Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Joseph Malanji, M.P. held a virtual meeting with United Kingdom Minister of Africa Mr. James Duddridge, M.P. Mr. Malanji was accompanied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation Ambassador Chalwe Lombe.

During the meeting, Mr. Malanji emphasized the need to enhance cooperation between Zambia and the United Kingdom by fully utilizing opportunities presented by the Global Britain agenda and the common membership in the Commonwealth and United Nations.

Mr. Malanji reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to further strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Zambia and the United Kingdom.

He thanked the British Government for its significant support to Zambia over the years mainly in education, agriculture, health, economic development, water and sanitation, nutrition, and good governance.

Mr. Malanji bemoaned the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on countries globally but noted that the disease could be conquered with continued solidarity and cooperation.

The Minister commended the British Government for supporting various funds and initiatives aimed at assisting vulnerable countries’ response to the economic impact of the pandemic.

Mr. Malanji regretted the postponement of the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda owing to the Covid-19 pandemic but noted the importance that Zambia attaches to its membership to the organization.

And Mr. Duddridge noted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on economies and people’s lives globally and the efforts that were being made by countries to fight the disease.

Mr. Duddridge pledged the United Kingdom’s readiness to support Zambia and share information on lessons and experiences in the fight against the pandemic.

He stated that the United Kingdom was assisting Zambia with UK £110 million in aid funding, a testament to the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Minister emphasized the need for the two countries to work together to ensure mutual support on common positions and candidatures in international organizations.

Mr. Duddridge further stressed the United Kingdom’s willingness to explore investment opportunities in Zambia’s key sectors such as mining.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which was scheduled to be held in June in Rwanda was postponed to June 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

OPPOSITION United Party for National Development UPND Kafue Constituency Member of Parliament, Mirriam Choonya has commended President Edgar Lungu and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) government for taking Development to her Constituency.

Speaking when she attended the Commissioning and Hand over of 40 modern housing units for the men and women in the Zambia Police Service in Kafue district on Friday August 7, Hon Choonya said Development does not go where it is not lobbied for.

Hon Choonya jubilantly narrated how accommodating the Ministry of Home Affairs was when she lobbied them to consider constructing New Housing Units for the police in her constituency

“Hon Minister allow me to commend you and your government for improving the housing standards for our men and women in uniform in Kafue, and we can all appreciate the fact that the 40 houses will not be able to accommodate all our officers hence the need for me as area MP to lobby for more of these houses” Hon Choonya said.

She said that due to the PF government’s commitment to uplifting the living standards of the men and women in uniform, the officers in Kafue will be coming from deserving homes befitting the work they do.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Hon Stephen Kampyongo has applauded the UPND Kafue Member of Parliament for attending the commissioning and hand over ceremony in Kafue having being instrumental in the achievement of the project.

Hon Kampyongo said President Edgar Lungu and his government are committed to ensuring that the men and women in uniform under the Ministry of Affairs get to have access to descent accommodation

The Minister said the Head of State and all his cabinet Minister are willing to work with all well-meaning Zambians regardless of their political affiliations to build a better Zambia.

Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister Dr. Jonas Chanda has yesterday conducted an on-spot check-in Mtendere (B) compound to check progress on works to establish the extent of water contamination in the area.

Dr. Chanda has since called for a quick conclusion of water contamination investigations and release of sample results so that the affected residents are not endangered with waterborne diseases.

Dr Chanda urged the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) who are on site to quickly conclude the matter in order to also restore normal water supply to 26 affected households.

The Hon Minister thanked the water utility company for providing a bowser to facilitate for supply of safe and clean water as investigations are being done.

“I want to assure all the affected residents that the experts are doing everything possible to restore normal water supply and am happy that the Lusaka Water and Sewerage company is supplying you with clean water during this period” Dr Chanda said and further thanked residents for their patriotism to detect and report such cases to authorities as soon as they notice them.

Dr Chanda who also took time to visit and inspect the house of one of the affected residents to check on his water contamination situation urged him and other residents not to fall for social media falsehoods but assured that he will follow up the matter on sunday with area member of parliament to ensure that the matter is conclusively done.

And LWSC director for commercial services Mr Dennis Malambo told the minister that the water utility company is on the ground and has cut supply from the affected households in order to facilitate for new installations and to ensure that the contamination is stopped and said that substantial progress will be made by midday tomorrow.

Mr Malambo explained that the water source is clean but only 26 households are affected hence the tireless effort to quickly determine the cause of the contamination but also assured that residents will continue to be provided with clean and safe water in the morning, lunch time and evening until normal supply is restored.

Transparency International Zambia has commenced the implementation of a short-term project that seeks to monitor the prudent management of donations for COVID-19 in order to promote transparency, accountability and integrity in their management.

The project, whose implementation commenced in July 2020 is funded by USAID through the National Democratic Institute, Zambia Political Participation and Leadership program, and has the ultimate goal of ensuring that the COVID-19 emergency response in Zambia is anchored on principles of transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels.

TIZ Executive Director Maurice Nyambe says in implementing this project, his Organisation is focusing both on the donations that have been made public through the media, but is also engaging the Ministry of Health for any additional donations that may have been made.

“Thus far, we have received good cooperation from the Ministry and our engagement with them concerning the project has been cordial and underpinned by a mutual desire to ensure that all donations made towards the COVID-19 response are managed prudently”, he said.

Mr Nyambe has commended that Ministry for the open-door policy they have exhibited so far as it is cardinal to the successful implementation of the project.

“We believe that the Ministry’s openness thus far shows that civil society and government entities can collaborate around common causes such as what our project seeks to achieve. Our hope is that the Ministry of Health will continue to exhibit this openness even when it comes to other matters that are of public interest”, added Mr Nyambe.

Speaking at a media briefing today, Mr Nyambe said TIZ is aware that the Ministry’s task in leading the COVID-19 response is not an easy one, but are very optimistic that with support coming from various stakeholders, the fight against COVID-19 in Zambia will be won.

“Our clarion call goes to the Zambian people to take the lead on an individual level and supplement government’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19. In the same vein, we also wish to implore senior government officials to adhere to the same prevention measures that have been put in place”, he said.

Mr Nyambe said TIZ is concerned that there has recently been a number of cases where government officials have flouted the regulations related to mass gatherings, and we call on them to put a stop to that.

He said Zambians should be on the lookout and report any abuse of the COVID-19 donations because they are meant to save lives and not selfish interests.

Mr Nyambe said it is a well-known fact that abusing resources meant to fight the pandemic reduces the chances of us winning the fight against COVID-19, and this is why we insist that it is the duty of every well-meaning Zambian to report the abuse of these funds where such abuse is observed.