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To the unassuming eye, golf is a lifeline on courses across Zambia as the game rambled back to life over the weekend following a month-long hiatus when it was handed Covid-19 immunity of sports on lockdown.
Golf, together with tennis, got the good news last Friday in President Edger Lungu’s bi-weekly Convid-19 update national address.
However, tee-off for now remains strictly a social affair with social distancing guidelines still the rule while all club house bars will remain off-limit’s for the thirsty.
Golfs’ return is especially a big relief for the caddies who charge for their services to carry golfers’ equipment.
Caddies jobs goes beyond the long five-hour trek carrying a loaded golf bag that can weigh anything from 15-20 kilograms on the rolling courses and keeping track of the players’ golf balls positions.
They also play the unofficial role of second opinion technical advisor to the golfers.
But over the last one month, their daily bread and butter was wiped-out to zero.
I got an insight into just how much the caddie and golfer relationship works from a playing member of Chainama Golf Club in Lusaka.
“The green fees are K100.00 while caddies fees per game are K80 but we end up paying K100 because of the silent tip,” the golfer said.
“They can caddie for two or three people in one day…early morning players, midday players and those late afternoon players. Other caddies even have full time bwanas who like pay them something more like salaries”
But with the lockdown, it tested that harmonious relationship.
“One called asking me to send money via Airtel money that he needed to buy medication at the chemist for his sick child,” he said
“Then I got a call that a caddie had died at Lusaka Golf Club. The person who called said they were merely calling numbers saved on his phone for assistance.
“I remembered the caddie because I once used him. I merely gave my number so that the next time my usual caddie was not around, I could use his services.”
And so the lifting of the golf club ban is certainly a welcome financial chip of the ball out of the rough and onto the safety of the greens but sadly where the shadow of a health bogey of global proportions still lurks.
The Mufulira Central Sports Organisation has bemoaned the poor state of most sports and reaction facilities on the Copperbelt.
Organisation General Secretary Alick Tembo has cited lack of maintenance and vandalism as some factors leading to the deterioration of sports infrastructure.
Tembo, a former ZCCM sports and recreation officer in Mufulira, also bemoaned the tendency by councils to allocate plots on land that hosted football grounds and play parks.
“The sports complexes on the Copperbelt are in a deplorable state. I am referring to the facilities that used to host ZCCM sports festivals and training such as the ones in Mufulira, Nchanga, Nkana, Luanshya and Chililabombwe,” the ex-Mighty Mufulira Wanderers player said.
“The future of sports infrastructure in Zambia leaves much to be desired as the new and old infrastructure are being vandalised. People concerned have also failed to maintain the infrastructure,” Tembo said.
“To make matters worse our local authorities national wide are busy allocating residential plots forgetting to spare areas for sports complexes,” he added.
Tembo wants councils to take an active role in maintaining existing sports infrastructure while establishing modern ones.
“We are also urging our civic leaders to also allocate funds from Constituency Development Fund for the renovation of defunct clubs and sports infrastructure in a bid to support sports development,” he said.
President Edgar Lungu as wished First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda a happy 96th Birthday which falls today. In his message of goodwill to Dr. Kaunda, President Lungu said April 28th always brings to his fond memories of Dr. Kaunda as President of Zambia, a title that President LUNGU assumed 24 years later.
The President said he admires Dr. Kaunda’s gallant fight for Zambia’s liberation. President Lungu added that he admires Dr. Kaunda’s fight for freedom and independence of other African nations. He said the story of Africa cannot be told without mentioning the name of Dr. Kaunda.
President Lungu said Dr. Kaunda’s achievements are too numerous to itemize, suffice to say that without his passion to have all young people educated, Zambia will not have been what it is today.
The Head of State said that he prays for Dr. Kaunda’s good health even in his advanced age. President LUNGU said that on behalf of the Nation and his family he has wished Dr. Kaunda a 96th Birthday.
This is according to a statement released to media by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.
And the South African’s ruling African National Congress has released the following statement to wish President Kaunda a 96th Birthday.
ANC WISHES PRESIDENT “KK” HAPPY 96th BIRTHDAY
Today marks the 96th birthday of the first President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Buchizya David Kaunda.
The African National Congress joins the people of Zambia and the African continent as a whole in wishing this outstanding statesman, freedom fighter and humanist, President Kaunda, a very happy 96th birthday!
President Kaunda holds a special place in the hearts of our movement, our country and her people. He opened up Zambia and made it the home and headquarters of the ANC for over 30 years. This was a demonstration of President KK’s belief that Zambia would not be free until sister countries in the continent that were still under the yoke of colonial oppression were free. He was a great friend of our President Oliver Tambo and became a loyal friend of the people of South Africa during our hour of need. President Kaunda maintained support for the ANC and other liberation movements despite the policy of the apartheid regime which was aimed at the destabilisation of governments in the region. The people of Zambia suffered immensely economically and socially due to President Kaunda’s unwavering support of our country and other countries in the region that were fighting racism and colonial oppression.
President KK is part of a generation of illustrious leaders of the African continent, who dedicated their lives to the liberation of their countries and peoples. In 1963 when he became President of the Pan-African Freedom Movement for East, Central and Southern Africa, he used this position to advance freedom in the region. He extended his influence to the global level after Zambia’s independence, serving as chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity from 1970 to 1971 and from 1987 to 1988.
The selflessness of President Kaunda and his peers such as our own President Nelson Mandela, President Oliver Tambo and others must inspire us to continue the struggle for an Africa that is free of landlessness, poverty, disease and human suffering.
As we fight the invisible enemy that is the vicious novel corona virus, we draw inspiration from President Kaunda and his peers. We will soldier on and ensure that the freedom they fought for does not disappear in the face of this public health emergency.
President Kaunda was honoured with the National Order of the Companions of OR Tambo by the South African government, the highest honour awarded to international friends of our country who displayed great solidarity during our struggle for liberation.
Happy Birthday President KK. You remain an inspiration to the people of South Africa. We are truly grateful for the gift of your life!
We wish you good health, a long life and success in every endeavour in your retirement.
Let’s honor President KK by adhering to precautions as we fight the deadly Coronavirus and by continuing to #StayAtHome
Protect Yourself. Defend Each Other: Let’s Do It Together
ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, CDE ACE MAGASHULE
In a bid to make a light moment for his music fans, Chanda Mbao has declared himself the president of an association known as the Yo Bally Association of Zambia (YBAZ for short, we are told). He made the announcement by way of releasing a surprise single a couple of weeks ago. The single was even launched on the website www.yobally.com in a bid to legitimize the association.
When asked about the meaning and mission of the association, Chanda Mbao noted that often young urban youths who speak a certain way in Zambia are stereotyped, and so his goal was to create positive connotations for young urban youths in Zambia. To that end, he published the Yo Bally Code of Conduct on the website which has gotten positive feedback. Chanda mentioned that he intends to get together with young Zambian men to engage in positive activities underneath the auspices of the association but for now he wishes to impart a set of values they should aspire to.
When asked about the song, Chanda narrated that his goal was to release something light-hearted during these tough times and bring a smile to the faces of young Zambians who follow his music. Ultimately, he said, he hopes to be a positive influence and hence his anti-drug references and his drafting of the Yo Bally Code of Conduct.
In the heart of the jungle, man and beast were dead in their tracks, locked in a gaze. Roaring and ready to pounce was the king of the jungle, famished yet strong. Standing at 6ft 2in (1.88m, including the zonky hair) with bicycle above the head, ready to hurl, was Buchizya, the man who would become president.
The bicycle as a weapon was drawn from the entrails of his instinct without a pause of thought. The locking of eyes was about the only defence Buchizya had, triggered by a high level of adrenaline. He, like most of the Chinsali young men who scoured the savannah forest learned that the locking of eyes with a predator such as the one before him, eliminated the surprise of ambush.
In what seemed like eternity, Buchizya’s 24-year old heart did not succumb nor did it lodge into his throat. He could hear it pumping the same way it had since he came into this world on this day the 28th April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-four in the Bembaland called Lubwa in the Chinsali District.
It’s clear his Malawian parents, missionary and teacher Reverend David Julizya Kaunda, son of Mtepa Kaunda and NyaChirwa both Tongas of Nkhata Bay, and teacher Helen Jengwera Nyirenda, daughter of the Tumbuka (Henga) elderman Mugagana Nyirenda of Chisanya Village near Ekwendeni, were content with seven children. When he showed up, they named him Buchizya, meaning “the unexpected one”—just as unexpected as the lion.
A FATHERLESS CHILD
As a young boy, intuitively mapping his destiny, Buchizya was aware his parentage was a thorn in his side. He began to distance himself from his own tribe and the country of Malawi (Nyasaland). Beholden to Bemba dictates, he embraced the Bemba language and spoke it with an accurate intonation, just like his childhood Bemba friends Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Robert Speedwell Kapasa Makasa, and John Malama Sokoni.
As he grew older, he was able to identify and understand the classifications of thought, codes and pictograms that undergirded the Bemba language and culture. By the time he became a teacher at Lubwa, at the age of sixteen, Buchizya was a quintessential Bemba. An authority on the language, a Bemba gatekeeper would capture not a scintilla of accent.
At the age of eight Buchizya interred his father. The death of David Kaunda rendered a blow in the gut of the Kaundas. David, the African-Malawian who brought rigor to Lubwa was notorious for his impertinence and insubordination to white authority, an attitude that landed him in prison for a couple of hours for drumming for the 10 o’clock church service while the Chinsali Native Commissioner’s wife was still in bed. To the Chinsali white civil servants, and some Catholic missionaries, David’s death brought a sigh of relief.
With David gone, the hamstrings of the Kaunda influence were expurgated and the family was left vulnerable in a foreign land. Without a father, young Buchizya’s deep-seated anxiety about the future took command. Mindful of the indubitable service of his father which so justly entitled him, he saw a sudden necessity of doing for himself that which nudged his sensibility.
From his earliest age, Buchizya was judged to be more determined, more polemical, and more fearless than his siblings—more like his uncle Robert Gwebe Nyirenda. Circumstantially, his uncle, Helen’s brother Robert Gwebe Nyirenda (senior) of Karonga, Nyasaland (Malawi), had stolen his heart, perhaps at birth and washed over him.
Robert, who throughout his teacher’s training at Overtoun Institution, Khondowe, opposed European imperialism gave up teaching, and in 1912 became one of the founders of the North Nyasa Native Association, Malawi’s first political party. It was from this celestial realm that Buchizya descended. As he grew older he unconsciously hopped on his uncle’s golden wings and took a flight.
MORE DEADLY THAN THE LION
But landing was not that easy. There was molten bubbling on the surface. That molten was his identity. It was more deadly than the lion. It was an enigmatic faulty right from birth. When, he told his mother and siblings that he was abandoning teaching and throwing himself into the politics of a country that was not his, they cautiously took a backseat to his ambition for they knew what lay ahead. Buchizya was not “one of us,” many Bembas said. He was a foreigner, a bona fide Malawian, a Malawian Tonga with Tumbuka roots.
But Buchizya “the unexpected” was born an outlier with unbridled ambition. It was not just his handsome ebony face under the kalwena-combed zonky hair, there was a truculent stubbornness about him that never could bear to be terrified at the will of others, not even at that of a lion. In the company of fellow boys; Kapwepwe, Makasa, Sokoni and others, some older than him, Buchizya was often a trailblazer. In general, he was extraordinary in the decisions he made.
He was intrepid too. With a born-to-fight Mtepa mindset, Buchizya, eyes still set on the lion, waved the bicycle. Mtepa was the grandfather he never met, a brave Tonga warrior who died in the revolt against the Ngonis in 1895, seventeen years after David’s birth. Cognizant of Buchizya’s clout, the lion turned, and slowly slunk off into a mesh of elephant grass.
Watching the lion disappear, Buchizya breathed a sigh of relief. As he got back on the bicycle, he thanked God for His tender mercy and sang songs of praise, not in Tonga, Tumbuka, not even in English, but Bemba, the language he had to perfect if he were to meet the demands of his 1952 new role of Provincial Organizing Secretary of the African National Congress (ANC) for the Northern Province.
Riding his bicycle through a forest inhabited by some of the most dangerous creatures in the world, Buchizya was thinking for himself. He was a notch ahead of other early political rising stars Godwin Mbikusita Lewakina, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Dauti Yamba, Mainza Mathew Chona, and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe. Unlike them, he possessed a singular ability to translate the majesty of his imagination and idealism into a pragmatic stratagem that befitted his dream—that of becoming president of the Republic of Zambia.
But with the label of “foreigner” stuck to his back like a leech, Buchizya knew his cycling was in vain and the fate of his political career at stake. He knew he had to overcome a deep-seated prejudice and the common wisdom that no foreigner could rule Zambia. Acknowledging only his identity could defeat him, he branded himself a Bemba, and dropped his Buchizya name and replaced it with his father’s name David. Henceforth he was to be called Kenneth David Kaunda. He did so, knowing his father was someone the Bembas revered.
A BRILLIANT STRATEGY
Then, he devised a brilliant piece of political strategy with audacious assertions. Aware recalcitrant friends still held him at arm’s length, and did not fully embrace his self-acquired Bemba kinship, Kenneth doubled his efforts by courageously inculcating his self-proclamation in the minds of the Bemba people, and set out to take their temperature. To this, he got himself a bicycle, an acoustic guitar, a prophetic toga (a cloth draped over the shoulders and around the body), and Jesus sandals. Then later, he added the famous white handkerchief.
The bicycle, the same one that had just saved his life, he used to cycle the breadth and depth of the beast infested savannah; the guitar juxtaposed his melodious voice each time he sang “Tule bomba tule bachulila ba mwansa kabinga” (We are working and suffering for colonizers), and other songs of social protest; the prophetic toga he wore to look like the law giver who met God face-to-face on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments; and the Jesus sandals completed the “prophetic” outfit. The white handkerchief was a necessary prop used when too much pressure was laid on the safety valve of his emotions.
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda with United National Independence Party supporters after a meeting with Iain Macleod, Colonial Secretary, March 1960. Source: UK National Archives
A combination of the above paraphernalia coupled with a good measure of charisma, gave Kenneth an acceptable unique iconic poise. The Birth Trait theory was held in him that “some humans are born with unique qualities that earmark them for leadership, while the majority of people are destined to follow and be subordinate.”
Everywhere he went people gathered in their hundreds to hear him speak. There was a thrum of urgency in his tone when he spoke or sang. Each time he did, his voice rose an octave with unspoken cry for freedom. In towns and cities his fame spread in advance, and people flocked to his rallies. Many considered him a hero—a martyr, even a prophet. When he shouted “kwacha!” they all replied “ngwee!” in hysteria and carried him shoulder high as he waved his white handkerchief.
Right to Left: Sam Nujoma, Samora Machel, Kenneth Kaunda, Robert Mugabe
KK THE LIBERATOR
The lion infested path Kenneth took on his bicycle led him to the State House on 24th October 1964. Along the path, Buchizya “The Unexpected One” guided by his personal beliefs and conviction became Kenneth David Kaunda the radical vegetarian; the prisoner; the humanist; and the liberator.
In a chaotic world, Kenneth became an immensely popular president at home and abroad. At times he used to be everywhere opening doors that were closed to others. Throughout he spoke in a language of unity. Sometimes he spoke in the language of forgiveness and love. Of course there were times he erred. Many times. But is it fair to say he was God given; that although his ninety-six years have been punctuated by brilliant flickers, bedazzling delights, and heart breaking sorrows, his legacy and old age are worth living for. Was he a God? Of course not. Was he a saint? No. Was he like no other? Without any doubt. Is he human? You bet.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA
Author is a US-based Zambian multicultural scholar practitioner and author. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts, U.S.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema says he will not repeat the same mistakes he made before when selecting vice-presidents.
He said if the elective conference allows him to stand on behalf of the UPND, he will then announce the running mate. He pointed out that he will exercise due care in doing so.
“We won’t rush this process. Let’s look at the US example. Biden is the presumptive nominee for the Democrats in this year’s election but they are yet to announce the VP,” he said.
Hichilema said the issue of the VP is one he has deeply reflected on and admitted that in the past he made mistakes that saw him being deserted.
“I admit making mistakes before but not this time. We must learn from our past and ensure that moving forward, we should not only consult but thoroughly vet. I can safely say, you will not be disappointed,” he said.
At some point, the UPND saw a number of its vice-presidents leaving the posts and party under unclear circumstances, these include Sakwiba Sikota, Patrick Chisanga, and Bob Sichinga.
Others include Francis Simenda left on his own after being allegedly offered a position by PF as ambassador to Ethiopia. The PF is said to have cheated him and in less than six months, they dismissed him from his diplomatic job. And Richard Kapita left to campaign for the PF and Edgar Lungu. He was rewarded a position of provincial minister in the PF government.
Dr Cannisius Banda left in frustration after being left out as a running mate to HH. GBM was HH’s preferred running mate.
At one time the National Management Committee of the UPND passed a vote of no confidence in Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba a VP then and asked him to exculpate himself from allegations of gross misconduct.
However, according to the party spokesperson, the high turnover of UPND vice-presidents was not Hichilema’s fault. He claimed that in some of the cases, the ruling party had its dirty hand in it.
REPUBLICAN President Edgar Lungu has paid glowing tribute to the Zambian soccer community in remembrance of the 1994 national football team that perished off the coast of Gabon 27 years ago.
In a statement issued to media yesterday by his President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Mr Isaac Chipampe, the Head of State described the accident as one of the most difficult moments for Zambia and wished it had not happened.
” I wish you had reached Dakar, Senegal your final destination, I wish, with your collective talents you could have conquered Senegal and Morocco, we could have probably won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and we could arguably qualified for the first time to the world that very fateful year” President Lungu lamented.
The President remembered how the very team made the country proud when it thrashed Itali 4- 1 at the Olympics held in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, in 1988.
“I remember how then President of Zambia Dr Chiluba delivered a Eulogy that ended with the nation weeping, I remember anger among Zambians, I remember our sadness but most of all I remember our unity,” President Lungu said.
President Lungu who is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Zambia also paid tribute to the 1994 ZAF aircraft crew that perished along with the national team off the coast of Gabon.
“I pay tribute to you Colonel Feston Mhone, Lieutenant-Colonel James Sachika, major Edward Nambote, and Steward Thomson Sakala,” the president said.
The Head of State said that as much as the squad of 1993 did not fulfill their mission in 1994 another generation of football players fulfilled it 18 years later when Zambia beat Ivory Coast in Gabon to become the 2012 African Champions.
The Center for Trade Policy and Development has called on Government to seriously rethink its definition of key economic sectors.
The CTPD is of the view that whilst calls to re-open certain sectors amidst COVID19 are welcome, there was a need to clearly define what constitutes key economic activities and differentiate those that are social in nature.
CTPD Senior Researcher Dr. Simon Manda says key economic sectors are those that contribute immensely to the country’s GDP, job creation, domestic resource mobilization and help to reduce poverty and inequality.
Dr Manda said the sectors which were recently announced by the President fall short of that definition.
“When we talk about economic sectors, we have in mind sectors such as agricultural food production, mining and local manufacturing”, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Manda has also called on the Government to consider the vulnerable, poor and equally food insecure urbanites as it comes up with interventions aimed at protecting the affected populations from COVID-19.
He has observed with concern that the scaling down of economic activities and restrictions on social movements could create a new stream of urban poor as they face financial constraints due to reductions in or loss of jobs in the wake of COVID-19.
Dr Manda also advised Government to identify needy urban households especially in high density areas and consider introducing support such as through food banks.
“Such food Centers can act as fall back strategies for struggling urbanites,’’ He noted. Dr Manda and disclosed that for Lusaka alone food banks could play a pivotal role in closing gaps in food access to the majority of who do not have reliable access to food and that this raises the need for not only government support but also food charities and ordinary individuals.
Dr Manda added that recent records show that close to 1 million people (between 23 – 30%) are characterized as poor, the majority of whom live in high-density areas.
“These face unique livelihood challenges due to their close connections to markets on the one hand and generating incomes from informal opportunities. These dynamics make food access through markets and most importantly capacity to switch food preferences difficult’’, He added.
Dr. Manda stressed that this can help address not only food insecurity but also food waste by distributing food which otherwise would have lost.
He further added that food banks can play a vital role in supporting and sustaining vibrant local food systems and can leverage their purchasing volumes to support urban food security and regional economies.
Dr Manda has however urged government to consider working with different charities, churches and other key actors to find actual modalities and pathways for delivering food to needy households.
The OYDC Zambia – Sports Development Centre will consult the Ministries of Health and Youth, Sport and Child Development, National Sports Council of Zambia, and the National Olympic Committee of Zambia on steps to take to resume some sports activities which do not involve physical contact.
OYDC Zambia, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fredrick Chitangala says this move follows the recent national address by President Edgar Lungu, where he announced that non-contact sport activities such as tennis & golf could resume.
Dr. Chitangala says if the relevant stakeholders give OYDC a green light, the Centre will resume sports activities in tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, pool, and chess adding that all those who will be accessing the sports facility will be screened for body temperature at the main gate which will be the only entry to the facility. He adds that not more than fifty spectators will be allowed at every particular event and will ensure that everyone maintains social distancing, wear face masks and wash their hands on entry. All athletes will be required to carry with them hand sanitizers.
The OYDC Zambia, on 17th March, 2020 suspended “All Sport and Non-sport” activities indefinitely following the outbreak of the Covid-19.
“Following President Edgar C. Lungu´s recent national address, the OYDC Zambia, is consulting key stakeholders on next steps to take to resume some of the sport activities which were suspended indefinitely on 17 March, 2020”.I wish to reiterate that OYDC Zambia, values the health of every citizen, and it is our hope that measures being taken by government to avoid the further spread of the virus are adhered to by all wellmeaning Zambians to curb this deadly pandemic which has claimed a number of lives” he said.
The American Embassy in Zambia has called on the Zambian government and the global community not to lose ground in the fight against malaria.
United States Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires David Young said without focused attention and collaboration, there was a risk of running in a dangerous spike in health complications and deaths associated with malaria.
In a statement to ZANIS on world malaria day 2020 today whose theme is “zero malaria starts with me”, Mr. Young said his country through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), has joined the Zambian government and the global community in commemorating the world malaria day 2020.
Mr. Young noted that from 2007, PMI has invested over US$300 million to combat malaria nationwide in Zambia with a focus on five high malaria-burden provinces namely Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern.
He said the funds provided 2.3 million insecticide-treated bed nets and funded indoor residual spraying.
He further said his government and its people had also helped to provide 21 million rapid diagnostic tests and over 8.8 million life-saving malaria treatments to Zambians.
This contained in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by U.S Embassy Press Office.
Government has dispatched a team of experts from the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) to conduct COVID-19 mass screening in the border town of Nakonde, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has disclosed.
Dr. Chilufya said following the two COVID-19 positive people who entered the country through Nakonde, government has decided to send experts to conduct mass screening in the border town to ensure people who might have come in contact with the couple are screened.
He said the mass screening in Nakonde is necessary because the neighbouring Tanzania has also recorded a number of COVID-19 cases.
The Minister of Health said the Zambian government has since engaged its Tanzanian counterpart to strengthen cross border collaboration in view of the outbreak of the pandemic in the two countries.
He said the contacts of the Chingola couple which tested positive after returning from Tanzania are being traced and screened for the disease adding that contact tracing is still ongoing.
Dr. Chilufya was speaking to journalists at Ndeke House in Lusaka today during the daily COVID-19 updates.
The Minister further disclosed that the country has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 in last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 89.
He clarified that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Zambia has gone to 89 from 88 after adding two new cases because one of those reported recently from the Copperbelt was not a new case but a repeated test.
This means that Copperbelt remain with only four cases of COVID-19 instead of five because of the error in tallying of the cases.
He said mass screening and targeted screening of covid-19 in Lusaka will continue.
He has since called on the public to adhere to the health guidelines as announced by government.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health has called on the members of the public to adjust their lifestyle to make the health guidelines part of their daily routine because the COVID-19 pandemic was likely to be around for a long period of time.
Dr. Chilufya said members of the public should always mask up and observe social distance to prevent themselves from contracting or transmitting the deadly disease which is likely take long to be eliminated in the country.
He said the only effective way to prevent catching the deadly pandemic is to mask up and keep a distance from each other.
Responding to questions from journalists who wanted to know if anyone has come up with any COVID-19 drug for trial like it was happening in Madagascar, Dr. Chilufya stated that Zambia has not yet found any evidence based remedy to the pandemic.
He said the Ministry of Health is open for anyone who has a cure to present his medicine to be tested.
The African continent has recorded about 32,657 cases with 1,427 death as of today while the global figure of cases has gone to 3,017,766 with 207,722 deaths.
The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority has noted with concern, reports in some sections of the media about people promoting and selling falsified medicines and allied substances recommended for use as preventive measures against Coronavirus such as alcohol- based hand sanitisers.
To this effect, the Authority has heightened Post Marketing Surveillance through inspections and monitoring of advertisements and promotion of medicines and allied substances related to COVID-19 on the Zambian market.
Furthermore, the Authority is following up with individuals and companies claiming to have products that can prevent, treat or cure COVID-19.
ZAMRA Senior Public Relations Officer Christabel Iliamupu says sampling and testing of products such as alcohol-based hand sanitisers on the market is on-going and products which fail to meet the set standard of quality, safety and efficacy shall be withdrawn from circulation.
Mrs Iliamupu said the Authority has also continued undertaking robust assessments of product labeling information and production documents for medicines and allied substances, and where necessary, provide guidance to manufacturers on the minimum requirements.
“Falsified medicines and allied substances are harmful and unsafe with a potential of seriously endangering one’s health. This is why we are working tirelessly to ensure that such products are not placed on the Zambian market’’, she said.
Mrs Iliamupu has further warned people engaging in production and sale of falsified medicines and allied substances to refrain from such vices or risk being prosecuted as provided for under the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No.3 of 2013.
She said ZAMRA remain committed and resolute in ensuring that only medicines and allied substances which meet the set standards of quality, safety and efficacy are placed on the Zambian market.
TWO new COVID-19 cases have been recorded out of 184 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has said. Speaking at the latest COVID-19 update, Dr. Chilufya explained that the two cases involve a 13-year-old and 34 years old both of Kafue, all from the mass screening.
He said cumulatively cases now stand at 89, 3 deaths, 44 active cases with recoveries still remaining at 37 while 2,942 individuals have completed the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
And Dr. Chilufya has rectified that the earlier reported positive case from the Copperbelt is a repeat case as it is part of those that are already in admission at Masaiti Hospital.
He said the number of cases on the Copperbelt, therefore, remains 4 and not 5 as was reported yesterday.
He said there is a need for all to continue being patriotic and support all the directives if the pandemic can be contained effectively.
“The need for us to adhere to the directive on masking is extremely important. We are passing on the masks to the needy and nothing is being kept. ” Dr. Chilufya encouraged and assured that all the masks been donated are being distributed to the general public as well as frontline staff.
He said engagements with MPs and community leaders to distribute masks to the public have been intensified and assured that all donations are being used prudently with high levels of transparency.
“I want to assure you that there is prudence in the utilization of every penny. We are working with all government agencies to ensure there is accountability” he said.
And Dr. Chilufya said mass screening will continue in targeted places in Lusaka and said a scalable approach is being implemented which will see an increase in tests of approximately 1,000 people daily to identify and isolate as many cases as possible in order to avoid further spread of the virus.
He further announced that a team of experts has been dispatched in Nakonde which is due to undergo massive screening and contact tracing.
Dr. Chilufya appreciated the frontline health workers and assured them of President Edgar Lungu’s support and said he salutes and urges them to continue with the hard work which they have exhibited so far.
There are growing levels of suspicion, lies, and misinformation about the safety and accountability of Covid-19 donations. Some individuals and publications have gone on a rampage accusing Government and innocent people of looting Covid-19 donations.
The truth, however, is that Government has put very stringent measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the receiving and disposing of all Covid-19 donations.
According to the Public Finance Management Act (2018), all donations given to the Government constitute public resources and must be accounted for accordingly.
All donations towards the Covid-19 pandemic are subject to the following statutory provisions which Government is strictly adhering to as guided by the Ministry of Finance:
Government has opened bank accounts with 16 banks specifically for purposes of Covid-19 donations.
All monetary donations are deposited directly into the GRZ Covid-19 Accounts. No cash is allowed; all the monetary donations are deposited in the banks, not even a single coin is given in cash to any single individual.
Once deposited, the funds are transferred to the Bank of Zambia and are managed by the National Treasury.
All Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies are compelled by law to ensure that all Covid-19 related funds being received from the Treasury are charged on appropriate budget lines in accordance with treasury guidelines.
All expenditure related to COVID-19 activities in Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies are made by Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to ensure transparency and strict accountability.
All Covid-19 donations are subjected to stringent internal audit processes as prescribed by the law.
All Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies submit income and expenditure returns on all COVID-19 funds received from the Treasury by 5th of every month to the Office of the Accountant General in accordance with Section 11(1) (p) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2018.
In the case of Aid-In-Kind, Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies receive and dispose such through the procedures stipulated in the law. In view of this, Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies are compelled to submit monthly returns on all Aid-In-Kind transactions to the Office of the Accountant General, Ministry of Finance.
All recipient Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies have separate records and reports on the utilisation of donations from Cooperating Partners to ensure strict and higher levels of accountability and transparency.
All donations towards COVID-19 are strictly used for the stipulated purpose, nothing, not money or material goods are permitted to be used for any other purposes other than Covid-19 related purposes.
The Treasury periodically submits a consolidated return of receipts and expenditure from Ministries, Provinces and Public Service Controlling Agencies to the Controller of Internal Audit and Office of the Auditor General for verification.
In conclusion, we would like to sincerely thank all those that have donated towards the fight against Covid-19. Your generosity is going a long way in alleviating the numerous and enormous challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic is posing.
We wish to encourage others to emulate the kind gestures of generosity shown this far.
To our frontline staff, we can never be thankful enough for your sacrifice and bravery in providing your invaluable service to serve others.
Finally, we would like to encourage everyone to stay at home and adhere to the preventative measures and directives as spelt by Government.
The Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) has announced the financial relief packages available to its customers in the awake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ZANACO Acting Chief Executive Officer Lishala Situmbeko explained that the relief is aimed at cushioning the negative economic effects that COVID-19 has caused on the customers.
“The impact that the COVID-19 has had on individual and business cannot be ignored and it calls for all of us to be supportive of each other. As a bank, we recognize the need to support our customers at a time like this, because it is not business as usual,” said Mr. Situmbeko.
He noted that the relief will be available to personal, business banking and corporate customers who have existing loan facilities with the bank.
He said this will be done after extensive engagements with different customers and stakeholders.
Mr. Situmbeko stated that the relief will include extension of loan tenures, refinancing of loans and loan repayments holidays.
He added that the assistance will be provided in line with the bank’s credit parameters and customer needs.
He further explained that ZANACO seeks to ensure that it customers’ cash flow are cushioned in the medium term and will also provide business coaching and investment guidance.
“We would like to assure our customers that they are not alone in this journey, our doors are open and we are ready to assist them through these uncertain times and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
This is contained in press statement issued to media by ZANACO Head of Marketing and Communications Mutinta Musokotwane.
