Government has implored the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Committee to visit the lower Zambezi National Park and carry out a thorough study on what is obtaining there and make recommendations to government.

Speaking when the he met the APRM Committee yesterday, Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said this is very important, as the issue of the Lower Zambezi has brought two economic sectors of the country into conflict and there is need for it to be scrutinized.

He said mining and tourism are of great importance in the country and therefore the APRM should make their submissions towards the conflict surrounding operations in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Mr Lubinda assured the delegation that government will look at recommendations as well as look forward to the generation of the report from the Committee by December 15th, 2019.

The Minister also said it is important that the Africa peer review mechanism that is being worked on succeeds, noting that African countries have for a long time allowed others to assess its performance in various sectors.

“There is need to look at it critically to see how it will contribute to improving the lives of the people in the country”, he said.

He added that of all the various Africa peer reviews, the current one is extremely well focused and pointed.

Mr Lubinda, said that Zambia being the second country to participate in the peer review, the country presents itself not only to be reviewed, but also to add to the building process of the structure.

He highlighted that the process itself is being developed and that there is no template that has been proven or used elsewhere, hence the need to revise and perfect it.

The Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by the Member States of the African Union, as a self- monitoring mechanism.

The mandate of the APRM is to encourage conformity with regards to political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards among African countries and the objectives in socio economic development as well as ensure monitoring and evaluation of AU agenda 2063 and SDGs 2030.

King of the Netherlands, His Majesty Willem- Alexander Claus George Ferdinand has called for increased collaboration and strengthening of bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Zambia.

King Willem-Alexander said Zambia and Netherlands have over the years enjoyed cordial relations which have culminated into various business activities at various levels.

The King further said that his government was keen to continue collaborating with the Zambian government on its priority sectors as well as areas of mutual benefit.

He said this during a closed-door meeting at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, shortly after receiving letters of Credence from Zambia’s Ambassador to Belgium and Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands, Prof. Esther Munalula Nkandu.

And Prof. Munalula Nkandu has appealed to King Willem-Alexander and the Netherlands government to consider extending cooperation with Zambia in the Energy, Agricultural and Educational sectors.

The Ambassador explained to the King that Zambia needed cooperating partners in Solar and renewable energy in order to cushion the power deficit that the country is currently facing.

She says that the dependence on hydro power supply was no longer sustainable because of the harsh effects of climate change.

She also implored the king on the need for the two governments to continue collaborating in the education and agricultural sectors.

“We had a wonderful conversation with the King on Zambia’s relations with the Netherlands, specifically on Agriculture, Energy and education. We have a few Dutch organisations present in Zambia, and the encouragement is that as they continue to expand they will engage more Zambians. This will be beneficial to both countries. In relation to Agriculture, our focus is on skills development and value addition with regards to agricultural produce in our quest to penetrate the Dutch market.”

“I also explained to His Majesty about the Seventh National Development Plan which government is using as blueprint towards attaining various goals for the country, and also our Missions strategic plan whose goals and objectives have been derived from the 7th NDP. We also spoke about Tourism, and I later extended an invitation to the King to visit Zambia. It was interesting to note that the King’s grandfather was a close friend to our First President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda”, The Ambassador explains.

The Ambassador says that she remains optimistic of a good relationship between the two governments as they work together towards achieving goals and objectives of mutual benefit.

This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary – Press and Public Relations
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia Phyllis Chilekwa.

Government has announced its commitment to promote people-centered development in all sectors of the economy by integrating population dynamics into development planning at national and sub-national levels, as enshrined in the Vision 2030.

Delivering Zambia’s commitments at the ongoing Summit on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) in Nairobi, Kenya, Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme assured the international community of Zambia’s unwavering commitment to implement matters that promote sustainable development.

The Minister who is representing government at the summit, said the authority is determined towards ensuring that rural industrialisation is enhanced.

“We thus commit to invest in primary health care, particularly health promotion, with robust and sustainable healthcare financing mechanisms.” He said.

“Zambia remains committed to eliminate all forms of discrimination, as well as strengthening the humanitarian preparedness and response. We further commit to strengthen equitable access to resources, to reach the most vulnerable populations.” The Minister added.

The Minister said Zambia remains committed to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls by domesticating international and regional instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and Girls and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

He revealed that government was further committed to end early child marriages by taking the necessary measures to accelerate the implementation of the national strategy and other policy and legislative frameworks, needed to end child marriages by 2030.

The Minister conveyed Zambia’s gratitude to Governments of the Republic of Kenya, Denmark and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for co-convening the Nairobi summit on ICPD25, to mobilize the political will and financial commitments needed to fully implement the ICPD Programme of Action.

The Nairobi Summit marks 25 years since I79 countries, including Zambia, adopted the landmark 1994 ICPD Programme of Action in Cairo, Egypt.

The Cairo Summit recognised the relationships between population, development and individual well-being, stressing the need for universal access to sexual reproductive health as a key target of the sustainable development goals.

The 2019 Nairobi Summit will map out a new 10-year vision, with fresh commitments on sustainable development.

This is contained in a press statement issued to ZANIS by National Development Planning spokesperson Chibaula Silwamba.

The government says the self-regulatory framework for churches and religious organizations is not meant to curtail the operations of church organizations in the country.

ZANIS reports that the Minister of Religious Affairs and National Guidance Godfridah Sumaili explained that the self-regulatory framework is aimed at ensuring that churches adhere to legal, ethical and other standards.

Reverend Sumaili said the self-regulatory frame will guide the church and religious organizations, from external control.

The Minister said this in a speech read for her by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela.

Reverend Sumaili added that the regulatory framework will also protect the congregants and the public from false men of God.

She noted that lack of a regulatory framework exposes the country to abusive and false teachings.

The Minister was speaking on the sidelines of the ministry’s “self-regulatory framework” meeting, which has attracted church and religious community leaders from across the country.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services Kampamba Chewe has revealed that over 70 percent of inputs under the 2019/2020 food security pack program have been distributed to the 33,800 targeted beneficiaries.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, Mrs Chewe explained that the early distribution is meant to give ample time for farmers to plant their crops in order to secure improved yields.

“We are very proud as a ministry and our beneficiaries out there are very happy. The few times we have received complaints is when the inputs were delayed till March posing a challenge to their planting”, she said.

The Minister further added that by the close of November, 2019, all the inputs will be distributed.

She urged the beneficiaries to plant on time with support from the local officers.

Mrs Chewe added that with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Zambia and DRC, the farmers should take advantage of the support given, by growing more maize for export.

Meanwhile the Minister assured beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer programme, that they will get all of their money in good time.

Mrs Chewe said the Ministry of Finance has begun disbursements of funds to Luapula and Muchinga provinces.

She stated that the ministry has been devising a formula with Smart Zambia, in order to ensure transparency of the programme.

Mrs Chewe further announced that the program will soon be launched and will see beneficiaries receiving their inputs, the bio-metrics way to ensure funds go to the intended beneficiaries.

She added that the new system will also provide an opportunity to monitor and evaluate the impact of the funds for the beneficiaries and see to it that it is used for the intended purpose.

Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela has invited churches to participate in observing the celebrations on December 29th, a day Zambia was declared as a Christian nation.

Reverend Sikwela implored church leaders to encourage their members to participate in the commemorations, adding that it is a day that Zambians are called to undertake a self-introspection in realising their Christian faith journey.

ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary said this during the ministry’s “self-regulatory framework” meeting, which has attracted church and religious community leaders.

He explained that December 29th, has been set aside specifically to commemorate the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, as pronounced by Late Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba.

Meanwhile Rev Sikwela has thanked churches that participated in observing the National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and reconciliation that falls on October 18th every year.

He said the ministry was overwhelmed with the response from churches that took part in the commemoration of the day of national prayer, adding that there is need for continued unity among the Christian community.

The Permanent Secretary has further explained that other faith based denominations present in Zambia should be allowed to worship freely, adding that no one should interfere with the worship of other faiths.

He noted that despite Zambia being a Christian nation, other faiths have been recognised, and as such, they must be allowed to conduct their services freely.