The United Nations says Zambia has recorded an increase in the number of people accessing Antiretroviral treatment from 53 percent in 2007 to 67 percent in 2008.

The UN further says the country has also recorded an increase in the number of people going for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) from 1 percent in 2007 to 23 percent last year.

The UN goes on to say that the rate of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission has increased from 39 percent in 2007 to 53 percent last year.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF),and the joint UN programmes on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

The UN said more than four million people in low and medium income countries were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) by December last year, representing 36 percent increase.

The UN said the sub Saharan Africa has recorded progress in the number of people accessing the ARVs due to the drop in the prices of the drugs in recent years.

Meanwhile, the UN has said five million more people living with HIV still don’t have access to treatment and care, despite the increase in the number of VCT centres.

The UN further urged governments and cooperating partners to strengthen their efforts for all the infected in the world to access treatment.
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The UN said the rate of women and children accessing ARVs last year improved, with approximately 45 percent of HIV/AIDS positive pregnant women receiving the drugs.

The UN further said 21 percent of pregnant women in low and middle income countries had HIV test last year, as compared to 15 percent in 2007.

The UN additionally said more children are now benefiting from pediatric antiretroviral therapy programmes, adding that the number of under 15 children receiving ART also rose from 198,000 in 2007 to 275,000 in 2008.

The release said AIDS has continued to be the leading cause of mortality among women of reproductive age.

The release added that the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are still unaware of their status due to fear of discrimination, adding that this has resulted in higher risks of HIV infection.

ZANIS

The Centre for Election and Governance (CEG) has charged that former defence Minster, George Mpombo has resorted to outbursts and use of bad language against the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) because he is trying to run way from collective responsibility which he is part of.

CEG Trustee Gershom Musonda said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that Mr Mpombo’s attacks on the MMD amounts to failed politics of appeasement and an attempt to run way from responsibilities.

He said Mr Mpombo who was third in command from the President did nothing to improve the country’s democratic governance record despite him having such a huge influence on cabinet policies and decisions.

Mr Musonda said as the then defence Minister Mr. Mpombo contributed to most of government’s decisions made during his time.

He alleged that he also failed to improve the welfare of men in uniform adding that he left them with no accommodation and other basic allowances.

Mr. Musonda wondered how Mr. Mpombo now expects to have a change of scene in life and help society address local problems after retiring from a public position.

He urged him to step down and pave way for the young generation to get into government and the country to move forward and attain its vision of being a middle income nation by 2030.

Mr Musonda has meanwhile disagreed with the assumption that President Banda should fit into the legacy of the late President Levy Mwanawasa saying every person is unique and different from others.

He said it is therefore important for President Banda to be given support and be left to be independent with his leadership style.
ZANIS

Chief government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, has accused some media institutions of trying to disturb relations between the government and diplomats accredited to Zambia.

Lieutenant general Shikapwasha says investigations have revealed that its not true that some diplomats have stated that they are not happy with the Zambian government, as reported by some media houses.

He says government had a meeting recently with the diplomats accredited to Zambia during which those mentioned as having issued media statements attacking government denied having done so.

General Shikapwasha who is also Information Minister, was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He however appealed to diplomats in Zambia to adhere to rules.

Meanwhile, General Shikapwasha has  said government will not extend the six month period for media bodies to come up with self regulation mechanism.

He said once the six month period elapses, government will introduce a media bill in parliament.

General Shikapwasha said the six months period was agreed upon by media bodies themselves.

He denied that government gave the six months period as an ultimatum.

And the Media bodies have maintained that they will not subscribe to the deadline given to them by government to come up with self regulation guidelines.

MISA Zambia says media bodies are still consulting widely over the matter.[quote]

MISA Chairperson, Henry Kabwe, says progress has so far been made in the on going consultations.

Mr. Kabwe says giving the media a deadline to formulate self regulation guidelines is against democratic principles.

And Press Association of Zambia -Vice Chairman, Amos Chanda, says the media will not work under threat.

He says already serious efforts are underway to find a way of putting in place self regulation guidelines.

Last Friday Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga, advised the media to adhere to the six months deadline given to them in which to come up with a set of regulations to guide the profession.

Mr. Mwaanga said if the media did not come up with self regulation mechanisms, parliament will support a bill which will be brought by government to regulate the press.

[ ZNBC]

United National Independent Party (UNIP) has joined calls for a speedy completion of the constitutional making process by the National Constitution Conference (NCC) delegates.

UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda says UNIP has taken note of the progress made so far and welcomes the commitment by both the Government and other stakeholders in their desire to serve the broader national interest in the matter.

Mr Kaunda said UNIP is for a constitution that enjoys the consensus of all Zambians, saying the constitution has to be one that protects and promotes human rights and guarantees the social and economic rights of all citizens as well as their developmental needs.

Mr Kaunda was speaking at a press briefing at the party headquarters in Lusaka today ahead of the party’s 50th anniversary next month.

He said the event is a great occasion for the party, adding that it has been preparing to commemorate the event in all parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Mr Kaunda said his party was getting concerned over the current debate in the media on the outcome of some recent court cases.

The UNIP President said he would prefer the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to reflect deeply on the developments and take measures to uphold the confidence of all Zambians in the judiciary’s decisions or judgments.

He said if people are made to lose confidence in the integrity of the judiciary, then even the democratic system that the country aspires to build will be seriously compromised.

And Mr Kaunda said privatization of public media requires careful consideration given the bias towards urban centers.

He said increased investment in the sector is desirable from both the private sector and the state to ensure balanced infrastructure development as well as quality local content from production houses.

He also reiterated his party’s explicit support for media self regulation as opposed to a state imposed regulatory regime.

He said in this new century, it would be totally undemocratic and dictatorial to impose state regulation of the media in any form.

He said it was gratifying to note that members of the press have remained alive to the challenge of protecting press freedom and the rights to freedom of expression and assembly of all citizens.

Mr Kaunda stressed that a vibrant democratic system requires a vibrant press and this results in enhanced voice and accountability in society.

ZANIS