Luangeni Member of Parliament Charles Zulu has applauded Cabinet for approving the Cannabis Bill of 2021.

Mr Zulu expressed happiness over the decision made to approve the publication and introduction of the Cannabis Bill of 2021, in parliament.

Cabinet on Monday approved the bill to legalise the cultivation of cannabis for research purposes.

Mr Zulu has since appealed to members of the public not to have misgivings about the law that legalises the growing of cannabis, saying the public should instead consider the positive impact that will be realised from the decision made.

Mr Zulu notes that once this bill is enacted into law, people that will be given licenses to cultivate cannabis will be required to follow strict guidelines, in order to avoid unauthorized persons from accessing their fields.

“This cannabis will not be grown carelessly by people who will be given licenses. Enough security will be put on farms in order to ensure that unauthorised people do not have access,” he said.

The Luangeni lawmaker was speaking in an interview yesterday during his tour of the constituency.

Mr Zulu pointed out that once cannabis is cultivated and produced, the end product will be solely used for medicinal purposes.

He also urged members of parliament to put aside partisan sentiments, and prioritise the interest of the nation once the bill is presented to parliament.

Among the objectives of the Bill, is to provide for the regulation of the cultivation, production, storage and distribution of cannabis for medicinal, scientific and research purposes.

The Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) is confident that the introduction of Beeline Telecoms, a fourth mobile telecommunication service provider in Zambia, will bring about competition and improved service delivery among existing mobile phone network service providers.

CUTS Programmes Coordinator Ishmael Zulu said consumers have for a long time complained about the poor service provision by some mobile phone network provider in the country.

Mr. Zulu stated today in an interview with ZANIS that the existing service providers will have to pull up their socks as they will face stiff competition.

He also noted that Zambia, like many other countries, has seen an increased demand for mobile telecommunications owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are hopeful that this will enhance service delivery because people work from home and students have online lessons. There is need for a stable internet network,” he said.

The Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) last week announced that a license has granted to Beeline Telecom Limited to commence mobile phone operations in the country.

Beeline Telecom, will be required to commence operations within the next six months failure to which, unless determined otherwise by the authority, the licence will be revoked.

The Technosave Project has partnered with the Zambia Development Agency ZDA to build capacity of small and medium scale poultry farmers in Luanshya district under its village chicken commercialization project.

Project Technical Services Manager, Daisy Kamanga said the project has offered practical training to poultry farmers on village chicken production, through anchor farmers using demonstration farms.

Ms. Kamanga however noted that the training lacked the business aspect, which she said posed a major marketing challenge to farmers.

She observed that while the project offered training on chicken production, it lacked a business component, hence the partnership with the ZDA to conduct training in business management and entrepreneurship.

She added that the project that has been running in the district for three years, has resulted into the creation of demonstration farms, the recruitment of new farmers, and the formation of a cooperative union that helped farmers to market their produce.

ZDA Enterprise Development Officer, Obby Banda said the training programme will focus on business development services to build capacity in entrepreneurial and business management skills in farmers.

Mr. Banda added that the training programme will also be extended to enhance market linkages so that farmers can market their produce both in Luanshya and to other parts of the country.

He said his team is in the district to conduct a needs assessment in order to ascertain the needs of the farmers before rolling out the training programme.

He further explained that the needs assessment will further help ZDA to customize the training programmes to suit the farmers’ needs in business and entrepreneurial services.

And Luanshya District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe has welcomed the development, saying incorporating the business aspect to chicken production would help grow the poultry sector in the district.

Mr. Maipambe observed that once empowered with knowledge, the farmers would be able to market their produce.

He said this would encourage more farmers to join the village chicken commercialization programme.

He has since implored farmers in the district to join the local chicken commercialization programme.

Mr. Maipambe added that the Patriotic Front government was creating an enabling environment to allow for the diversification of the economy to the agriculture and livestock sectors.

Technosave is running a village chicken commercialization project in which it has empowered poultry farmers in Luanshya district through the provision of training and inputs.

The project, which commenced three years ago, has benefited over 2,000 farmers through the provision of inputs, including day-old chicks and equipment.

Workers at the Konkola Copper Mines on the Copperbelt Province have staged a peaceful demonstration to air out their grievances.

Among their grievances are the delayed payments of terminal benefits, as well as Vedanta who has dragged Konkola Copper Mines Provisional liquidator, Milingo Lungu and ZCCM-IH to court.

Leading the miners who were accompanied by Copperbelt University students, Mine Union Workers of Zambia (MUZ) President Joseph Chewe said Vendanta contributed to the country’s bad economy, therefore they should not be entertained at all costs.

Mr Chewe noted that the court should do its job by firstly looking at the plight of the miners who he said are now wallowing in abstract poverty.

Mr Chewe noted that miners are hoping for fair judgment on the case, adding that they want their benefits paid as promised.

The United Mines Workers (UMUZ) President James Chansa explained that the mines belong to the Zambian people hence, they do not deserve this kind of suffering that has been initiated by Vedanta.

Mr Chansa observed that if Vendanta continues with the operations of the mines, the miners and the people of Zambia will continue suffering.

And , Nchanga Member of Parliament Chali Chilombo appealed to the courts of law to consider the plight of the miners.

The MP however called on the miners to remain hopeful and allow the courts to exercise their powers without any distractions.

Meanwhile, Chingola District Commissioner Agnes Tonga who spoke on behalf of the government said President Edgar Lungu does not want to see people suffering at the expense of the investor.

Ms Tonga noted that it is for this reason that the government has rallied behind the miners and ensured that they are taken care of.

She also urged the courts to be fair and just in their ruling, in order for the people of Zambia and the miners to benefit from what rightfully belongs to them.

Ms Tonga further called on all stakeholders to join hands and stand together and ensure that this matter is handled fairly regardless of the political affiliations.

Zambia will today find out if its formal request for a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund has been agreed to or not.

For the last four years, Zambian authorities have been seeking a resumption of formal engagements with the Fund.

The request was finally granted late last year and formal virtual talks started around February.

It is believed that Zambia is seeking up to US$ 1.3 billion in financial assistance to help the country overcome financial stress caused by high debt.

During a recent press conference, IMF Communications Director Gerry Rice confirmed that talks have been going on since February and will end today.

“I don’t really have that much to add on Zambia from what I’ve said before except to say that, you know, you’re right that there’s an ongoing mission. The dates of that have been ?- it’s been running since February 11 we expect it to run through March 3,” Dr Rice said.

“I can confirm that we will communicate after that mission; a staff ?- an IMF staff mission, we will do a press statement at the conclusion of that. And since that mission is in process I really don’t have much else to say. That’s where we are on Zambia.”