The government says it targets to see all empowered women co-operatives in the country become viable and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri says the empowerment of women co-operatives in Eastern Province is meant to help reduce poverty which one of the major factors contributing to gender based violence.

“President Edgar Lungu wants to see to it that women in Eastern Province and the country as whole are empowered as a way of reducing poverty at domestic level and ending early marriages,” she said.

She says early marriages are rife in Eastern Province and other rural areas mostly due to poverty and would reduce if women and girls are economically empowered.

The Minister of Gender was speaking when she paid a courtesy call on Eastern Province Permanent Veronica Mwiche.

“As Government, we believe that the empowerment of women in the country will make our women to be able to stand up economically and contribute to the national development of the country as well as support their families,” she said.

Mrs Phiri says she is in the Eastern Province to distribute agriculture production and value addition equipment to Women-led cooperatives in Lumwezi, Chipangali, Vubwi, Sinda, Petauke and Nyimba.

Ms Phiri said the agriculture equipment to be donated are nine maize shellers,15 treble pumps, three rice mills, nine oil expellers,12 electric peanut butter making machines, irrigation sets, five egg incubators, one electric hammer mill,100 double deck beehives , 10 swam boxes and 2 honey pressers.

She said through the donation of the agriculture equipment to women co-operatives, Government wants to see women in Eastern Province become effectively productive.

And Ms Mwiche said the donation of the agriculture equipment to women co-operatives will actualize the Government gender policy.

She says the donation will adequately help to liberate the women in Eastern Province from the crutches of poverty.

Ms Mwiche assured the Minister that her office will closely monitor how the women co-operatives will be working with the donated agriculture equipment to ensure the intended impact is realised.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), has empowered 11 Livingstone based vulnerable families, with startup capital worth thousands of kwacha, to reduce poverty at household level.

IOM Protection Officer, Chibalani Katongo, said the startup capital was in the form of reintegration items that would enable the vulnerable families
engage in grocery business and chicken rearing as income generating activities.

Ms Katongo said the identified families consisted of sexually abused young girls who were human trafficking victims, and those at risk of falling into human trafficking networks.

She however, explained that the startup capital was for the parents of the vulnerable girls.

Ms Katongo said the COVID19 pandemic had brought about negative effects which had driven families to push their children into vices which resulted in them frequenting brothels and engaging in illicit activities.

ZANIS reports that Ms Katongo was speaking during the handover ceremony of reintegration items for the 11 vulnerable families.

The items included chickens, feed for chickens, eggs, rice, tissues, sugar, salt, cement and iron sheets among others.

She said IOM had been supporting the government with programs aimed at reducing the vulnerability of families that have fallen into trafficking networks.

“The support we give includes reintegration support aimed at reducing poverty shocks. These help families to return their children to school and also gives them an opportunity to fend for themselves, “she said.

Ms Katongo further said the beneficiaries underwent business startup training to help them in record keeping and sustainability of their businesses.

And Livingstone District Commissioner Pascalina Musokotwane urged the beneficiaries to desist from detrimental vices and focus on growing their businesses and keeping their girl children in school.

Ms Musokotwane advised the parents of the victims not to use the past against them, but to encourage them to focus on the future and on activities that would help rebuild their lives.

She said it was imperative for the beneficiaries to grow their businesses as doing so would reduce poverty and their vulnerability to detrimental vices.

Meanwhile, Senior Social Welfare Officer ,in the Department of Community Development and Social Services, Nicholas Goma said the empowerment program was an opportunity for the beneficiaries to have a bright future.

Mr. Goma said it was not too late for the exploited girls to go back to school to realise their dreams and aspirations.

“We are excited as a government to work with our partners to save these girls’ lives and prevent the worst that could have happened had we not intervened,” he said.

Five Patriotic Front (PF) aspiring parliamentary candidates have so far applied for the Kankoyo seat in Mufulira district, Copperbelt Province.

And incumbent Kankoyo Member of Parliament, Brian Mushimba says the PF is a democratic party and that anyone willing to contest for adoption should feel free to do so.

Dr Mushimba however, expressed optimism that he will carry the day as electorates in Kankoyo have seen his numerous projects he has initiated during his tenure.

Dr Mushimba was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on PF Mufulira District Chairman, Dominic Mwale today.

Dr. Mushimba said it was not his wish to be absent from the constituency for the past months, but was due to sickness.

“I am paying for over 5000 pupils in the constituency, I have also implemented empowerment programs for women, we have upgraded the roads, schools have also been upgraded, Dr Mushimba boasted.

Meanwhile, Dr Mwale disclosed the names of people who have applied for the Kankoyo seat as Mufulira Mayor, Gift Mushinge, Derick Musonda, Mwambanya Miti, former Local Government, Permanent Secretary, Eddie Chomba, and the incumbent MP, Dr. Brian Mushimba.

“Don’t feel as though people are trying to remove you from being MP, just accommodate everyone and feel free to contest for adoption as incumbent MP,” Dr Mwale encouraged Dr Mushimba.

The Zambia Police have arrested eight people for suspected illegal possession of government drugs and illegal operation of drug stores.

Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) Senior Public Relations Officer, Christabel Mutale Iliamupu, has disclosed this in a press statement issued to the media in Lusaka today.

She said among the arrested, are five men aged between 24 and 40 identified as Stephen Mumba, Allan Ngoma, Apson Phiri, Francis Banda and Fredrick Ngoma who have been charged for operating pharmacies without certificates of registration Contrary to Section 14(1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act (3) of 2013.

She said others are two women identified as Mary Tembo 24, 35 years old Everlyn Phiri and Andsen Phiri 47.

‘The suspects have been detained at Chipata Central Police station and will soon appear in court,” Mrs Illiamupu stated.