Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Christopher Yaluma says a fair trading environment for all players is cardinal in fostering sustainable businesses and economic growth in the country.

Speaking when he flagged off the dry capacity measures project at Chambeshi Market in Kasama today, the Minister explained that the initiative is aimed at ensuring that both the trader and the consumer get a fair deal.

Mr. Yaluma explained that in the past people complained of lack of transparency with the instruments used to measure dry products such as beans, Kapenta among others.

He explained that the “meda” which is a traditional device used to measure dry products is among the instruments that caused concerns between traders and consumers as it was not standardized.

The Minister has therefore expressed confidence that the launch of standardized measurement instruments popularly known as meda will help promote fair trade.

“Because of the new instruments which will be used, traders will not give out more products than their money’s worth and the consumers will get value for their money” he said.

He has since commended the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) for its hard work which has seen the project become a success.

And Zambia Metrology Agency Executive Director Himba Cheelo noted that her organization is happy that stakeholders, especially the traders, have welcomed the project.

Ms. Cheelo stated that the use of the newly introduced instruments will promote transparency and a fair trading environment thereby benefiting both the trader and the consumer.

“We are happy that stakeholders have come on board to support us in this project” She stated.

Ms. Cheelo has since reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that there is a fair trading ground for all players.

And speaking on behalf of the traders Chambeshi Market Chairperson Fred Chansa has commended ZMA for coming up with an initiative to standardized instruments used by traders.

Mr. Chansa stated that this will make trading easier for marketers at the market.

“The complaints of marketers not using standard instruments will now be a thing of a past,” he said.

Mr. Chansa has since advised the traders to ensure that they start using the new instruments to help promote transparency as they conduct their business.

African Writers Space Zambia, has challenged the Zambian writers to show the world how rich the country is by telling local stories through their publications.

Country Coordinator, Marita Banda, notes that Zambia has many talented writers who should come out of their comfort zones and contribute to the African hub of writers.

ZANIS reports that Ms Banda was speaking during the 3rd African Writers Conference, held at Alliance Francaise in Lusaka this morning.

Mrs Banda said Zambia is privileged to host the writers’ conference with 30 participating countries after it was launched in Nigeria 3 years ago.

And African Writers Space, Executive Director, Anthony Onugba said the conference aims to showcase African works and identity.

And National Arts Council of Zambia (NACZ) Assistant Director for Literary and Performing Arts, Mwiche Chikungu, said it was

“NAC is much interested in seeing that the value of writers is appreciated world over,” Ms Chikungu stated.

Ms Chikungu has praised African Writers Space Zambia for organizing this year’s event amidst the challenges brought by the COVID-19.

The Continental Leadership Research Institute Director Mundia Hakoola says there is need for more young people to take up leadership roles.

Mr. Hakoola said the number of youths in leadership positions is low in Zambia hence the need for youths to be trained in various leadership roles.

Mr. Hakoola told ZANIS in an interview in Ndola yesterday that the Research Institute is training young people from all political parties and the community in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces.

He explained that youths in the country are mostly used as tools of violence instead of taking up leadership roles.

“We are a platform that engage youths in issues of governance and leadership to ensure that we build their capacity in taking up leadership roles by reducing the trend of young people being used as tools of violence,” he said.

He added that the trainings are aimed at enhancing capacity of young people to participate in democratic processes by varying for public office.

“Currently from our research conducted, we have seen that out of the total 156 members of Parliament, only three are considered as youths.

Therefore, we want to ensure that youths up their game in taking up leadership positions, the importance of taking part in voting and issues of how to deal with dialogue.

You find that most of the time youths do not dialogue but engage in violent activities, that is why we are undertaking trainings for them to ensure that they know their core duty in governance issues,” he said.

And Lumuno Nyimba one of the trained youths from Ndola said the training has enlightened them on how to be responsible as young people.

“As youths, we have been very relaxed in terms of taking up leadership roles because we limit our capacity and what we can do. Hence the training has really opened up our thinking and we will be more proactive in dealing with governance issues,” she said.

She added that youth participation in leadership roles will help the country move forward as they have a lot of potential.

Ezra Mushipi another trained participate said youths have huge role to play in issues of governance.

He thanked research institute for training them and explained that he will use the information to be models of change.

He called on all the youths in the country not to be used as tools of violence even as the country heads to the polls next year.

The government will not extend the mobile issuance of the National Registration Cards(NRC)s.

Vice President Inonge Wina has advised all citizens that failed to obtain National Registration Cards -NRCs- during the mobile issuance exercise to visit the department of national registration cards in their respective districts.

She says the issuance of NRCs continues at district offices even after the mobile exercise has come to an end.

Mrs. Wina said this during the Vice President’s Question time in Parliament today.

This was in response to a question by Mitete Member of Parliament Misheck Mutelo who wanted to know whether officers will return to Mitete district for the issuance of mobile NRCs.

The Vice President said parliamentarians should advise people in their constituencies to visit the district offices where issuance of NRCs is conducted so that they can obtain the identity document.

And responding to Zambezi East Member of Parliament Brian Kambita who wanted to know how the Government plans to manage the mobile voter registration following complaints that the mobile issuance of NRCs was unfairly handled, Mrs. Wina said no one was denie
access to acquire an NRC in any of the centres during the exercise.

The Vice President further said the teams that conducted the mobile issuance have done a good job.

Mrs Wina further said the minister of Home affairs will update Parliament on how many people obtained NRCs during the mobile issuance exercise.