Thursday, October 31, 2024
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Zambia’s Cyber Crimes Law: Balanced Political Vindictiveness or Poisoned Public Good?

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By W. E Kamirichiki, PhD

Some aspects of Zambia’s Cybercrimes law such as against Zambia’s runaway pornography industry, cyber-bulling, and other cyber-space enabled crimes have serious merit and deserves applause. In fact, it was long overdue given what is clearly alarming profiles, severity, and intensity of cybercrimes worldwide, according to Cyber Crimes Watch, a cybercrimes watch and analysis site.

Zambia’s new Cybercrimes law even with its supposed positive societal effects will likely encounter challenges in implementation and legal responses from those unhappy with the background legislative manoeuvres attending to its passage. Clearly though, the rest of this law is politically motivated self-serving garbage meant to shield the regime and ruling PF party from righteous criticism of its governance record. That, it has cleverly dressed it under “hate” provision in the law.

Like most irrelevant ruling parties of fading consequence in Africa’s dictatorships such as in Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Zambia’s ruling PF party and regime sired this law for supposed political dividends, especially as August political warfare picks steam. Like a copycat dictatorship, the PF regime has now officialised its repression by trafficking and legitimizing it under the cover of the leviathan power of law the regime has arrogated to itself. Given the technical profile of most of the regime’s enablers and legislators, it is anyone’s guess the size of the gap of their (mis) understanding of the cybercrimes law.

With such a background, and with “cybercrime” prevented, the clueless and reckless PF regime then gets to waitress on its own served menu of governance lies and marinated PF violence in Zambia’s physical space.

It is certain that the courts of law will work overtime in the near future to interpret and adjudicate on a boatload of overzealous and bogus cases that regime enablers will paste on their political opponents for alleged cyber-defamation or reputational infractions on regime enablers, including on Mr.Lungu himself.

Cybercrimes law that shields society from legitimately harmful and illegal content, or that prosecutes crimes around misuse and abuse of information technology is welcome. But law which seeks to constrain free exchange of constructive personal views and opinions, or that which inhibits public debate and encroaches on human rights is not welcome and is open to both legal and political resistance. Moreover, it is foolhardy to use law as a tool to persecute protected speech by government critics and silence online media and dissenting voices. A regime that stifles democracy by muzzling means of communication by whatever means, including manipulating the law, is thoughtless. Why? Because once the citizenry is silenced, the regime loses access to instructive sounds of constructive criticism of its aggrieved citizen that could well re-track it back to good governance. Perhaps, the PF regime needs a reminder that history is replete with footnoted cemeteries of dictatorships that denied their people grievance spaces.

But again, law is also political warfare by other means. And that is why regime change in the upcoming August general elections is crucially important as a minimum starting point to undo potential covid-like savage effects of some aspects of this cybercrime law.

Perhaps the future the disgraced PF will walk into is this: One in which they pre-weaved a vindictive and targeted political cobweb against regime opponents disguised as criminal law which, on foresight will entangle them too. Once out of power, the PF regime will find that their otherwise constructive weapons and avenues of political criticism will now be cyberlaw-constrained.

We pray this will be one of the final egregious legal epitaphs that will be emblazoned on the PF grave as Zambians bury them in August Polls.

Zamtel extends network coverage in Southern Province

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Zamtel has revealed that it has far switched on a total of 63 new communication towers in Southern Province in a bid to improve connectivity in the Province.

The construction of the 63 towers is part of the GRZ Communication Tower Project Phase II which targets to erect 1009 new towers by end of 2021.

The 63 towers constructed in Southern Province is in addition to 146 sites which Zamtel had before the project commenced, bringing the total number of sites to 209 across the Province.

This was revealed on Monday when Zamtel commissioned a new communication tower at Nakeempa School in Choma.

Officiating at the event, Transpirt and Communications Minister Mutotye Kafwaya commended Zamtel for taking communication services to the rural areas.

Mr Kafwaya said extending communication service to rural areas is a vital part of President Edgar Lungu’s developmental agenda.

And Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said significant progress had been made in the construction of communication towers despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Mupeta said it was clear that the roll out of communication towers is transformed the lives of people in different parts of the country especially in rural areas.

“Zamtel has launched towers in different parts of the country and we have witnessed how they have transformed the way people conduct business in these areas,” Mr Mupeta said.

“The coming of this site will bring a number of benefits to the people of Nakeempa as they will be able to communicate with their friends and family in different parts of the country, “ Mr Mupeta said.

And Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale appealed for more towers considering that some areas in the Province still did not have connectivity.

 

Sishuwa is Wrong, Zambia Will Remain Peaceful and Prosperous Beyond August 2021

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By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

It’s okey for one to provide a critical opinion about his own country, but it’s totally unacceptable for one to scandalise it, sow a false narrative and deliberately cause unjustified international alarm and cause untold reputation damage to it.

This is what Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa has done in a written and paid for Op-Ed published in the Mail and Guardian newspaper (22 March 2021) of South Africa.

Sishuwa is a Lecturer in modern history, with research and teaching interests in 19th and 20th century African History at the University of Zambia.

He has “predicted” that Zambia will explode after the 12th August 2021, because of its alleged collapsing instutions, purported deep polarization, and what he claims is the prevalence of mass poverty, high intolerable levels of unemployment, extreme inequalities, restless and violent party cadres and a desperate political elite.
Sishuwa neglects to state that Zambia has tested democratic institutions, an alert and active civil society and a diligent population that is determined to maintain the development, peace and security of its country.

He has also neglected to state that Zambia has seen democratic and peaceful transfer of power in 1991, 2001, and 2011 and the holding of elections is a normal activity in its life and democratic calendar.

It should be stated that Zambia has seen the Opposition win election and remarkably and peacefully given power in 1991 and 2011. I do not need to remind Sishuwa that Zambia’s electoral system is ranked highly in Africa as shown on so many indices because it is deemed open, transparent, and credible.

Elections in Zambia are conducted in the full glare of public scrutiny, with local and international observers present. The politcal parties are allowed accredited agents and observers inside all polling and totalling centres. Most importantly, results are counted, announced and published at the polling station in the presence of party agents and elections observers.

To show that Sishuwa’s opinion is extremely unfounded and careless, I refered Zambia to the Continental Early Warning System(CEWS). The CEWS is a conflict early warning operation within the African Peace and Security architecture (APSA) of the African Union. This is a tool we use at the African Union to predict potential conflicts and threats to peace and security in Africa and its member states, and if possible recommend the best courses of action.

Zambia is not a failed State and is not about to become one as asserted in the alarming write-up and prisms of Sishuwa. Zambia has a thriving and enviable democracy. It has a fiercely independent Judiciary as seen by the many cases won against government, a thriving legislature that can even collapse heavily invested government Constitutional bills.

This can be said about other institutions of democracy in the country. The country has over 130 radio stations, over 40 independent television stations, an active civil society and clearly practices the rule of law. If this is the state, then what’s driving Sishuwa’s paid for Opinion?

After serving for four years as High Commissioner to South Africa, I can even guess who paid for that Op-Ed article in the Mail & Guardian. My appeal is that despite one’s disdain for the PF, or deep contempt for its government and its leader, we should never be driven to desperate levels deliberately designed to injure the reputation and good standing of our country.

For Zambia is above all of us, Zambia will be there beyond the ruling Patriotic Front. Why burn Zambia because one is facing a possible and inevitable electoral loss of his party or one that he or she sympathizes with? Mulefwaya uku filila munsenga?

Zambia will remain peaceful and the predictions and false narratives and prophecies about her, will never take root or come to pass.

The Author is Zambia’s ?? Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.

COVID-19 vaccine to cover only 20% of the Population

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Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama says government will only cover 20 percent of the 8.4 million citizens who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

Dr Malama notes that among the 8.4 million Zambians to be vaccinated against the viral infection include the elderly, people with underlying health complications and those that work in high risk areas.

Lusaka that 13 vaccines that have been proven to be effective will be available, noting that only COVAX and astrazeneca will be administered to citizens by government.

The Permanent Secretary stated that other approved vaccines out of the 13 will be administered to citizens through private partners that have shown interest.

“The country will remain open to other stakeholders that can help eligible citizens who may not be covered by the 20 percent,” he stated.

Dr Malama stressed that only vaccines whose efficacy and safety have been proven will be allowed adding that it can only be done through assessment by the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and other regulatory bodies.

“The vaccines have been proven to prevent illness by 80 percent and severe illness by 100 percent,” he said.

Dr Malama noted that COVID-19 has been strenuous on the government especially during the second wave between December last year and February this year.

And Dr Malama further noted that people are usually reluctant to accept new developments.

“They criticized the government when the Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines were introduced, but as scientists we will prove the efficacy of the vaccines using scientific evidence,” he said.

He stated that the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor happenings in other countries.

“It is likely that we will be hit by the third wave which will be more ferocious and we are taking these steps to prevent the deadly variance,” he said.

He stated that government will continue to strengthen efforts in the fight against coronavirus pandemic and that 200 health workers will be employed at the COVID-19 health centres in the country.

“This is out of a total of 395 that are set to be employed by the Ministry of Health this year,” he said.

He also noted that the Ministry will not neglect other diseases that affect citizens.

Meanwhile, a cross section of citizens in Lusaka have mixed feeling over the COVID-19 vaccines.

Veronica Bwalya, a vendor in the Central Business District, who bases her opinion from social media assertions, says that she will not accept or allow any member of her family to take the vaccine.

““We have been told that the vaccine is intended to wipe out the black people. I will not allow anyone in my family to be vaccinated,” Said Bwalya.

And Blessings Zulu says the vaccine will be good for the prevention of the disease saying more people may die if such an intervention is not taken.

Close to 88,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 and 1,200 have died from the viral disease since last year when it was first reported in the country.

Need to sensitise citizens on land titling project -Kapata

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Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata has underscored the need to quickly educate relevant stakeholders, institutions and members of the public on the National Land Titling Project, being rolled out by government across the country.

The National Lands Titling Project, launched in October 2020, is aimed at facilitating the provision of four million titles to individuals and institutions in Zambia, a process to be undertaken within the next seven years.

Ms Kapata said her office has received a number of reports on encroachments of pieces of land belonging to public institutions and individuals, hence the need for them to quickly obtain titles.

She said this yesterday during the National Land Titling sensitization meeting, held in Chinsali district in Muchinga province.

She further said that all informal properties should be formalised by having titles.

Ms Kapata, who is also Mandamus Member of Parliament, has since implored public schools, hospitals, police buildings and other public infrastructure to obtain titles in order to curb encroachments.

“I cannot over emphasise the benefits of the national titling programme to society. Some of the benefits include security of tenure, evidence of ownership, bringing land to the formal landmarked and revenue generation for both local and national government among others,” she said.

The Minister of Lands revealed that in this regard, the provincial administration officers and local authorities in various districts will effectively carry out sensitisation activities, to educate the public about the programme.

Earlier, Ms. Kapata paid a courtesy call on Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Davison Mulenga at the Provincial Administration offices.

She later visited the lands and forestry offices in the district where she interacted with members of staff.

The Minister is in Muchinga Province on a sensitisation tour on the land titling project, before she later heads to Northern and Luapula Provinces.

The Ministry has already held sensitisation meetings on National Land Titling Project in Southern, Central and Copperbelt provinces.

Chief Mpezeni tells off President Lungu’s critics

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Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni Speaking People has advised people in Eastern Province and the country as a whole not to listen to those criticizing President Edgar Lungu’s leadership and his objective to uplift the lives of Zambians out of poverty.

ZANIS reports that the Paramount Chief Mpezeni issued the advice yesterday when the Edgar Chagwa Lungu Multiple-purpose Empowerment Cooperative (ECLMEC) team paid a courtesy call on him at his Emphendukeni palace in Chipata.

The traditional leader said the President Lungu has a heart for the people of Zambia and wants to ensure that people effectively benefit from his empowerment programs.

“President Edgar Lungu has shown good leadership qualities and his wonderful works can be seen in all the parts of the country. We can see the development that is taking place here in the province. He is a man of the people, it is important to appreciate someone for their good works,” he said.

The Paramount Chief also commended President Edgar Lungu for his empowerment programmes which he said are changing the lives many people in the country.

He mentioned that President Lungu is empowering people through cooperatives in Eastern Province and other parts of the country as a way of promoting productivity among the local citizenry.

“The President is also helping the traditional leadership in so many ways. People will always talk bad things even when someone is doing good things. People must learn to appreciate someone for doing good, President Lungu is helping all the people in the country and his good works are not one sided,” he said.

The traditional ruler appealed to President Lungu to continue with his empowerment programs that are adequately helping his subjects in Eastern Province, adding that that the President is not selfish.

“There are a lot of people that want to eat alone but he always remembers the people that put him in power, this is good leadership. I would like to advise him to continue with the good works that he is doing for the people of Zambia,” Paramount chief Mpezeni said.

And speaking earlier, ECLMEC team leader Fuli Msimuko told the Paramount Chief that the cooperative has a mandate to help youths, men and women that have formed cooperatives with various empowerment packages that can help them earn a living.

Mr Msimuko said the multipurpose cooperative empowers people with ploughs, seed, fertiliser, incubators, chickens and feed for poultry.

“When we empower these cooperatives, we make follow ups on the beneficiaries to know how they are coping with their businesses,” he said.

Mr Msimuko further disclosed that the multipurpose cooperative that was formed last year in August has already given out empowerment packages to the people in Luapula and Northern provinces.

Chipolopolo Beat Zimbabwe in Dead-Rubber

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Chipolopolo made a respectable exit from their flopped 2021 AFCON qualifiers after beating Zimbabwe away in Harare.

Zambia were 2-0 away winners over Zimbabwe in this dead-rubber Group H qualifier.

Patson Daka scored a brace in the 20th and 90th minutes to also see Zambia avenge the 2-1 first leg loss at home in Lusaka on November 19,2019.

Chipolopolo finish third in Group H on 7 points, one point behind Zimbabwe who had already qualified with a match in hand.

Zimbabwe joins runner away and unbeaten Group H winners Algeria who have 14 points and head to Cameroon to defend their title.

Algeria closed their Group H campaign on Monday night with a 5-0 rout of bottom placed Botswana at home in Blida.

GOLF :Wemba Wins Sanlam Classic

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Professional golfer Sydney Wemba has expressed his excitement after winning the 2021 Sanlam Classic Championship staged at Lusaka Golf Club over the weekend.

Wemba won the Professional Golfers Association of Zambia (PGAZ) organized championship with a combined score of five-under-par 211, beating his closest rival Mwalikwa Sondashi.

Runner up Sondashi finished on one-over-par 217.

‘I want to thank all senior golfers that have been inspiring me to work extra hard and for believing in me,’ Wemba said.

Gabriel Chibale emerged third on seven-over-par 223 while Malawian Paul Chidale and Kelvin Chibuye were joint fourth on 11-over-par 227.

Bwembya Chanda was the best amateur golfer after finishing one-over-par 217 while Dominic Muyunda and Raphael Phiri finished second and third on five-over-par and eight-over-par respectively.

This was the second competition on the 2021 PGAZ calendar.

Govt concerned with people’ skepticism over COVID-19 vaccine

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Zambia has in the last 24 hours recorded 140 new cases of COVID -19 out of 3,393 tests conducted representing a 4% positivity.

This also brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 88,012, Minister of Health Jonas Chanda has announced.

According to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Dr. Chanda indicated that the new cases broken down by province shows 61 for Lusaka, North-western 29, 23 Luapula, 14 Copperbelt, 5 Eastern, Central and Southern Provinces 3 cases each while Northern and Western 1 each and zero cases for Nakonde.

The Minister further stated that the province with the highest positivity rate was North-western with 15% while Central, Southern and Western had the lowest positivity of 1%.

“There were zero or no new deaths recorded from the provinces in the last 24 hours. The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded remains at 1,200, classified as 667 COVID-19 deaths and 533 COVID-19 associated deaths,” he said.

Dr. Chanda added that 117 discharges were recorded from both the COVID-19 isolation facilities and home management bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 84,464 representing 96%.

“We currently have 2,348 active cases, of whom 2,253 are under community management and 95 are admitted to our COVID-19 isolation facilities. Among those admitted, 80 are on oxygen therapy and 16 are in critical condition,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Minister stated that government has worked hard to ensure that it can confidently introduce the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme as the ninth strategic objective in COVID-19 response.

Dr. Chanda said it is therefore worrying to note the level of skepticism, hesitancy and the conspiracy theories including ill-informed myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines.

“As a listening government, however, it is our duty to diligently address all the concerns of our people and these will be adequately addressed in our detailed Communication Strategy which will also look at the frequently asked questions around the vaccines,” he stressed.

The Minister added “It is our sincere hope that with continual community engagement, we will be able to reach common grounds and provide our people with the necessary information and assurance on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines choices in our approved basket which will protect people’s lives. We wish to emphasise that the Vaccination Programme will be carried out in a cautionary, voluntary, phased manner targeting priority groups, with dedicated pharmacovigilance systems in place to monitor the roll out,”

He observed that despite the current delivery delays from the Serum Institute of India under the COVAX facility which will see the deliveries of the vaccines sometime around April and May, government is pursuing other avenues to bring in the vaccines sooner through other Vaccine pillars provided they meet the safety and efficacy criteria as determined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local regulatory agency, ZAMRA.

“As previously stated, the first pillar under COVAX will provide coverage for 20% of our eligible population meaning those aged 18 years and older while the other two pillars comprising vaccine diplomacy channels as well as government and private sector financed acquisition will provide coverage for the remainder of our eligible and priority groups from the basket of vaccines,” he noted.

Liuwa PF candidate donates chickens and goats to 150 women groups

Patriotic Front (PF) Liuwa constituency aspirant candidate in Kalabo district of Western province, Mwangala Mwenda has donated 4 thousand chickens and 50 goats to 150 women cooperative groups in the area.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Mrs Mwenda said the donated birds and goats were meant to reduce on the escalating poverty levels among the women in Liuwa constituency.

“As you are aware that the place is prone to floods, forcing our women who are most bread winners in the family to perpetual sufferings in the locality,” said Mrs Mwenda.

Mrs Mwenda said many women in Liuwa depend on subsistence farming of which crops once harvested from the fields is mainly for consumption.

She said the chickens which are at the point of lay will enable women cooperative groups to have enough eggs for sale that would result in many of them raise money for their living.

“The PF government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu emphasizes the need for farmers to engage in crop diversification. The whole constituency of Liuwa is engulfed in water making trade difficult for our people to access food,” said Mrs Mwenda.

Mrs Mwenda said many women who live in rural areas like Liuwa face a lot of challenges hence the need to empower them so that they can shift their mindsets to other viable and sustainable farming activities.

“Empowering women can be a powerful force of change and can influence future development in ways favourable to many families in Liuwa constituency. As an aspiring candidate for the ruling Patriotic Front, I believe in empowering my fellow women as they are the backbone of every family in the constituency,” said Mrs Mwenda.

And when receiving the donation on behalf of the cooperatives, Mrs Emmah Katiba of Kutundamena women cooperative group said the animals will assist the welfare of women in the locality.

Mrs Katiba complained that all their maize fields in the district have been submerged adding that the rearing of chickens and goats will relieve them.

“We want to engage ourselves in other farming activities such as chicken rearing and keeping goats. You know goats are more resistant to diseases as compared to cattle farming, we promise as cooperative groups to keep the chickens and goats for our benefit,” Mrs Katiba said.

Napsa Stars Host Power Dynamos

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CAF Confederation Cup envoys Napsa Stars on Tuesday host top four chasers Power Dynamos in a FAZ Super Division Week 22 fixture at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

Thirteenth placed Napsa go into the game battling to free themselves from this seasons relegation battle with 13 games left before that end of the business is decided.

Napsa made one small step towards that objective last Friday when their ten-man side rallied from one-down to beat sixth placed Buildcon 2-1 at the same venue.

Another win on Tuesday will lift Napsa to 11th place on 27 points displacing Nkwazi on goal difference.

But Napsa will be without midfielder and captain Dickson Chapa who was sent-off against Buildcon.

The good news is teenage striker Jimmy Mukeya is back after missing the Buildcon match due to a family bereavement.

Also back is Kenyan defender David Owino who sustained a first half injury in their CAF Confederation Cup Group B home match against JS Kabylie of Algeria on March 17 that ended 2-2.

And Tuesday’s game will be Napsa’s last league match before resuming Group B action this Sunday when they host Coton Sport on Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Power head into the game on the back of a two-match winning run and currently sit at number five on 31 points.

Victory in Lusaka will see Power displace Lusaka Dynamos from third spot who have 33 points.

The three points away will firmly put Power in the race for the top four continental qualifications.

Walking and Cycling can be effective tools for reducing congestion in Lusaka

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By Daniel Mwamba

I hereby welcome and congratulate His Excellency the President of Zambia Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu for the recent successful commissioning of the Munali Flyover Bridge which is part of the Lusaka Decongestion Project (LDP). The LDP project is well intended, with potential wider benefits for economic growth and motoring safety.

Widening Lusaka’s road network or increasing capacity is the most common solution proposed for congestion: just add extra lanes. But, when a congested road is widened, it attracts more motorists (who switch from other modes, change their travel times, or move to new housing developments in areas surrounding the motorway) and soon becomes congested again. The additional traffic is called induced traffic.

It’s clear that the walking and cycling measures have not been considered in the LPD project, as a means of improving transport system performance or for reducing congestion. The LPD project has sadly missed the significance of walking and cycling given that lots of our people do a lot of walking compared to motorists.

The inability of the LPD project to accurately assess the transport benefits and impacts of walking and cycling measures has led to a belief among the public that walking and cycling is not important for reducing congestion. This has deprived Lusaka City of an effective means for reducing congestion.

Walking and cycling should be put on an equal footing with motorized transport modes as a solution to tackle Lusaka congestion. We have many examples that have worked in most cities around the world for us not to wait another 50 years for this to happen.

For instance, in Dublin, Ireland pedestrianization improves mobility and accommodates 700 more people during rush hour; pedestrian improvements reduced bus travel times by 40% in Strasbourg, France, while new pedestrian plazas reduced journey times for taxis and buses by 15% in New York, USA.

In Copenhagen, Denmark cycling improvements led to 45% less car traffic and faster public transport, cycle highway reduced time spent in congestion by 3.8 million hours in The Netherlands, and cycle highway network reduced the need for 50,000 car journeys daily in Ruhr area, Germany.

A recent analysis of travel survey data established that Londoners make nearly 2.4 million journeys daily by motorised modes (car, motorcycle, taxi or public transport) that could be walked all the way. 40% of these trips would take most people less than 10 minutes to walk

We should invest more in the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Motorists rarely consider safety when making travel decisions because there is a certain common level of safety (everyone is in large metal boxes), but safety is an important consideration when walking or cycling.

Walking is the only universal mode: everyone walks, regardless of their age, gender, and social status. Walking is also the absolute oldest way to travel from one place to another.

Similarly, cycling is associated with significant benefits in terms of health, decrease in local air pollution, reduction of the transport contribution to climate change, and the contribution to a safer urban environment. By investing in cycling infrastructure and by promoting the bicycle as a sustainable, healthy, and reliable mode of transport, the government through the Lusaka City Council can play an important role in increasing the cycling modal share.

I am, therefore, appealing to the government to make all transportation modes count in urban transport. Let’s put walking and cycling on an equal footing with other modes to reduce the impacts of congestion. We have to make the best use of our road space. Pedestrians and cyclists use space more efficiently than private cars. The future of cities is about walkability, bikeability, and liveability!

US govt pumps K36.75 million in Covid-19 vaccine campaign

Government has received K36.75 million from the United States government meant for the country’s COVID -19 vaccination campaign.

Minister of Health, Jonas Chanda who announced the development in a Ministerial statement on COVID-19, said the funds will be used to implement the successful delivery of the vaccines.

“We are grateful for the support of Zambia’s all-weather friend the United States government who have announced a commitment of an additional K36.75 million ($1.75 million) to provide technical assistance to Zambia’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign targeted at providing critical technical and logistical support to the Ministry of Health for planning, coordination and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for Zambians,” Dr Chanda said.

He said the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) converged on Friday and formulated the National Vaccine Deployment Plan to guide the rollout.

“The Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) met on Friday 26th March 2021 to consider key aspects of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Among the key issues discussed were consideration of the findings of the report from the Zambian Immunization Technical Advisory Group providing guidance on COVID-19 vaccines being considered for deployment.

“The ICC formally adopted the National Vaccine Deployment Plan to guide the roll out, including considerations for the cold chain, in line with Cabinet’s guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations which are critical to controlling the pandemic, slowing the emergence of new variants, and helping to boost the economy. Zambia has also successfully met all the requirements set by GAVI under the COVAX facility,” Dr Chanda said.

And in a quest to stop propaganda and misinformation around the vaccine, the Minister of Health announced that his ministry is working towards finalizing the Communication Strategy.

“The Ministry is working to finalize the Communication Strategy which will guide the nationwide communication activities to ensure citizens have accurate information about vaccines and the vaccination process to make informed decisions, as well as address frequently asked questions and dispel myths, misconceptions and conspiracy theories around the COVID-19 vaccines,” he said.

Dr Chanda also announced that the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education are undertaking close scrutiny of institutions of higher learning so as to ensure students adhere to public health guidelines.

The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry of Health and the Electoral Commission of Zambia are working together to ensure the safety of political players and the public in view of the pandemic and the looming August elections.

Meanwhile, Dr Chanda disclosed that two new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.

“We recorded 145 new cases out of 4,817 tests conducted (3 % positivity). This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 87, 872. The new cases broken down by province are as follows; 43 Lusaka, 20 Copperbelt, 17 Central, 14 Luapula, 14 North Western, 12 Eastern, 12 Western, 7 Southern, 3 Muchinga and 3 Northern.

“Two new deaths were recorded from Eastern (1) and Northern (1) provinces. The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded now stands at 1,200, classified as 667 COVID deaths and 533 COVID-19 associated deaths,” he said.

He stated further that a total number of 83 discharges were recorded countrywide.

“A combined 83 discharges were recorded from both the COVID 19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 84,347 (96%). We currently have 2,325 active cases, of whom 2,235 (96%) are under community management and 90 (4%) are admitted to our COVID-19 isolation facilities. Among those admitted, 74 (82%) are on oxygen therapy and 15 (17 %) are in critical condition,” he noted.

The Minister said that only 90 patients are currently admitted to COVID-19 isolation centres countrywide.

He added that the reduction in COVID-19 cases has continued to decline with the figures dropping to 3.7 % in the just ended week compared to 4.7 % the week before.

“However, from the lessons learnt from previous waves of the pandemic experienced the world over, there has usually been a lapse of a few weeks before a successive wave has reached us. Looking at the current situation in East Africa where a third-wave has already hit, it is clear that we are potentially close to experiencing one in the next few months,” he warned.

Nsumbu National park to be restocked

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife in collaboration with the Frankfurt Zoological Society is this year set to restock Nsumbu National Park in Northern Province with 200 buffaloes and 60 zebras.

The animals will be trans-located from North Luangwa National Park under Nsumbu – Tanganyika Conservation Project.

This came to light when Northern Province Permanent Secretary Royd Chakaba visited Nsumbu National Park.

And Mr. Chakaba said the restocking of the national park is a key step towards the promotion of the Northern Tourism Circuit.

He expressed confidence that the exercise will help to boost tourist arrivals in the region and thereby contribute to the growth of the tourism sector.

Mr. Chakaba said government is implementing policies that promote tourism as an economic equalizer for national development.

“This development will definitely help to attract more tourists to our province and it is going to promote the Northern Tourism Circuit” said Mr. Chakaba

The Permanent Secretary added that region is ready for the restocking exercise which will be implemented over a number of years to address the depletion of animal species such as lions, rhinos, buffaloes and zebras.

He has since paid tribute to the Frankfurt Zoological Society for partnering with government in developing the tourism sector through protection of wildlife and management of the ecosystem.

Mr. Chakaba also thanked Senior Chief Nsama of the Tabwa people for working with Chief Mukungule to support the tourism development agenda.

“This exercise would not have happened if not for the collaboration between Senior Chief Nsama and Chief Mukungule and of course the support of Frankfurt Zoological Society. As government we are very grateful” He said

Earlier, Nsumbu – Tanganyika Conservation Project leader Craig Zytkow said his organization is working with government and other stakeholders to restore Nsumbu National Park to its full glory.

Mr. Zytkow revealed that a number of preparatory works which include recruitment of community scouts to curb poaching and setting up of a sanctuary for the animals have been done ahead of the exercise.

“We want to see Nsumbu National Park fully restored to its past glory and attract more tourists” said Mr. Zytkow

And Senior Chief Nsama said the Nsumbu – Tanganyika Conservation Project is an economic game changer for his chiefdom which is endowed with a number of tourist sites.

Police ready to police general elections

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo says police are well equipped and ready to police the August 12, 2021 general elections

Speaking on the national broadcaster, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Kabusha Bemba Radio programme on Radio one this morning and monitored by ZANIS in Chinsali, Mr. Kampyongo said Government has bought equipment for the police to enable them to perform their duties effectively.

Mr. Kampyongo who is also Shiwang’andu area member of parliament said Government has also bought vehicles for the police service saying the onus is now on the police to prove that they are equal to the task.

The Home Affairs Minister said the police service has undergone transformation in recent past and Government is committed to improve the operations of the police in providing peace and safeguarding property for all the Zambian citizens.

“We have fully equipped the Zambia Police and they are ready to police the forthcoming general elections, “said Mr. Kampyongo.

Mr. Kampyongo also disclosed that the recruitment of police officers which has been decentralised in all provincial headquarters, was going on smoothly.

He said the decentralised recruitment of police officers has enabled youths across the country to find it easy to take part in the recruitment exercise.

The Home Affairs Minister added that with more funding permitting, and depending on the coronavirus situation, Government will recruit more officers next year.

On the eligibility of President Edgar Lungu in the 2021 general elections, Mr. Kampyongo said President Lungu will be on the ballot paper in the 2021 presidential elections because he is eligible.

He said when President Lungu took over following the death of President Michael Sata, he did not save a full term but merely finished the term started by President Sata which was less than 3 years.

Mr. Kampyongo said the Constitutional Court has already ruled on the eligibility of President Lungu in the 2021 general elections and President Lungu will be on the ballot paper.

Mr. Kampyongo said President Lungu has taken development to all parts of the country because he loves all the Zambian people.

He appealed to the Zambian people to ignore rumours that President Lungu will not contest the 2021 presidential elections.

Mr. Kampyongo said the Patriotic Front (PF) government has delivered and transformed Zambia making it the people’s party of choice.

Mr. Kampyongo said Government under the able leadership of President Lungu has performed and will continue bettering the lives of all the Zambian people.

He said Government has managed to improve electricity supply through massive investment in the energy sector that has seen several hours of loadsheding that rocked the country in recent years, being a thing of the past.

“We had difficulties in power generation that resulted in long hours of loadsheding which is now a thing of the past, “said Mr. Kampyongo.

And Mr. Kampyongo has disclosed that Mwika to Lubwa Road will be worked on by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) immediately after the rains.

He also reaffirmed government commitment to finish construction of the Kasama -Chinsali Road which has been re-scoped.

And Mr. Kampyongo has announced that he has applied to re-contest the Shiwang’andu parliamentary seat.

He said he will continue to better the lives of the people of Shiwang’andu District through massive infrastructure development that he is initiating in the constituency in the areas of health and education.

Mr. Kampyongo who is also PF Member of the Central Committee (MCC) has appealed aspiring candidates at various levels not to use money to entice people to adopt them.