Zambia has in the last 24 hours recorded 773 new cases of Covid-19 out of 5,817 tests conducted in ten districts. The daily positivity rate has reduced from seventeen percent (17%) at the beginning of the week, to thirteen percent (13%).

In a statement issued to the media, Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said the accumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date now stands at 68,454.

“Over the past few days, we have seen a reduction in the number of active cases. Additionally, there has been a reduction in the number of admissions from close to 500 to now having admissions in the 300s,” he said.

Dr Chanda stated that 1273 recovered patients have since been discharged from both home management and COVID-19 isolation facilities bringing the accumulative number of recoveries to 62,575.

The Minister said the country has on the sad note recorded nine COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours making the accumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to date 940.

“We have 4,939 active cases. The number of active cases has been reducing consistently for the past nine days and it is our hope that this will continue,” he said.

The Minister indicated that out of the active cases, 369 are admitted to COVID-19 isolation facilities, with 256 on oxygen therapy and 45 in critical condition.

He added that the remaining 4, 570 cases are under community management.

Dr Chanda highlighted that the reduction in the number of positivity cases gives hope that the curve can be flattened if everyone worked together in fighting the pandemic.

He urged people not to relax in the fight against COVID-19 but instead sustain the collective efforts and ensure that COVID-19 is put to an end.

He assured the general public and the frontline staff that the Ministry remains committed to ensure that essential supplies which includes personal protective equipment, reagents and oxygen are stocked.

The Minister stressed that contact tracing remains key in the effort to stop community transmission.

He explained that the ministry is exploring the use of contact tracing apps to efficiently trace all those who have been in contact with a confirmed case.

Dr Chanda encouraged everyone that tests positive to inform their close contacts so that they too may be tested and given the necessary guidance.

He said it is encouraging to see that people who were previously still in denial about the virus have now joined the fight against COVID-19.

“Our Mask Up Campaign has seen many of our community heroes and celebrities alike come out on different social media platforms to support the movement,” explained the Minister.

The Minister thanked everyone helping in the fight against the pandemic and urged them not to relent in their efforts.

He urged everyone to stay safe by adhering to the five golden rules of masking, hand washing, sanitizing, avoiding crowded places and seeking medical attention early.

Dr Chanda advised everyone to continue with the use of proven home remedies like steaming and practicing health habits.

Zambia yesterday the 12th of February recorded 1,083 new COVID-19 case, 1,313 recoveries and 14 deaths.

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has with immediate effect revoked Honeybee Pharmaceutical License.

In a statement issued yesterday to the media by Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority Senior Public Relations Officer Christabel Iliamupu, the license has been revoked because Honeybee contravened with the terms and conditions of the pharmaceutical license.

Mrs Iliamupu stated that Honeybee Pharmacy failed to carry out remedial measures as outlined in the notice of intent to revoke the pharmaceutical license.

She indicated that the pharmacy in question also ceased to carry on business as Honeybee Pharmacy without giving notice to the ZAMRA.

“To this effect, the Authority has since directed Honeybee Pharmacy to surrender the aforementioned license to the Authority and further ordered that medical products on their premises be quarantined until further guidance from the Authority,” she said.

Mrs Iliamupu further added that ZAMRA wishes to dispel assertions in some sections of the media purporting that the Authority has entered into an (EX-CURIA) out of court settlement with Honeybee Pharmacy.

National Values and Principles Ambassador Judith Mwila has said the organization is working hard to ensure that information is reached in typical rural areas in the sensitization of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and child early marriages.

Ms. Mwila noted that GBV related information is hard to be taken to rural areas because people can hardly acquire basic Media platforms such Television and a Radio set in these areas.

“Sensitization has been going on and we have taken it upon ourselves to ensure information is going into the very typical areas in collaboration with other partners who will give information to the rural areas so that people can understand the issues relating to GBV and Child marriages,” Ms. Mwila said.

She said the Organisation is also working closely with the Traditional leaders in the rural areas in sensitizing and educating the subjects on GBV and child marriages of various chiefdoms.

Ms. Mwila also noted that the increase in divorce cases can be attributed to couples not undergoing Marital Counselling.

She however encouraged couples who are going through marital problems to undergo counseling before dissolving their marriages.

She was reacting to the State of the Nation Address by President Edgar Lungu today on morality and ethics.

Yesterday, President Edgar Lungu expressed concern with the declining morals and ethics in the country, citing Gender Based Violence (GBV) as one of the vices affecting the success of applying national values and principles.

Presidents Lungu explained that GBV, rape and defilement are among the vices that undermine the health, dignity and self-esteem of victims, thus should not be allowed to continue.

The Head of State disclosed that according to the United Nations Development Programme Human Development report 2020, on Zambia, the percentage of violence against women ever experienced from an intimate partner among the female population aged between 15 and older stands at 45.9 percent..

President Lungu indicated that the statistics are too high which can have a negative impact on national development, thereby stressing the need to address the issue.

“Acts of violence suffered by some of our people, especially, women and children these days are appalling. In some cases these criminal acts have, unfortunately, resulted in deaths,” President Lungu stated.

Speaking when he addressed the nation on the progress made in the application of national values and principles, President Lungu revealed that government and other stakeholders have continued to conduct countrywide public awareness and sensitisation campaigns.

The President stated that through these campaigns, more people have been made aware that such acts are inhuman and punishable by law, which has encouraged people to report GBV cases and child defilement to relevant authorities.

He added that the establishment of gender-based violence fast-track courts in Lusaka, central, Eastern, Copperbelt, Southern and Western Provinces has contributed to the speedy disposal of cases.

The Head of State urged the victims as well as the public not to shy away from reporting GBV cases, as doing so will not help the victims get justice.

President Lungu stated that the more people come out and report the vice, the more the perpetrators will be exposed and punished, hence will act as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators.

He further stressed the need for every citizen to participate in rendering assistance to victims of GBV as well as child defilement, saying that the victims need help.

“They deserve our help. We all have a moral duty to support and heal victims of gender-based violence and defilement. We must end gender-based violence and defilement,” President Lungu indicated.

He commended the traditional leaders, the church, civil society, and the media for being instrumental in encouraging people to report cases of GBV and other vices which is helping abandon the culture of silence.

President Lungu stressed the need to reaffirm the commitment and continue with the good work towards ending GBV and child defilement in society.

In the last four years, over 85,000 cases of gender- based violence were reported across the country. In 2017, a total number of 21,504 cases were reported, while cases reported in 2018 were 22,073, and 25,504 cases in 2019. And by the third quarter of 2020, 17,089 cases had been reported.

Buy Zed (BZ) has commended the government on its pronouncement of purchasing local products following yesterday’s national state address.

BZ Founder Evans Ngoma says the organization appreciates the move to encourage people in preferring local produce as it is a milestone, especially during the Covid 19 pandemic.

In an interview with ZANIS, Mr Ngoma explained that if production in the country is increased this will lead to an economic boom for many players as it will create jobs and contribute to poverty alleviation.

“Let’s not compromise on the quality produced to ensure that we satisfy our consumers so that they should not look to imported products that are produced in the country so as to alleviate poverty in the country,” he said.

Mr Ngoma has advised citizens that prefer imported goods from locals that they must think twice and be able to support local businesses so as to improve the wellbeing of Zambians.

He adds that it is important to look for solutions that will scale up production as well as satisfy local consumers.

During President Edgar Lungu’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) he said it is encouraging to see that more local products are being sold in shops and more are being consumed which is a sign of patriotism.

He has urged all citizens to think local first when buying goods and services, adding that it should be a matter of pride to consume what is produced.

The Ministry of General Education has officially announced the 2020 Grade nine and seven examination results.

Announcing the results at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, General Education Minister Dr. Dennis Wanchinga disclosed that of the 254, 852 candidates who sat for the grade nine examinations, 135, 300 passed the examination and have progressed to Grade 10 representing 53.07 percent pass rate compared to 46.14 percent recorded in the 2019 examination.

Dr. Wanchinga explained that a total of 98, 505 candidates representing 38.65% obtained statements whilst 21, 047 candidates representing 8.26% failed the examination.

He also disclosed that analysis of performance by sex revealed that apart from the usual English and some Zambian Languages, girls also performed better than boys in Business Studies.

The Minister attributed the good performance in 2020 to the consistent policy directions by the Zambian government under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Lungu on teaching and learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic considering that some countries in Africa and world over had to postpone to 2021 or cancel the 2020 examination sessions.

Dr. Wanchinga also stated that government is honoured that for the second year running, there were no reported leakages of examination question papers during the conduct of the 2020 Grade 7 Composite and Grade 9 Internal examinations.

He however disclosed that a total of 18 cases of suspected examination malpractices were reported during the conduct of Grade 9 examination which he said where in the form of smuggling unauthorised materials into the examination room, collusion, copying and assistance.

And Dr. Wanchinga said the 2020 Grade 7 national progression rate is 100 percent like the 2019 Grade 7 Examination.

He said this means that all the 403, 445 candidates who sat the 2020 Grade 7 Composite examination have progressed to Grade 8.

The Minister also disclosed that at all the four divisions (1, 2, 3 and 4), girls performed better than boys.

And the Minister further announced that the 2021 Grade 8 and 10 learners will open on Monday 1st March 2021 adding that the grace period of two weeks will end on Friday 12th March 2021.

President Edgar Lungu says the government has made progress in entrenching national values and principles among the citizenry.

President Lungu says his administration is on the right path in promoting national values and principles through the various programmes it is implementing across the country.

The Head of State revealed this when He addressed the fifth session of the twelfth national assembly on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles.

This is the fourth national address in a roll President Lungu has delivered to Parliament on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles since its introduction in 2017 under the new amended constitution.

“As a nation, we have made progress in entrenching our national values and principles. We are on the right path.”

And in a show of appreciation, President Lungu says he remains indebted for the continued support government is receiving from the church and cooperating partners in the promotion of national values and principles as enshrined in the constitution from various stakeholders.

He called on Zambian’s to uphold values and principles in both their private and public lives as this is the responsibility of everyone.

“The achievements we have made so far would not have been possible without the involvement of other stakeholders. I, therefore, extend my sincere gratitude to all Zambians, our cooperating partners, the church and civil society organisations.

“To you, I say thank you so much for continuing to partner with us in ensuring that the national values and principles we have set for ourselves are applied in the interpretation of our constitution, in the formulation and implementation of our policies as well as in the enactment of legislation.

“These values and principles must be entrenched in our private and public lives. This task is the responsibility of everyone. It is for this reason that we have translated national values and principles into our seven major local languages,” he said.

President Lungu urged Zambians to live by the national values and principles so as to foster unity and peace in the country.

Meanwhile President Lungu has informed the House that more young girls have being withdrawn from marriages so as to allow them to continue with their education.

He further disclosed that due to increased sensitization more people are now reporting on cases of gender based violence which has led to more cases being adjudicated by the courts of law.

The Head of State used the address to call for concerted efforts in ending child marriage and gender based violence in the country.

He urged victims of gender based violence to report all perpetrators of the vices to relevant authorities.

“We have also seen more of our citizens reporting on gender-based violence which has led to more cases being adjudicated. This is the right thing to do.

“Let us do more to end child marriage and gender-based violence. Let us have the courage to report all the perpetrators of these vices to relevant authorities. Let us all join hands in this fight,” President Lungu appealed.

Meanwhile President Lungu has also told the House that efforts being made by the government, cooperating partners and the church to entrench patriotism are yielding the desired results.

President Lungu encouraged citizens to demonstrate more patriotism by buying and consuming more locally produced products.

He stressed that Zambia will only stand out among the progressive nations if citizens consume local produce.

“Our concerted efforts to foster patriotism are also yielding the desired results. We are consuming more of our locally produced products. This is a clear sign of patriotism. Let us promote and consume our local products even more. Let us be proud of what we produce. Let us make Zambia stand out among other progressive nations”.

And President Lungu has pledged to continue promoting and safeguarding human dignity, equity, social justice and equality.

He says government priorities top on its agenda the upholding of human rights as such it will continue to increase access to health, education and justice in non-discriminatory manner.

“Promoting and safeguarding human dignity, equity, social justice, equality and non-discrimination for our people is top on our agenda. We will, therefore, continue to increase access to health, education and justice.

“We will also continue to increase our people’s access to electricity, water and sanitation, especially in rural areas,” he said.

Commenting on elections slated for this year on August 12th, President Lungu urged the citizens to use the opportunity to demonstrate the impact of national values and principles on Zambia’s democracy.

He implored members of the public to denounce violence, hatred and instead embrace unity, civility and peaceful co-existence.

“On 12th august this year, our country will hold general elections. As a nation, we have an opportunity to demonstrate the impact of national values and principles on our democracy. We have an opportunity to denounce violence and hatred. We have an opportunity to embrace unity, civility and peaceful co-existence”.

President Lungu reaffirmed government’s commitment in ensuring that the 2012 general elections are held under a peaceful environment.

The Head of State appealed to political parties, churches, civil society and the citizenry to embrace peace and unity before and after the general elections.

“My government is committed to ensuring that our elections are peaceful. My government is committed to ensuring our country remains peaceful before, during and after elections.

“I, therefore, call upon every Zambians, every political party and player, the church and the civil society to join me in assuring our people of peace and unity before, during and after the 2021 general elections. We are one Zambia, and indeed we are one nation,” he implored.

Parliament heard yesterday that government has constructed 69 secondary schools across the country bringing the total number to 1,114.

This came to light when President Edgar Lungu addressed the fifth session of the twelfth National Assembly on the progress made in the application of national values and principles.

This is the fourth national address in a role President Lungu has delivered to parliament on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles since its introduction in 2017 under the new amended constitution.

President Lungu says the construction of additional secondary schools has created 41,400 spaces for learners.

“With regard to education in the last four years, government has constructed 69 secondary schools across the country, bringing the total number to 1,114. this has created 41,400 additional school spaces for our learners.”

He further revealed that government has recruited more teachers in special education from 1,380 in 2017 to 2,275 in 2019.

The Head of State also disclosed that the number of public schools with facilities to cater for learners with special needs stands at 227.

President Lungu assured the nation that government remains resolved in its quests to promoting inclusive education.

“To promote inclusive education, we have also increased the number of teachers trained in special education from 1,380 in 2017 to 2,275 in 2019.

“currently, the number of public schools with facilities to cater for learners with special needs stands at 227,” He said.

President Lungu informed parliament that an additional 10 special education schools have been constructed since 2017 bringing the total to 51 such schools across the country.

The facilities are currently providing education services to about 130,000 learners with special needs per year.

“In addition, 10 special education schools have been constructed since 2017 bringing the total to 51 such schools across the country. These facilities are providing education services to about 130,000 learners with special needs per year.”

He said to further promote the dignity of persons living with disabilities, government is supporting more than 73 thousand persons with disabilities under the social cash transfer programme.

“Further, to promote the dignity of persons with disabilities, government is supporting 73,365 beneficiaries with disabilities under the social cash transfer programme,” He disclosed.

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Meanwhile President Lungu has told Parliament that government is supporting students from poor and vulnerable households with student loans and scholarships as to enable them acquire education.

He placed the number of the students supported by government in 2020 at 22,799 while in 2017 a total of 17,221 students were supported with loans and scholarships.

Parliament also heard that 30 percent of loans and scholarships have been reserved for female learners while the remaining 70 percent is competed for by both male and female students.

“ My government is supporting students from poor and vulnerable households with student loans and scholarships. by end of 2020, government had supported 22,799 students compared to 17,221 students in 2017.

“currently 30 percent of loans and scholarships is reserved for female learners, while the remaining 70 percent is competed for by both male and female students. these quotas also apply to enrolment of learners in universities and colleges.”

And commenting on pupil attendance, President Lungu said government has scaled up the home grown school feeding programme so as to encourage pupil attendance.

He disclosed that government is currently feeding 1,127,000 learners in 2,800 schools in 41 districts.

He stressed that the number of pupils benefiting from the feeding programme has significantly grown compared to 1,052,760 learners in 2,700 schools in 38 districts in 2017.

“To enhance pupil attendance and nutrition among primary school learners, we have scaled-up the home-grown school feeding programme. currently, government is feeding 1,127,000 learners in 2,800 schools in 41districts compared to 1,052,760 learners in 2,700 schools in 38 districts in 2017.”

The Head of State reiterated government’s determination in ensuring that no child drops out of primary school on account of hunger