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Sports minister launches 2022 National Youth Sports Festival

OYDC Zambia is hosting over 1000 youths in seven sports disciplines taking part in the 2022 National Youth Sports Festival which has been launched by Youth, Sport and Arts Minister Job. Elvis Nkandu MP.

During the launch the minister challenged sports associations in Zambia to take advantage of the sports festival to identify talented athletes they can start sending to competitive games such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

And the Minster disclosed that the launched sports festival will be hosted annually and expressed hope that soon other provinces will be playing host to the games.

Some sports disciplines being played include; athletics, basketball, volleyball, netball, football, Paralympic, and boxing.
The launch was attended by several heads of sports associations, permanent secretaries in the Ministry of Youth Sports and Arts and Ministry of Community Development, National Sports Council of Zambia officials, OYDC CEO, among others.

The sports festival is expected to come to a close on Saturday and all participants have been drawn from all the ten provinces

Socialist Party’s Full Press Briefing Against the Establishment of AFRICOM office in Zambia

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Press Briefing by the Socialist Party on the establishment of an AFRICOM office at the US embassy in Lusaka, 3rd May 2022

Good morning ladies and gentlemen from the press. Today’s Press Briefing focuses on the controversial topic of establishing an AFRICOM office at the US Embassy in Zambia.

To start with, let us look at some content from the recent press statements coming from the US Embassy as well as from our Minister of Defence.

US Embassy Zambia (April 26, 2022): “Building on the foundations of U.S. –Zambia shared security interests, the new Office of Security Cooperation will enhance military to military relations and expand areas of cooperation in force management, modernisation, and professional military education for the Zambian security forces.”

US Embassy Zambia (May 2, 2022): “There is no U.S. military base (or plans for one) in Zambia. An Office of Security Cooperation is not a military base – the new Office of Security Cooperation will be an office at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka and will work hand-in-hand with the Zambia Defence Force to enhance military to military relations and expand areas of cooperation in force management, modernisation, and professional military education for the Zambian security forces.”

Minister of Defence Zambia (May 2, 2022): “We have had a long-standing relationship with US-AFRICOM in the areas of peacekeeping that has predated this administration and has benefited our military. Zambia has no intention whatsoever of establishing or hosting any military bases on Zambian soil.” “… the Ministry of Defence would like to take this opportunity to warn all perpetrators of such misinformation meant to tarnish our existing cordial relationship with our neighbours and strategic partners, to desist from issuing alarming statements which hinge on the security and territorial integrity of our nation.”

Obviously, the US Embassy and our Minister of Defence are worried about the reaction of the Zambian public on. They are therefore trying to clear the air – that there will be no US military base in the country, but a new office for security cooperation. The Minister of Defence goes a step further – threatening those issuing alarming statements!
However, what is lost in all this controversy is why AFRICOM is widely rejected amongst the African masses! What is its mission? What is its history?

Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to understand these facts in order to give context to the current anxieties in the country. Threats and arrogantly formulated press statements are not helpful.

Here is a short history. On 15 October 2003, Nile Gardiner and James Carafano of the Heritage Foundation in the US published a white paper called US Military Assistance for Africa: A Better Solution. They argued that the US government should create a US Africa Command that would intervene in Africa ‘when vital [US] national interests are threatened’ in the same tradition as was done in Latin America and the Caribbean with the establishment of the US Southern Command in 1963. This became a reality in 2007. President Bush announced on February 6, 2007 the establishment of a Unified Command for U.S. military forces in Africa, known as AFRICOM.

African nations have repeatedly declared their opposition to the hosting of U.S. bases on the African continent and the militarization of their relations with the United States. It was apparent that AFRICOM was going to pursue narrowly defined U.S. interests at the expense of both the sovereignty and welfare of the African nations.

At that time, two African countries, Botswana and Liberia, indicated that they would be pleased to house the headquarters of AFRICOM. However, South Africa voiced opposition to AFRICOM’s move to the continent. Through AU intervention, both Botswana and Liberia backed off.

Regional organizations have been most vocal in their critique of AFRICOM. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was the first to issue a clear message of dissent against the Bush initiative. On August 29, 2007, SADC announced its position “that it is better if the United States were involved with Africa from a distance rather than be present on the continent.” The SADC Defence and Security Ministers further stated “that sister countries of the region should not agree to host AFRICOM and in particular, armed forces, since this would have a negative effect. That recommendation was presented to the Heads of State and this is a SADC position.”

President Levy Mwanawasa reaffirmed Zambia’s stance on October 2, 2007, when he stated “none of us is interested” in hosting the command.

Other key regional organizations made up of nations across Africa declared their condemnation of AFRICOM and its implications for US-African relations. The 25-member Northern African Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) backed SADC’s position on the establishment of U.S. bases and stated that CEN-SAD “flatly refuses the installation of any military command or any foreign armed presence of whatever country on any part of Africa, whatever the reasons and justifications.”

The Arab Magreb Union also voiced strong opposition to the placement of U.S. bases anywhere on the continent.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated resolutely its opposition to American bases in the region. At the forefront of this effort stood Nigeria, whose leadership unequivocally denounced the possibility of American troops being based in West Africa.

The mood to prevent AFRICOM’s headquarters from being based on the continent remains strong and is widespread amongst the African people. As a result of all this dissent, AFRICOM is currently still based in Stuttgart, Germany.

AFRICOM HAS FOUND CREATIVE WAYS OF OPERATING IN AFRICA –DESPITE THE REJECTION

Despite the rejection of AFRICOM amongst the African masses, the US has found various ways of getting AFRICOM to operate on the continent:

(i) US military bases have continued to proliferate after 2007. In the aftermath of the NATO war on Libya, the Sahel region experienced a number of conflicts, many of them driven by the emergence of forms of militancy, piracy, and smuggling. Using the pretext of these conflicts, and inflamed by NATO’s war, France and the United States intervened militarily across the Sahel. In 2014, France set up the G-5 Sahel, a military arrangement that included Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, and expanded or opened new military bases in Gao, Mali; N’Djamena, Chad; Niamey, Niger; and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The United States, for its part, built an enormous drone base in Agadez, Niger, from which it conducts drone strikes and aerial surveillance across the Sahel and the Sahara Desert. This is one of the many US bases on the African continent. The United States has twenty-nine known military facilities in fifteen countries on the continent, while France has bases in ten countries. No other country from outside the continent has as many military bases in Africa.

The increasing number of foreign military bases on the African continent alarmed the Peace and Security Council of the AU, which raised this as an important issue in its May 2016 meeting: “Council noted with deep concern the existence of foreign military bases and establishment of new ones in some African countries, coupled with the inability of the Member States concerned to effectively monitor the movement of weapons to and from these foreign military bases. In this regard, Council stressed the need for Member States to be always circumspect whenever they enter into agreements that would lead to the establishment of foreign military bases in their countries.”

(ii) AFRICOM has found itself into the AU with an attaché to the Peace and Security Council and staff in the AU Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Division, as well as the Peace Support Operations Division. With the entry of AFRICOM into the AU in the name of ‘interoperability’ to link US military forces with AU peacekeepers, the US has begun to shape the AU’s security framework more directly.

(iii) The inability of some African militaries to fight dissidents is providing a chance to AFRICOM. On 27 April 2021, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari asked the US to relocate AFRICOM Headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to the African continent in order to help fight insurgencies. Growing pressure from Islamic and other dissidents and increased instability in Nigeria was the contributing factor to President Buhari’s appeal, though he fell short of suggesting Nigeria as host for AFRICOM. Nigeria’s position is a major shift from its initial stand, which, a decade ago, was against the presence of AFRICOM in Africa.

(iv) Various security cooperation agreements have led to serious surrenders of national sovereignty that have occurred through military exchange and so-called security cooperation. The example of Ghana is quite telling. In 2018, the US Department of Defense proposed that the US and Ghana agree to a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), a $20 million deal that would allow the US military to expand its presence in Ghana. In March 2021, widespread unhappiness of this agreement swept large sections of the population into the streets; opposition parties, who worried about the possibility that the US would build a military base in the country, raised their objections in parliament. By April, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said that his government had ‘not offered a military base, and will not offer a military base to the United States of America’. The US Embassy in Accra repeated the statement, saying that the ‘United States has not requested, nor does it plan to establish a military base or bases in Ghana’. The SOFA agreement was signed in May 2018.

It does not require a close reading of the agreement’s text to know that there is in fact the possibility that the US could build a base in the country. Article 5, for instance, states, Ghana hereby provides unimpeded access to and use of Agreed facilities and areas to United States forces, United States contractors, and others as mutually agreed. Such Agreed facilities and areas, or portions thereof, provided by Ghana shall be designated as either for exclusive use by United States forces or to be jointly used by United States forces and Ghana. Ghana shall also provide access to and use of a runway that meets the requirements of United States forces.

Through this article, the US is permitted to create its own military facilities in Ghana. By any definition, this means that it can set up a base. The surrender of Ghana’s sovereignty also comes to light where the SOFA agreement states (Article 6) that the US would ‘be afforded priority in access to and use of Agreed facilities and areas’ and that said use and access by others ‘may be authorised with the express consent of both Ghana and United States forces’. Furthermore, Article 3 says that US troops ‘may possess and carry arms in Ghana while on Official duty’ and that the US troops shall be accorded ‘the privileges, exemptions, and immunities equivalent to those accorded to the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission’. In other words, the US troops can be armed and, if they are accused of a crime, they will not be tried in Ghana’s courts.

In March 2018, Ghana’s minister of defence, Dominic Nitiwul, was challenged on a radio station by Kwesi Pratt of the Socialist Forum Ghana (SFG). Nitiwul said that there was nothing peculiar about this agreement, since other African countries – like Senegal – had signed such agreements. Ghana, said Nitiwul, had signed similar agreements with the US in 1998 and 2007, but these were done in secret because there was no tax waiver. Pratt warned that Ghana would be ‘surrendering sovereignty’ in entering this agreement. The general sentiment in the country was opposed to the base, which is why both the Ghanaian government and the US denied that a base would be built. Pratt was right. The US presence at Kotoka International Airport in Accra became the heart of the US military’s West Africa Logistics Network. By 2018, weekly flights from Ramstein Air Base in Germany landed in Accra with supplies (including arms and ammunition) for the at least 1,800 US Special Forces troops spread out across West Africa. Brigadier General Leonard Kosinski said in 2019 that this weekly flight was ‘basically a bus route’. At the Kotoka airport, the US maintains a Cooperative Security Location. This is a base in all but the name.

REASONS FOR REJECTING THE NEW OFFICE FOR SECURITY COOPERATION

1. The US has provided direct and indirect military support to Zambia for a long time now using the existing embassy facilities and defence attaché. There has been no felt need for a new office within the embassy. The setting up of the new office escalates the role of AFRICOM in Zambia. Such a development has implications for the SADC defence initiatives and raises anxieties in the region.

2. There is a real danger of the country’s military doctrine being hijacked through this form of security cooperation. Zambia’s military doctrine was for a long time a product of the country’s post independence insights gained through international exposure (primarily from the UK, Yugoslavia, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Tanzania and several other countries) as well as the threats that were posed by colonial fascist regimes supported by Europe and the US. Today’s doctrine has to build on this past – but with a clear understanding of the country’s changed geopolitical situation. It will be extremely dangerous and fatal to turn the Zambia military into some extended arm of the American military.

3. The US military operates not only to provide an advantage to the United States and its ruling elites, but it functions – along with the armies of the other NATO nations, including France – as the guarantor of Western corporate interests and the principles of capitalism. Nkrumah came to the same conclusion in 1965, stating that ‘Africa’s raw materials are an important consideration in the military build-up of the NATO countries… Their industries, especially the strategic and nuclear factories, depend largely upon the primary materials that come from the less developed countries’. Reports from the US military routinely sketch out the responsibility of its range of armed forces to ensure a steady stream of raw materials for corporations – especially energy – and to maintain unimpeded movement of goods through shipping channels. Such reports include National Energy Policy (May 2001) from the National Energy Policy Development Group, led by former Vice President Dick Cheney, and Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States (September 2018) from the Interagency Task Force in Fulfilment of Executive Order 13806. In this sense, the US military – alongside its NATO partners – operates as the gendarme not for the world community, but for the beneficiaries of capitalism. Alongside the US is France, whose military presence in Niger is closely linked to the imperatives of the French energy sector, which requires the uranium mined in Arlit (Niger). One in three French light bulbs are powered by the uranium from this town in Niger, which is garrisoned by French troops.

4. The New Cold War. As Chinese private and public commercial interests have increased on the African continent, and as Chinese firms have consistently outbid Western firms, US pressure to contain China on the continent has increased. The US government’s New Africa Strategy (2019) characterised the situation in competitive terms: ‘Great power competitors, namely China and Russia, are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa. They are deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States’. The European Union followed with a report called Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa (2020), which – while it did not directly mention China – worried about ‘competition for natural resources’. Under this New Cold War, the Zambian military must protect the country’s economic interests and those of our motherland – Africa. More autonomous security cooperation arrangements are – within today’s context of a multipolar world – needed more than ever before.

5. Zambians need to have a say over this increasing military cooperation with any NATO country and Israel. The NATO countries enslaved, colonised and exploited our continent for centuries. They supported the most reactionary forces in Africa – including the racist apartheid regime. They systematically killed progressive African leaders that stood for African dignity and against the underdevelopment of the continent. This is a tragic history that cannot be grossed over quickly. What type of values are therefore our military learning from AFRICOM? The recent military coups in West Africa are associated to former AFRICOM military trainees, what exactly is going wrong and what lessons can Zambians draw from this development? As long as we don’t have convincing answers to these questions, further security cooperation with AFRICOM is unacceptable and dangerous in the long run.

Contractors urged to consult local authority before embarking on projects

Chasefu District Commissioner (DC), Lufeyo Ngoma has asked organisations implementing donor funded infrastructure projects in the district to consult the local authority before undertaking such projects.

Mr Ngoma says seeking recourse from the local authority before organisations execute infrastructure projects help in stopping the construction of shoddy, substandard works.

He observed that some structures built in public institutions such as health facilities and schools are either shoddy or of substandard.

The District Commissioner was speaking during a Senior Management meeting with Heads of Government Departments.

He noted that some donors do not follow required specifications during construction of projects due to lack of consultation with relevant ministries.

And Mr Ngoma has also advised technocrats in the district to take interest on the construction works of the projects being undertaken to avoid substandard works.

He said with the K5.4 million part of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that government has released, relevant technocrats must take interest and ensure that the district is developed through the construction of modern and quality infrastructures that will stand a taste of time.

“With the K5.4 million CDF released, relevant ministries should take interest to see to it that Chasefu is developed with quality structures,” Mr Ngoma said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ngoma has appealed to the contractors to expedite works on the completion of a 1 x 3 Classroom Block at Kauwo Primary School and a mothers Shelter at Hoya Health Post which are CDF funded projects.

Government launches National Climate Change Communication and Advocacy Strategy

The Government has launched the National Climate Change Communication and Advocacy Strategy (NCCECAS) to enhance the fight against climate change.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu says the NCCCAS is aimed at raising awareness and knowledge levels of climate change across the country so as to support understanding and attitude change among the citizenry and various stakeholders.

Mr Nzovu indicated that the strategy will help to enhance the capacity of the media, scientists, researchers, government departments and other organisations involved in the climate change arena to effectively engage and disseminate climate change information in the nation.

He pointed out that the strategy provides a framework on culturally clear and appropriate messages for different target audiences in the country.

‘’My Ministry has translated basic climate change awareness messages contained in the strategy into seven local languages and is currently developing sector-based climate change messages with support from the European Union,’’ said Mr Nzovu.

He observed that the people who face the brunt of the adverse impacts of climate change are the poor rural communities, who depend largely on natural resources.

‘’Ironically, these are the same people who lack access to vital climate change information that would help them make informed decisions in addressing the challenge,’’ stressed Mr.Nzovu.

And European Union (EU) Ambassador to Zambia and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Jacek Jankowski assured continued support to the government’s agenda in the fight against climate change.

Mr.Jankowski said the EU will continue to provide financial and technical support to the green economy and environment department of the government in scaling climate change awareness.

He added that the EU fully supports the government’s green economy and environment transition agenda as it is a common goal of all the EU member states.

‘’The EU wishes to join forces with the government of Zambia in its agenda of raising climate change awareness to all the general citizenry because everyone has the role to play in climate change,’’ said Mr.Jankowski.

Shangombo residents urged to test for HIV

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Shangombo District Commissioner, Mubita Siyamana, has urged the people in the area to know their HIV statuses.

Mr. Siyamana revealed that it was disheartening that there are a few people who are aware of their HIV and AIDS status in the district.

He said people in Shangombo district, which is a border town, need to visit health facilities and be tested for them to know their HIV/AIDS statuses.

Mr. Siyamana said in an interview with ZANIS that there is a need to have a stakeholders’ meeting that will involve the traditional leadership and the community in the area to create awareness on issues to do with people’s health.

“I urge everyone to come on board. This is a noble fight that needs everyone to come on board to see to it that sensitisation is intensified,” he said.

He said the engagement is meant to create awareness by sensitising the people in the community on the importance of knowing their HIV status.

“It is unlike the olden days where people were highly stigmatised that they were failing to have courage to seek medical services. These days, immediately one is found with the virus, they are put on treatment right there and then,” he said.

He revealed that the Zambia National Service (ZNS), which is currently working on the Shangombo-Sioma road, has released about K10 000 towards community sensitisation programmes regarding the need for people to know their statuses.

And speaking during the District HIV and AIDS Committee (DHAC) meeting, Choolwe Himanji, who is the District AIDS Committee Advisor (DACA), disclosed that some of the activities that the committee will undertake are post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) promotion, HIV testing and sensitisation, condom distribution and sensitisation on gender based violence.

Mr Himanji said this was being done to mitigate the spread of HIV among the local community located between Mulangu ward and Simu ward.

He added that this was also to increase the number of people that know their status, have tested and have viral load suppressed as per the revised National AIDS strategic framework.

Roan hospital transformed into doctors’ training centre

The government has transformed Roan Antelope General Hospital in Luanshya district into a training center for trainee doctors.

Roan Antelope General Hospital Superintendent, Patrick Musonda, disclosed that the institution will be transforming trainee doctors into full-time doctors.

Dr Musonda said the hospital will soon receive eight trainee doctors to kick start the programme.

“Being a referral hospital for all hospitals in Luanshya, Masaiti and Mpongwe hospitals, we are transforming the hospital into a training centre and we will soon be receiving the first set of eight trainee doctors who will be transformed into full time doctors at the end of the training,” he said.

He disclosed that the hospital has so far received three senior resident medical officers and will receive more senior consultants to help in the training.

“We have so far received a consultant in pediatrics and I am one of the consultants in general surgery. We will receive another consultant in internal medicines, obstetrician and gynecology and we will also be calling in an urologist periodically for male patients to make sure that the hospital has comprehensive treatment,” he disclosed.

Dr. Musonda added that the move will enhance a well incorporated service delivery and also help bring the health service closer to the people.

Roan General Hospital is a referral hospital for Luanshya, Masaiti and Mpongwe districts and caters for over 450,000 people.

Flu-like illness at UNZA not Covid-19-Masebo

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The Ministry of Health has disclosed that the prevalent flu-like illness in Lusaka is not Covid-19.

Samples of the flu-like illness were presented to Lusaka District Health Office on 27th April, 2022 for tests and proved not to be Covid-19.

Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo, explained that the disease intelligence team, led by the Zambia National Public Health Institute, investigated the upsurge in flu-like illnesses which were presented around the University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road Campus and none of the patients were positive for Covid-19.

Ms. Masebo said a total of 40 samples were collected and tested at the National Virology Laboratory based at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the investigation revealed that all except one, were infected with influenza H3N2.

She said in a statement made available to ZANIS that influenza is a common respiratory disease that affects people globally and it is a common cold flu with signs and symptoms similar to those presented in Covid-19.

“The signs and symptoms include fever, chills, headache, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion of chest and runny nose. Some people have vomiting and even diarrhea, though this is more common in children than in adults,’’ explained Ms. Masebo.

She said the age range of those infected was 14 to 47 years with 23 being male and 16 females.

Ms. Masebo further explained that influenza is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs.

The viruses spread from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, releasing droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.

‘’This is the same way Covid-19 is transmitted. Persons at higher risk of influenza include those under two years old or 65 years and older, pregnant women or those who recently gave birth and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease or HIV,’’ she said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Masebo has advised members of the general public to continue the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic by observing the five golden rules which apply effectively in the prevention and control of influenza and other infections.

She disclosed that in the last 24 hours, Zambia recorded 24 new Covid-19 cases out of 2,067 tests conducted.

She said of the 24 new cases, eight were admitted to treatment facilities.

Ms. Masebo further said four new Covid-19 associated deaths were recorded adding that all of them were unvaccinated individuals.

We urge all eligible persons to please get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. The vaccines are safe, effective and freely available at numerous centres dotted around the country,’’ she said.

Ms. Masebo added that close to 2.5 million people and over 110,000 have received their booster vaccination.

She also said 260,000 children between the age of 12 and 17 years have received their first dose and of those, 39,979 are fully vaccinated.

“As the school holidays draw to a close, we urge all parents to ensure that their eligible children are vaccinated for the upcoming term,” she advised.

ZESCO welcomes private sector in electricity market

Minister of Energy, Peter Kapala has noted that the entry of the private sector into the Zambian Electricity market will support the country’s development of a greener and diversified energy mix that supports jobs and investments.

Engineer Kapala says this is the reason Africa GeenCo’s participation in the country’s energy sector is a milestone that signifies government’s efforts to create a conducive environment aimed at attracting private investment in an open, transparent and competitive electricity market.

Mr Kapala was speaking in Lusaka today, at the launch of Africa GreenCo, an alternative off-taker for renewable energy in Zambia and the region.

Mr Kapala said following the enactment of the 2019 energy sector legal framework, Africa GreenCo has been the first renewable energy buyer and trader in Zambia which seeks to enhance project bankability and reduce the risk for independent power producers.

He said the hope of the government is to ensure the private sector like GreenCo contribute towards making projects in the energy sector more bankable, whilst encouraging the growth of the electricity markets to foster economic development.

“I’m reliably informed that GreenCo’s support has been made possible through the generous support from various support including the Denmark Investment Development Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), Infranco Africa and electricity, through which US$15.5 Million was raised for this project,” he said.

ZESCO Managing Director, Victor Mapani said government has a drive to end load shedding and increase the production of copper to 2 Million tons which will require a lot of energy.

Engineer Mapani stated that to achieve these dreams actors like Africa GreenCo will play an important role in the energy sector.

And Africa GreenCo Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ana Hajduka said her organisation aims to increase private sector investment in energy generation in Sub-Saharan Africa by mitigating the credit risks associated with the current lack of creditworthy offtakers.

Ms Hajduka said GreenCo’s model involves purchasing power from renewable independent power producers (IPPs) and selling that electricity to utilities, private sector offtakers.

“Reaching this financial close will enable us to support a portfolio of up to 110MW of renewable energy, we are extremely grateful to our investors and partners from the Zambian government, ZESCO, the SAPP team and existing ASPP partners,” she said.

K225, 000 dished under village banking in Chipata

The government has released K225,000 under the village banking program to give as soft loans to more than 200 women in Chipata City.

District Commissioner Elidah Banda says the new dawn government is effectively working to ensure it empowers women at the household level in order to fight poverty.

Mrs Banda has urged the beneficiaries to use the money for its intended purpose because it was a loan meant to be paid back after six months.

Speaking when she officiated at the disbursement of the funds at the Community Development offices, the District Commissioner advised the recipients to invest in more profitable and sustainable business ventures.

“Please put the money which you are receiving to good use in order to provide food and other necessities for your children. Government is committed to improve the living standards of people as evidenced by this program, “Mr Banda said.

And Chipata District acting Community Development Officer Beatrice Lupupa says each recipient will receive K1000 which must be paid back with an interest of 20 percent after six months.

The village banking program that started in 2015 with the disbursement of K75,000 has currently increased to a total number of 223 beneficiaries in Chipata district.

In her vote thanks Maidas Phiri , one of the recipients, thanked government for its commitment to reduce poverty at household level.

She said Government is doing a lot of programs meant to help vulnerable families in various communities.

Among these includes the introduction of free education she said adding that the move has given an opportunity to children from financially disabled homes to enroll in schools.

However, she appealed government to consider increasing the K1000 allocation due to the current economic hardships.

“This K1000 we are getting part of it goes to buying books, uniforms and shoes for our children in school. It is not enough that is why we appeal through your office Madam DC[Mrs Banda] that you talk to the President on our behalf, “she said.

UPND assures people of Lusangazi that Lusangazi-Petauke road will receive facelift

The United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary-General, Batuke Imenda has assured the people of Lusangazi District in Eastern Province that the main road connecting Lusangazi to Petauke will be worked on.

Mr Imenda says the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi has already toured roads in the province and observed that the Lusangazi-Petauke road needs urgent attention as it is an important road linking the two districts.

ZANIS reports that the UPND Secretary-General was speaking in Lusangazi when he held meetings with party members and headmen in the area.

“The Minister of Infrastructure already toured roads in this Province and one of the roads that we plan to work on, is this important road which links Petauke and Lusangazi districts,” Mr Imenda said.

And Mr Imenda expressed disappointment over the developmental negligence in Lusangazi, citing the lack of infrastructure development and clean water as a serious challenge in the area.

Mr Imenda stated that he will discuss the provision of safe water to Lusangazi with authorities in the concerned Ministry so that the problem is attended to urgently.

“The type of developmental neglect being experienced by people here in Lusangazi is unbelievable when the previous regime claimed this was their bedroom, but I can assure you that the new dawn administration will provide water and other infrastructure development in this area,” he said.

Mr Imenda urged people in Lunsangazi to support the UPND administration, in its quest to bring about development to rural and urban areas of the country.

Meanwhile, speaking earlier when the UPND Secretary-General paid a courtesy call on him, Lusangazi District Commissioner, Mike Tembo said the government has already released funds for the construction of offices and houses for public workers.

Mr Tembo however, complained of the rampant human-animal conflict in the area which had destroyed several crop fields and people need to be assisted with relief food.

“I’m happy to announce that government has released money for the construction of offices and houses for public workers, but also Government must consider this place with relief food because most farmers have had their fields destroyed by elephants,” he said.

Early marriages and teenage pregnancies still persistent on the Copperbelt

The government says early marriages and teenage pregnancies among girls are still persistent on the Copperbelt province.

Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo says a girl child should not feel ashamed to return to school after giving birth as education is the best equalizer.

Mr Kasongo when the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology paid a courtesy at his office.

Meanwhile, the committee Sibongile Mwamba who is also Kasama Central Member of Parliament said the committee was on the Copperbelt to evaluate the progress made with the implementation of the re-entry policy of the girl child and the challenges faced, if any.

Meanwhile, Provincial Education Officer Allen Kaoma said stakeholders who have benefited from the re-Entry policy from Nkana and Chibuluma communities are waiting to interact with the parliamentary committee members.

Dr. Kaoma said urban communities positively responded to this policy whilst those in rural districts were lagging behind saying there is need for sensitization if the girl child in rural areas is to benefit from this policy.

According to the Zambia Agency for Statistics, approximately 30 percent of the Zambian female population begins childbearing by the age of 19, and secondary school enrollment and graduation rates are consistently lower for female than for male learners.

It is government’s declared goal to increase the numbers of girls who complete secondary education because of the well-established benefits of girls’ education nationally.

FAZ Sets Chipolopolo-Comoros AFCON Qualifier Date

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The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed the date of Chipolopolo’s 2023 AFCON Group H qualifier home game against Comoros.

FAZ spokesperson told LT Sports that Chipolopolo will host Comoros on June 11 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

The game will be a match-day-two fixture after kicking off away to Cote d’Ivoire that is tentatively set for June 4 in Abidjan.

Points against 2023 AFCON hosts Cote d’Ivoire will not count in Group H because they are classified as friendlies.

Lesotho complete Group H and will face Zambia this September in a Group H doubleheader.

Meanwhile, this will be Zambia and Comoros third -ever meeting since they clashed in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers.

Chipolopolo beat Comoros 4-0 on September 5, 2010 and won 2-1 away in the final leg exactly a year later on September 4 en route to finishing top of Group C.

Government did not budget for the recruitment of Agriculture Extension Officers

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Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri says government will not recruit Agriculture Extension Officers this year because they are not budgeted for in the 2022 national budget.

Reacting to the recent protest by over 100 agricultural students and graduates in Lusaka who were demanding to be employed by the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Phiri said the government is aware of the plight of agriculture extension officers in the country and is working on modalities to ensure they are employed.

He has told Phoenix News that government is also aware of the shortage of Agriculture Extension Officers in the country but assured that once modalities are put in place in future, they will be employed.

Mr Phiri says the recruitment will help alleviate the challenges faced by most farmers in rural areas such as lack of proper knowledge on agriculture.

Zambians should resist the attempt by the US to set up the AFRICOM office-Fred M’membe

Socialist Party President Dr Fred M’membe has said that setting up a United States Africa Command Office in Zambia has serious implications for the Southern Africa Development Community defence initiatives and raises anxieties in the region.

Dr M’membe said that the US has provided direct and indirect military support to Zambia for a long time now using the existing embassy facilities and defence attaché hence there has been no need for a new office within the embassy.

He has wondered what security the US wants to provide in Zambia having been against the country’s sovereignty and engineered so many military coups on the African continent.

Dr M’membe said the biggest threat to the Security and sovereignty of Zambia are the US themselves whose interests are minerals in Zambia and DR Congo, particularly Cobalt.

He said like Cecil Rhodes, the US is coming back to re-colonise some African countries for purposes of getting minerals.

And Dr M’membe has urged Zambians to wake up and resist the attempt by the US to set up the AFRICOM office in the country in the interest of getting minerals from the region which belong to the indigenous people.

Corruption Fight……it’s now or never

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By Nevers Sekwila Mumba President, MMD

Allegations of political persecution have been raised against the new government mostly by those who served in the last administration. They argue that the fight against corruption is targeted at them and that the process is unjust.

MMD begs to differ with this view. The current process of bringing corruption suspects to justice cannot be compared to the brutality experienced by MMD leaders at the hands of the PF in 2011. We believe our colleagues are being treated with kids gloves, but these “gloves” are the law.

It is for this reason that many Zambians feel like the fight against corruption may be failing because suspects are being handled within the framework of the law which respects the rights of the accused and proposes that they have their day in court. This understandably takes time.

We however are confident that, in the next few weeks and months, we are about to witness the crumbling of all that has been built on lies, deceit and corruption. The rule of law is the only weapon we have to restore the broken down order in the nation. We need to collectively resolve to end corruption in Zambia.

We urge the investigative wings not to be deterred by any threat in ensuring that they bring every suspect to account. We have an opportunity as a nation to instil the spirit of order and justice in the nation. This is a window we cannot miss.

This must never turn into a political witch hunt but an honest pursuit for criminals that have stolen from the Zambian people. If we succeed in this operation, a strong message will be sent to those who are currently serving in the New Dawn government and those who will serve in future administrations.

The lesson must be clear. You steal, you go to jail, regardless of your status. We must insist on zero tolerance to corruption. We must defeat this cancer. The corrupt, those who protect the corrupt and those who enable the corrupt must all be brought to justice.

We however urge all institutions of government charged with the responsibility to fight corruption to do so with unprecedented speed. Justice must not the delayed.

Zambians are thirsty for justice. They have seen arrests but they want to see convictions and imprisonments for those who have abused the limited resources of the country. For those who are innocent, they must be publicly acquitted.

The confidence of Zambians in the New Dawn administration depends on how effectively the fight against corruption shall be executed. The hearts of Zambians are thumping with anxiety to see the outcome of this noble crusade against corruption.