The Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) is expectant that President Edgar Lungu will emphasize on the importance of the dialogue amongst political stakeholders as he addresses the nation on national values and principles in parliament today.

SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says his organisation expects the president to emphasize on the importance of the national dialogue, adding that there is need for the Head of State to commit himself and his government to the national political dialogue as he addresses the nation.

Speaking on a live breakfast show on Hot FM radio today, Mr Cheembe said SACCORD believes that dialogue is very important in bringing about unity in the country.

Mr Cheembe said SACCORD also expects the Head of State to address the constitutional reforms and the application of the Public Order Act which was also being reformed.

He added that his organisation and the country will be interested to know which institutions will spearhead the implementation of national values and principles, so that they are held accountable.

Parliament yesterday suspended part of its standing orders to omit the Vice-President’s question time and allow for President Edgar Lungu’s address set for today.

President Lungu will address Parliament on the application of national values and principles which is in line with the Constitutional provisions that the Head of State should address Parliament at least twice a year.

President Edgar Lungu is determined to ending the scourge of Early and Forced Child Marriage in Africa and will continue to engage with other African leaders at the highest level to rid the Continent of the vice that has been endemic for many years, the United Nations has been informed.

Zambia’s Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri told the United Nations that President Lungu has continued to campaign against Early and Forced Child Marriage in Africa because he is a firm advocate of the protection of rights of the girl child.

Mrs. Phiri said President Lungu in his capacity as the Champion on Ending Early Child Marriage in Africa and working with the African Union has continued to guide the campaign against Early and Forced Child Marriage on the Continent.

Delivering her key note address at the 63rd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women side event dubbed; “Accelerating the elimination of harmful practices to reap the demographic dividend in Africa,” Mrs. Phiri said the campaign against Early Child Marriage in Africa has resulted into the formulation of legislation and national plans aimed at eradicating the vice in Africa.

The side event was hosted by Zambia, Burkina Faso, Canada and Italy in partnership with UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA and the African Union.

She stated that it is the responsibility of African governments to continue to challenge all forms of discriminatory laws and negative social norms under which the scourge of Early Child Marriage has continued to be perpetrated.

Mrs. Phiri said there is need for Governments in Africa to change the negative and social norms which have been perpetuating the harmful practices and that the change would only be come if governments continued to work with traditional leaders who are the custodian of cultures.

“President Lungu in his capacity as the Champion on Early Child Marriage in Africa, together with the African Union, continues to guide the campaign against the vice. It is our responsibility to challenge the discriminatory laws and negative social norms under which the vice of Early Child Marriage is being practiced,” Mrs. Phiri said.

She explained that educating the girl child remains the key component to ending child marriage because an enlightened and educated girl would acquire the abilities to stand against any form of social injustices as well as fight for her rights.

The Minister stated that Zambia and Canada together with a core group from of countries from all regions has tabled a resolution on Ending Child, Early and Forced Marriage in the General Assembly which has since been adopted by consensus by Member States.

She said Zambia is gratified that the 2018 resolution has among other things called on Member States and the International Community to pay special attention to the needs of girls and women.

“Ending Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) requires multi-stakeholder efforts from governments, cooperating partners, cultural and religious institutions and the media to take action towards the elimination of the harmful practices,” She added.

This is according to a statement issued to the media by First Secretary for Press at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Wallen Simwaka.

The Road Development Agency (RDA) says the delivery of pre-fabricated bridge components that were procured at the cost of US$ 73.7 million are expected to be completed by this month end.

RDA Communications and Corporate Affairs Director Masuzyo Ndhlovu told the media in an interview that the agency expect the last consignments of the components of the bridges will arrive in March Monthend.

Mr Ndhlovu said consignments of the pre-fabricated bridge components have been arriving in the country awaiting the time for installation once training for technical officers have been done.

He said the agency will conduct training for its technical officers and stakeholders who include officers from the Zambian National Service and Zambia Army to prepare them for installation of the bridges in designated places.

Government procured pre-fabricated bridge components to be installed on crossing points that have been washed away by heavy rains in some parts of the country.

The first consignment of the bridge components of the 131 prefabricated modular steel panel bridges that have been procured started arriving in the country in February.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing Permanent Secretary Engineer Charles Mushota and Road Development Agency officials received the first 8 containers carrying the components of the bridges in Lusaka West.

The project to install bridges has been planned to be implemented in seven provinces namely Northern, Muchinga, Lusaka, North Western, Luapula, Eastern and Central.

The RDA is in the process of engaging a contractor for the construction and installation of ten bridges in Eastern Province whose works will commence in the second quarter of 2019 which will be followed by the roll out of the installation to the other province.

The country has this year received torrential rains that have left some parts of the country being cut off from the rest of Zambia needing urgent response from the authority.

The Zambia Police Service has disclosed that out of the 22, 073 Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases reported in 2018, 10, 811 cases were withdrawn from various police stations, with an additional 201 cases withdrawn from the courts of law by GBV victims.

Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo told the media in an interview that from the 3,241 cases that were taken to court, 1,097 offenders were convicted, 79 cases were acquitted and over 1,000 were still pending in the courts of law.

And Women for Change Executive Director Lumba Siyanga says the organisation offers women entrepreneurship and business development training to victims, to help lessen their economic dependence on their abusers.

Ms Siyanga said the organisation has trained over 3, 000 women in entrepreneurial skills in the last five years, with startup businesses.

And Ms Siyanga added that the organisation is currently running a project where women are being encouraged to participate in decision making and leadership.

She has since urged GBV victims to be part of support groups where they can offer each other economic and social support.

Meanwhile, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has appealed to government to actualize the Economic Empowerment Fund for survivors of gender based violence.

YWCA Programmes Manager Mirriam Mwiinga says the Economic Empowerment Fund will help reduce the number of women withdrawing cases where the abusers are their husbands, as they will be able to support themselves in instances where the perpetrators are jailed.

The Road, Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) is in the process of implementing new fees on re-registration of motor vehicles.

To this effect, RTSA has called for consultative meetings with stakeholders and members of the general public to be held at the Government Complex in Lusaka and Civic Center in Kitwe and Livingstone.

This according to a notice issued by Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko dated March 2019.

RTSA intends to adjust rates related to road user fees, testing of motor vehicles for roadworthiness which will now be mechanised; and re-registration fees for all motor vehicles and trailers.

He said the meetings were being held in accordance with the Business Regulatory Act. No. 3 of 2014.

He said the Agency is required to recommend the user fees to the Ministry of Transport &Communications for approval before implementation.

RTSA is a statutory body established under the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 and mandated among other things, to implement Government policy on road transport, traffic management and road safety.

General Education Minister David Mabumba says his ministry is in talks with the Examinations Council of Zambia ECZ to revise the exam timetable for grades 7, 9 and 12.

Mr. Mabumba says the long periods that are spent writing exams may also be a reason for circulation of leakages among pupils.

He adds that the curriculum also needs to be revised because certain subjects that pupils are learning are being taught at wrong grades.

The minister also says teacher management will also be reviewed and the challenges that they face will be addressed.

Mr. Mabumba has also urged teachers to start authoring text books for pupils because they understand what pupils need due to the day to day interactions with them.

He says it is better for a local teacher to author a text book in vernacular rather than import such from abroad.

Mr. Mabumba was speaking when he toured some schools in Kafue District and had an interactive meeting with teachers from various schools within the district.

Chief Chikanta of the Tonga speaking people in Kalomo District has urged the leadership of the three Church mother bodies to put their house in order if they are to effectively spearhead any dialogue process.

Speaking at his palace in Kalomo, the traditional leader said the resignation of the United Church of Zambia Synod Bishop Reverend Bishop Sydney Sichilima as President of the Council of Churches of Zambia is an indication that there is something seriously amiss that need to be rectified among the leadership of the three Church mother bodies.

Chief Chikanta noted with concern that the three church mother bodies seem to be compromised.

He further advised the three Church mother bodies not to advance any other agendas inimical to the interests of the nation other than dialogue itself.

Bishop Sichilima resigned as President of the Council of Churches in Zambia last week and withdrew his participation in the three Church mother bodies.

In a letter addressed to the Three Church Mother Bodies and CCZ General Secretary, Bishop Sichilima said the move is meant to preserve the integrity of the United Church of Zambia.

Bishop Sichilima said he has also withdrawn his participation from the grouping.

He said as UCZ leader, there are certain biblical ethics that he cannot compromise in executing his pastoral duties hence his withdrawal from the church mother bodies and resignation from CCZ.