The opposition Democratic Party has refuted media reports that its leader Harry Kalaba has tested positive to Covid-19.

DP Spokesperson Judith Kabemba said the party is astonished with the story runnung in the Mast Newspaper that Mr. Kalaba is hospitalised with Covid 19 in UTH.

“As a matter of fact, President Harry Kalaba is home and has no Covid 19. We are taken aback on how someone would get a fake story and without verifying it, make a publication in the name of news. We appel for professionalism in media reporting,” Ms. Kabemba said.

She said the publication is false and must be dispelled with the contempt it deserves.

Ms. Kabemba has since challenged anyone to produce results indicating that Mr. Kalaba tested positive to Covid 19.

We need to realise that President Kalaba is also a human being and as such he can also fall sick, but associating every kind of a small sickness to COVID 19 is a very sick joke and defamatory on his part.”

“It is in this regard that we retaliate to inform the nation that the situation with President Kalaba is normal and getting on well from the under weather situation, contrary to falsehood that he is admitted in UTH hospital for Covid 19.”

She added, “We urge people not to take President Kalaba’s health for political expediency, because it is not morally right in our Society to politicise someone’s health and attempt to get political mileage out it.”

The Patriotic Front has received with shock and profound sadness the untimely death of Dr Chileshe Mulenga –the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

PF Secretary General Davies Mwila says Dr Mulenga immensely contributed to the Party in Opposition as part of PF’s think tank, Deputy Secretary General and acting Secretary General, demonstrating his aptitude as an intellectual par excellence.

“He has now joined the great crowd of witnesses led by our Patriarch – President Michael Chilufya Sata and other PF departed heroes, as they watch from heavenly terraces how the ruling Party runs its race in serving the people of Zambia”, he said.

Mr Mwila said the PF honour his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his wife Mrs. Mary Mulenga and the family; as well as the Minister of Home Affairs and staff at the Ministry.

The Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr. Chileshe Mulenga died yesterday.

Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Simon Miti confirmed Dr Chileshe’s death.

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia regrets to announce the sudden death of Dr Chileshe Mulenga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs who died in Lusaka yesterday morning, Sunday, 12th July, 2020,” Dr Miti said.

President Edgar Lungu has expressed shock on this sudden sad development and has conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Executive Board Members, have unanimously adopted the Global Africa Priority Resolution which was sponsored by nearly 60 Countries including Zambia.

The Global Africa Priority Resolution came as an element on the revised provisional agenda of the just ended 209th session of the Executive Board Meeting held in presentia at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

Debate on this Resolution was protracted, lasting for almost eight hours, and often heated, necessitating tough negotiations for the UNESCO Executive Board Members to reach a consensus and finally adopting the document.

And Zambia’s Ambassador to France Dr. Christine Kaseba-SATA, added her voice by reminding the Board about the establishment of Priority Africa which was aimed at translating the commitment of the international community and that of UNESCO in particular, to accompany and support Africa in its development.

“The establishment of Priority Africa in 1989 was anticipated that UNESCO and development partners would be attentive to the Educational, Scientific, Cultural and Communication needs of the fifty-four (54) African States with a stronger and better targeted strategy. This strategy has won positive results albeit not at an anticipated pace.” Ambassador Dr. Kaseba-SATA said.

The Ambassador noted also that prioritization of Africa still remained relevant especially given the context of the prevailing coronavirus pandemic adding that, the resolution was a quest for more resources and hence the need for greater attention for Africa’s specific needs not only by UNESCO but indirectly other development Partners.

The Zambian Envoy who is also the Country’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO noted with emphasis that now was the time and quest to fulfil Africa’s aspirations as stipulated in the African Union (A.U) agenda 2063 for a Strong Cultural and Identify, Common Heritage and Values and Ethics.

An elated Ambassador Dr. Kaseba-SATA further commended Co- sponsoring Member States for putting up a spirited fight and advised them to continue with the same spirit of solidarity that which guided the establishment of Africa as a Priority in 1989 stating that the win was not an African win but a UNESCO win.

“Sincere gratitude to our gallant Men and Women who identified and voted in favour of this resolution, thanks to development partners who have been supporting UNESCO to address this priority. Thanks to UNESCO for accommodating all Member States given the Financial constraints.” The Ambassador said.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the Continent, Chairperson of the Africa Group, H. E. Ms. Phyllis Kandie Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Kenya to UNESCO, expressed gratitude to all Member States for placing Africa as a UNESCO Global Priority, and for the conviction in the relevance of Priority Africa.

Ambassador Kandie stressed that the world was rapidly evolving and hence, it was imperative that UNESCO through its strategic transformation continued to be agile and fitfor-purpose.

And Ambassador Kandie reminded the Board, that the Resolution sought to facilitate not only the strategic discussion on Global Priority Africa but also the importance of fostering the implementation of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, in recognition of UNESCO’s role in facilitating cooperation between States, capacity building and fostering information sharing for the repatriation of African Cultural Heritage.

“The elaboration of the next UNESCO Medium Term Strategy presents an opportunity to give fresh impetus to Priority Africa. The Time is ripe to re-think and re-conceptualize Priority Africa, taking cognizance of its successes and addressing its challenges. By building on lessons learnt, we are confident we can build a solid Priority Africa for the future” The Chairperson of the Africa Group added.

This is according to a statement issued to Hot FM News by First Secretary Press at the Zambian Embassy in France and and Permanent Delegation of Zambia to UNESCO Yande Musonda.

The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit has commenced an assessment of the state of red locusts in affected districts in Western Province.

DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe says the International Red Locusts Organization of Ndola have been engaged to carry out the assessments and have since covered three districts namely Sesheke, Mwandi and Kaoma.

Mr Kabwe said once the assessments are concluded, group and aerial spraying will be conducted.

He says the red locusts are dangerous to the country’s food security and President Edgar Lungu is concerned about the situation.

Mr Kabwe has assured those affected that government is addressing the situation.

He adds that about 3, 800 hectares have been sprayed in Kazungula District of Southern Province.

And Mr Kabwe has described the hunger situation in Lunga as an emergency.

He says the hunger situation which has affected over 60, 000 households is due to the floods experienced in the area.

Mr Kabwe said government is already providing relief support and emergency cash transfers with the support from cooperating partners in order to ensure no one dies of hunger.

Copperbelt Province has received 80 percent of its total 32-thousand 5-hundred and 50 Metric tonnes fertilizer allocation under the Farmer Input Support Programme, FISP.

Provincial Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe has expressed hope that the supplier, Nyimba Investments, will complete delivering fertilizer to the province within the next two weeks.

Speaking when Nyimba Investment Head of Sales and Marketing Willings Mulendema paid a courtesy call at his office in Ndola, Mr. Nundwe applauded the company for efficiency in fertilizer supply to the province.

Mr. Nundwe said President Edgar Lungu has paid premium commitment on issues of agriculture because he wants the sector to develop, as it is critical to the country’s economic development.

He said the early delivery of inputs to the Copperbelt is important, because the province is undergoing a shift from mining to agriculture.

Mr. Nundwe says last year’s early supply of fertilizer to the Copperbelt helped the province to increase maize yields and came out number four in the country.

And Mr. Mulendema said Nyimba Investments has completed the importation of its total contractual tonnage of fertilizer under FISP, and that the company is now concentrating on delivering to its contracted regions.

He said the company is supplying fertilizer to all the 10 districts on the Copperbelt and has already delivered 80 percent of the total required.

Mr. Mulendema said the company will complete delivering the remaining 20 percent in the next weeks.