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The Government of the Republic of India has donated essential medicines to the Ministry of Health.
The donation is part of the total pledge of US$2, 000,000 worth of medicines following the State visit to Zambia by Indian President Ram Kovind in April 2018.
And receiving the donation, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya, noted that the medicines are part of the comprehensive package of health commodities enlisted in Zambia’s essential medicine list.
The Minister added that the donation will go a long way to manage key public health problems such as non-communicable diseases, various infections and other conditions.
Dr Chilufya said the donation has come at a right time when Zambia is in need of key essential medicines.
He stated that the donation further demonstrates a call for strong partnerships between Zambia and India, in promoting Zambia’s agenda of attaining Universal Health coverage.
Meanwhile, India’s Ambassador to Zambia, Ngulkham Gangte, stated that his country remains committed to supporting Zambia in promoting health service delivery.
Mr Gangte noted that the health sector is crucial and fundamental to the socio-economic development of the country.
Among the medicines donated include fluconazole, Nifedipine, Amoxicillin, Enalapril and Dental Lignocaine injection.
North Western Province has continued to be excluded from the development occurring in other parts of Zambia ,most notably PF strongholds.This was brought to light by Kabompo Mp Ambrose Lufuma.
Honorable Lufuma sought clarity on whether North Western province is a part of Zambia and whether the One Zambia One Nation slogan is still valid. Honorable Lufuma said whilst members of parliament from Luapula, Northern,Eastern provinces etc can stand on the floor of parliament and cite the massive development taking place in their provinces by PF ,this can not be said of North Western Province. Other provinces boast of new district hospitals,schools and roads and yet not one health post,school or feeder road has been built in North Western province by the PF government.
Honorable Lufuma said PF is violating the constitution of the Republic of Zambia which clearly says resources must be allocated equitably because North Western province is not getting it’s fair share.He said the people of North Western province are tax payers and deserve equitable distribution of resources.
Honorable Lufuma said money allocated to provinces does not only come from Provincial budgets but also from the Investment budget from the Ministry of Finance.The Investment budget is what PF uses to deny development to provinces deemed to be UPND strongholds.
“We have to live as brother and sister, as one Zambia one Nation but it has to be demonstrated otherwise we feel as orphans.PF is under obligation has to ensure that North Western province gets it’s fair share,”he said.
List of promised development projects seen in other parts of the country except North Western province
1.Rural connectivity program:This is a program sponsored by the World Bank to rehabilitate feeder roads in rural areas.Only 6 provinces have been done and North Western Province is not included in this.Earlier this year Government said it would work on 2,000 kilometres of feeder roads covering all chiefdoms in Northern Province.
North Western province has seen ZERO kilometers of feeder road construction. Hon.Lufuma lamented that North Western province has a lot of resources and if the feeder roads system is not improved in the province how can marketing be improved.
2.Roads: Link Zambia 8000 project was launched by the late President Michael Sata on September 20th 2012. The people of North Western province pleaded to the government for a new Chingola/Solwezi road for many years however due to the mines in North Western Province contributing over US$80million the road was built.
3.Health posts: 8 years ago the PF government embarked on building 650 health posts across the country.In North Western province none have been completed.However whenever there is an election the Minister of health promises a mini hospital which never materializes.
4.Education: The late President Sata announced that each province in Zambia would have a University.Whilst Muchinga province has 2 universities ,North Western province has ZERO.The University of Mathematics and Science that was promised for Kabompa in 2011 has still not materialised. Hon Lufuma said even the promised Lewanika University in Western Province has not materialised.
The Kabompo member of parliament said by not sending teachers or building tertiary institutions in North Western Province, “education genocide” is being committed by deliberately excluding North Western province from governance of the country.
5. Bridges: Every time theres an election, PF promises the people of North Western province a bridge. From the former PF Vice president ,Guy Scott who promised a bridge to be built across the Zambezi river in Zambezi district to connect Zambezi to Zambia in 3months ,to the current Vice President Inonge Wina who also promised a bridge. Minister after minister promise bridges but nothing is done.
Honorable Lufuma said when it comes to North western province it takes an eternity to have a project done but when it’s a PF stronghold projects are done expeditiously.
Laura Miti forces a smile as she greets sympathizers after leaving the court premises
The Livingstone Magistrate Court on Monday has granted bail to Alliance for Community Action Executive Director Laura Miti 54, of PHI Lusaka and her Deputy Borwell Mwewa 45, of PHI Lusaka of K 2,000 each in their own recognizance and two working sureties from reputable institutions.
And Fumba Chama popularly known as Pilato has been released from police detention.
Pilato arrested over the weekend on allegations of unlawful assembly.
This is in a matter in which Miti and Mwewa are charged with one count each of assult on police officer contrary to section 250 (b) Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Statements of the offence are that on the 22 day of December 2019 at the Livingstone Central Police, the duo did assault two police officers who were on duty.
When they appeared before Magistrate Michael Mulalelo in a fully parked courtroom on Monday afternoon for the explanation of the charge, the duo told the Court that they understood the charge but denied the offence.
After taking plea, the defence lawyers Linda Kasonde of LCK Chambers and Brian Gombwa of MAK Partners applied for bail pending appeal which was granted.
In applying for bail pending trial, Lawyer Gomba asked the court to grant the accused persons bail each in accordance with the provisions of section 123 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Chapter 88 of the laws of Zambia.
Further he informed the Court the the offences the duo committed were bailable and that the case in particular does not attract a death penalt.
Ms Kasonde also complained to Court the treatment that Ms Miti who is Asthmatic was subjected to by the police during her detention.
She asked the Court to excuse the duo on the date they are scheduled to appear for plea because they are Lusaka residents.
Magistrate Mulalelo granted the bail application and the matter has been adjourned to January 6, 2019 for a mention and January 13, 2020 for commencement of trial.
Bornwell Mwewa leaves the court premises after he was granted bail
Earlier in the day, the lawyers representing the accused Linda Kasonde and Brian Gombwa of MAK Partners had a tough time to push the state to have their clients appear before Court.
From morning up to about 16:30 Hours, the people who had turned up to offer solidarity to the two accused persons were still at Court while others were seen at the Livingstone Central Police where they duo was detained.
They were only brought to Court slightly after 16:50 Hours.
Pilato was also later released on police bond.
And Ms Miti has denied allegations by Police that she along with Mr Mwewa assaulted police officers at the police station.
Writing on her Facebook page moments after she was released, Ms Miti said the thought of assaulting the officers never even crossed their minds.
“Our forcible hosts decided they didn’t want us at their Christmas table after all. Thank you all for your support,” she wrote jokingly.
“Still a little off colour but expecting a good night’s sleep to mend that. Spare a thought for those who must stay in our police cells long, even if they be guilty of a crime,” Ms Miti said.
“And no we did not attack any police officer nor would we think of doing such a thing. And yes the work continues.”
And Pilato vowed that he will not be intimidated.
“I will never be intimidated, bullied or negotiated away from my attachment to this beautiful country. It is my strong belief that the wealth of this country must benefit not only a few people at the top but every citizen of this country including those at the very bottom of society,” he wrote on his Facebook page moments after his release.
Heavy police presence at Livingstone High CourtLaura Miti walks to freedom after she was granted bailPilato released from Livingstone Central Police
Bishop George Cosmas Lungu, of Chipata Diocese, who is also President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, recently raised the alarm regarding the food situation.
This is according to information carried by the Nairobi-based AMECEA News, a regional online news sharing service owned by the region’s Bishops under the auspices of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa.
Lowest rains since 1981
Bishop Lungu’s call comes right on the heels of another appeal made by the Bishop of Mongu Diocese who is also Caritas Zambia Bishop Director, Evans Chinyemba, OMI.
Addressing journalists during the November 2019, ‘ZCCB Media Day’ in Lusaka, at the Catholic Secretariat, Bishop Chinyemba warned of the severe risk of food insecurity in the country due to a critical drought that has hit the Southern African country.
The areas most affected, explains AMECEA News, are Zambia’s Southern and Western Provinces.
The two provinces, in 2019, received the lowest seasonal rainfall since 1981.
2.3 million Zambians facing a severe shortage of food
According to information from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the secretariat of the Zambia Red Cross, the number of hungry families in Zambia has risen from 1.9 million registered in March 2019 to a current 2.3 million.
Church leaders, NGOs as well as diplomats, have asked the Zambian Government to declare a national disaster.
To the contrary, the Zambian Government insists that the hunger situation is under control and manageable.
Church calls on Government to declare an emergency
Declaring an emergency would unlock international humanitarian assistance.
“Together with some ambassadors, NGOs and civil society we have tried to convince the Government to declare a national emergency by letting the world know that we need help, but unfortunately this has not happened,” explains Bishop Lungu.
“Facts are facts: People are foraging for fruit in the forests because they have no food … you cannot hide that fact. It would have been more prudent to say openly that the situation is much more serious than we thought,” adds the prelate, expressing hope that aid will come soon for the sake of the people
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical services Kennedy Malama
The government has challenged members of the public to take center stage in the prevention and fight against cholera, in the wake of the rainy season.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary in Charge of Technical Services Kennedy Malama, says key results to be derived from cholera prevention, preparedness and response, depends on concerted efforts from all stakeholders, community members inclusive.
He has indicated that the Ministry alone cannot ensure the eradication of cholera, without full participation from members of the public, who are the key stakeholders.
ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary also revealed that measures have been put in place, to ensure that cholera is prevented from any possible outbreak.
And Dr. Malama has added that the ministry will ensure that relevant stakeholders are involved in the process, to ensure that a collective and multi sectoral approach is undertaken.
The Permanent Secretary noted that cholera is not a health issue but a social economic development issue that has to be looked into by all sectors of development.
Dr Malama has since sent out a stern reminder to members of the general public to ensure that there is food safety, proper sanitation as well as availability of clean and safe water, if cholera is to be prevented.
The timely reminder from the Ministry of Health comes in the wake of the rainy season, when the country experiences severe outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, due to poor sanitary conditions.
Vice President Inonge Wina congratulates the Newly Appointed Permanent Secretary Central Province Bernard Chomba during swearing in ceremony at State House
Central Province Permanent secretary Bernard Chomba has expressed concern at the escalating chiefdom boundary disputes in the province.
Speaking when he addressed subjects from Chief Chipepo’s area in Kapiri Mposhi District, Mr Chomba said that there was urgent need for stakeholder engagement in order to address chiefdom boundary disputes taking place in Central Province.
Mr Chomba observed that boundary disputes have the potential to fuel conflict among traditional leaders and divide people in the affected chiefdoms.
“As government, we are concerned about the boundary disputes that have been going on between Chief Chipepo of Kapiri Mposhi district and Chiefteness Malembeka of the Lamba people in Mpongwe District on the Copperbelt.” The PS said.
“We are also concerned about the boundary dispute between Chief Ngabwe of Kapiri Mposhi and Chief Mwinuna of the Lamba people that have persisted and if left unchecked, these boundary disputes can bring conflicts among traditional leaders, as well as divide subjects in chiefdoms,” Mr Chomba added.
The PS said this when he addressed subjects from Chief Chipepo’s area led by headman Kachenjela who sought his intervention in the boundary dispute in their area.
The subjects claimed that they have been forcibly removed from their land by Chieftainess Malembeka’s subjects of the Lamba people of the Copperbelt Province, and have had their maize fields slashed following a boundary dispute.
Meanwhile, Mr Chomba has threatened to remove and replace Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner, Peter Mwiinde for allegedly failing to address the boundary disputes in the district.
Mr Chomba was irked that Mr Mwiinde has not heed to his directives, to engage his counterpart from Mpongwe District and ensure dialogue between Chieftainess Malembeka and Chief Chipepo in order to amicably resolve the chiefdom boundary disputes.
In its quest to supplement Government’s efforts in mitigating the effects of hunger in the country, the Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition Alliance in partnership with Miracle Life Church has delivered food hampers to some hunger-stricken families in Gwembe District.
The food hampers worth K300 000 delivered mid November 2019 comprised a 25 kg bag of mealie meal, 5kgs beans, 5kgs Kapenta and 2kgs sugar taking into consideration the nutritional needs of the beneficiaries.
A total of 5000 people selected with the help the Traditional Leadership, the District Administration and Health Authorities have benefitted from the support which is expected to extend to other parts of the country among them Shangombo and Lunga Districts.
Those who benefitted include families with children under the age of two years who are the most vulnerable to chronic malnutrition, people living with HIV, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age and people the community felt were desperately in need of food.
In its assessment of the hunger situation in Gwembe District, the CSO-SUN discovered that the nutrition status of the District was deteriorating due to lack access to nutritious foods resulting into cases of underweight adults and children increasing.
From statistics seen during the Child Health week exercise in November 2019, cases of underweight among Children in the District had increased from 0.8 percent from second quarter of 2019 to 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019.
According to the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference measurement (MUAC) used to assess the Nutritional status of Children, it was discovered that 75 percent of all the children assessed were in need of supplementary feeding immediately failure to which they would face severe acute malnutrition.
CSO SUN Country Coordinator Mathews Mhuru has since commended Miracle Life Church for partnering with the organization to support the 5000 people in need of food in Gwembe District.
Mr Mhuru said the provision of food to the over 2.3 million people affected by hunger cannot be left to government alone as it is a huge task.
He has further appealed to the government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to prioritize relief distribution to areas like Chamwe which have no food markets.
Mr Mhuru said in Chamwe it was discovered that people were washing off chemicals from seeds received under FISP and eating them due to lack of food.
He said it was also reported in Chaamwe that a person living with HIV died due to hunger which resulted from lack of food.
HH addressing a news conference at the UPND secretariat on Thursday, April 4th 2019
UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated his call on the PF government to make a bold decision by immediately declaring hunger a national disaster.
Mr Hichilema says this will help avoid the hunger situation to spin out of control which will result in the unnecessary loss of human life.
He noted that already, 2.3 million Zambians are stressed with 450,000 already declared as living with famine-like conditions and this will just get worse with this situation.
Mr. Hichilema says the famine Early Warning Systems Network has predicted a high probability of below-average rainfall throughout Southern Africa in the 2019/2020 period and has therefore called on Governments, the donor community and partners to expect a typically high food assistance needs throughout 2020.
He said it is already very clear that the start of the 2019/2020 rain season has been erratic with early season deficits which will obviously result in poor crop performance, unlike what the Zambia Meteorologist Department forecasted.
Further, Mr. Hichilema said most scientific studies are suggesting that the Southern African region is the global ‘hotbed’ and epicenter of climate change whose effects will greatly affect food security for prolonged periods.
He said with this evidence, any regional government’s effort to declare the hunger situation a national disaster will certainly receive the much needed international assistance.
“We have on countless times reminded our colleagues in government, that the hunger situation is a crisis that requires the tenacity and fortitude to deal with, by declaring it an emergency. This enables our local and international partners to activate the international instruments for aid to begin to flow into the needy areas”, he added.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dora Siliya says the government has NOT come up with a fee that will be paid by those who want to invest in the cultivation of Marijuana.
Ms. Siliya said that reports that the government has pegged the license fee at two hundred and fifty dollars are false and should be dismissed, adding that the inter-ministerial committee that has been appointed will work on modalities on how best the cultivation of cannabis can be done within the legal framework.
Ms Siliya emphasized that the cultivation of Marijuana is still illegal until such a time when a law is put in place to regulate the use of Marijuana for medicinal and export purposes.
She said this in response to a question from the media after Kazadi films paid a courtesy call on her today.
Meanwhile, Ms Siliya has urged families to uphold the country’s values in the face of technology .
She said the abuse of social media has the potential to erode the country’s rich values and traditions.
Simba Milling Limited has reduced the price of a 25 kilogram bag of breakfast mealie meal from K150 to K130, with immediate effect.
Simba milling Limited Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Chiwaya announced the K20 price reduction in a press release, issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr Chiwaya said the wholesale price reduction is effective today, Monday December 23, 2019.
He noted that the price reduction is in line with the tripartite agreement signed between the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), Simba Milling and other stakeholders.
Mr Chiwaya has since advised retailers to sell a 25 kilogram bag of breakfast mealie meal at K135 within Lusaka.
Recently, African Milling Limited announced a similar reduction in the price of breakfast mealie-meal from K150 to K130.
The price of the country’s staple food has in the recent past increased to unprecedented levels with the commodity fetching around K150 in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, and K170 in Livingstone, among other places countrywide.
Government has assured the general public that the authority is working round the clock to reduce the high price of mealie meal in the country.
The US State Department says it is dismayed by the treatment of its Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote by Zambian authorities.
In response to a press query following reports that Ambassador Foote has been recalled, an official at the State Department says the US government is dismayed by the treatment of its representative to Zambia.
“We are dismayed by the Zambian government’s statement that Ambassador Foote’s position “is no longer tenable,” which we consider being the equivalent of a declaration that the Ambassador is Persona Non Grata,” the official said.
“Despite this action, the United States remains committed to our partnership with the Zambian people. We seek an open and frank relationship of mutual respect, commensurate with the generous aid provided to the Zambian people by the United States.”
The official added, “The Department of State works tirelessly to protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings around the world, regardless of gender, religious belief, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic circumstance. The United States firmly opposes abuses against LGBTI persons.”
“Governments have an obligation to ensure that all people can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled,” the official said.
“As Secretary Pompeo said in September 2019, “Unalienable rights are at the core of who we are as Americans. We abhor violations of these rights, whenever and wherever they are encountered.”
Ex-Power Dynamos star winger Gibson Shikilwa says Sunday’s Kitwe derby between his old club and fierce rivals Nkana was won in the midfield.
Luka Chamanga, Davy Daka and Fredrick Mulambia were the scorers as Power thumped Nkana 3-0 at Arthur Davies Stadium in this FAZ Super Division tie.
The victory ended Nkana‘s eight match unbeaten run and came exactly a week after they beat defending champions and leaders Zesco United 1-0 at home across the road in Wusakile.
‘Power were better in the midfield while Nkana were poor in that area. Football is about the midfield and once you are outplayed in that area then you lose it,’ Shikilwa said.
Shikilwa, who won league titles at Arthur Davies in 1994, 1997 and 2000, was pleased with the quality of football exhibited in the derby.
‘There was an improvement in quality compared to the derby we watched in the transitional season. You could see nice play from both teams. The atmosphere was also great,’ he observed.
Shikilwa also admitted that he never anticipated that a wide margin would separate Power and Nkana in the derby.
‘I support Power but I didn’t expect a 3-0 win. Derbies don’t usually produce many goals. The last time Power beat Nkana with a huge score-line was around 2012.
Nkana stay put at number five on 24 points while Power rise from eighth to seven on 20 points to extend their running run to four straight matches and are now unbeaten in their last five games.
The FAZ National Division One League resumed after a two week break with Young Green Eagles assuming top slot.
Young Eagles thumped Zambeef 2-0 at home to dislodge Kitwe United, who drew goalless at Chambishi, from the top.
The win helped the ZNS side to open a two point lead at the pinnacle with 31 points from 14 matches played.
Kitwe are now second with 29 points after the draw against Chambishi away at Chambishi Stadium.
‘The game was tough against Chambishi. We were supposed to win this game because the race in the National League is very tight,’ Kitwe coach Stephen Mwansa said.
Kafue Celtic are third in the league with 27 points after edging F.C Muza 0-1 away in Mazabuka.
Elsewhere, Nchanga Rangers remained ten points away from the top despite beating Mumbwa Medics 1-0 at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola at the weekend.
There was drama as mourners paraded a coffin carrying the remains of their relative at the Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner’s office over the weekend, to the amusement of onlookers.
The mourners, while hoisting the coffin on their shoulders, marched from Kapiri Mposhi Urban Clinic mortuary demanding that Kapiri Mposhi Town Council, where the father to the deceased 19 year old boy works as a general worker, provides transport to ferry mourners from the funeral house in Ndeke Compound to the burial site.
Police had a tough time to prevent a horde of mourners who surged into the District Administration office which houses offices for Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner, Peter Mwiinde, where they displayed the body at the entrance.
Mother to the deceased Grace Sakala demanded that the council provides a tipper truck to ferry mourners to pay their last respects.
Ms Sakala said the family was only given a hearse which was inadequate to ferry all mourners to the burial site.
“The tipper truck we were given has apparently gone to ferry timber but is timber more important than a dead body, I am very disappointed,” Ms Sakala said.
The mourners dispersed only after being assured by Patriotic Front (PF) Kapiri Mposhi Constituency Vice Chairman, Morgan Mwenya that a tipper truck had been released to ferry them to the burial site.
Meanwhile, Kapiri Mposhi Town Council Public Relations Officer Chris Mulaliki expressed concern over the manner in which the issue was handled by the mourners.
Mr Mulaliki stated that the family was provided with adequate transport logistics and K10, 000 cash to cater for all funeral expenses.
The deceased identified as George Munkombwe, 19, died on Wednesday last week, following a short illness.
