Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister, Lawrence Sichalwe has advised the people of the Swaka chiefdom to remain calm following the death of Chief Mukonchi. Mr Sichalwe said the government will not take pleasure in succession wrangles in the chiefdom as they await the chief’s successor.

He said this is because wrangles do not only lead to insecurity but also derail development in the chiefdom.

“I wish to advise people of the Swaka chiefdom to remain calm as you go through this period of awaiting the late chief’s successor. Government will not take pleasure in succession wrangles not only here but anywhere within Zambia as such bring insecurity and only derail development in the chiefdom,” he said.

Mr Sichalwe has since directed that the instruments of power be deposited to government until such a time when the successor is going to be found.

Mr Sichalwe further directed that the instruments of power for the late chief Ngabwe that were kept at the late chief’s chiefdom be handed over to the government.

Earlier, Mr Sichalwe extolled the late chief for his passion in developing the chiefdom. He said the late chief played a pivotal role in attaining the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in the chiefdom, adding that the chief was also vigilant in combating Gender Based Violence.

The Traditional Affairs Minister further observed that the late chief was not only responsive but also supportive of government developmental programmes.

Mr Sichalwe also extolled the late chief for promoting traditional values of the Swaka people with their traditional ceremony.

Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga also described the late chief as being development oriented and always putting development ahead of himself. Mr Mushanga further described the late chief as humble and one who discouraged violence.

He said the successor should emulate the good heart of the late chief and embrace everyone in the chiefdom. Mr Mushanga further emphasised that the family lineage should be followed in looking for a successor.

“It’s God who gives positions and engaging in wrangles will only derail development,” he said.

Earlier, Body and Blood of Christ Priest, Alex Chanda described the late chief as a man who put God first in his life. Chief Mukonchi who died last Saturday is survived by a wife, seven children and two grandchildren and has since been put to rest in his chiefdom.

Government has bemoaned increased encroachment in Namwala and Mumbwa Game Management Areas (GMAs).

Itezhi Tezhi District Commissioner, Isaac Nabuzoka said Namwala and Mumbwa GMAs have been seriously encroached for human settlement and faming activities thereby threatening wildlife.

Mr Nabuzoka said this when Ministry of Tourism and Arts (MOTA) Permanent Secretary, Auxillia Ponga paid a courtesy call on him.

“Issues of encroachment in Namwala and Mumbwa Game Management Areas are very serious. What is the way forward? The GMAs are heavily encroached and nothing really is happening to address or normalize the situation” Mr Nabuzoka said.

Mr Nabuzoka also said that Lake Itezhi Tezhi was an important national fishery and economic engine of the district but fish population has declined on part of the lake outside the park.

He said Lake Itezhi Tezhi has a lot of stakeholders and requires careful management to ensure the lake and its aquatic life forms are managed sustainably without injuring other stakeholders.

Mr Nabuzoka noted that there were a number of challenges that the district was facing such as low staffing levels in government departments manning the lake and the Kafue National Park, fisheries and Marine Police.

“There are also gaps in our laws to effectively combat or manage some illegal activities in fishing” Mr Nabuzoka said.

Mr Nabuzoka also acknowledged stakeholders’ support from Game Rangers International (GRI) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for the contributions they are making towards integrated conservation and wildlife management of the Kafue National Park.

The DC has since appealed for the PS’s office to help the district access the money under the COVID-19 for livelihood projects, water harnessing and boreholes.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Dr Auxillia Ponga said fighting encroachment in GMAs needs an integrated conservation and wildlife management approach.

She said Ministry alone may not resolve challenges that the district is faced with but needs concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

“We need to come together as stakeholders from ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, local authority, Police, Fisheries and others so that tourism can strive in Itezhi Tezhi” Dr Ponga said.

She said the role of government was to provide a conducive environment by ensuring quality infrastructure such as roads and law enforcement.

She further said tourism was an alternative to mining and one of the ways to diversify the economy.

Meanwhile WWF Country Director, Nachilala Nkombo said Itezhi Tezhi was richly endowed with natural resources that if harnessed can make tourism strive.

She reiterated that concerted efforts among stakeholders are needed to deal with the issue of encroachment in the GMAs and people’s livelihood.

Kabompo District Nursing Officer for Adolescent Health, Sondashi Bombwe says the health office is on course to implement programmes to help improve adolescent health (ADH) services in the district.

Mr Bombwe said that with support from Global Fund, 21peer educators have been trained in six health facilities in ADH services while 20 health care providers have also been oriented in ADH service provision.

Mr Bombwe said this in Kabompo during his presentation for the second quarter of the district adolescent health technical working group consultative meeting.

“With support from Global Fund, we have managed to train 21 peer educators in six facilities in ADH and also oriented 20 health care providers in ADH services,” Mr Bombwe said.

He further said the construction of two youth friendly spaces were initiated since July 2020 and have reached advanced levels as one is being constructed in Kabompo town and the other one in Mumbezhi.

“The two youth-friendly spaces which are now at an advanced stage are being constructed in high volume centers which are Kabompo central hospital and Mumbezhi rural health center to help reduce the burden of ADH services provision,” Mr Bombwe said.

He added that computers, furniture and sports equipment have been procured to be installed in the spaces as means to attract Adolescent to freely access health services in their spaces.

Mr Bombwe added that despite the many challenges surrounding the provision of ADH services the program has since shown signs of progress since the time peer educators and health care providers have been oriented.

“Despite the challenges we have seen an improvement in the service provision as well as improved reporting on ADH activities in the district,” he said.

Speaking at the same event Kabompo Acting District Health Director, Namukolo Siyolwe urged the technical working group members to ensure that they coordinate activities effectively as adolescent health provision is not a one man sector.

“ADH services is not a simple issue but a looming serious issue that requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders in and outside the technical working group,” Dr Siyolwe said.

He added that the facilities have so far recorded 1,237 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 24 and that 1,114 young people accessing family planning services.

Meanwhile, Kabompo District Administrative Officer, Hendrix Solochi encouraged the stakeholders to continue spreading the message of the available ADH services to allow young people be safe from unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and other unhealthy behavior.

“Let us continue preaching the message to our children so that they can make well informed decisions even in their sexuality to avoid future problems. Let us not seat on the information as our children now are more exposed to things that we never saw at our age, so embrace the times and let us help our today and tomorrow leaders,” Mr Solochi said.

Speaking earlier, Pokola primary school head teacher, Annie Kanchele attributed some of the risky behavior in the adolescent to poverty, illiteracy levels and bad traditional practices such as initiation ceremonies.

“Some of the factors that contribute to these issues are the existing bad traditional practices which promote children sleeping around after coming of age and holding of celebrations after a young person safely delivers after falling pregnant,” Mrs Kanchele said.

She therefore, called for further engagement of traditional leaders and parents in adolescent health issues to help reduce the disease burden in the surrounding communities.

An Inter-Ministerial delegation has arrived in Mongu district, western province to deal with invasion of the African migratory locusts which have invaded some parts of Western Province. Minister of Agriculture, Michael Katambo is leading a delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit(DMMU) .

ZANIS reports that the team arrived in Mongu this afternoon aboard the Zambia Airforce plane. Welcoming the Ministers , Western Province Permanent Secretary Danny Bukali disclosed that Sesheke is the worst hit district by the locust. Mr Bukali said the people of Western Province are worried about the invasion of the locust and were yearning for the government’s quick intervention.

The PS said the response by the President to send a team to the province will rekindle their hopes and avert the possible hunger. And Agriculture Minister (1a) Michael Katambo has assured the people of Western Province that the African migratory locusts which have invaded the province will be contained so that farmers should not lose their winter crops.

Mr Katambo said President Lungu had directed that a multi-sectoral approach be used in the fight against the Locust. He said the Ministry will work with the International Red Locust Control organisation to fumigate the affected areas through aerial and ground spraying.

And the Minister in the office of the Vice President Olipah Phiri retaliated the Government’s commitment toward the eradication of the migratory pest. Earlier, Provincial Minister (Richard Kapita assured the delegation that the provincial administration was more than ready to offer the necessary support towards the fight against migratory pests in the province. The affected areas in Western Province include, Mwandi, Sesheke, Kalabo and Mongu districts.