Government says it is committed to promote skills training and development in a bid to reduce poverty especially among vulnerable people across the country.

Southern Province Permanent Secretary Mwangala Lyomba says Skills Training is among many other activities that government supports in order to create employment through imparting life survival skills in various trades.

Speaking during the official handover of various training equipment to Community Development skills Training Centre in Monze yesterday, Mr. Lyomba said Government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Service has acquired training tools through an Organisation called WorkAID Zambia.

He bemoaned the inadequate facilities for skills training Centers in the country as opposed to 1980s and attributed this partly to the closure of industries that promoted various skills such as Carpentry and Joinery, Bricklaying, plastering, General Agriculture, Home management, Tailoring among others.

The donation of the assorted tools , he said , are timely and in line with the social protection policy which seeks to promote the livelihoods and the welfare of the poorest and those most vulnerable to risks and shocks.

The PS explained that the focus of Government is to effectively coordinate and provide social protection through empowering low capacity households, providing social assistance support to various vulnerable groups.

Mr. Lyomba reminded the students and lecturers to safe guard the equipment jealously and make use of it for their benefit and thanked WorkAID Zambia and the ministry of community development and social services for the timely gesture.

Meanwhile Work AID Zambia national coordinator Mr. Emmanuel Zulu said WorkAID endeavors to tackle poverty in practical way by providing training equipment to disadvantaged people who need to learn a skilled trade and earn a living.

He said WorkAID accept requests for training tools from various skills training institutions across the country adding that his organization was interested to work with community projects that viable through the ministry of community development which is better placed to help identify such projects.

And speaking earlier, Monze District Commission Mr. Cyprian Hamanyanga said tools would make a positive impact in the students training.

The donated items include general agriculture tools, bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and electrical equipment.

Work-AID is a British charitable Organisation established in 1989 and operates in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Turkey’s International News Agency, Anadolu, has pledged to help strengthen the existing ties between Zambia and Turkey through co-operation in exchange of news and information with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS).

Anadolu Agency (AA) Deputy Director-General Mustafa Ozkaya says his media organization was ready to sign the pending Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ZANIS to enable the two institutions to start exchanging news and information for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

“We are very enthusiastic to contribute to strengthening relations between Zambia and Turkey. We would like to establish channels for exchanging news between our two countries” Mr Ozkaya said.

ZANIS reports that Mr Ozkaya said this during a bilateral meeting with Zambia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Joseph Chilengi in Ankara yesterday.

Mr. Ozkaya further said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was determined to strengthen bilateral relations with Zambia and the rest of African countries.

“ ( Turkish) President Erdogan is committed to creating a new order and AA is determined to support this agenda through dissemination of credible news and information., “ said the Anadolu Agency Deputy Director-General.

Mr. Ozkaya said AA was looking forward to interacting with Zambians and to cover news of overriding public interest.

And Dr. Chilengi said Government through ZANIS was looking forward to signing the pending MoU with AA.

Dr. Chilengi said this would enable ZANIS to benefit from AA’s experience as a renowned source of news and information world over.

“Zambians and His Excellency Mr President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia are above the agenda of fake news and we are happy that Turkey and His Excellency, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey also advocate a new order in which there is no space for creation and propagation of fake news,” Dr Chilengi said.

He urged AA and ZANIS to expeditiously sign the MoU to enable the two media institutions to benefit through training, exchange programmes and exchange of news and information for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

This is contained in press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by First Secretary Press at the Zambian Embassy in Ankara Turkey Jerry Munthali.

The wife to Nalolo Independent member of parliament George Imbuwa has filed for divorce in the Lusaka High Court claiming that her husband has abandoned his matrimonial home as he has been staying at Parliament motel since 2016.

In a divorce petition filed in principal registry, Ushe Mweemba Imbuwa stated that the couple married under customary law on December 5, 2007 and subsequently registered their marriage under the provisions of the Marriage Act on November 21, 2011, adding that they lived as husband and wife since 2007.

Mrs. Imbuwa wants the court to dissolve the marriage because it has broken down irretrievably as the husband has denied her conjugal rights since September 2017.

She stated that when her husband only goes home when Parliament is not in session, but sleeps in a separate room.

Mrs. Imbuwa claims that her husband does not eat home cooked meals with the rest of the family and only consumes food which he buys from restaurants.

The couple has three children together and the legislator has another three from his previous marriage.

The Civil Society Organization Foundation of Democratic Process (FODEP) says there is need for all consented efforts from all political players if the country is to stamp out any form of political violence.

Quoting article 60 of the constitution of Zambia which recognizes and defines political parties , FODEP Executive Director Mweenge Chimfwembe says a Commission should be set up with a mandate to address any form of political violence in the country.

“ There is need to put up a commission that can have a broad mandate to deal with day to day political life of this nation and help political parties to grow, “ he said during an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

The proposed commission will be important, he said, because its role will not just be to police political parties but basically to ensure that political parties are strengthened to internalize democratic practices.

Mr. Chifwembe further said if the government can move in quickly in consultation of the political party commission so that the law can be enacted in the current sitting of parliament.

Violence characterized in the recently held parliamentary by- election in Sesheke district and the other seven local by- elections across the country.

President Edgar Lungu says there is need to carry out regular care and maintenance on all infrastructure in the country if they are to stand a test of time.

President Lungu says there is need to carry out regular checks and care of infrastructure as most roads in Muchinga are in bad state because they have not been rehabilitated for a long time.

Mr. Lungu said the Mpika to Chilonga Mission hospital road is in a bad state and need an overhaul because of lack of maintenance.

The President who expressed displeasure at the stalled projects such as the schools and health facilities in Kanchibiya and in Mpika districts added that government is losing money on account of poor contracting and lack of maintenance.

The Head of state however said he was impressed with the progress made on phase two of Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital which is under construction.

The Republican President who also expressed happiness with the construction works at Chilonga school of nursing , said this on a conducted tour of various development projects in the Province.

He also toured Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital which is few kilometers from Mpika town, Chilonga nursing school along Mpika Lusaka road and Kampamba Day secondary school whose construction has stalled since 2015.

Yesterday, President Lungu visited another day secondary school in Kanchibiya whose construction has also stalled.

And speaking to the President during the tour at Chilonga, Sister in Charge Rosemary Kabonga thanked President Lungu for his K5 million pledge contribution to the rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure at Chilonga school of nursing.

Sister Kabonga said from the President’s contribution, two buildings have been built while construction of other structures is on course.

She said management of Chilonga school of nursing is doing everything possible to upgrade the school to a good standard where it can offer quality education to the learners.

She however said the school has a challenge with transport as it has no vehicle.

Despite these set- backs, the Sister in Charge disclosed that the school also plans to start pottery business using the available space at the school so that it can raise some funds for the operation of the institution.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency has granted an extension to Chain Stores that applied for an extension from 14th February to utilize the remaining stock of non-compliant plastic carrier and flat bags that are less than 30 microns in thickness.

The extension covers, Shoprite, Game Stores, Cheers Supermarket, Spar, Pick n Pay, Choppies and Food Lovers who have been granted an extension of two weeks for non-compliant plastic carrier bags and one month for non-compliant plastic flat bags.

ZEMA Acting Director General Simon Mwansa says during the period of the extension, both non-compliant plastics bags and alternative bags are expected to be given to customers.

Mr. Mwansa said the deadline for the registration by existing businesses that manufacture, import, trade in or commercially distribute packaging materials in Zambia specified under the Regulations remains 13th August 2019.

He said following the engagement and inspections carried out, it has become apparent that some regulated entities have remaining stock which would need to be disposed of.

Mr. Mwansa explained that the affected packaging materials are Cartons, Non-returnable Glass and Plastic Bottles, Plastic Carrier and Flat Bags, Beverage Cans, Waste Oils and Lubricant Containers, Used Lead Acid Batteries, Pesticides and Chemicals Containers and Expired Chemicals. Others are; Used Tyres, near end of life or end of life Electrical and Electronics and Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

He said ZEMA remains positive that implementation of the EPR will result in minimization of waste and promote a cleaner and healthier environment in Zambia.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency commenced enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations Statutory Instrument No. 65 of 2018 (“the EPR Regulations”) in February, 2019.

As part of this enforcement, Mr. Mwansa said the Agency has continued to engage industries that manufacture, distribute, import, trade in or commercially distribute packaging materials listed in the Regulations.

Elite Foods a leading South African Company that has developed a World Bank Approved Integrated Value Chain Model will be in the Country on Monday to look at Investing in the Northern Province.

Elite Foods Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Ball whose Company attended the Invest in Zambia Conference in South Africa last year at which Authorities marketed opportunities in Northern Province has confirmed this to the Office of the Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga.

Mr. Ball says his Company with operations across the African Continent is thrilled by the Agriculture opportunities in the Province as presented during the Conference last year.

He said the company whose model has been given a thumbs up by leading Financial analysts wishes to take advantage of the Provinces huge expanse of Water and Land to develop an effective Value Chain in Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Tourism.

Mr. Ball will be leading a team of Experts who will meet several authorities at Provincial Administration, Ministry of Agriculture and the Zambia Development Agency.

The Northern Provincial Administration was invited to the Invest in Zambia Conference last year by the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria as a build up to the Northern Province Investment Expo held last November.

Mr. Kamanga said he is happy that the marketing at the event has resulted in Elite Foods to come for follow up visit which may culminate in an Investment that will not only create a market for our farmers but also hundreds of jobs.

He said whilst in the Country the delegation is also expected to visit Kasama, Mporokoso, Lunte and Mungwi to look at possible areas of Investment.

Mr. Kamanga said the provincial administration is grateful to Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba for the opportunity to market the Province and the many Investors that came to the Expo and continue to explore the opportunities.

Opposition Members of Parliament this morning walked out of Parliament when Housing and Infrastructure Minister, Ronald Chitolela stood to respond to questions during the Oral and Answer session.

The MPs walked out of the house on two occasions when Mr. Chitotela was asked to respond by the House Speaker.

Leader of the opposition Jack Mwiimbu said the MPs are resolved that they will continue boycotting Mr Chitotela’s answers in Parliament in order to press for his dismissal.

Mr Mwiimbu said the MPs will not allow Mr Chitotela to address the House when he is facing corruption charges.

And UPND Kafue Member of Parliament Miriam Chonya said the MPs could not listen to a minister who is a suspect in criminal cases.

In the first instance, the opposition MPs walked when Mr. Chitolela was responding to Shang’ombo Member of Parliament Mubika Mubika who asked him on the construction of communication towers in his area.

The MP’s also walked out when Mr. Chitotela was responding to Manyinga Member of Parliament Robert Lihefu on the stalled construction of a police station in Manyinga district.