava out grower scheme according to the Zambia National Farmers Union was in Luapula Province. About 30% of the Zambian population depends on cassava as a major staple. Over 800,000 tons of cassava was produced for home consumption, but only 8% of it is marketed for income. It is often consumed as ‘nshima’ (cassava flour alone or a mixture of cassava and maize meal, called maize-cassava nshima), or dried and roasted as snacks, and to some extent raw as fresh roots.
There is a limited knowledge of cassava products’ diversity and the low usage of improved equipment are challenges to the production that could lead to increased cassava consumption. (Chiona, 2019) There has been no significant change over the last two decades in cassava processing and product development in Zambia, which could raise cassava development. Currently cassava farmers only grow cassava on one hectare of farm land with limited mechanism for effective production of the crop. They lack access to a variety of cassava crops, proper transportation of harvest and lack of ready market has continued to hold back the grow of cassava farming.
“Farmers still see a bright a future for cassava farming in Zambia especially the adaptability of cassava growth to Climate Change,” said the Vice President, Zambia National Farmers Union, Joseph Mungandi. With new innovations in place of cassava use such as creating of sanitizers. The livestock industry going to into cassava farming and Zambian Breweries Plc, producing a clear beer called Eagle Lager using high quality cassava flour which it mills from dried cassava chips bought from farmers in Mansa, Luapula province; This has helped in providing a ready market for cassava growth in Luapula province.
The government still needs to create more measures and effort to promote climate resilient crops like cassava. The Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo said, “Cassava is Zambia’s second largest crop after maize; the latest crop forecast shows the production of cassava has increased by 1, 028,719 metric tonnes from the previous season”. In 2019 the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) partnered with Zambian government & other partners created a seed bulking for cassava farming for small-scale farmers. This seed bulking scheme could help in upscaling cassava farming in Zambia. According to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC); President Edgar Lungu has launched a cassava out grower scheme this year with Sunbird Bio-energy refinery in Kawambwa district. The company will target 2000 farmers by 2021 which will cost about 20 million dollars.
Other projects working in boosting cassava farming is the Premiercon Starch Company Limited working with Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) for the supply of feedstock to be used for production of starch to be then supplied to FQM’s Kalumbila mine as a copper processing input: The feedstock will be made using cassava & sweet potatoes. There is progress in cassava farming efforts by government & private sectors whether this leads to large scale production of cassava is yet to be seen.
It has also been suggested that cassava could be more resilient to climate change than other staple crops. Cassava is a more attractive crop for sustainable agriculture because it produces higher yields per unit of land than maize. This could the most important reason why more farmers can shift cassava farming to help in fighting climate change and contribute to food security in Zambia.
National Democratic Congress Leader Chishimba Kambwili has urged stakeholders in the public domain to be cautious when it comes to disseminating information bordering on health.
An exclusive interview with Diamond News, Dr. Kambwili said that wrong information can make the public in rural areas to shun health care services.
After vising Medical Stores in Lusaka and interacting with authorities at the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, Dr. Kambwili said that he was assured that the government is not dispensing expired medicines to various health centers.
The NDC leader was reacting to news that Zambia was supplied with expired medicines
On Friday Dr. Chishimba Kambwili on Friday paid a prompt visit to the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority offices in Lusaka following media reports from News Diggers newspaper regarding the supply of medicine by Honey Bee to the Ministry of health which had allegedly expired so that he could get first-hand information before commenting on the issue.
According to the statement released by the party’s Deputy Media Director Kirby Kaoma Musonda, Dr Kambwili wanted to get first-hand information on the issue.
Below is the statement released by the Party
NDC LEADER PAYS MEDICAL STORES & ZAMRA A PROMPT VISIT
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party President Dr Chishimba Kambwili on Friday 11:09:20 paid a prompt visit at the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority offices in Lusaka.
This follows some stories that were written in the newspapers and social media regarding the supply of medicine by Honey Bee to the Ministry of health which had raised a lot of questions.
Dr Chishimba Kambwili received a lot of queries from journalists. As per tradition, before he responds to any information, he takes time to inquire from credible sources, hence the visit.
Upon arrival at the offices, the NDC leader was welcomed and immediately taken to the conference hall were he met Mr Bonaventure, a Director in laboratory Services, Mr Siyanda Mwatamani, Assistant Director Licensing Surveillance and a Mr Mwape, public relations manager.
After introductions from management, Dr Chishimba Kambwili introduced himself as being the NDC President and also introduced his media personnel who accompanied him. The NDC leader further said his visitation to the institution was for the sake of verification on a trending story on drugs being expired and losing color. The NDC president also mentioned that concerning the same, he also paid a visit to medical stores as there are claims that these medicines might be poisonous.
“I saw it prudent to visit your offices here as am aware that government has given you a mandate to look into the quality of drugs in the country. Concerning the stories in the media, have you received any samples brought in for testing, and what have been your findings?” Dr Kambwili asked.
ZAMRA explained that the authority had a duty of making sure that the public was protected from harm. ‘Before any medicines are brought into the country, there are processes which take place in terms of evaluating products from the information point of view. When ever medicines are being imported in to the country, importers submit applications here and they are scrutinized to insure what is coming in is acceptable and to make sure that is what has been applied for. Upon these medications reaching our boarders, we take samples and bring them to our labs and some tests are conducted. What ever is the outcome of the tests its communicated to the importer and importers are advised if at all the medicines are acceptable or not. If not, importers are immediately asked not to bring in the particular medicine in the country and it’s recalled off the market. At the same time, we also do samples from hospitals and retail pharmacies. This is an ongoing process and it’s done on regular basis. If any issues are found on drugs, we do contact them and such drugs are recalled off the market and we closely monitor the recalling of the drugs and other medical items. We also visit manufactures of products and carry out what is called goods manufactures inspection and tests are conducted,” the ZAMRA representative explained.
“In terms of the drugs in question from Honey Bee, we sampled it and we actually have two kits here which you can have a look at, we have been analysing and doing investigations and ZAMRA is doing everything possible to make sure the issue is resolved overboard. And we have already written to the supplier over the investigations,” the management said.
After the meeting, the NDC leader was happy with his visitation and the response he was given by management and thanked management on behalf of the people of Zambia on the great role they are playing in the country.
Dr Chishimba Kambwili promised management that he would pass on the information he got from ZAMRA through media houses.
After the visitation, scores of workers at the institution took time to take selfies with the NDC leader.
Issued by: Kirby Kaoma Musonda NDC Deputy Media Director
Party HQ
Kambwili paying an unannounced Visit at Medical StoresKambwili paying an unannounced Visit at Medical StoresKambwili inspecting Drugs at Medical Stores
Zambia Police in Kasama has arrested and detained three United Party for National Development (UPND) campaign officials after accusing them of malicious causing damage to property.
According to the UPND media team, the arrested officials, that include Deputy Secretary-General in charge of politics Patrick Mucheleka, Campaign Manager for the Lukashya parliamentary by-election, Elias Mubanga, and National IPS Samuel Ngwira, were picked by the police in the early hours of Monday.
The party refuted the allegations the arrested officials are accused of committing, adding that this is nothing but a ploy by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) to cause the suspension of the Lukashya by-election after failing to marshal the required support from the people in the area.
“The suspicion is centered on the fact that the ECZ director Emly Sikazwe earlier hinted the idea of not only suspending the election in Lukashya but also disqualifying the candidates and parties causing violence, ” the statement read.
“It is a fact that the ruling party has continued violating all rules of practice in an election the situation believed to be fuelling tension in the area.”
“The ruling party is not only distributing cash and other material resources in an effort to entice the voters but also destroying UPND posters and chitenge flags displayed.
“Other than distribution of resources and cash, the ruling party has no message to offer to the people after failing to fulfil the campaign promises of 2016.
“The area to this date remain under developed and this has made the people in the area not to believe and trust the ruling party anymore.
“What is more hurting to the PF is a fact that Lukashya purported to be their bedroom, opened doors wide to UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his parliamentary candidate Davies Mulenga.
Patriotic Front Media Director Sunday Chanda has strongly condemned UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s insults during a rally in Lukashya.
Over the weekend, during a public rally, Mr. Hichilema insulted publicly much to the dismay and shock of various stakeholders including social media platforms.
Mr. Chanda has described the insults as a taboo and has since demanded an immediate apology from Mr. Hichilema.
He said such insults are not only demeaning to women and men but a taboo and goes against the social and moral fiber of our culture and society and should therefore be condemned in the strongest terms by all well-meaning Zambians.
“It is shocking for a man aspiring for the highest office of the land to utter insults not only in public but in the presence of our respected women and men. This indeed speaks volumes on the true character of Mr. Hichilema and confirms that he does not mean well” Mr. Chanda said.
He was speaking this morning when he featured on ISO FM Radio of Muchinga province where he was discussing the PF’S developmental agenda for Muchinga province.
And Mr. Chanda has called on the electorates of Lukashya and Mwansabombwe to vote on the PF in order to continue the developmental agenda which has already been rolled out and continues to be implemented not only in Muchinga but across the country.
Mr. Chanda acknowledged that the PF’S development which has been accomplished so far has not come without challenges such as the COVID-19, climate change, and droughts which have negatively affected the country’s economy and led to slow progress in the implementation of certain projects as a result of economic constraints.
He however assured that the government remains resolute and committed to ensuring that all the projects are completed and urged people to continue believing in the PF’S vision and ignore doomsayers such as the UPND whose developmental vision is not well defined.
“The vision of the UPND is not the vision of Muchinga or the vision of the PF’s legacy and that is why they have continued to be rejected,” Mr. Chanda said.
‘EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION!’ said Anthony Blair in a speech that catapulted him to the premiership of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Education has stood out as one if not the most important thing in the history of mankind that has made a big difference in the quality of our lives. Many of us may not be aware that the ideal of universal education is less than 200 years old. For thousands of years the education of children was never systemic but haphazard. Apprenticeships were the only means to acquire knowledge for the great majority of children and ignorance and illiteracy prevailed in communities. Credit goes to Religious institutions, whether Christian, Islamic, Judaist or others for extending the enrolment of children into formal schools. In Africa, many of us are grateful to the Christian missionaries who came and set up schools in every corner of the continent and reached as many children as possible to give them a basic education. 50 years into colonialism, the educated Africans were ready to challenge colonialism and take the reigns of statecraft through nationalism. This would never have been possible without education, because calamus gladio fortior (the pen is mightier than the sword).
After independence, many African governments decided to offer education free to all children regardless of age, gender or tribe. For the first decades hundreds of thousands of children were educated free from cradle to grave. Many of the beneficiaries of that education are now holding the reigns of power. The baton was passed from the freedom fighters to the new generation. We all know that education is not a luxury, it is a HUMAN RIGHT. In this 21st century there should not be a single child who is of school going age who should not be in school and no one should attain adulthood without a basic education. Children drop out of school for lack of school fees when they lose their biological parents. The guardians who foster them cannot be bothered to pay for school. It is shameful that so many children in Africa are supported through school by western families. Where are the governments?
Is it impossible for us in Zambia today to provide free education for every child from grade 1 to grade 12? We can afford idle fire tenders for $42 million. We can afford a $100 million presidential jet. We can afford fantastical superstructures that are for show around the country. We have borrowed more than $10 billion (I am being generously conservative here) in less than 10 years, while in 27 years of free education we only borrowed $4 billion. Let us not be emotionally partisan here and start throwing insults at each other but with cool heads, let us ask ourselves these questions. Are we really so broke that we have to force every parent to fork out something in order to give their child an education which under our constitution is supposed to be a human right?
We have state-run schools that charge ‘nominal school fees’ which according to some who can claim that K2 million is nothing, these should be affordable but are they? Even if they are, what is the quality of education? Why are so many electing to send their children to private and community schools? The law permits the minister of Education to grant financial support to ‘vulnerable’ children. Who is a vulnerable child where there are no specific criteria for means testing? These are not even so well publicised for people to take advantage of.
Zambian Cultural Icon Macky 2 educates us in this final session of this format of #LetsTalkMusic and it is filled with insight from dealing with fame, preparation, tenacity and so much more!!
Here are selected briefs of performances by our overseas based players over the weekend.
=SWEDEN
Midfielder Edward Chilfuya scored Djurgardens’ equalizer in the 47th minute of Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against third position Elfsborg.
Chilufya, who scored his second goal of the season for fourth placed Djurgardens, was substituted in the 71st minute.
Compatriot and midfielder Emmanuel Banda did not make the team.
=TANZANIA
Midfielder Cletous Chama made the starting XI in champions Simba SC’s 1-1 away against Mtibwa Sugar but compatriot Larry Bwalya did not make the team.
Simba are fifth after two games played on 4 points.
=BELGIUM
KV Oostende collected their first league victory of the new season after five rounds played with a 1-0 away win over Mechelen.
Striker Fashion Sakala played the full 90 minutes for the sixth from the bottom side but is still waiting for his first league goal of the campaign.
=AUSTRIA -RB Salzburg: Striker Patson Daka opened his season account with a goal and victory for RB Salzburg on Sunday with a 27th minute equalizer when they rallied to beat Wolfsberger 3-1 away.
Daka played the full 90 minutes while midfielder Enock Mwepu came off in the 86th minute.
-Sturm Graz: Striker Francisco Mwepu did not make his European debut over the week after not making the team in Sturm Graz’s 0-0 away draw at St Polten on Sunday.
