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I want to take this time to denounce the people that escorted Ms Iris Kaingu out of an event venue that Prince Harry of England visited in Zambia.
Why can’t we allow Ms.Kaingu to be our Kim Kadarshian. Kim gets away with everything in America.Iris is the real Slay Queen of Zambia.Let us allow her to shine. After all everything she does gets a lot of attention.
Do you critics think Iris Kaingu doesn’t deserve to be in the same room as Prince Harry? What official invitation did Iris need? Lets just give her a pass,after all the men love her and the women love to hate her,its all love.Let our Zambian Kim Kardarshian shine.
Blogger
Kim Kardashian
Background
Ms Kaingu being escorted out by military officers
On Tuesday Ms Iris Kaingu attempted to meet Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex at the Burma Barracks in Lusaka but she was ejected from the military facility even before the 34-year-old grandson of Queen Elizabeth arrived.
The Prince was then due to meet World War 1 veterans and widows at Burma Barracks to commemorate 100 years since the end of the war.
As he was being awaited by a small group of carefully selected guests and a handful of accredited journalists in the barracks, a beaming and attractive Iris pitched up donning a white loose fitting dress.
The smiling beauty shook hands with a few waiting journalists before making her way to the memorial hall where the war veterans and widows had been staffed to await the Prince.
However, shortly after, Iris was seen being talked to by a uniformed military man before they walked together towards the exit of the barracks.
The military officer returned a few minutes later without Iris – apparently she was not on the guest list.
Prince Harry then arrived about 15 minutes later and proceeded to fulfill his programme with Iris nowhere in sight.
Most Zambians were elated by the news that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex would be visiting the country. The latest and hottest couple from the Royal family in the UK, who’s wedding early this year caught the eye of many people wide-world, soon caused the internet backlash from the Zambian media, facebookers and other citizens. This followed the report by the Sun online that the Duchess of Sussex, won’t be visiting Zambia alongside her Husband because of the threat of the Zika Virus. The caution came to light as the celebrity Princess is expecting her first child with the Duke. Both the government of the Republic of Zambia and the United Kingdom have not issued a statement though, the Zambian High Commission in London have asked for a formal apology from the UK-based online tabloid.
What is Zika Virus?
Zika Virus is part of the group of viruses called Flaviviridea, the same family as the virus which causes yellow fever, Dengue and West Nile. It was discovered in Africa in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947. The first human case was recorded in 1952 and only 14 human infections were recorded by 2007. It is a re-emerging infectious disease because a new wave of infections have emerged in South America and South East Asia at a rate never seen before!
How is it spread?
Like other Flaviviridae viruses, such as yellow fever, Zika is spread by a mosquito bite which bite during the day and night. Zika is also spread through blood transfusion, sexual intercourse and from pregnant mother to a foetus- the real threat for the Princes!
How does one know they have Zika infection?
On most instances, one cannot even know they have been infected by Zika Virus because the infection usually go unnoticed. On some occasions, a person can develop symptoms like fever, headache, a skin rash, joint pains and muscle pains and red eyes. These symptoms are indistinguishable from most viral infections. Zika infections are usually mild and self-limiting and does not result in death!
Why the fuss about Zika?
The real problem Zika poses is for a foetus where babies infected during pregnancy are born with a small brain called microcephaly! The other complication from Zika infection is a condition called Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome (GBS). This condition is characterised by weakness which starts in the legs and ascends till the person fails to breath at which point it becomes fatal. GBS has been associated to a number of viral infections and not just Zika!
It Zika treatable?
There is no specific treatment for Zika and neither is there a vaccine. Treatment is supportive with such as pain killers (analgesics), antipyretics to bring down the fever and plenty fluids. However, people who have been infected before develops life-long immunity.
How do you prevent Zika?
Zika like most mosquito borne infections are preventable by different simple interventions like vector control-preventing breeding of mosquitoes! Putting on long sleeves when outdoor and use of mosquito repellents and use of insecticide treated mosquito nets.
Do we have Zika in Zambia?
The official communications from the Zambian government came in 2016, when the late Honourable Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Joseph Kasonde assured the nation amidst the height of the Zika epidemic in South America, that there was no Zika in Zambia. Check here; https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/02/11/112940/). Two years earlier to that statement, South Africa, had indicated that Zambia was a high risk for yellow fever when WHO had declared it no risk in 2010. In Response, during the routine surveillance, WHO and Ministry of Health sponsored a study to evaluate the reclassification of no risk by WHO. During the same study done in Western and North-Western provinces of Zambia, the sero-prevalence [presence of antibodies] of Zika virus and other Flaviviruses were evaluated. It was found that the prevalence of Yellow fever (YF) was 0.6% and Zika was 6% [10 times higher than YF]. Sero-prevalence of both infections were strongly associated with travel to Congo DR and Angola. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338443/ )
So the multi-million question; do we have Zika in Zambia? Probably yes! Caution to this data is that we are yet to report cases of microcephaly associated with Zika infection in Zambia or other African countries as seen in the Americas. Whether this is the same or different strain is yet to be established.
Should we make a fuss about the Princess not visiting us? Probably not! In the Western world, travel medical advice is take seriously and the attending physicians to the Duchess are well read to have advised her not to travel to Zambia based on the fact that the prevalence of Zika in Western and Northwestern Zambia stands at 6%. The only problem is that, the doctors did not look at the schedule of the royal couple which didn’t include visiting these two regions. Lusaka is likely a NO RISK based on the low prevalence of other Flaviviridea viruses. Based on that, the media team should have handled the information better. But one knows that allowing the Duke to travel ultimately puts the duchess at risk should he have travelled to these high risk places as explained above. Secondly, there has been cases of Zika infections in the US, the native country of the Duchess.
Should you be concern about travelling to any parts of the country or other countries, for health reasons, kindly visit the Travel Medical Clinic at the University Teaching Hospital.
Clowns on stilts and trampoline artists entertained Britain’s Prince Harry on Tuesday when he visited a youth circus in Zambia which is supported by one of Queen Elizabeth’s charities.
Harry spent the last of his two days in Zambia visiting World War Two veterans in the capital Lusaka before heading to Circus Zambia, a project that helps vulnerable young people to gain skills, education and employment.
The monarch’s grandson posed for pictures surrounded by performers at the circus, which is funded by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a charity supporting young leaders around the world.
“All the stories we heard today are powerful reminders of the great work underway here. All brought about by young people, like you, who have stepped up to make a difference for others,” Harry, who is president of the trust, said in a speech.
“Too often funders and investors miss what you’re doing because they can’t find you or see what you’re achieving. We established The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to be your platform.”
Harry sent “best wishes” from his wife Meghan who is pregnant and remained at home.
[Reuters]
“We established The @QueensComTrust to be your platform. The place where your voices can be heard, where your work is seen and taken seriously, and your experiences and insight are shared with others to create the maximum impact.” — The Duke of Sussex #RoyalVisitZambiapic.twitter.com/018DryWcMe
Striker Justin Shonga and midfielder Augustine Mulenga added to a good week for Zambian football in continental action when they helped inspired Orlando Pirates to CAF Champions League victory on Wednesday.
Shonga and Mulenga were both on target in the South African clubs’ 5-1 home win over Light Stars of the Seychelles in Soweto.
Mulenga scored Pirates second goal in the 37th minute to give them a 3-1 halftime on his way to completing the 90 minutes.
Shonga, who came on in the 78th minute, added fourth goal via a free kick two minutes deep into stoppage time to hand the 1995 champions a comfortable first round , first leg victory to take into next week’s final leg on December 4 on the Indian Ocean Island.
Back at home, Zesco United and Nkana both won away in the Champions League while Green Eagles and Green Buffaloes were victorious at home in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje has apologized to the Zambian tax payers for the fraud that took place at the provincial administration involving senior staff.
Over 2 million Kwacha was misappropriated at Lusaka province allegedly by the Senior Officers who include the Deputy Permanent Secretary and Principal accountant.
Mr. Sipanje apologized when he appeared before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee in Lusaka today.
This follows remarks from Committee member Teddy Kasonso who expressed shock at the level of financial irregularities at Lusaka province administration.
Mr. Kasonso questioned the capacity of Mr. Sipanje as Permanent Secretary and his accountants to have allowed such a grave situation to occur.
But Mr. Sipanje said he has capacity to run the administration but stated that the fraud happened when he was on leave and his deputy permanent secretary was left to act in his position.
He told the parliamentary committee that his officers could make ten withdrawals in a day and an amount of six hundred thousand kwacha was withdrawn from the bank in one day while he was on leave in July 2017.
And PAC Chairperson Howard Kunda said the officers involved should not just end at being dismissed but should also be prosecuted.
HH accompanied by GBM, Mr Kambwili and the UPND legal team arriving at Solomon Mwansa Kapwepwe in Ndola this morning
United Party for National Development(UPND) has rubbished stories that a rift has emerged between the party President Hakainde Hichilema and the Vice President Geofrey Mwamba.
In a statement released to the media and signed by Senior Presidential Advisor and UPND MP Douglas Syakalima, the party said that it is not true that the Mr Hichilema has instructed party members to hound out GBM from the party.
Below is the full statement
HH, GBM REMAIN BONDED, UNBREAKABLE PAIR
As UPND, we are deeply distressed by the divisive statement by a Mazabuka. based Tabloid Zambian Star in which it insinuates bad blood between President Hakainde Hichilema and his Deputy Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.
We wish to strongly refute claims by the tabloid that President, Hichilema has “instructed UPND leaders and members to hound out his Deputy from the UPND”.
From the allegations put forth by the Zambian Star, it is very clear that the owners are likely to be working under instructions to try to cause mistrust between the two leaders after failing to break them down using hate , accusations, arrests and intimidations.
President Hichilema would never allow for such a trend of rumour mongering, use of uncivilized and unpalatable language against another individual for political expediency.
We must also not ignore that Dr. Mwamba is a man of principles and his choice to work with President Hichilema was made on the basis that he believed and shared the vision of his President, brother and friend which is for a better and equitable Zambia for all and as a party we believe and rightly so that makes the two a winning pair already endorsed by members across the country.
We want to inform the nation and the Zambian Star that the two UPND leaders share an iconic friendship based on mutual understanding and respect, honesty, aimed at making life better and fostering national unity and development.
It should also be noted that the decision to have GBM both as party Vice President and Presidential running mate was not an after thought, but a decision drawn by the party from a deeper understanding of the quality, value and principle that he brings onto the political scene.
Such negative schemes shall never break the party nor the two leaders in their resolve to seek a better Zambia for all people regardless of their economic and social status and we as a party call on the media to exercise self restraint and responsibility in its reportage.
UPND members across divide are happy and satisfied to have them as candidates in any foreseeable election because of their agenda for a better and united Zambia.
We have only one country and it is our duty together with the media to ensure that we remain United for posterity.
*Remember it is:People Power,Our Power,Our Land*
Issued by:
Douglas Syakalima* (Hon) Senior Presidential Advisor-UPND
SUSPENDED United Party For National Development Kafue Council Chairperson Thomas Zulu and Chisakila Ward of Chiawa Area Councillor Comply Siamungala anouncing their defection
Suspended Opposition UPND Kafue council Chairperson Thomas Zulu has ditched the party to join the Patriotic Front -PF-.
Mr. Zulu was last month suspended by the UPND, after he attended the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign at which President Edgar Lungu officiated.
The Former UPND Member also defected together with Chisakila Ward Councillor Comply Siamungala.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka, Mr. Zulu said he has decided to leave UPND because he felt he was not properly treated.
Mr. Zulu said as a Civic leader in the district it is his duty to respect the higher authorities and as per African tradition.
Meanwhile, Mr. Siamungala said he has decided to join the Patriotic Front in order to bring development in the area.
And receiving the defectors, PF Media Director Sunday Chanda said joining of the two big UPND officials shows that the PF has a heart of humility and seeks to serve the best interest of the people of Zambia.
Mr. Chanda has advised National Democratic Congress Party Consultant Chishimba Kambwili to stop issuing alarming statement.
Mufumbwe acting District Commissioner, Patson Mulaisho has implored staff at Mufumbwe community radio station to uphold professionalism in the running of the institution.
Speaking yesterday during a stakeholders meeting meant to set up an interim board of directors for the community radio station, Mr Mulaisho said the radio station among other things is meant to promote peace and unity within society.
He said there is need for management at the station to censor the kind of content that goes on air and be strict on the people to feature on radio.
Mr Mulaisho advised management to bear in mind that the media is a source of security in society by virtue of being an information conveyer hence the need for the station to be responsible in its productions.
He further advised management at the community radio station to always be non-partisan as they do their activities.
Mr Mulaisho encouraged management at the station to ensure that only positive criticisms are allowed to be broadcast on radio and not criticism which are merely meant to tarnish the image of the government in the eyes of the public.
He commended the founders of the community radio station for having brought the institution to the current stage.
Mr Mulaisho urged the new board members who have been appointed to ensure that they do anything possible to make the station grow.
The Zambia Revenue Authority has yesterday destroyed pieces of de-boned chicken which was confiscated two weeks ago.
The Authority had intercepted a truck with smuggled chicken pieces or deboned chicken worth K260,000 in taxes.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda said the meat was destroyed because it was an attempted smuggling case of false declaration and forgery contrary to section 141 Cap 322 of the Customs and Excise Act.
Mr. Sikalinda said this should serve as a lesson to all smugglers who are in the habit of evading taxes that paying taxes is cheaper than smuggling.
He called on all members of the public to report anyone whom they know may be involved in tax evasion and we promise the reporters’ confidentiality will be protected.
ZCCM Investments Holdings Board Chairperson Eric Silwamba says it is important for the company to continue marketing and positioning itself internationally, as a significant player and investment gateway in Zambia’s mining and energy industries.
Speaking on the sidelines at the ongoing Mines and Money Conference and Exhibition in London, Mr. Silwamba said Zambia is competing with other countries for potential investors in the mining sector.
He noted that if the Company wants investors for its Greenfield projects, it needs to be aggressive in its approach, and such an event presents a viable platform to link up with investors.
“We want to see sustainable growth in ZCCM-IH through new investments especially in the mining and related sectors. And so far, I am impressed with the level of interest from investors looking for investment opportunities in Zambia. We have had interesting conversations with a number of potential partners and financiers at this conference so far”, added Mr. Silwamba.
And ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Pius Kasolo has expressed confidence in the fundamentals and a positive future outlook for the mining industry, particularly copper, adding that Zambia still remains a favorable investment destination.
Speaking during the Mining Spotlight presentation session, Dr. Kasolo said ZCCM-IH is strategically positioned as a diversified principal stakeholder and investment vehicle in Zambia’s mining and energy sectors.
He added that London remains a strategic market for the Company as ZCCM-IH is listed on the London Stock Exchange, apart from the primary listing on the Lusaka Securities Exchange.
The 16th Annual Mines and Money London which opened on Monday 26 November 2018 is London’s premier show and has long been Europe’s largest, most renowned convention where mining and investment professionals come to do business, from all over the world.
The exhibition which comes to an end on tomorrow 29 November 2018 is hosting hundreds of companies including ZCCM-IH, and convening thousands of mining investors, financiers, brokers and advisers from more than 75 different countries.
Nkana and Green Buffaloes continued Zambian clubs’ winning start to the 2018/2019 continental season with respective away and home wins on Wednesday.
Their victories came just 24 hours after Zesco United beat AS Sonidep 2-1 away in Niger in their CAF Champions League opener .
Green Eagles too won on Tuesday after collecting a historic debut victory following a 2-0 home win over Young Buffaloes of eSwatini in their CAF Confederation Cup tie in Choma.
In Mozambique on Wednesday, Nkana beat UD Songo 2-1 in Beira in their CAF Champions League first leg tie.
Harrison Chisala put Nkana ahead in the 35th minute and Festus Mbewe added the second in the 81st minute.
Mbewe’s goal came just three minutes after he replaced injured striker Ronald Kampamba.
However, Nkana suffered a personnel setback in the 89th minute when Kenyan midfielder Duncan Otieno was sent-off after receiving his second yellow card of the match.
Songo then sneaked in a stoppage time consolation goal in the three minutes of time-added- on through Sunday Awasa to ensure they went to Kitwe with a narrow margin for the final away leg on December 4.
Meanwhile at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Green Buffaloes beat El Merreikh Juba of South Sudan 2-0.
Both goals came in the last thirty minutes of the second half through Friday Samu and Steward Chikandiwa in the 60th and 72nd minutes respectively.
The Teaching Service Commission says it has authorized the withholding of salaries for teachers who have transferred to various stations without normalizing their pay points.
Commission spokesperson Jane Mbambara said currently, salaries for 125 teachers who transferred from rural districts to Lusaka Province and did not have their pay points normalized have been withheld.
Ms. Mbambara said the salaries will only be released once the affected teachers have reported back to their initial work stations.
“The Teachers may recall that the Commission earlier this year, issued a directive to all teachers who were transferred from various stations without normalizing their pay points to go back and offer their services in stations where their pay points were, a directive which was sadly ignored”, She said.
Ms. Mbambara said the Commission has observed with sadness the high number of teachers who have relocated from rural districts while their pay points still remain in their previous stations.
She said this has led to schools in Lusaka and other urban districts being overstaffed while the rural schools remain with very few teachers, thereby causing an artificial shortage.
Ms. Mbambara has advised the affected teachers to report to the District Education Board Secretaries and have their cases reviewed.
She has also urged all the concerned teachers to adhere to the Commissions earlier call, by reporting back to their initial work stations adding that education Managers have been directed not to recommend transfers for teachers without vacant payroll positions.
Vice-President Inonge Wina making interventions at the High Level side event which was themed: “Accelerating efforts to end female genital mutilation and child marriage by 2030.” at the United Nations (UN) in New York. Picture courtesy of Zambia Mission at the United Nations/WALLEN SIMWAKA
Vice President Inonge Wina says Zambia is on the right track to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030 due to long term investments in agriculture, social protection and development of support physical infrastructure such as roads.
Mrs. Wina says the country is ready to learn from strategies which have worked in countries such as Thailand, which has significantly reduced hunger and malnutrition based on programmes that have had high positive impact on its population.
She was speaking in that country’s capital Bangkok today during the Keynote Address delivered at the official opening of the Global Event on Accelerating the End of Hunger and Malnutrition.
Mrs. Wina told delegates that time is running out for the world to beat the deadline for ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030 following commitments made by all United Nations Members States in 2015.
She said among innovations that Zambia had put in place included a multi-sector approach to addressing food and nutrition challenges with high-level political leadership and coordination placed under her Office as well as the development of a Zero Hunger Strategy and long-term Roadmap based on the Cluster approach in line with the seventh national development plan, 2017-2021.
Mrs. Wina added that Zambia is on course towards diversifying its food sources at household levels by promoting legumes and non-maize products such as cassava.
The vice president called for action to Fasttrack implementation of policies and strategies in order to actualize the conference theme by going beyond good intentions.
She expressed confidence that her delegation will leave Thailand confident that Zambia will have learned enough from other countries in order to help win the race against hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, GRISADA BONRACH has said his government has proposed to add value to all its food products through fortification.
The meeting was also addressed by Prime Minister of Rwanda Edouard Ngirete who said his government has consolidated land in order to deal with soil erosion and is encouraging backyard gardening.
And the International Food Policy Research Institute has emphasized the need for countries to work together to reduce hunger.
Institute Director General Dr Fan told the gathering that his organization would enhance its working relations with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support countries in realising the Sustainable Development Goals.
Earlier during a side meeting Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) Chief Executive Officer Chance Kabaghe informed the meeting that Zambia has introduced the usage of the E-Voucher in the Government Input Support Programme which has enabled small scale farmers to access nutritious seeds such as Soybeans, Groundnuts and Fingerlings among other seeds.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya
Government says it remains committed to sharing the gains from the reduction of fuel prices on the international market with consumers.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya who is also Chief government spokesperson said the reduction of fuel prices locally will be done gradually.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri in Lusaka today, Ms Siliya explained that the current stock of fuel that the country procured was done when prices were high.
Ms Siliya stated that government is meeting the high cost from the consignment that was procured earlier before oil prices went down.
She pointed out that the oscillation of the Kwacha against other major convertible currencies such as the United States Dollar takes into account when procuring the commodity.
Ms Siliya said government is optimistic that the on-going oil exploration in Northern Province will yield positive results.
The public has been calling on government to reduce the costs of fuel following the reduction at the international market.
National Council for Construction (NCC) has introduced online registration services to reduce costs contractors faced in the past from various places.
NCC Northern Region Compliance and Monitoring Specialist Kennedy Chikwemba told ZANIS in an interview in Solwezi today that before the introduction of the online services, contractors from districts in North-western Province had to travel to Kitwe where the council’s offices are located to do their registration which proved to be costly.
Mr. Chikwemba stated that the NCC is in the province to familiarize contractors on the registration criteria for 2019 using the online registration portal.
He said NCC also had a successful workshop for contractors in Solwezi to enlighten them on contractor assessment and how to go about the online registration process.
Mr. Chikwemba said the introduction of online registration services by NCC has so far been successful and the response from the contractors in the provinces where it is running has been good.
He called on contractor to go to the council’s website and access the service through the online registration link.
