Oxfam has joined government efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic in Zambia through a donation of 1 Million Kwacha to support risk communication and public health promotion.

Oxfam has contributed 80 Megaphones, 50 pedal-operated handwashing buckets and 135 dignity kits, production of IEC materials and airtime on radio stations across the country.

The Megaphones will support public health promotion in communities while the handwashing buckets will be distributed to schools on the Copperbelt, Central and Lusaka Provinces.

Further, to lessen the care burden and ensure safeguarding, the dignity kits will go to female patients in isolation and treatment facilities.

Speaking when receiving the donations, the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary – Administration Ms Kakulubelwa Mulalelo commended Oxfam for its efforts in partnering with government to fight the spread of the coronavirus in Zambia.

She said the ministry will ensure that the donated items reach the intended beneficiaries.

Oxfam in Zambia Country Director Dailes Judge said, “Today we are pleased to complement government efforts in fighting the coronavirus by contributing 80 megaphones, 135 dignity kits and 50 pedal handwashing basins and K60,000 worth of radio airtime. This is in addition to printing IEC materials and public health promotion messaging on community radio stations across the country. All the efforts are worth 1 Million Kwacha.”

Ms Judge said that at the global level Oxfam is working with multilateral institutions to restructure debt and develop significant stimulus packages that ensure that governments including Zambia do not contract more debt as a result of the pandemic.

Oxfam in Zambia works with smallholder farmers, resource governance and accountability, women’s rights and humanitarian interventions.

United States President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized sanctions and additional visa restrictions against International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) personnel in order to stop the organisation from carrying out an investigation into potential war crimes by US military and intelligence officials.

Under the new executive order, any individuals who “have directly engaged in any effort by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any United States personnel without the consent of the United States” or have attempted the same against a US ally without that country’s consent may be subject to sanctions.

The latest move comes months after the ICC authorized a probe into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by US and Afghan forces as well as alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban. It also follows a push by the court’s Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate potential crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians — a prospect about which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said they were “gravely concerned.”

And in reaction to the Sanctions, ICC said that it expresses profound regret at the announcement of further threats and coercive actions, including financial measures, against the Court and its officials, made earlier today by the Government of the United States.

The ICC stands firmly by its staff and officials and remains unwavering in its commitment to discharging, independently and impartially, the mandate bestowed upon it by the Rome Statute and the States that are party to it.

These are the latest in a series of unprecedented attacks on the ICC, an independent international judicial institution, as well as on the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, which reflects the commitment and cooperation of the ICC’s 123 States Parties, representing all regions of the world.

These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Court’s judicial proceedings. They are announced with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Court’s independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings.

An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice.

As it continues to meet its mandated responsibilities, the Court relies on the staunch support and cooperation of its States Parties. The Court wishes to recall, in this context, yesterday’s joint statement (https://bit.ly/3ffJMxD) from the ten ICC States Parties members of the UN Security Council, reconfirming their “unwavering support for the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution,” as well as the press statement (https://bit.ly/2B4jpvL) issued earlier today by the President of the Assembly of States Parties.

Operations at the Football House were on 11 June 2020 partially paralyzed after officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission raided the offices.

The DEC officers descended on the institution Thursday afternoon and got away with a laptop and CPU from the office of the General Secretary Adrian Kashala and a desktop from his personal assistant.

FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala confirmed the development and said FAZ officials fully cooperated with the DEC officers and have pledged full compliance with the law enforcement agencies.

Mungala said officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission presented a search warrant looking for drugs and narcotics and other related substances.

He said FAZ is however disturbed by the nature of the operations conducted by DEC especially that it has set the benchmark of conducting its business above board.

“As FAZ we wish to reiterate that we operate on an open door policy and remain available to whoever wishes to seek information within the law”, said Mungala.

President Edgar Lungu has told the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Officials that Society needs the media if informed decisions have to be made.

And President Lungu says the PF Government will protect the media as the country goes to the elections in 2021.

In a meeting with MISA Zambia at State House, President LUNGU said there is need for Government and the media to work together for the betterment of the country.

President Lungu noted the importance of Media Freedom and Freedom of Expression as Constitutional Freedoms which must be upheld adding that Government is aggrieved when these are breached.

The Head of State also advised Misa Zambia to address the issue of people masquarading as Journalists hence tarnishing the image of media in the country.

The President is concerned that people have taken to social media to wantonly abuse other innocent citizens and hopes the law enforcement officers will come to the aid of society as the scourge escalates.

And, Speaking earlier, MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale expressed gratitude to the President for according the institution an opportunity to discuss media development in the country.

In her submission, Ms Mwale appealed to President Lungu to help in the protection of media freedoms.

She hailed the President for the role he played at MISA Zambia as Legal Advisor when he Championed for the fomulation of the Access to Information Bill which she hoped Government will enact soon.

And, Ms Mwale praised government that under the President’s leadership, Media in the country has developed with the establishment of more than 45 television stations and over 100 radio stations.

The meeting was attended by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dora Siliya, Secretary to Cabinet, Simon Miti , Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe, Special Assistant to the President Political Chris Zimba , and Information Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga.

And, MISA Zambia officials comprised Vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta, National Director Austin Kayanda, Programmes Manager Jane Chirwa and Committee Member Martin Akende.