The Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia has opposed the decision by the Higher Education Authority to allow the Copperbelt University to continue running the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery Learning Programmes until further notice.

The Higher Education Authority has directed the Copperbelt University to continue running the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery Learning Programmes until further notice.

This comes barely three days after the Health Professions Council of Zambia banned the University from administering the three medical programmes at the institution following failure to meet the laid down standards.

But Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia President Jerome Kanyika says the training of quality health practitioners must be a priority for everyone.

Mr. Kanyika said in a statement that the one-year grace period given to the institution by the Authority is too long a period to allow training that does not reach the minimum standards to go on.

He said the Society supports the stance taken by Health Professions Council of Zambia to insist on institutions maintaining high standards without which guaranteeing safety from health care hazard will remain a pipe dream.

Mr. Kanyika has also advised the Higher Education Authority to engage the Health Professions Council of Zambia so as to harmonize on areas of similar mandate.

And the misunderstanding that has erupted between the Higher Education Authority and the Health Professions Council PF Zambia has now been referred to the Attorney General’s Chamber to interpret the law.

HPCZ Registrar and CEO Aaron Mujajati revealed in an interview that his organization has written to the Attorney General for guidance on the matter.

Dr Mujajati said he believes that HPCZ acted within the law when it suspended CBU from offering the three medical programmes for failing to comply with laid down procedures.

He said the HPCZ Act mandates the authority to carry out inspections and take remedial measures to safeguard the integrity of the medical profession.

“We have since written to the Attorney General for interpretation of the law because we know that the HPCZ Act particularly Part 4 of that Act read from Section 34, 35 and 36 gives us those powers clearly but we just need to have this debate closed by having the Attorney General interpret the two pieces of legislation for us,” Dr Mujajati said.

Yesterday, Higher Education Authority Director Professor Stephen Simukanga overruled the decision by Dr Mujajati to suspend CBU Medical School and directed that it continues offering the said programmes as it works on the issues that were raised by its experts who has visited the institution.

Police on the Copperbelt have postponed the summon for UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema from 14th November to 20th November to allow him attend the burial ceremony of his late aunt Chieftainess Choongo of Bweengwa Constituency, in Monze District.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said Mr. Hichilema will therefore avail himself for police summons next week on Tuesday 20th November 2018 in Ndola.

Mr. Kakoma has since advised UPND members to remain united amidst all the challenges affecting Mr. Hichilema.

Police have summoned Mr. Hichilema to appear before its command in Ndola over the riots sparked by the alleged sale of ZAFFICO to Chinese Investors.

According to a callout issued by the Deputy D.C.I.O, Gloria Mulele last week, Mr. Hichilema was supposed to report to Ndola Police Headquarters on Wednesday this week.

Mr. Hichilema is alleged to have incited the people on the Copperbelt to riot over the alleged sale of ZAFFICO, a state owned company involved in the timber industry.

The UPND Leader has however denied ever inciting anyone to riot saying Zambians are aware of the many problems going on in the country including the ZNBC and the NRDC situations.

Anti-Voter Apathy (AVAP) Executive Director Richwell Mulwani has joined calls by the Southern Africa Centre for Conflict Resolutions (SACCORD) in urging the Electoral Commission Zambia (ECZ) to commence the continuous voter registration ahead of the 2021 General Elections.

Mr. Mulwani said government should adequately fund the ECZ so that it can start the continuous voter registration following thousands of young people who have obtained National Registration Cards from 2016 to date.

The Anti–Voter Apathy Director also stated that the ECZ should work hand in hand with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of the National Registration in a bid to ensure that young people who have reached 16 years and above access NRC’S as well as voters cards in readiness for the 2021 general elections.

He said AVAP supports SACCORD’S call for the continuous voter registration ahead of the 2021 general elections which he said is just around the corner.

And Mr. Mulwani has also called on the ECZ to remove names of deceased persons from the voters register before the 2021 general elections.

Mr. Mulwani said it is disappointing that the names of people who have died were still appearing on the 2016 voters register raising suspicion from other concerned stakeholders.

He said there is need to ensure that the electoral system is transparent before the 2021 general elections.

Vice President Inonge Wina has arrived in Western Province on a two day working visit. The ZAF Aircraft carrying the Mrs. Wina touched down at Mongu Airport at 15:35 hours.

Speaking on arrival in Mongu, the Vice President cautioned people in Western Province not to be deceived by the opposition political parties regarding the rolling out of the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) as government is on course with the programme.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Wina said government will give all farmers who have paid the K400 subscription for the program while, farmers who did not receive last year but paid will also receive inputs this year.

The Vice President said the people of Western Province should not be deceived that government has failed to roll out the E-Voucher program because all the modalities have been put in place to ensure that all farmers on the program receive inputs.

Mrs. Wina was received by Western Province Permanent Secretary, Sibanza Simuchoba, senior Government and Party Officials.

While in the province, the Vice President will handover an ambulance at Muoya Health Centre in Nalolo district and inspect developmental projects in Kaoma district among other things.

President Edgar Lungu has appealed to Zambians to act responsibly and avoid reckless statements that can undermine the country’s peace and security.

The Head of State says the Private Sector response to the Country’s friendly business operating environment is clear defeat for doomsayers who are hell-bent on undermining investor confidence in the economy.

Speaking during the official opening of the Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere Hotel in Lusaka today, President Lungu said no one has the right to single out any single nationality and set the population against them adding that investors from different countries are welcome.

“Here we are, investors from Tanzania have put up this wonderful investment, which created 200 direct jobs and supporting other supply chains”, the President said.

President Lungu said his government aspire to build a strong and dynamic industrialised nation, which provides opportunities for the well-being of all people adding that government is also determined to improve on its resolve to create an operating business environment that embodies values of socio-economic justice.

“As stipulated in the seventh national development plan, tourism is one of the country’s economic growth sectors, which directly and indirectly provides significant employment opportunities. The PF government will continue to provide an enabling environment through appropriate legal and policy measures to support private sector investment.

He said Zambia has the potential to be transformed into a tourism hub in the region and beyond. it is in this regard, that government has prioritised creation of an enabling environment to spur growth in the tourism sector.

And Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda said the tourism sector holds the potential to be a major contributor to socio-economic development as an important source of jobs, wealth, and competitiveness, particularly in the country’s rural areas.

He said the sector also holds major linkages to various other sectors of the economy as it offers large opportunities for a return on investment in infrastructure development, hotel management, tour operations and the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (mice) sub-sectors.

And Neelkanth Group Limited Chairperson, Subhash Patel said President Edgar Lungu’s commitment to promote a conducive Business environment has encouraged his company to invest in Zambia.

He promised to bring a difference in the provision of service in Zambia’s Hospitality Industry.