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Zambia: No Sleep for My Motherland!

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By Henry Kyambalesa

At independence in 1964, Zambia, as the World Bank once observed, was potentially the richest country in sub-Saharan Africa. Forty-four years later, however, it has become one of the poorest, with nearly 70% of its people wallowing in abject poverty.

But how could a country that is blessed with good weather, fertile soil, several perennial rivers running through it, abundant mineral endowments, and very peaceful and hard-working citizens find itself in such a predicament?

Well, we have an outdated education policy that is designed to cast nearly half of those who enroll in Grades 7 and 9 onto the streets every year. We have a healthcare system that is hardly accessible to the majority of citizens. We have so many of our fellow citizens who have no access to clean water and electricity. We have a critical shortage of decent public housing nationwide. Public infrastructure and services are deficient. Civil servants are not adequately compensated for their services. And a lot of civil service retirees cannot get their hard-earned benefits.

Further, crime, corruption and unemployment are widespread. Taxes and interest rates are extremely high. Single-source government procurements, the appointment of alleged perpetrators of corrupt practices to key government positions, and the sacking of officers who attempt to pursue or expose key government officials allegedly involved in scandals have become a normal practice. And selective prosecution of alleged offenders and the perpetration of violence and threats of violence against innocent citizens have become acceptable political campaign tools.

Besides, the National Constitutional Conference is recommending articles and clauses that are designed to exclude certain individuals from contesting the Republican presidency, and those which are designed to suit the needs and interests of the ruling political party. And rehearsed warnings that we should not experiment with leadership have started getting louder—somewhat suggesting to us that the deadwoods among our current crop of government leaders hold the key to Zambia’s future! Soon, we will be bombarded by rehearsed calls that the Republican president should be given more time to complete his projects and programs beyond 2011—projects and programs which include touring the world, and “drive-through” deliberations with chiefs designed to secure votes.

The seriousness of socio-economic woes facing my Motherland is heart-rending. Unfortunately, the Republican president and the Republican vice president are oblivious to the problems facing the common people. They seem to be more interested in lining up their own pockets, and the pockets of their sympathizers. Winning elections to them seems to be an end in itself. And they will continue to abuse the power they wield to win elections—including the divide-and-rule strategy once used by the colonial government, and the use of intelligence briefings to tell the nation upon landing at airports that they know what is happening in opposition political parties.

Does any individual or political party have the key to lock the door to socio-economic decay and backwardness, and unlock the door to greater opportunities and a higher quality of life for all Zambians in Central Province, Copperbelt Province, Eastern Province, Luapula Province, Lusaka Province, Northern Province, North-Western Province, Southern Province, and Western Province?

No sleep for my Motherland!

Chipata open doors to Ncwala ceremony

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Thousands of people have flocked to Mtenguleni to witness this years Ncwala ceremony for the Ngoni people in Chipata in Eastern Province.

Vice President George Kunda said when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief Mpezeni that government would ensure that it brings development through out the country.

Mr Kunda said government was working on establishing farm blocks through out the country to boost agriculture.
He said Zambia has a rich culture which is exhibited among the people through out the country and it unites them.
The two former President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Dr Fredrick Chiluba have attended this year’s Ncwala ceremony.
N’cwala ceremony of the Ngoni-speaking people, signify their rich culture and exposes the agricultural potential of the area. Agriculture is the mainstay of the people of the Eastern Province.

Their spear and shield-wielding war dances illustrate the rich heritage that the tribe has strived to maintain over the centuries.

As a sign of a good agricultural season, a black bull is slaughtered at the arena and the chief leads the way in drinking blood before eating (Msamulo) the roasted meat offered to all the guests.

The popular television series Shaka Zulu which showed in the early 90s is a typical illustration of how the Ngoni roots and the Zulus of South Africa and Swaziland share the same heritage.

According to some exerts of recorded history, the N’cwala ceremony was banned by the British government after a series of battles with the Ngoni people in Fort Jameson, now Chipata.

Zanaco Crash URA To Advance

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Uganda Revenue Authority players celebrate after scoring the only winning against ZANACO in Kampala.
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) of Uganda will not be looking forward to facing another Zambia side in the near future after succumbing to a 4-0 defeat away to Zanaco at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday in an Orange Caf Champions League preliminary round, return leg match.

In 2008, URA lost 2-0 on aggregate to Zesco United, again with coach Wedson Nyirenda at the helm of the Ndola club, to bow out by the same score-line on aggregate after a scoreless draw in Ndola in the return leg.

Zanaco reversed a 1-0 loss against URA recorded on February 12 in Kampala to qualify to the first round of the Orange Caf Champions League 4-1 on aggregate.

Zanaco midfielder Allen Mukuka opened scores in the 15th minute after tapping in the ball with the inside of his right boot from close-range thanks to a cross from a Judge Mkandawire delivery from the right.

Mukuka turned provider 21 minutes later for striker Makundika Sakala to make it and see Zanaco take a 2-0 lead in the first half.

Winston Kalengo made it 3-0 on 48 minutes before Sakala wrapped up his brace of the six minutes later after a sublime one-two move with Kalengo.

Zanaco will host ASEC Mimosa of Cote d’Ivoire in first round, first leg in Lusaka on March 20.

Sata and the Church in Chiluba’s Speech: An Analysis

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PF Leader Michael Sata

By Elias Munshya wa Munshya

Undoubtedly, Chiluba’s press conference speech had called into question Sata’s personal moral character, but more than that it called into question the general character of Zambian politics.

If Sata was indeed as bad as Chiluba had claimed he was, then it begs the question why he kept him as his closest confidante in Cabinet and in the MMD for over ten years. Sata’s last position in Chiluba’s government was Minister-Without-Portfolio, the third highest office.

Besides, Chiluba claimed that as former head of State he had information about each minister, and so he had some damning information about Mr. Sata. But in spite of this information he still kept Sata in Cabinet, deliberately, keeping in political office someone he knew was unworthy and unfit. We dare not forget that in the 2006 elections, Chiluba was on hand to urge Zambians to vote for Sata—that is why today, I find it rather awkward to understand how Chiluba can both say that Sata is wrong for Zambia, but at the same time urge Zambians to vote for him as president nevertheless in 2006.

Chiluba only withdrew support to Sata just about the time that Sata did the so called reconciliation with Mwanawasa. If that be the case then it should suffice for us to know that Chiluba may have withdrawn support for Sata not because Sata was morally depraved, but rather because he Sata associated with Mwanawasa. It seems Chiluba’s principle was you could not be his friend if you were a friend of Mwanawasa. But this principle did not just apply with Chiluba; Mwanawasa also used it very well. Most of Mwanawasa’s close political confidants cut their links from Chiluba. It is rather ironical that only the late Dalton Sokontwe, stayed close to Chiluba.

The speech also raises some questions about the Church and her deeds. However, the Church should not be brought into political or personal problems of this nature. This is because the Church, whether protestant or Catholic is by its nature both a human institution and a divine institution, and as a human institution it is fraught with human weaknesses, favoritism and other vices. But in spite of her weakness, the Church has been a spiritual home bestowing solace and hope to countless, and we esteem her and esteem her fellowship regardless. It is therefore, not necessary that the Church should be brought into disrepute simply because of how it has behaved towards one politician or the other.

Unfortunately, both Chiluba and Sata have used some unpleasant words against the Church. For Sata he has very little respect for Chiluba’s “born again” Christianity, whereas Chiluba from this speech does seem to call into question the Catholic Church’s attitude towards Sata’s morality. However, the best policy towards the Church should be for politicians, including Sata and Chiluba to leave the Church alone. For her part the Catholic Church may be trying to bridle in some turbulent priests within the Ndola Diocese by bringing in Dr. Alick Banda, an expert of Church-State relations, as Bishop. Nevertheless, we are yet to see the impact that Bishop Banda will have on the politically charged Ndola Diocese.

Having pointed out the above issues, however, Chiluba’s speech is a very powerful political document whose impact at taming the political venom of Michael Sata should not be underestimated. It looks like with this speech, Frederick Chiluba is coming back to fight for the MMD and for Rupiah Banda. As for Sata, he nevertheless has a lot of questions he needs to answer, and Chiluba posed the questions very well. But I wonder whether those questions are just for Michael Sata alone!

No Education Grants for recalled Envoys’ Children-Shikapwasha

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THE Government has said education grants to children of Zambian diplomats in the diaspora should be discontinued immediately after their parents are recalled from diplomatic missions.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, who is acting Foreign Affair minister told Parliament on Thursday night that it was illegal for a child abroad to continue receiving grants when their parents were recalled.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha was responding to a question by Mwansabombwe Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Chitonge during the questions and answer session.

Mr Chitonge wanted to know what the entitlements for Zambian diplomats in missions abroad were as of August 30, 2009 in relation to spouse, children and dependants.

“Children studying abroad when their parents are serving in the foreign service are like any other Zambian child who should not be denied a right to education. However, if that child’s parent is recalled from foreign service, their grants are discontinued and any further sponsorship of this child on the Government grant is an illegal act,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

He said the entitlement for foreign dignitaries in foreign service ranged from US$300 to US$150 and for the grants for the spouses, children and dependants was in the range of US$150.

And Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani, who is acting leader of the House presented on behalf of Vice-President George Kunda, a bill on the Plea Negotiations and Amendments.

The bill is aimed at providing for the introduction and implementation of plea negotiations and plea agreements in the criminal justice system.

Mr Mangani also presented a bill on the registration of business names which is aimed to amend the registration of business names.

He presented the bill on behalf of Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati.
And on Wednesday evening Mr Kunda said the Disaster Management Bill, once put in place will address the evacuation mechanism for disaster-affected citizens.

In a speech read for him by Government Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga, Mr Kunda said that for years, there had been no mechanism to evacuate the victims of disaster, resulting in some deaths that could have been saved.

He said there was need to set conditions under which an evacuation could be ordered and managed.

Among the objectives of the bill, Mr Kunda said, was the establishment of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), provision for the declaration of disasters, and establishment of the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund.

Further, he said the bill would strengthen the coordination role of the DMMU and defining the functions of various stakeholders at different levels.

“From the past experience, the House may appreciate that the enactment of the disaster management bill is indeed long overdue and cannot be over emphasised, it is therefore necessary to have an Act of Parliament on disaster management,” Mr Kunda said.

Contributing to the debate, chairperson of the joint committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism and Health and Community Development and Social Welfare Ng’andu Magande (MMD) said as much as the committee was in support of the bill, it felt the title should be changed to Disaster Management and Mitigation Bill.

In its proposed form, he said, the bill was not placing emphasis on mitigating disasters.

There was need for Zambia to use internationally-recognised terminologies in line with the rest of the world.

Mr Magande also said the committee was also of the view that the Public Service Commission, and not the president as proposed in the draft bill, should appoint the coordinator for the DMMU.

[Times of Zambia]

Tottenham Hotspur ask Mining Rangers to first sort out Mbola’s contract mess

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Zambia’s Emmanuel Mbola and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Mum In Guk fight for the ball during the international friendly match played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka, Zambia

ENGLISH Premiership top side, Tottenham Hotspur have asked KCM-FAZ Division One North, Mining Rangers to sort out defender Emmanuel Mbola’s professional contractual mess with Armenian club, Yereven Pyunik before they can continue assessing the Zambian teenager.

Hotspur, who invited Mbola for a week-long soccer trials, wrote to Mining Rangers demanding that they clear the player with Pyunik before the 16-year-old could go back to White Hart Lane in London to continue with trials.

Mbola said on arrival from London yesterday that Hotspurs advised him to have his problem sorted out first before heading back to England to wind up his programme.

He said Hotspurs showed a lot of interest in him after he trained with the main team for a day and he was optimistic of impressing manager Harry Rednapp.

“Hotspurs like me a lot but it is just because of the contract confusion with Pyunik and my agent,” he said.

Mbola said he was hopeful everything would be dealt with soon to enable him get back to London by next week.
He said he enjoyed his brief stay in London describing it as good and fantastic.

On reports that Redknapp indicated that he did not train with the first team and that he did not know him, Mbola insisted that he trained with the main team under the Spurs manager alongside a Nigerian player.

Mining Rangers director Elijah Chileshe, who welcomed Mbola at Lusaka International Airport yesterday, confirmed receiving a letter from Hotspur where the English club demanded that they should clear the Pyunik issue.

Chileshe said his team would await a response from world soccer governing body, FIFA through FAZ after making a formal complaint to the association.

He said it was regrettable that Pyunik forced Mbola to sign a contract as an under-16 teenager contrary to FIFA statutes.

Chileshe said Pyunik were not sincere in their dealings as they neither consulted Mining Rangers on the contract nor got parental consent from Mbola’s father.

Article 19 (1) of the FIFA constitution states that international transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18.

Part of Article 19 says there are three exceptions where the rule applies; that (a) the player’s parents move to the country in which the club is located for reasons not related to football; (b) the transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union or European Economic Area and the player is aged between 16 and 18.

And (c) that the player lives no further than 50 km from a national border and the club with which the player wishes to be registered in the neighbouring association is also within 50 km of that border.

FAZ has since reported the matter to FIFA for action.
Chileshe was optimistic that the Mbola issue would be resolved as quickly as possible to enable him continue with his try-outs at Hotspur.

He said Hotspur had shown interest in him and he was sure Mbola would pass the trials.
“Knowing Mbola, he can’t fail the trials. I wish him luck so that he passes. It will be good for his career if he passes the trials,” Chileshe said.

To ensure that Mbola remained in shape, Chileshe took the exciting defender to the Zambia Under-17 squad which is currently training at Independence Stadium.

“I’ve just handed him (Mbola) to the Under-17 manager Daniel Jere so that he loosens up and trains with the team. I’ve to keep an eye on him until all is well,” Chileshe said.

Earlier in the week, media reports from England stated that Hotspur had clinched Mbola on a one million pound deal after fending off competition from West Ham United but Chileshe denied the story.

Despite being a debutante at the African Cup finals in Angola this year, Mbola was one of the most outstanding performers for Zambia and was named as a substitute in Africa’s finest players’ team.

[Times of Zambia]

President Banda courts more Chinese investment

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President Rupiah Banda with Chinese deputy minister of Foreign Affairs at Beijing International Airport in china on his arrival

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has invited more Chinese investors to come and explore investment opportunities in various sectors of the economy in Zambia and thanked the Chinese investors for not scaling down on production and labour during the global economic crisis.

And the Chinese government has cancelled 50 per cent of the unpaid loan for the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

Speaking at the China-Zambia Investment Promotion seminar held at the China Nonferrous Metal Corporation (CNMC) headquarters in Beijing yesterday, President Banda said Zambia had since independence enjoyed good economic cooperation with the Chinese government and urged the Chinese companies that attended the seminar to visit Zambia and explore investment opportunities.

Opportunities are available in areas such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, energy and information communication technology.

President Banda said it was the Zambian Government’s wish to promote an environment in which partnerships between Zambia and Chinese business houses could be strengthened for the mutual benefit to ensure a win-win outcome for the two nations.

“The objective of this seminar is to cement the warm and strong relationship between our two countries. Specifically, our aim at this seminar is to showcase the vast investment opportunities that exist in the Zambian economy for Chinese investment.

“To those companies that are participating in this business seminar, particularly for those who may have not enough information about Zambia, I would like to ask you to obtain as much information as possible from this seminar.

‘‘In addition, I invite you to come to Zambia to see for yourselves and explore investment opportunities in a number of areas such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, energy and information communication technology,” he said.

He said the Chinese had been involved in the implementation of some important projects in Zambia such as the construction of the TAZARA , construction and rehabilitation of roads, supply of shortwave transmitters to Zambia’s national broadcaster, construction of a new ultramodern Government complex, rehabilitation of the silos, construction of houses and provision of scholarships as well as development of medical doctors to Zambia.

President Banda observed that not long ago, the Chinese government opened a branch for the Bank of China in Lusaka alongside a trade and commercial centre.

He said the coming of the Bank of China meant that business interests from China would be fully supported by Bank of China and the other commercial banks capable of providing business with first-class financial services.

He was confident that the Zambian business houses that attended the seminar would return to Zambia with a Chinese business partner.

President Banda said it was befitting and symbolic that the China-Zambia investment seminar was being hosted by CNMC, a company that had already made enormous strides towards the consolidation of partnerships in a number of areas such as social, political, economic, technological and cultural fields.

President Banda said following the forum on China-Africa Cooperation in November 2006, and the State visit by President Hu to Zambia in 2007, China made several commitments and all had been implemented.

Among the projects implemented was the construction of an ultramodern national stadium in Ndola, establishment of multi-facility economic zones in Chambishi and Lusaka and the provision of machinery for road construction.

He said the US$10 billion that China committed to African countries in form of concessional loans was a noble gesture which would go a long way in consolidating the gains that had been achieved.

And according to news monitored on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation last evening, Mr Wen Jiabao announced the Chinese government’s cancellation of 50 per cent of the unpaid loan for the construction of the TAZARA.

President Banda thanked the Chinese government for the gesture.
[Times of Zambia]

Three children perish in floods

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Three bodies for children who were feared to have drowned in a stream when floods swept away the vehicle they were in at a bridge in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province have been retrieved.

Police sources confirmed that the last body was retrieved yesterday from Zalo stream in senior chief Mweemba area while the other two were recovered on Wednesday in the evening.

The Source said the three bodies were for children aged, between one year six months, one year nine months, and for a nine year old boy identified as Chabota Chizebuka of Maamba Township.

Police source explained that the nine year old boy was in grade five at Maamba Private School.

On Wednesday, an eye witness Monde Chilanda from Muuka Fishing Village said the vehicle overturned three times in the stream after floods swept it away.

Mr .Chilanda explained that the driver of an open van vehicle decided to cross the flooded stream around 19:00 hours on Tuesday after waiting the whole day for the water to recede but the level was still high.

He said when the driver saw that a Land Cruiser had crossed he gained courage and decided to cross but when he reached the middle of the bridge which had only one lane the vehicle lights went off and it was swept away.

MMD cadres demand Prosecution of Sata over K1.2 billion

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The hour has come to...MMD acting Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda addresses a meeting at Kabanana Basic School in Lusaka
MMD acting Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda addresses a meeting at Kabanana Basic School in Lusaka

The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province has petitioned Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani to ensure that opposition Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata is investigated and prosecuted for alleged diverting public funds amounting to K1.2billion into a 45 day special investment account at Standard Chartered Bank.

In November 1992 Mr. Sata during his tenure as Local Government and Housing Minister, was investigated by the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegedly diverting public funds amounting to K1.2billion into a 45 day special investment account at Standard Chartered Bank contrary to the Ministry of Finance circular number 10of 1992.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today MMD Lusaka Province Chairperson William Banda said the Ministry of Home Affairs should investigate because to date the docket to prosecute Mr. Sata is still active.

Mr. Banda said the docket is still active notwithstanding the recommendations by the ACC that Mr. Sata be prosecuted for abuse of office and corrupt practices.

He said the MMD in Lusaka would not rest until Mr. Sata is investigated and prosecuted for abuse of office and corrupt practices.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda further petitioned Mr. Mangani to investigate who owns the Luxury buses ABG 6159 and ZB 4 at Intercity bus stations and whose licence they are operating on.

He said the buses are allegedly owned by Mr. Sata adding that the PF Leader should explain to the Zambians as to why he is running his businesses and owning property in other people’s names.

Mr. Banda questioned if it was a deliberate ploy to avoid paying taxes adding that Mr. Sata cannot be trusted to run the affairs of the country.

And about 50 Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Members have since defected to the ruling MMD.

Representative of the defectors William Khosa said the members have decided to defect to the ruling MMD because the FDD is a dead party with no vision.

And in welcoming the defectors Mr. Banda said people have now started realizing that the MMD is the only party with vision for the people of Zambia.

QFM

Battle against lead contamination in Kabwe

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Kabwe Town Centre
THE Copperbelt Environment Project (CEP) has spent K46 billion on activities aimed at mitigating the effects of lead contamination in Kabwe, environmental mining facility (EMF) chairperson David Ndopu has said.

And Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama has said there is need to start soliciting more funds to continue with the lead clean up programme in Kabwe.

Mr Ndopu said in a speech read for him by EMF committee member Engwase Mwale at a workshop to discuss management options for the CEP in Kabwe yesterday, that the project had scored positives.

He said six years down the line since the CEP project was launched in Ndola, a number of lead mitigation initiatives had been put in place in Kabwe, thereby reducing the lead contamination in the town.

“The project has recorded important milestones with the implementation of so many sub-projects in Kabwe which include the water supply, rehabilitation of mine plant area and the removal of mine waste from residences.

“Under the same project, we have managed to remove dredged materials from the main canal, the mine waste materials from Mulungushi Road slug dump and we have erected play parks for children to play on the greens,” he said.

The CEP project is financed through a grant from the World Bank and a credit from the Nordic Development Fund (NORDIC) which is implemented by the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) and comes to an end next year.

Objectives of the CEP were mainly to address environmental liabilities and obligations with the mining sector following the privatisation of the mining assets of ZCCM-IH.

Mr Ndopu, however, expressed concerns at reports of vandalism at play parks, water points and other facilities put in place through the project.

And officiating at the function, Mr Lumbama noted the need to secure financiers that would continue to implement the lead programme in Kabwe.

He said the lead pollution still remained a great challenge to the town, especially in children.

“Environmental pollution is a big challenge as it compromises the quality of life of communities and steadily holds back development,” Mr Lumbama said.

He was happy to note that the Government, through the CEP project, had continued to implement the remedial measures aimed at addressing environmental liabilities in Kabwe.

[Times of Zambia]

HIV Drug Given to Protect a Fetus Should Be Avoided for One Year After Childbirth

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Women given the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention drug nevirapine to protect their fetus should not use an HIV-drug regimen that contains nevirapine for at least one year after childbirth, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

A new UAB study found that while nevirapine works well to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, a single dose of nevirapine in infected pregnant women can trigger resistance to some forms of the AIDS-drug cocktail known as combination antiretroviral treatment (ART). This nevirapine-induced resistance fades after about 12 months and no longer hinders ART, says UAB Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Jeffrey S.A. Stringer, M.D., the study’s lead author.

The findings are published in PLoS Medicine, a journal of the nonprofit Public Library of Science.

Single-dose nevirapine is widely used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, an infection that affects more than 30 million people globally and leads to more than 2 million AIDS-related deaths each year.

“This study shows that women who need treatment more than 12 months after using nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child transmission safely can use standard first-line treatments in their countries,” says Stringer, director of the UAB-affiliated Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia. “Women who need treatment sooner than that should use a combination that does not contain nevirapine, typically an ART regimen that contains protease-inhibitor drugs.”

The UAB study included 878 infected women in Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire and Thailand. Some were given single-dose nevirapine and others were not; all participants were given ART immediately upon confirmed infection and monitored for one year.

Nevirapine continues to be the backbone of anti-HIV therapy in the developing world, and its usefulness in preventing mother-to-child transmission is confirmed in the new study, Stringer says.

The research is a collaboration between several partners: UAB; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Global AIDS Program; the Centers for Infectious Disease Research in Lusaka, Zambia; the Catholic Medical Missions Board; the Lusaka Urban District Health Management Board; the University of Nairobi; Siriraj Hospital and Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok; the Thailand Ministry of Public Health; and Northrop Grumman Corp. Funding support for the study is provided by the CDC.

[University of Alabama at Birmingham ]

Zambia’s allies in the fight against the “ruthless, devious, rich and powerful” tobacco industry

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Trina Hebblethwaite, famous advocate of smoking
World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan on Friday accused “ruthless, devious” tobacco companies of bullying as she battled attempts to stimulate smoking in poor nations.

In a speech marking the fifth anniversary of an international convention on tobacco control, Chan said she would not allow the tobacco industry to take part in talks on expanding the world’s first public health treaty.

“Like my predecessors, I am not on speaking terms with the tobacco industry, but I will say this: we’ve come a long way, bullies,” she said at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

The 2005 convention bans advertising and sponsorship, advocates tobacco taxes, legislation to make public places smoke-free and other restrictions to stifle a growth in smoking which is blamed for increasing heart disease, strokes and cancers.

“The battle against opposition continues, especially in developing countries,” the UN health chief said.

“It is estimated that tobacco use kills more than five million people per year — an average of one person every six seconds — and accounts for one in 10 adult deaths worldwide,” she added.

Chan said the treaty backed by 168 countries had allowed the agency and public health authorities to stand up against the “ruthless, devious, rich and powerful” tobacco industry.

While tobacco use in many affluent countries had dropped significantly, others have been slow to implement tobacco restrictions, according to the WHO.

“Most alarming of all, tobacco use is actually increasing in many developing countries. If Big Tobacco is in retreat in some parts of the world, it is on the march in others,” Chan said.

Developing countries were the “new frontier” for tobacco marketing, but were also the most vulnerable to its ill-effects and chronic disease due to the shortage of health care and poverty, she added.

“In these countries as elsewhere, girls and women are a market with attractive and lucrative growth potential, and they are likewise being targeted,” said Chan.

Some 5.4 percent of the world’s population can benefit from laws against smoking in public places, according to the WHO.

Such bans were enforced in 17 countries, with Colombia, Djibouti, Guatemala, Mauritius, Panama, Turkey, and Zambia joining the list in 2008, the WHO said in December.

Twenty-one countries have high taxes — above 75 percent — on tobacco products.

The agency said Friday that more than 90 countries have prohibited the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to minors, while at least 80 have introduced “large, clear and visible” health warnings on packages.

The global death toll attributed to tobacco could rise to eight million by 2030 at the current rate.

[Javno.com]

Zambia’s ambassador to Angola tours bordering provinces

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Zambia's ambassador to Angola, Marina Nsingo
Zambia’s ambassador to Angola, Marina Nsingo, has visted Luena city, eastern Moxico province of Angola, to learn about social and economic integration programmes between the bordering provinces, Angop has learnt.

At her arrival, she was welcomed at the airport by employees of the Zambian consulate there and Sub-commissioner Elias Dumbo Livulo, representing the governor João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade”.

According to her agenda, the diplomat will hear about the rehabilitation and enlargement works of the road linking Moxico province and Zambia, through Bundas district, as well as to analyse the situation of the Angolans living in Zambia and refugees.

She will also visit her country chancellery and fuels warehouse and she will tour Lucusse commune on Friday .

[Angop]

The Week in Pictures

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1.

A Boy pushing a bicycle at Sikalamba stream after heavy rains washed away the bridge along Mamba Batoka road in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province

2.

The women conducting business at Mwaiseni bus station in Chingola.

3.

Youths conducting business at Mwaisen shopping centre in Chongola township

4.

Chingola town centre

5.

Kapiri Mposhi Township.

6.

The status of Chingola Town once known as the cleanest town in 1980s

7.

Luanshya copper mines (LCM)

8.

President Rupiah Banda with Chinese deputy minister of Foreign Affairs at Beijing International Airport in china on his arrival

9.

Some United Party for National Development - UPND big wigs listening to a press briefing address by MPs Douglas Siakalima and Garry Nkombo in Lusaka

10.

Former Zambia National Soccer team Ante Buselic with officials from Ndola United Football Club where he donated 20 footballs.

11.

Illegal fishing...Some women engage in illegal fishing in Mongu

12.

Some women of Munagaba area with goats they received as part of the poverty eradication strategy in Choma.

13.

Central province minisetrs Ackimson Banda and Serenje District Commissioner Stanley Chibwa inspect works on the Serenje youth centre

14.

Vehicles marooned at Mvuvye bridge along the great east road after the gap was flooded.

15.

Vehicles wait for water to subside at Mvuvye bridge which has been flooded along the great east road

16.

A referee fouls ZANACO's Allan Mukuka during the Samuel 'Zoom' Njovu charity shield game at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka. ZESCO won 1-0.

Zamalek give up on Kalaba

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Zamalek have asked for a refund from Sporting Braga after Rainford Kalaba refused to join the Cairo giants.

Zamalek Sabri Serag to Filgoal.com that the club had requested Braga refund them on the US25,000 they paid to the Portuguese club for a six-month loan deal for Kalaba.

“We don’t know whether the player intends to change his mind and complete the move,” Zamalek spokesman Sabri Serag told Filgoal.com.

“But we don’t care anymore, we’ve asked Braga to send back the money they received from us. A player who does not want to play for Zamalek is unwelcomed here.”

Meanwhile, Kalaba is believed to be still on the Copperbelt.

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