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Matero United Hopes to Get Good Mileage From Fwayo

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Matero United boss Miles Sampa hopes Fwayo Tembo’s brief spell at the lower tier club as coach will be a huge motivation for his players.

Sampa, who is also Lusaka Mayor, unveiled the ex-Zambia international on Monday on a one month deal.

Fwayo is set to be unveiled the FAZ Division 3 club this Wednesday.

“Sometimes you just need these young players to interact with those that have made it like Fwayo,” Sampa said.

“First is to boast the team’s morale. Secondly to counsel the players and also to speak to them what made achieve success and also share his short comings.

“But beyond that, show them some skills on the pitch as well.”

Kitwe United Impasse Worries Veteran Ref Kasusu

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Retired iconic Kitwe referee Francis Kasusu is pledging to engage Kitwe City Council over the impasse surrounding funding to Kitwe United.

Council has halted funding to Chingalika after the club was registered as a private entity arguing that Local Government regulations prohibits councils from funding private firms.

This development has led to Kitwe failing to pay players monthly wages and winning bonuses.

In an interview in Kitwe, Kasusu said dialogue will be key in resolving the impasse.

“You young ones in leadership you are just coming into positions for selfish reasons. We don’t want politics in football,” Kasusu said.

“I will see the Town Clerk and the Mayor. They shouldn’t destroy Kitwe United. They should sit down and ensure that Kitwe United is sustained,” said the free man of the city of Kitwe

“I am warning them that it will be sad to destroy Kitwe United. Where will the people from location watch football if Kitwe is not playing,” Kasusu added.

The Buchi Boys are fourth on the FAZ National Division League with 45 points from 22 matches played.

As at week 24, Kitwe, who have two un-played games, are two points behind leaders Prison Leopards.

Kitwe were demoted from the Super Division last year during the transitional season.

Government’s Procurement System is Flawed, Zambians shouldn’t be entitled to only 20% of Road Contracts

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Government’s Procurement System is Flawed, Zambians shouldn’t be entitled to only 20% of Road Contracts

Minister of Finance Bwalya Ng’andu has said that Zambia’s procurement system is flawed and needs to be overhauled. Dr. Ng’andu said that he will be taking a bill to parliament to amend the Procurement Act.

Speaking during the Sunday Interview with ZNBC’s Grevazio Zulu, Dr. Ng’andu said that he did not subscribe to Zambians being given 20 percent of road contracts while 80 percent is given to foreign contractors. The Minister of Finance said the procurement Act should instead prioritize Zambian contractors.

Dr. Ng’andu challenged Engineers that have the capacity to carry out infrastructure projects to work together by bidding for procurement contracts in infrastructure development, adding that time has come to ensure money spent on infrastructure projects is paid to locals to ensure it remains in circulation.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng’andu has said that the government will revise the 2020 national budget because the revenue base has reduced substantially due to a number of factors, such as the recent floods, drought, and the current Coronavirus pandemic, which has put pressure on the country’s revenue base.

Dr. Ng’andu said that arising from the floods and drought, the government had to respond in order to mitigate the impact by finding resources to cushion the emergency food supplies for displaced persons and repair of washed away bridges

Dr. Ng’andu said the government also responded impulsively towards the Coronavirus pandemic which has slowed economic activities by way of providing relief to economic sectors whose business has been affected by it.

Dr. Ng’andu said that the government expects to see a large financing Gap of about 29 billion Kwacha, adding that the expenditure side of revenue has collapsed.

And Dr. Ng’andu said that he will ensure that he drives Zambia’s debt position to a level that is within the country’s’ capacity to service it without putting too much stress or strain on its ability to meet the day to day running of Government.

The Finance Minister also disclosed that the government is talking to lenders to restructure its loans adding that it has completed the process of seeking professional advisors on the debt process who will assist in the restructuring process.

Dr. Ng’andu also disclosed that the government has managed to convince donors to understand that while the Covid-19 pandemic is real, the country still has people with normal illnesses such as malaria, HIV, and AIDS which should not be ignored while fighting the pandemic.

Dr. Ng’andu disclosed that the government wants to ensure the health system remains sustainable.

Self-Regulation Framework aimed at Dealing with Fake Pastors Completed

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Self-Regulation Framework aimed at Dealing with Fake Pastors Completed

Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs, Godfridah Sumaili says a self-regulation framework submitted by churches and religious organizations has been completed.

Reverend Sumaili says the self -regulation framework which is aimed at ensuring churches adhere to legal, ethical and other standards will soon be launched.

The Minister says the framework will help to address the issues of fake pastors who pretend to be servants of God, yet their activities are contrary.

Reverend Sumaili told ZNBC News in Lusaka that Government will not tolerate people that pretend to be servants of God and mislead citizens with false biblical teachings.

Government through the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs was consulting the Church and religious community leaders on a Framework in which they can operate devoid of breaching the ethics and standards.

Covid-19 Has Threatened Sustainable Agenda On Education

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Covid-19 Has Threatened Sustainable Agenda On Education

The Zambia National Education Coalition ( ZANEC ) says the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic has threatened Sustainable development Agenda, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education which has seen the closure of schools, colleges and universities in nearly 200 countries, Zambia inclusive.

ZANEC Executive Director George Hamusunga has underscored that the closing of schools has affected over 1.5 billion learners and has deepened the patterns of inequality and exclusion.

In a statement to ZANIS marking the commemoration of g the Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) falling today, Mr Hamusunga the COVID-19 has greatly impacted the implementation of various development policies such as the 7th National Development Plan, the vision 2030 and the Education and Skills Sector Plan (ESSP), among others.

“The implementation of national plans such as the 7th National Development Plan, the vision 2030 and the Education and Skills Sector Plan (ESSP) are also greatly affected by the outbreak of COVID 19. However, we should not let COVID 19 make us lose the many gains we have made in the sector.

“ To achieve this, we need to ring-fence the resources allocated for the education sector and use them to sustain learning during the COVID 19 period. This is because education is one of the key sectors that cannot wait or put on hold,” he said.

In line with this year’s theme for GAWE which is “Accelerating a collaborative response to the COVID-19 Pandemic”, the ZANEC Executive Director urged government and donors, in collaboration with national and international partners to urgently ensure safe, inclusive, equitable and right based access for all learners to emergency distance learning and psychosocial support during and after the COVID-19 crisis .

He in the same statement reiterated that everyone should be involved in mitigating the impact of COVID 19 on the education of our learners by not only leaving the burden of providing and ensuring that learning is taking place to the government alone.

“All stakeholders should play their role in ensuring that all children are accessing learning via e-learning portal and television. Currently, our Early Childhood Education learners are not benefitting from these ongoing programmes.

“ Therefore, there is need for stakeholders to increase their support to enable the Ministry of General Education address the current learning gaps. Parents and guardians should also continue playing their role of guiding their children’s learning activities at home,” stressed Mr.Hamusunga.

He further urged all stakeholders to support the measures that the ministries of education have put in place such as the Education Contingency Plan for novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

GAWE is one of the key advocacy events for the education movement. It is being commemorated at a time when the world is faced with a public health crisis of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) was established as a coalition by civil society actors who saw the need for a common platform to promote and advocate for education.

As such, it is a national coalition of civil society comprising community based Organisations, Faith based Organisations, Non-governmental organisations and teacher trade unions.

ZANEC currently has membership standing at sixty-eight (68) member organisations spread around the country.

Globally, there are still around 260 million out-of-school children and 773 million illiterate adults the trend which the United Nations is trying to reverse using the Sustainable Development Goal number 4 which advocates for quality and inclusive education system for all.

Electoral Commission of Zambia has no legal mandate to postpone 2021, General Elections

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Electoral Commission of Zambia has no legal mandate to postpone 2021, General Elections

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said that it has no legal mandate to postpone 2021, General Elections. ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse has said that the General election’s date cannot be altered anyhow as it is constitutionally enshrined.

Ms. Chimanse clarified that the change in the ECZ Elections’ Events Calendar, due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease, does not entail the postponement of the 2021 General Elections.

Speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka, Ms. Chimanse said the ECZ is yet to announce the new dates for Voters’ Registration pending the 2021 General Elections.

Early this month, ECZ announced that it was reviewing the Roadmap for Elections, and will soon advise Stakeholders and the general public the commencement date for all the electoral processes leading up to the 2021 General Elections and that the Voter Registration Exercise that was scheduled to commence in May will commence on a date to be advised, sparking rumours that ECZ was about to cancel the 2021 elections.

Ms. Chimanse said that despite the outbreak of COVID-19 the Commission will still conduct the Polls for three Local Government By-elections in Nakato and Imalyo Wards of Mongu Town Council in Western Province, and Bulilo Ward of Chilubi Town Council in Northern Province.

She said unlike the Voter Registration Exercise which has been postponed, the three ward by-elections shall be conducted as prescribed by Article 57 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, which provides that “where a vacancy occurs in the office of a Member of Parliament, Mayor, Council Chairperson or Councilor, a by-election shall be held within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

Ms. Chimanse said in view of this, the Commission will institute administrative measures to guide the conduct of all by-elections to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.

She said measures put in place among others to comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines include adherence to the Public Health Statutory Instrument No. 22 of 2020 which outlines the guidelines and procedures on how to prevent, control and manage the COVID-19.

Mrs Chimanse said other measures include the observance of all Public health procedures and allowing Health Personnel into their buildings such as meeting venues, Nomination Centres, Polling Stations and Totaling Centre, provision of sanitary materials such as hand sanitizers, gloves, masks, soap and water to all polling staff and other officers at polling stations and implementing speedy and efficient voting procedures to enable voters’ walk-in and leave the Polling Stations without delay.

She added that the ECZ will further ensure provision of additional Officers/Ushers, including Health Personnel at meeting venues, Nomination Centres, Polling Stations and Totaling Centre to ensure that people are sanitized and observe hygiene standards in a public place or gathering. This is in addition to ensuring adherence to social distancing guidelines of keeping at least one-meter spacing on the queues for voting on Poll day.

Further, Mrs Chimanse said the Commission is encouraging Voters to leave their Children/babies at home and avoiding carrying them to the meeting venues, Nomination Centre, Polling Stations and Totaling Centre and restricting the number of people attending ECZ Stakeholder-meetings as well as the frequency of the meetings to be held in the District with the By-election.

On other stakeholders, Mrs Chimanse said political Parties, for instance, are discouraged from holding public rallies to avoid the contraction of COVID-19 but are encouraged to use appropriate campaign strategies such as mobile Public Address System, distribution of flyers and other political party materials with minimal or no contact with a crowd.

She said parties should desist from ferrying cadres from one district/ward to the other for campaigns in Districts where by- elections are taking place and are encouraged to observe all the Health guidelines and procedures outlined by the Ministry of Health.

Mrs Chimanse has reiterated that the Commission will work very closely with the Ministry of Health during the by-elections and all Stakeholders participating in the Polls should abide by the Ministry of Health guidelines on the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19.

The Government Will Build Barracks for Zambia Army Officers Across the Country-President Lungu

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The Government Will Build Barracks for Zambia Army Officers Across the Country-President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has said the government will build barracks for Zambia Army Officers across the country because, despite the important role that military personnel play, not much has been done to appreciate them.

The President said that his experience as Minister of Defence, and Home Affairs showed that men and women in uniform were neglected and he has made it a point to ensure officers in the security wings are well looked after.

The Head of State said that the PF Government has done more than any other government when it comes to building houses and other supporting infrastructure for men and women in uniform.

President Lungu said this when he inspected works at the Buffalo Park Barrack in Lusaka today.

The Barrack which is situated opposite Apex University will have over seven hundred houses and a secondary school. The facility will also have two primary schools, hospital and office accommodation among others. The Barrack will further come with modern construction equipment which will allow the Army to venture into construction works.

The President told ZNBC News that such facilities will be replicated in all the ten provinces of Zambia.

Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General William Sikazwe said officers are happy with the State-of-the-Art infrastructure. General Sikazwe urged army personnel to exercise patience as the project will be completed in 2021 and not the scheduled 2022.

President Edgar Lungu inspecting works at the New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu inspecting works at the New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu inspecting works at the New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu inspecting works at the New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu inspecting works at the New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu inspecting works at the New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.
The New Buffalo Park Baracks in Lusaka.

8 new COVID-19 cases recorded as Information Minister Promises face masks for Pupils

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8 new COVID-19 cases recorded as Information Minister Promises face masks for Pupils

Zambia has recorded 8 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. This is according to the Ministry of Health which added that 4 COVID-19 patients from the Levy Mwanawasa Isolation facility have been discharged, thus increasing the number of recoveries to 192 cumulatively, leaving the country with 566 active cases in Health Facilities.

Speaking during the COVID-19 routine update on Monday Ministry of Health Director for Infectious Diseases Prof Lloyd Mulenga said the country has conducted 521 tests out of which 8 were positive.

“We are glad to report also four (4) discharged from the Levy Mwanawasa medical isolation center and we have continued also the supervised home isolation system which we have implemented in Nakonde.

We did conduct 521 tests from the University Teaching Hospital laboratories and also the Ndola Laboratories including Chinsali as well where the testing has started and from those, we are reporting 8 new cases .” Prof. Mulenga stated, adding that 3 are health workers from UTH, 5 are cases from the Copperbelt.

“We have 3 from Lusaka one is a 46-year-old health worker from UTH and another one is a 31-year-old who is a contact to a known case then we also have another woman who was detected through routine screening. Then from Copperbelt, we have recorded five of these five, one of them is a female health worker from Ndola Teaching Hospital and also we have a 23-year-old who is a contact to a known,” he added. Three cases recorded were from Solwezi.

Prof. Mulenga has stated that the Ministry has deployed 100 community health workers working with 50 case managers to follow up on those in homes under the new home isolation systems in Nakonde.

“As we speak we have more than 100 community health workers who are working with a dedicated team of 50 case managers to follow up those in homes,” he said

Meanwhile, Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya has said that masks will be distributed to pupils in examination classes and ensure schools have hygiene facilities in strategic places.

Ms. Siliya, who is also Minister Information and Broadcasting Services, said that there is also a need to screen for COVID-19 in schools so that if there is a case, it is quickly isolated to combat the spread.

The Minister also says orientation needs to be carried out among pupils, teachers, and parents on COVID-19 as classes resume under the “New Normal”.

Speaking during a Special interview on Radio Phoenix today, Ms. Siliya said the government continues to monitor the situation and will review the measures implemented when the need arises.

Ms Siliya also said that the government will defend any media house as long as they have not broken the law, adding in spite of the person being featured on their programmes.

Ms. Siliya said Zambia is a country of laws and that if anyone is aggrieved by one’s freedom of expression in the media, they should follow the procedure and report any issue to the Independent Broadcasting Authority -IBA.

She said it is not right to harass the media house and a Guest on a programme.

Government Restarts Negotiations with Mopani Copper Mines to Prevent the Closure

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Government Restarts Negotiations with Mopani Copper Mines to Prevent the Closure

Minister of Finance Bwalya Ng’andu has said that the government has restarted negotiations with Mopani Copper Mines Plc to find a solution that will avoid the mine being placed under care and maintenance.

Dr Ng’andu said that it is not the desire of the government to close the mine but find solutions to sustain operations beyond 90 days.

The Minister is leading a delegation which includes Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa, Minister of Labour Joyce Simukoko, Minister of Energy Mathew Nkhuwa, and Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe.

Speaking when he met Mine Unions and Mopani Copper Mines officials, Dr. Ng’andu said President Edgar Lungu has sent the team to discuss how best operations can continue running while being mindful of the challenges the mining firm is going through.

He is hopeful that discussions will center around continuing operations beyond 90 days as applied for by Mopani Copper Mines Plc to place the mine on care and maintenance.

Meanwhile, Mr. Musukwa said the government wants Mopani to structure a surviving model and engage local contractors as opposed to foreigners with a top cost profile.

Mr. Musukwa said engaging local contractors will help Mopani to deal with some of its challenges adding that the government remains open to dialogue to find a win-win situation.

And Mineworkers Union of Zambia President Joseph Chewe said Unions will not allow Glencore to close the mine and should they decide to do so they should be asked to leave.

Mopani Copper Mines Plc Acting Chief Executive Officer Charles Sakanya said the mine is faced with challenges among them VAT refunds.

The delegation is on the Copperbelt to find solutions to the challenges at Mopani Copper Mines Plc, Chambishi Metals, NFCA, Copperbelt Energy Corporation CEC, and Lubambe

Coronavirus: What is Madagascar’s ‘herbal remedy’ Covid-Organics?

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Coronavirus: What is Madagascar’s ‘herbal remedy’ Covid-Organics?

As COVID-19 spread across Africa and leaders put their countries in lockdown, Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina last month launched an herbal remedy that he claimed could prevent and cure the disease.

The announcement caught medical experts, who have scrambled to find a cure for the disease that has killed more than 252,000 and infected at least 3.6 million people globally, by surprise.

Rajoelina, a former DJ who in 2009 at the age of 34 became the continent’s youngest national leader, claimed at the launch that the remedy, named Covid-Organics, had already cured two people.

“This herbal tea gives results in seven days,” Rajoelina, 45, told journalists and diplomats in April.

Soldiers have since been going door-to-door in the Indian Ocean island country, which has reported 149 cases and no fatalities, dispensing the concoction.

What is in Covid-Organics?

The herbal remedy is produced from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy against malaria, and other indigenous herbs, according to the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, which developed the beverage.

The plant was first imported into the island nation in the 1970s from China to treat malaria.

It is now marketed in bottles as a herbal tea, while Rajoelina has said clinical trials are under way in Madagascar to produce a form that can be injected into the body.

Is it safe or effective?

Following Rajoelina’s claims, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people against using untested remedies for COVID-19.

“Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world,” WHO, the United Nations health agency, said in a statement on Monday.

“Even if therapies are derived from traditional practice and natural, establishing their efficacy and safety through rigorous clinical trials is critical,” the statement added.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warned people against using unproven remedies.

“There is no scientific evidence that any of these alternative remedies can prevent or cure the illness caused by COVID-19. In fact, some of them may not be safe to consume,” the CDC said.

Meanwhile, the African Union said it was in discussion with Madagascar with a view to obtain technical data regarding the safety and efficiency of the herbal remedy.

In an attempt to reassure people and brush aside safety concerns, Rajoelina took a dose of Covid-Organics at the launch event and said it was safe to be given to children.

Has it been exported?

Several African countries, including Tanzania, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, have either placed orders or have received consignments of the remedy.

On Sunday, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said he was dispatching a plane to Madagascar to collect a shipment of the tonic.

“I’m communicating with Madagascar,” Magufuli said during a speech, adding: “They have got a medicine. We will send a flight there and the medicine will be brought in the country so that Tanzanians too can benefit.”

Meanwhile in Guinea-Bissau, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo went to the airport on Saturday to receive a shipment of the beverage donated by the Madagascan leader.

COVID-19 has spread to all but one country in Africa, Lesotho. As of Tuesday, at least 1,862 people across the continent have died from the virus.

Source Al Jazeera

Miles Sampa shuts down a Chinese Restaurant for discriminating against Zambians

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Miles Sampa shuts down a Chinese Restaurant for discriminating against Zambians

Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa this morning shut down a Chinese Restaurant in Lusaka’s Long acres area for discriminating against Zambians.

Mr Sampa who was in the company of his Director of Health Edgar Mulwanda closed indefinitely the Chinese LANTIAN restaurant in Longacres.

He told Journalists after closing down the business that the action was taken because the owners abrogated laws under the Food and Health Act namely selling products labeled in Chinese and not English as prescribed by law, Trading without a License from the Council and had expired Fire certificate.

Mr Sampa said the Council will move in on all Restaurants and other hospitality services especially of Chinese owned that are conducting business without proper documentation or in an unethical manner.

Latian restaurant was reported by Muvi TV yesterday for only allowing entrance to Chinese and denying Blacks for apparently Covid19 related reasons.

Mr Sampa said he strongly reprimanded the owner a Mr Tang on that Malpractice as well.

He said apartheid finished a long time ago in Lusaka after Zambia gained Independence in 1964.

Mr Sampa has urged all residents of Lusaka to whistle blow on any business or trading place exhibiting unethical practices saying the Council shall move in decisively with supersonic speed.

Give Clear Guidelines for the 2020 agricultural marketing season, Government told

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Give Clear Guidelines for the 2020 agricultural marketing season, Government told

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development has called on the Government to give clear COVID-19 guidelines for the 2020 agricultural marketing season particularly in rural areas.

CTPD Senior Researcher Dr Simon Manda has observed that the current policy direction by Government to the COVID-19 crisis is inadequate in as far as providing a good framework for the fast approaching agriculture marketing season.

Dr Manda said the continued restrictions on social and economic activities risk causing widespread vulnerabilities especially for rural producers who face storage challenges and require quick access to markets.

He said it is a well-known fact that rural producers face diverse challenges such as poor storage, limited access to markets coupled with unclear agriculture marketing guidelines which often lead to serious delays in taking farmer’s produce to the markets eventually leading to sharp drops in commodity supply and price hikes.

Dr Manda said a prudent but cautious approach to agriculture marketing which considers the local context in the country can be advanced with clear marketing guidelines as the Government continues to fight the COVID-19 virus.

He warned that any delays to create COVID-19 agriculture marketing related guidelines might create social and economic problems probably much bigger than COVID-19 itself.

Dr Manda said in the current crisis, supporting broad based livelihoods will be crucial given that social protection is minimal.

Resident Doctors Association not happy with the pace at which the Zambian Government is responding to the concerns

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Resident Doctors Association not happy with the pace at which the Zambian Government is responding to the concerns

The Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace at which the Zambian Government is responding to the concerns that healthcare workers have expressed about being able to work safely and with assurance of Government’s support during the COVID-19outbreak.

The Association, which has over 3 000 members, comprising doctors located in both public and private institutions across the country, says that it is saddened that government has taken the usual approach to respond to the unusual matters of covid-19.

Dr Isaac Sakala, the Association President says it is now close to two months since these concerns were presented to government and Doctors expectation was that the matter would be treated with the urgency it requires.

He said the failure by government to act has created a lot of panic among health care workers and the anxiety continues to grow with every new healthcare worker who gets infected with Covid-19 disease.

Dr Sakala said the Healthcare workers working at the frontline of the COVID-19 response are suffering stigma, fatigue, psychological stress, long working hours, and extended periods of separation from their children and families.

He said the abrupt changes in duty station and the requirement to undergo quarantine in isolation facilities after serving in COVID-19 response centers has presented logistical challenges for frontline doctors.

Dr Sakala said in addition to these reported challenges, healthcare workers many of whom are in the early stages of their careers have expressed concern about how their children and families will be supported in the event that one sustains a disability or loses their life following a COVID-19 infection.

He said the Association continues to track the development of the epidemic within the country and around the world, and notes that health care workers are among the disproportionately affected groups in terms of infection and mortality.

Dr Sakala said the number of Zambian healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 continues to rise, and they feel that it is of critical importance to address conditions of service as they may be affected by the scourge of this disease.

He said all Civil Servants in Zambia are not covered under the current Workers Compensations Act and all those employed after the year 2 000 are not registered under the Public Service Compensation Fund for compensation.

Dr Sakala said this leaves out almost 90% of the healthcare workers with no cover for compensation in an event of calamity.

He has since urged the government to take advantage of the narrow window that still exists and ride on the good will of the healthcare workers as the situation has the potential to get out of hand the day we will start to record mortality of health care workers due to covid-19.

Dr Sakala said government must urgently Develop legislation that will ensure that any healthcare worker who may sustain a disability or even dies as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty be entitled to compensation.

He said Government must also expedite the matter of incentives that will help address the logistical challenges and the unprecedented risk healthcare workers are experiencing during Covid-19 fight.

Dr Sakala said while the Government might not be there yet, he has thanked them for continued efforts to ensure availability of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers in the face of global supply challenges.

He said the Association is looking forward to continued fruitful engagement that will translate into victory in the fight against COVID-19.

There is need to reactivate tourism activities in Livingstone-Chitotela

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There is need to reactivate tourism activities in Livingstone-Chitotela

Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says there is need to reactivate tourism activities in Livingstone following the reopening of the Victoria Falls by President Edgar Lungu.

Mr Chitotela said this can be done by revitalizing the sector businesses but with strict adherence to the health guidelines under the New Normal.

He has expressed happiness at the fact that Livingstone has not recorded a single case of Covid-19 and said he hopes there will be no such case soon so that tourists can start having the needed confidence of safety as they visit the tourism capital.

Mr Chitotela has observed that Zambia’s tourism industry is a major contributor to the domestic economy and Government wants to see it grow.

The Minister said as other countries are relaxing restrictions in the wake of the new coronavirus, Zambia being a land-locked country too slowly has to relax measures so that tourism can start the recovery path.

Mr Chitotela is also happy that some tour operators in Livingstone are already working out measures to reduce price structures to benefit local tourists and hoped that this could change the domestic tourism profile in the country.

Speaking on the Assignment programme on Muvi TV, Mr Chitotela said the best tourism performing economies like China, France and Spain in the world have made it out of the domestic markets

And Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale has visited the Victoria Falls with other provincial officials to assure tourists that it is safe to visit the tourism site.

There is nothing at the moment incriminating the Catholic Priest, Father Abel Mwewa-Zambia Police

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There is nothing at the moment incriminating the Catholic Priest, Father Abel Mwewa-Zambia Police

The Zambia Police Service has said that the matter involving a Catholic Priest, Father Abel Mwewa and a member of the Catholic Women’s League, Monica Mulenga will be subjected to an inquest following the outcome of the Postmortem.

At the moment there is nothing incriminating the Priest meaning that there are no circumstances to compel the Police to further investigate the matter not until the matter is determined by the Coroner’s Court, says Police spokesperson Esther Katongo.

An Inquest is a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts relating to an incident, in this case the sudden death in the case of Monica Mulenga.

Early this month, Police in Lusaka instituted an inquiry into the death of a 42-year-old woman of Garden House, who allegedly died in the Parish Priest’s House at Kaunda Square Catholic Church.

The woman identified as Monica Mulenga died on April 8th 2020.

The matter was reported the same day to Stalilo police post around 22:00 hours and the body was picked and taken to the University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

According to reports from the Catholic Women’s League (CWL), the woman was invited to Father’s Parish House on Holy Thursday night.

“She was a married woman from St. Maurice and she lied to her husband that she was going for a funeral with her fellow league members in Kaunda Square. Sadly she died in Abel’s room in the Parish House that night – on Holy Thursday,” said the source.

The source said the priest called some CWL members from St. Maurice who came to pick up the body and took it to Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital where she was confirmed dead on arrival and taken to the University Teaching Hospital mortuary as brought in dead (BID).

The source said the Archbishop of Lusaka was made to pay for the funeral expenses by the family of the deceased woman.

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