Cabinet at its 19th meeting on Wednesday approved the publication and introduction of The Bill, entitled, “Solid Waste Regulation and Management Bill, 2018” in Parliament during the current sitting.

The objectives of this Bill, are to provide for the sustainable regulation and management of solid waste, general and self-service solid waste services, the incorporation of solid waste management companies and define their statutory functions, the licensing of solid waste service providers, operators and self-service solid waste providers and provide for their functions and the regulation, operation, maintenance and construction of landfills and other disposal facilities.

The Bill will also provide for the setting and approval of tariffs for management of solid waste and provision of solid waste services.

Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the management of Solid Waste has over the years been a challenge for the towns and cities in the country mainly due to increased population and economic activities, which have led to increased generation of waste.

She said if left unchanged, this would become a bigger challenge as the population increases adding that the increased generation of waste has posed a burden on the municipal budget due to the high costs associated to its management.

“Local Authorities are often characterized by dysfunctional waste management systems, with much of the waste in the streets, roadside, drainages and open areas remaining uncollected. Generally, only a small portion of the waste generated through different socio-economic activities is collected and transported for safe disposal”, she said.

She said this inevitably compromises the environmental quality of many urban areas, a situation that has contributed to poor public health.

Ms. Siliya said there is need, therefore, to strengthen the solid waste management sector and create an enabling environment for the private sector to create more opportunities.

She said this can only be enhanced by creating a business dimension of service provision coupled with good corporate governance principles to ensure transparency in its operation.

“In view of the importance Government attaches to the issue of waste management, the Ministry of Local Government in conjunction with the Millennium Challenge Account, Zambia, conducted a study on the state of solid waste management. The study results have necessitated the proposal to establish an autonomous Solid Waste Management Utility so as to address solid waste management challenges in the country”, She added.

Ms. Siliya said Cabinet is optimistic that the introduction of a comprehensive legislation on Solid Waste Regulation and Management will provide for sustainable regulation and effective management of solid waste in the country.

She said the Bill, when enacted, will further streamline the role of local authorities in solid waste management as provided for by the Constitution.

State House has described as utter nonsense assertions that it has directed the Zambia Police to stop opposition political parties from enjoying their freedom to assemble.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda says such assertions are only silly allegations being made by silly opposition leaders.

Mr. Chanda says the Zambia Police have no instructions from State House to stop any riotous behavior which some opposition political parties have been seeking permission to engage in.

In an interview with QTV News by telephone, Mr. Chanda, however, says in an event the Police do not stop a riot, the President as Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces will command them to do so.

And Mr. Chanda says State House has nothing to do with the summoning of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema by the Police in Ndola over allegations of inciting the recent riots in Kitwe.

He however, says that if the Police do not found it to be a problem for a citizen to go on radio and incite people to commit a crime, State House can remind the Police to stop the criminality.

Mr Chanda says State House has full confidence in the Zambia Police Service’s capabilities to detect crime and prosecute criminals.

The Lundazi Subordinate Court has sentenced a 44-year-old man to five years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful possession of a Leopard skin.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer, Sakabilo Kalembwe confirmed the development in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Kalembwe said Derrick Nyirenda was charged with unlawful possession of the prescribed trophy contrary to section 130(2) (a) of the ZWA No. 14 of 2015, after he was arrested in September this year by officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

He said Zambia is among few countries that have viable populations of leopards which are being depleted at an alarming rate due to illegal poaching and trafficking.

Mr. Kalembwe further disclosed that according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN Red List, global leopard populations have declined by 50 percent over the past 20 years.

He said it is important that wildlife criminals are sternly punished for depriving future generations of Zambia from enjoying the cultural, environmental and economic development opportunities presented by wildlife.

President Edgar Lungu has launched the 2018-2019 planting season with a call on farmers to embrace and adopt good agricultural practices in order to achieve increased production in the wake of changes in the climatic conditions.

President Lungu said this is because the performance of the agricultural sector is dependent on a number of factors some of which are natural occupancies such as changing climatic conditions as was the case during the last farming season.

He said this is why there is need for farmers across the country to adopt good agricultural practices such as conservation farming methods and agro forestry.

ZANIS reports that the Head of State was speaking in Mwinilunga district yesterday, during the launch of the 2018-2019 farming season which was held at the farm of Chief Chibwika of the Lunda speaking people.

“Climate change is a phenomenon which we will continue to grapple with however, regardless of the unfavourable effects, government is working tirelessly to ensure that farmers are encouraged to practice and adopt good agricultural practices,” the President said.

President Lungu added that, government is also accelerating different agricultural policies aimed at developing the agriculture sector as it is one of the economy’s priority sector.

“To propel this sector, we have put in place favourable policies and implementing various programs across its sub sectors among them crops, livestock and fisheries,” he noted.

President Lungu explained that Zambia is fortunate as it has three agro ecological regions with low, medium and high rainfall patterns adding that, North-Western happens to be within the high rainfall zone with an average of 1200 milimetre annually.

He further urged the people of North-Western Province to utilise the good natural resources to increase their agricultural production.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has called on traditional leaders in the country to embrace both local and foreigners investors who may be interested in investing in agricultural production as this will steer the province to another level in agricultural production.

He expressed confidence that North-Western Province is poised to be the new Copperbelt of Zambia with massive new mining investment in Lumwana and Kalumbila.

The Head of State added that, government will continue to facilitate the growth of the agricultural sectors by devising conducive policies intended at promoting investment and increased production and value addition.

“We are aware that the district is well known for pineapple production. Therefore, in the spirit of diversification, I implore our farmers to scale up production of pineapples and other crops which are widely grown in various parts of the province,” the President stated

President Lungu also added that, government is committed to putting in place infrastructure such as feeder roads, irrigation facilities and storage sheds to support the growth of the sector.

And Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) President, Jervis Zimba echoed President Lungu’s remarks and called on the need to prioritize the agricultural sector among others because of the role it plays in enhancing food security.

Mr. Zimba also advised farmers to seek information from reliable sources on seed varieties.

He further thanked government for creating an enabling environment for the players in the agricultural sector.

Government has strongly condemned a video circulating on social media depicting a man harassing his wife for allegedly committing adultery.

Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri said Gender Based Violence is a violation of human rights which should not be condoned irrespective of the offence committed and the relationship of the parties.

In a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the ministry’s Media Liaison Officer Mwape Mwenya, the Minister has also condemned people who are in the habit of taking pictures and recording similar instances rather than helping vulnerable victims who are unable to defend themselves.

Mrs Phiri has urged the police to take necessary action against the perpetrator as there are better channels to air grievances than resorting to violence and breaking the law with impunity.

The Minister has further asked the woman in the video to take necessary steps and ensure that her husband is answerable to the law for his unruly behaviour.

She said government will roll out sensitisation programmes in communities on the dangers and repercussions of GBV beginning November 25th to December 10th when the country joins the rest of the World in commemorating the 16 days of activism against gender based violence.

Mrs Phiri pointed out that Zambia has been recognized globally as a champion for the elimination of all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, and it is incumbent upon citizens to work with government on eliminating the vice.

The minister stated that government with support from the United Nations agencies has set up four fast track courts aimed at hastening the judicial process in GBV matters.

She cited Lusaka, Kabwe, Choma, and Mongu as some of the districts where the fast track courts are currently operational and that since inception of the courts, more than 700 cases have successfully been disposed of.

Mrs Phiri has urged victims of GBV not to suffer in silence but report all forms of violence to relevant institutions in order to allow the law take its course.

She warned that anyone found conniving with perpetrators of violence risks facing the law as well.

Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has raised concern over the large number of school going children in Zambia who suffer from dental cavities.

Mr. Lusambo said oral health diseases are higher among the poor and the disadvantaged population groups.

He cited unhealthy diet and poor hygiene as some the risk factors for oral diseases.

Mr. Lusambo said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lusaka Province Health Office Acting Clinical Care Specialist Sophia Msiska during the launch of the National Oral Health month in Chongwe District today.

“It is worrying to note that most people seek oral and health attention from Oral Health Providers late, which tends to be very costly to treat,” he said.

He urged the Zambia Dental Association to emphasize on oral health prevention and promotions in order to enhance the general wellness.

Mr. Lusambo further pointed out that government will continue to allocate resources in the national budget for oral health services.

Meanwhile, Zambia Dental Association President Christopher Kapeshi said at least 3.9 billion people globally suffer from oral diseases.

Dr. Kapeshi said the patient Oral health Doctor ratio stands at 1 to 151,000 patients which calls for the need to increase the number of officers.

He called on the general citizenry to go for routine Oral health checkup.

This year’s national Oral Health month is being commemorated under the theme: “Delivering Quality Oral Health through Universal Coverage”.