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The Health Professions Council of Zambia has commended Health Practitioners at the University Teaching Hospitals and Chipata Central Hospital for the recent successful operation on Richard Zulu, the 3 year 7 months old boy from Eastern Province, in whose body more than 40 needles were discovered.
HPCZ Head of the Public Relations Unit Terry Musonda said the service by Health Practitioners both from Chipata and Lusaka is commendable as it not only shows the individual Practitioner’s capabilities, but displays commitment to improving delivery of quality healthcare within Zambia.
Mr. Musonda says the HPCZ recognises that this is not the first time Local Specialists are exhibiting skill, the separation of conjoined twins Bupe and Mapalo at the University Teaching Hospital sometime in the year 2018 is another landmark operation that will never be ignored on the list of successful work of the Health Professionals.
Mr. Musonda has since urged all Health Practitioners in the Country to take the several success stories recorded as a drive to sustained delivery of skilled healthcare.
He said HPCZ will continue to follow developments in the Health Sector, including efforts by Professionals to deliver quality healthcare to the general Public.
Mr. Musonda said promoting compliance in healthcare and training standards remains HPCZ’s prime concern.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has commenced investigations into allegations of corruption involving Former Football Association of Zambia Vice President Boniface Mwamelo.
This follows revelation made recently by FIFA alleging that Mr. Mwamelo received bribes from a named international match fixer to force the Zambia National Soccer Team to lose during the 2010 Cairo Olympics Tournament so that the international match fixer wins football bets.
Meanwhile, the Commission has charged and arrested Kingsley Muchindu Siasinyanga, the Director of Finance at Mongu Municipal Council, for one count of Abuse of Authority of Office contrary to Section 21 (1)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act number 3 of the Laws of Zambia.
Details are that on dates unknown but between 1st August, 2013 and 31st October, 2014, Siasinyanga, jointly and whilst acting together with Kabukabu Sikwibele, Choolwe Maunga Lipenga, Benny Chiyesu and other persons unknown, at Livingstone City Council and being a public officer, namely, Director of Finance then, in the Livingstone City Council, did abuse authority of his office by allocating plots of land to themselves on property number LIV/22251, a matter or transaction concerning the Livingstone City Council, a public body.
Mr. Siasinyanga has since been released on Bond and will appear in court on 3rd April, 2019.
The arrest of Mr. Siasinyanga comes in the wake of the arrest of 14 former Livingstone City Councillors including the current Livingstone Member of Parliament Mr Jere on an allegation of corruption.
So far, the Commission has also arrested three named former Livingstone Council Officials in connection with the same matter.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by Christopher Chibanku, the ACC Corporate Affairs Officer.
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has declared the cholera outbreak in Lusaka over.
Dr. Chilufya said that there has been no cholera case recorded in the last 19 days in Lusaka.
He explained that on 29th January 2019, a cholera case was recorded from Kabana area in Lusaka and as of 13th February 2019, an accumulation of seven cases were laboratory confirmed from Kabana, Garden, Chipata SOS, Mtendere and Buseko market.
He said all cases presented with severe dehydration due to acute diarrhea and vomiting and they were successfully treated in the Cholera Treatment Centers within the sub-districts in which they reside.
Dr. Chilufya has since cautioned members of the Public to observe high levels of hygiene and avoid practices that endanger their lives among them the consumption of contaminated water and food.
He has also encouraged members of the Public to refrain from buying and consuming ready-to–eat food from unauthorised eating places in order to prevent cholera and other foodborne diseases.
Dr. Chilufya has since appreciated the continued support from many other bilateral and multilateral partners in securing the health of Zambians not only against cholera but other communicable and non-communicable disease.
Minister of Finance Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe will be Guest of Honour at the Stanbic Anakazi Women of the Year Awards ceremony to be held on March 7 at the Intercontinental hotel in Lusaka.
The award ceremony promotes women empowerment by recognising outstanding women who excel and have made a positive impact in various fields such as agriculture, digital, education, community, mining and many more.
Over 120 women have been nominated at this year’s awards, which is a record for the Women of the Year Award Ceremony which has been taking place since 2014.
“We recognise the role Zambian women play in the development of our nation. Anakazi banking aims to provide women more opportunities to empower themselves through increased access to finance. The Anakazi Women of the Year awards is a great way for us to celebrate the exceptional women in our country and honour them for their hard work,” said Chanda Katongo, Head of Women’s Banking and Public Relations.
A raffle will be held during the night which will see women walk away with various prizes such as three-month gym membership at the Intercontinental Hotel Gym, dinner for two at the InterContinental’s Savanna restaurant, two Proflight Zambia air tickets, and many more.
Anakazi Banking was introduced by Stanbic Bank in 2017 and focuses on both increased access to finance and capacity building activities for women entrepreneurs.
These platforms include training, mentorship and networking events to build knowledge in business management and access to markets, as well as assistance in business formalisation.
President Edgar Lungu swears in Mr Mbulu as High Commissioner
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Ghana His Excellency, Rayford Mbulu has died.
Reports from Ghana indicate that the High Commisssioner died in the early hours of today
Livestock and Fisheries Minister Kampamba Mulenga confirmed the death of Mr Mbulu on her Facebook page.
“It is with a heavy heart that I wish to inform you all that Zambias High Commissioner to Ghana who also happens and former Member of Parliament for Kalulushi Hon. Rayford Mbulu has gone to be with the Lord,”
“The late High Commissioner also served in different govt portfolios as Deputy Minister with his last position being that of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs before being appointed as High Commissioner to Ghana.”
“On a personal note I shared a good working relationship with when I served under him as District Commissioner for Kalulushi.”
Mr. Mbulu took over from Mr. Timothy Walamba in 2017.
He also served as President of the Mine Workers Union of Zambia
Mutati speaks to party officials in Ndola on Sunday.
The Movement for Multiparty Democracy faction led by Felix Mutati has said that the punishment handed to Prime TV by IBA will injure one of the virtual of democracy.
Commenting on the suspension of Prime TV’s broadcasting license for one month, Faction leader Felix Mutati who is in the Copperbelt on a mobilisation tour of the province said the country will only develop if critical voices are tolerated.
Mutati said the suspension of the license will “injure tolerance” and that the IBA should punish the station without suspending their their license.
“We will always have differences of opinions, differences of perception as a country, we have to exercise tolerance. We can only develop our country if we tolerate criticism regardless of were it is coming from.
“Suspension for me will injure tolerance. They can look at other methods, other penalties within the law that can be used but they are denying the rest of us who enjoy the services to continue enjoying the services,” he said
The IBA on Monday suspended the broadcasting license for Prime TV for one month.
Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Christopher Mvunga By Christopher Mvunga
The key driver of productivity in our societies has been the past three industrial revolutions.
Today, that driving force is ICT and the development and widespread application of digital technologies.
However, the transition from technology to productivity, and eventually to growth and jobs, is not a simple journey.
The theme at Davos this year, was Globalisation 4.0. We are now entering another, even more important phase – digital transformation driven by Broadband, 5G, Big Data, the Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence.
Technologies need time to penetrate all sectors of the economy. Institutions have to adapt, and people need to be re-skilled.
This all leads to what we call today ‘digital transformation’.
It has been Zambia’s dream to fully utilize information and communication technology to transform its economy.
Zambia was one of the first countries in Sub-Sahara Africa to have full Internet access; Zambia was also among the first countries in Southern and Central Africa to host a continuous GPS tracking station connecting to the IGS International points.
President Edgar Lungu has sought to harness the great power and potential of technology to empower a nation and its people.
Upon becoming President, he announced the dream of a “Smart Zambia”.
This vision and commitment to progress, would play a major role in Zambia’s journey towards becoming a middle-income country by 2030.
Connections lays the foundation for the realization of this dream.
A key component of this ambitious initiative is bringing connectivity to Zambia in the forms of the Communication Tower Project.
This project will add 1,009 communication towers – increasing vital connectivity in rural areas.
This will result in 96% of universal coverage of both internet and communication facilities to Zambians across the country.
Through these connections, the ability for people to communicate, connect, share, learn, access information and express their opinions on matters that affect their lives and their communities, has been enhanced enormously.
These communication towers connect Zambians living in rural and remote areas, not only with each other and with public services, but with unlimited opportunities and possibilities.
If we look at how thousands of enterprises have enjoyed online services like business registration through e-government systems, , we can easily understand how ICT drives productivity and how an increase in these resource allocations, improves efficiency.
However, as mentioned above, sometimes it is not that simple. The efficiency of an organization depends on whether every member of an organization works hard towards a common goal.
Therefore, it is a shared responsibility to change the societies we live in.
From public sector to private sector, from corporate to individual, we all have to work together to unleash our potential and leap frog our country into a better future for all Zambians.
The past years have witnessed great advancements and progress in our country.
We have seen tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon and Huawei invest in our country and partner with our companies, providing global expertise that have contributed to our national transformation.
We have also seen youths in our country actively embrace information and communication technology to open-up a future brimming with opportunity and possibility.
70 percent of internet users are below 35 years and 41.3 percent are below the age of 24. With the great influence of ICT in our societies, the future of our nation will be in the hands of the young -a future fueled by their hopes, their dreams, and their ambitions.
With the Mobile World Congress 2019, the world’s largest event for the mobile industry upon us, we should be reminded that we are heading towards a shared and smart future where every citizen can have access to safe clean water, food, decent housing, electricity, quality education, health services and decent jobs.
In pursuit of this Smart Zambia vision, let us work together in a constructive and collaborative way.
We have the most powerful tools in our hands in order to achieve this – ICT, and the hard work and dedication of a nation.
The Author is the Deputy Secretary to Cabinet and recently accompanied the Zambian Delegation to the Mobile World Congress 2019, the largest mobile communications event in the world
Media Liaison Committee and World Press Freedom Day Zambia Committee – Press Statement on the Suspension of Prime TV licence
Lusaka – March 5, 2018
THE Media Liaison Committee (MLC) and the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) Zambia Committee is disappointed with the actions by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) in suspending the operating licence for Prime TV for 30 days.
MLC has noted that the IBA action follows a series of events involving the Patriotic Front (PF) Party Secretary General Davies Mwila chasing Prime TV journalists from covering their press conference, complaining of the TV Station being biased and then writing IBA complaining about Prime TV.
MLC notes that in dealing with the Prime TV and Mr Davies Mwila’s complaints, IBA completely disregarded their code of conduct and complaints procedure of having a complaint made in writing and giving a news media 14 days to respond before the complaining individual writes to the IBA.
The IBA in dealing with the Prime TV issue clearly took sides and was quick to come to the defence of the PF SG instead of the media industry they regulate.
MLC is aware of many public complaints of biasness against the public broadcaster ZNBC and other media houses aligned to the PF and yet the IBA has not had a single meeting with these media houses to discuss the complaints or let alone call for the submission of their recordings.
MLC is further disappointed that the IBA led by a number of media personnel who are supposed to understand the operations of the media are now in the fore front in shutting down independent media platforms, reducing access to information, ‘killing’ media diversity and pluralism by suspending any media houses, especially community radio stations, that are deemed to be anti-PF and anti the interest of the supporters of the PF of providing platforms to government critiques and independent minds. This biasness by the IBA was also seen in the way IBA forced the suspension of the Zambezi Magic Lusaka Hustle following the statement by Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili without following their laid down complaints procedure.
MLC notes that according to the IBA Act and IBA regulations, the IBA is expected to be a promoter of pluralistic and diverse broadcast media content and practice. The IBA Act also mandates IBA to help regulate and arbitrate on complaints raised by aggrieved parties affected by a broadcast media in a fairly manner. The presence of IBA in a way helps protect and promote diverse media and pluralistic media content and professionalism in Zambia. IBA as a professional regulator should be seen to be protecting the media industry it regulates from unnecessary attacks and victimisation on top of ensuring the smooth operation on this unique media broadcast sector.
MLC also notes the injustice of having the IBA Board chaired by the Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Information and Broadcast Services (MIBS) Chanda Kasolo whose ministry is on the higher hierarchy and is expected to look into appeals against any IBA decisions. Where is the Independence of the IBA if its board is chaired by a civil servant from MIBS?
MLC and the WPFD Zambia Committee therefore calls on the both the IBA and the Ministry of Information PS Chanda Kasolo to immediately rescind their decision and allow Prime TV back on the air. IBA should stop abusing their powers of issuing broadcast licences.
MLC and the WPFD Zambia committee also calls on Parliament, especially the Committee on Information and Broadcast Services to take keen interests into these questionable decisions by the IBA and its board and make to be done reforms to the set-up of the IBA Board and hiring of the Director.
MLC and the WPFD Zambia Committee calls on all media owners to stand united in solidarity with Prime TV and ensure that the media sector does not tolerate this continued abuse of the license powers that the IBA has over the broadcast sector. The media sector, like any other sector is a business sector that cannot cease to operate at the whims of any Jim and Jack who is not happy with media pluralism.
In that score the MLCs and WPFD Zambia Committee with its partners offers free media training and ethics mentoring to Prime TV and the affected radio stations in order to fulfil the demands by the IBA.
The MLC and the WPFD Zambia Committee is also ready to meet with the IBA management to discuss the matter concerning Prime TV and any other issues that the regulator feels needs the attention of media bodies.
Issued by: ENOCK NGOMA MLC/WPFD CHAIRPERSON
About 10 million people are at risk of dying annually from Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) associated causes by 2050 in Africa and Asia if no interventions are put in place to combat AMR at global, regional and national levels.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when antibiotics and other medicines used to prevent and treat infections cease to be effective including for diseases such as malaria, TB, HIV and medical procedures such as organ transplants, cancer treatment and cesarean sections.
Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya says this is a global issue that needs urgent attention from all sectors in the country.
Speaking when he officiated at the Integrated Surveillance Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) conference in Lusaka, Dr. Chilufya has recognized that prudent use of antimicrobials in both human and animal health is crucial in preserving the effectiveness of both existing and new antibiotics.
Dr. Chilufya has reiterated government’s commitment to develop the WHO Global Framework for Development and Stewardship to combat Antimicrobial Resistance.
He adds that it its quest to ensure public health security, Ministry of Health and other line Ministries formulated a multisectoral national action plan on AMR which has been included in Zambia’s National Health Strategic Plan 2017-2021.
Speaking at the same event, World Health Organisation Country Representative Nathan Batyaita has called for stronger actions and economic incentives to support the development of new antimicrobials, vaccines and diagnostics.
And Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative, Gorge Okechie has expressed concern that antimicrobials are sometimes misused excessively, thereby increasing the risk of emergence and spread of Antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms which can no longer respond to available treatments.
In 2016, the Food and Agriculture Organization published an ‘Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2016-2020’ that aims to help countries develop strategies to minimize the emergence and spread of AMR in their food chains.
The opposition UPND says the decision by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to suspend licences of Prime T.v. and other critical media houses in Zambia is wrong and amounts to abuse of authority of office.
UPND Spokesman Charles Kakoma said the party has observed with dismay that the IBA has accepted to do illegal activities by acting on instructions by PF Secretary General Davies Mwila and Information Minister Dora Siliya.
“As a party ,we shall prosecute some IBA staff for abuse of public office the moment we assume leadership. We cannot have politicians running the IBA who are there to spare private media houses which are pro PF and persecute media houses that are providing a platform for all Zambians regardless of their political stance,” Mr Kakoma is warned.
He said the UPND would like to warn that the IBA in it’s current composition is a threat to national security as they have clearly assumed a PF agenda as advanced by PF’s Davies Mwila and PF Central Committee member Webby Mbewe’s directive that Prime TV be closed.
He said Information and Broadcast Minister Dora Siliya was also quoted openly attacking Prime TV.
“We shall soon commence legal proceedings against certain IBA officials given their known political affiliation. We wish to put it on record that all those names who have been involved in the Prime Television Station saga so far do will face the wrath of the law for abuse of public office,” he said.
“We urge a few who are sober at IBA to resist the temptation of the impending prosecution. If some PF surrogates at IBA are being cheated that PF is still alive ,let them conduct a national survey and they will have the answer,” said Mr Kakoma.
“As UPND, we shall not keep quiet and allow a few people to abuse their privileges to push for PF Prime TV immediately.”
With seven games left to play, the South African PSL title race is hotting up, and Zambian exports are also in the midst of all that action.
-MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene played for the defending champions on Tuesday night in a 2-1 away loss down at Cape Town City FC.
Sundowns are second on 40 points from 22 games with a match in hand and are tied on points with leaders Orlando Pirates.
Cape Town City are a close third on 39 points.
-ORLANDO PIRATES
Striker Justin Shonga was not on target but his assist for Pirates’ 80th minute equalizer scored by Luvuyo Memela earned them a 1-1 home draw in Soweto against mid-table Bloemfontein Celtic.
The result, though, saw Pirates rise from third to first.
Shonga played the full 90 minutes while midfielder Augustine Mulenga was substituted in the 59th minute.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has condemned the decision by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to suspend the broadcasting license of Prime TV for 30 days.
In a statement, ZCTU Secretary General Cosmas Mukuka has since appealed to the IBA to seriously consider reversing this action and lift the suspension for the sake of the workers and democracy.
Mr Mukuka says the reasons spelt out by IBA as grounds for the suspension sound more of a professional nature than anything, stating that the heavy punishment handed on Prime TV is unfair.
He says ZCTU would have expected IBA to professionally engage Prime TV on the contentious issues to save the welfare of workers employed by the station.
Mr Mukuka says the punitive action by IBA is in direct contrast to the PF government pro-poor policies, adding that this action is likely to make government unpopular among the people because workers at Prime TV have families and relatives who are looking up to them for their livelihood.
Meanwhile the ZCTU has expressed concern at the delay by government to pay February salaries to various public sector workers.
Mr Mukuka says this trend is unacceptable and can have negative effect on the motivation of the workers.
He says delaying salaries to workers can be stressful to workers affected and that the unions fears that if workers are subjected to such delays, their attitude towards work will be affected.
The ZCTU Secretary General has reminded government that delays in paying workers their salaries whenever they fall due is against the law and a gross violation of the workers’ rights.
Mr Mukuka has also expressed concern over the non-payment of salaries to workers under ZAMPOST who have gone for months without receiving their salaries.
And Action Aid Zambia has demanded the immediate lifting of the suspension of Prime Television’s broadcast licence.
In a statement, Action Aid Zambia Country Director Nalucha Ziba says her organization is utterly shocked and deeply saddened by the Independent Broadcasting Authority’s decision to suspend the broadcast licence for Prime TV for 30 days.
Ms Ziba notes that the decision to suspend Prime TV’s licence follows several events involving the PF secretary general Mr Davies Mwila and the television’s staff, which later led to the former writing a complaint letter to the IBA against the media organisation.
She says whatever disagreements there could have been between IBA and Prime TV, the decision taken to suspend the station’s broadcast licence is extreme and against provisions of the Republican Constitution which guarantees freedom of the press and expression.
Ms Ziba states that Action Aid Zambia can clearly see that the decision taken on Prime TV is meant to gag the press and whip them into submission of the desires of the most powerful, a trend widely seen in totalitarian regimes.
She says the IBA should have used other channels to address whatever grievances they, or other stakeholders, may have had against Prime TV than resorting to extreme measures that only serve to worsen the country’s standing on the global scene.
She says Action Aid Zambia believes the IBA is more than capable to handle complaints against a media house in a manner that does not stifle the much-needed freedoms of the press.
Ms Ziba states that the IBA must make itself relevant by playing the role of promoting pluralism and professionalism in media than acting as a body that acts to victimise the institutions that it should protect.
She says a country that is intolerant to press freedom cannot be trusted by the investors or donors.
The University of Zambia has released details of Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba’s academic records after it awarded him with a PhD in Engineering on Monday.
Some quarters have raised doubts over the authenticity of Dr Mushimba’s doctorate with some insinuating that it was bought off.
Some even when further to ask how many years has Dr Mushimba spent in Zambia to manage to obtain a doctorate.
“When did he arrive in Zambia from USA where he had lived for many years shortly before 2016 election and which year did he register to Study PhD Engineering research programme at UNZA. Show me the form he filled in at Unza,” other’s queried on social media.
“How long does it take for One to Complete his PhD programme in Engineering at UNZA. Who supervised Honourable Mushimba in this PhD and where is the Thesis for Honourable Mushimba?”
But the UNZA Public Relations Office has released details of Dr Mushimba’s academic journey which shows that he had been studying with UNZA for some years until recently when he successfully defended his Thesis.
UNZA says Dr Mushimba’s Thesis was titled “Coal Substitution Obscurity in Cement Manufacturing In Zambia. Potential for Viable Waste Energy Conversion.”
It said, Engineer Mushimba was born in Mufurila on 7th November 1974 and completed primary education at Makole Primary School in Mufulira.
He then proceeded to Mpelembe Secondary in Kitwe where he completed Grade 12 (o levels) in 1993.
Upon successfully completing grade 12, Zambia consolidated copper mines (ZCCM) awarded him the much-coveted academic scholarship to do form 6 (A levels).
It said upon completion of form 6 A levels, he was admitted to the University of Arizona in the United States of America (USA) where he studied and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Mining Engineering.
While in the USA, Dr Mushimba earned a master’s degree in Business Administration
with a concentration in engineering management and another masters degree in Business Administration in International Business Management from Salem University in West Virginia.
As an Engineer, Dr. Mushimba worked at Siemens power generation in Atlanta, Georgia for seven years as a commissioning lead engineer on various power generation projects and he was credited in having added approximately 10,000 megawatts of new generation capacity onto the USA national power grid.
Later, Dr. Mushimba joined Lafarge North America as an Engineering manager in Atlanta and served for four years before transferring to Lafarge Cement in Zambia in the same capacity where he served a further three years.
In 2012, he accepted an offer to work for Eskom in South Africa and served as a Technical Director in their Ugandan subsidiary until 2016 when he decided to serve the people of Kankoyo Constituency as Member of Parliament and he was subsequently appointed a Minister of Transport and Communication the position he currently holds.
Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo
Law Enforcement Agencies have been called upon to consider opening an investigation into claims that President Edgar Lungu wants to assassinate UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.
Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo said that while President Lungu has not taken any legal action against those making such accusations against him, the Police should take the claims seriously.
Mr. Kasolo has told QTV News that if such a serious allegation is made, it is incumbent upon security wings to institute investigations.
Mr. Kasolo said that he believed that the Zambia Police, in this case, already know whom to follow up and what matters to take to court on the accusations of assassination being made against the President.
Last month Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema said that police fired live ammunition at him and his supporters in Sesheke. The incident happened during a political rally in the southwest of the country. Mr Hichilema’s Spokesman Brian Mwiinga also confirmed the incident in an interview.
“Our lives are in danger as Police and PF cadres are discharging live ammunition at us and our people. We appeal to the Nation to remain calm but steadfast for any eventualities to come,” Mr Hichilema posted on his Facebook page.
Mr Mwiinga said Mr Hichilema wasn’t hurt in the incident.
“It was shocking, the police just came from nowhere and began discharging live ammunition,” Mr. Mwiinga said.
“Hichilema’s life is in danger,” he said.
Western Province Police Commissioner Charles Lungu said that he was unaware of the incident.
