President Lungu saddened with rising levels of deforestation

President Edgar Lungu has called for a change of mindset among Zambians in order to curb rising levels of deforestation in the country.

President Lungu says there is need for the country to abandon established traditional practices of uncontrolled cutting down of trees for charcoal.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu said this when he launched the Zambia Plant a million trees initiative at Kapasa Makasa University in Chinsali District , Muchinga Province.

President Lungu said it is prudent for the country to plant trees in order to create a tree based economy to help address rising climate change in line with the 7NDP which is premised on economic diversification.

Mr Lungu said the initiative which seeks to plant a minimum one million trees will contribute to reducing deforestation and enhance the country’s afforestation programme.

The Head of State praised the Ministry of Lands and Natural resources for implementing the initiative with the private sector.

He said continued cutting down of trees threatens the environment and national security.

President Lungu has since directed Lands and Natural resources minister Jean Kapata to employ an integrated and participatory approach of working with other line ministries and the traditional leadership to scale up and accelerate the planting of a million trees initiative across the country.

The President said learners at schools, colleges and universities and community members must be involved in planting trees in order to protect the environment as well as earn income through backyard orchards.

Mr Lungu pointed out that despite Zambia being one of the most heavily forested countries in the world, it has environmental challenges that are affecting the national economy.

He said his government will ensure that the tree planning on the country is prioritised by all citizens in line with the PF manifesto of supporting sustainable use and management of natural resources.

And Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapaya said her ministry will work with schools, colleges, universities and communities to ensure that 100 million trees are planted by 2021.

Ms. Kapata said the initiative will help contribute to food security and improved livelihoods of Zambians.

The minister said Zambia is on course in arresting deforestation following the implementation of several land and environmental management interventions.

Speaking at the same function Higher Education Minister directed that all students at colleges and universities in the country will plant 100 trees per day for three days this year to help achieve the goal of planting a million trees.

Provincial Minister Malozo Sichone said his administration has put in place measures to plant 700,000 trees in the province.

Mr Sichone said the initiative has potential to improve the economic wellbeing of people in rural areas.

Chief Executive Officer of Zambia Plant a million trees Emmanuel Chibesakunda said he was inspired to develop the initiative because of his desire to leave a green legacy for the future generation.

Mr Chibesakunda appealed to government to ensure that Zambians explore the potential of setting up industries from planting trees of economic worth through value addition.

He disclosed that Zambia’s first President Dr Kenneth Kaunda had agreed to the goodwill ambassador of the initiative.

And giving a vote of thanks, Copperbelt University Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma said there is need for concerted efforts to halt Zambia’s rising deforestation rate of Bout 300, 000 hectares annually.

President Lungu was accompanied by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu and his Press Aide Amos Chanda.

In attendance at the launch was Senior Chief Nkula, Chiefs Nkweto and ChibesaKunda, senior government and party oficials

How did he get interested in organic farming at such a young age? This is the question you ask yourself when you meet Happy Lingwe, the youngest organic vegetable farmer in Chongwe’s Chikanchila village.

The 22-year-old was only 19 when he started organic vegetable farming, joining other 99 farmers under the Civil Society Environment Fund Phase II (CSEF 2) project at Kasisi Agriculture Training Centre.

Happy passed his Grade nine exams in 2014 but could not go onto Grade 10 due to lack of sponsorship. Instead of just sitting at home, he started mining and selling building sand and after years of earning meagre wages, he heard about organic farming and it’s potential.

“One of the youths in our village Geofrey was able to raise money from organic farming and sponsor himself to college. When I heard his story I went to Kasisi to find out how I could join and when they saw my zeal, they put me on the waiting list. Later when there was a vacant plot left by a drop out farmer, they gave me a plot to start growing vegetables.”

This was two years ago. During this time Happy has been the sole breadwinner of his family, paying his siblings’ school fees as well as taking care of his aunt, who is confined to a wheelchair.

“I do not want people to feel pity for me because I am doing quite well. Of course things can always be better, but my situation was a lot worse before I started growing and selling organic vegetables.” He says with a smile.

Happy says he manages to send money to his mother in Chipata every month from his earnings, which are about ZMW4000 every month.

“I do not have a bank account yet, but I have a mobile money account where I save bit by bit because I want to go back to school.”

A strict vegetarian, Happy says he enjoys farming, especially growing vegetables using organic farming.

“I did not know that I was destroying the environment when I was mining sand, but with organic farming I have found that it actually costs less than normal farming and it improves the soil.”

Unlike most youths who get excited about socialising on the weekend, the jovial Happy loves to preach the gospel in his village.

“I am a lay evangelist at church so I spend my weekends ministering to my fellow youths in my village.

Happy says he wishes he had a borehole at home so that he could grow vegetables with other young people in his village.

“I have learned a lot on this CSEF2 project. Not only about organic farming but also about crop marketing, how to manage money and also conserve the environment. I want to pass this knowledge to my fellow youths in my village.” He says.

The CSEF2 project, which is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA), promotes technologies and land use practices associated with sustainable crop and vegetable production. By encouraging innovation in agricultural practices, farmers can secure more stable and sustainable livelihoods, restore soil fertility, foster sustainable use and management of natural resource and prevent environmental degradation.

United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema urged South Africa to provide leadership in the Southern African region in championing an end to injustice in Zambia.

Speaking in Livingstone yesterday after attending the New Apostolic Church Divine Service at Nakatindi Church grounds to mark the church’s 90 years of existence in Zambia that the current harsh economic conditions being experienced under the PF government needed the people to remain strong.

“President Ramaphosa, though busy with domestic issues, needs to be alerted that Zambia could blow up any moment from now and this will negatively affect the SADC region. South Africa has to provide leadership in our region. Zambia and other countries in the region fought hard against the then oppressive Apartheid regime. Today, South Africa is in a stronger position to provide the necessary leadership in our region to restore the rule of law, human rights, democracy , peace and stability for development. Nigeria is providing such leadership in the ECOWAS region,” Hichilema said.

“…we had some local government by-elections, some oposition voters and polling agents, Electoral Commission officials and members of the public were beaten, injected with poison (chemical weapons), detained by armed ruling party thugs working with state police disrupting voting, vote counting/talling and announcing in many polling stations around the country in war zone like situation. The situation is getting worse than the 2026 election scenario.”

Mr Hichilema said the church was an important institution which could help Zambians in times of need.

“I decided to come and join my brothers and sisters in the New Apostolic Church in celebrating their 90 years of their church’s existence in Zambia. The church is a very important institution and so we must continue praying. We must pray hard especially during these economic hardships that we are going through, we must stay strong and continue praying for the country,” Hichilema said.

“We are also looking for ways of reviving the now stalled dialogue which had raised hopes of restoring law and order in our country. Currently, the regime is becoming more desperate and brutal. Any ideas of unlocking this ugly situation would be welcome.”

And New Apostolic Church Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider urged congregants to give up the silly thought of what the church should do for them.

“We are so thoughtful of what Jesus did for us, so let’s ask ourselves as to what we can do for God to promote his church. God’s will is for all men to be saved,” said Schneider.

SOCIALIST Party presidential candidate Dr Fred M’membe has said machines have taken over the jobs that the people had.

In a statement to mark labour, which falls tomorrow, Dr M’membe, the Socialist Party deputy secretary general, stated that May 1 was not simply a day of celebration for the working class, their trade unions and political parties.

“On this day, we are reminded about why the flag of working class organisations – trade unions, political parties – is red. ‘Our life’s blood has dyed its every fold’, goes the traditional labour song,” Dr M’membe stated.

“We know that for the working class, it’s authentic trade unions and political parties, the road ahead is tortuous, full of twists and turns.”

He stated that the struggle, therefore, was for the unemployed and precariously employed people too.

“To overcome these challenges is going to take serious effort to develop the working class theoretically and strategically as a class,” Dr M’membe stated.

“A big reason why so many workers are out of work is because they have been replaced by machines – excavators, combine-harvesters, ATMs. In a more just, fair and humane world, it would be a good thing to have machines to do boring, dangerous, backbreaking work. It would mean that the workers have more time to learn, to be creative, to worship and develop themselves spiritually, to spend time with family and friends. But this isn’t a just, fair and humane world. This is capitalism.”

He stated that workers produced enough to feed, house, and clothe every person on the planet, but millions starve and live without homes, proper sanitation, clean water, education, health services.

“This is because with capitalism, the fundamental reason we produce things like food, houses, and clothing is not to use them, but to make a profit for the rich,” Dr M’membe stated.

He stated that an alternative world was possible, where workers could produce what they need in order to use it, and where they all have a say in what they make and how they make it.

“So how do workers get there? It’s through socialism and the Socialist Party! It’s only socialism and socialism alone that can help us solve these problems and create a more just, far and humane society,” Dr M’membe statec.

He stated that for the working class and its organisations, May 1 was a day for casting away illusions and preparing for struggle and to unite all working class forces against real class enemies.

Dr M’membe stated that on a day like this, the workers were reminded that not all those who wave the red flag or claim to speak for the working class actually do so.

He stated that May 1 started when Chicago police massacred workers and revolutionaries who were fighting for an eight-hour workday.

“Back then, workers drudged through ten, twelve-hour shifts. Today, workers face the same long hours at dangerous work and still barely make enough money to get by,” stated Dr M’membe.

“But for some, instead of working too much, they can’t find work at all, or can’t get enough hours in the clocking jobs they have. What we need to realise is that this unemployment is not primarily due to globalised labour markets, but to mechanisation, digitisation or the shift from formal to real domination of capital.”

Saturday 28th April was the day of the highly anticipated, MTN sponsored, 2018 edition of Zamfest, which was billed as the “Biggest matebeto ever“. The event was held at Lusaka Showgrounds in the main arena.

The event was a music and food festival. The food side of things featured South African celebrity chef Siba Mtongana, who is the of host of the Food Network’s cooking show Siba’s Table. Siba held a cooking masterclass for the excited audience.

Attendees of the ZamFest were spoiled for choice as a plethora of food vendors were present, selling an assortment of delicious goodies at reasonable prices.

Musically, the headline act was South African music giants Mafikizolo. The duo, consisting of Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza, has been in the music industry for 20 years. Many fans who grew up listening to Mafikizolo’s many hit singles were ecstatic to watch them perform live.

Mafikizolo started off their set with their 2005 hit single “Emlanjeni”. They went on to perform many of their hits such as “Kucheza“, “Khona“, “Happiness“, “Ndihamba nawe“, and many more. The duo ended their set with their massive hit “Love Potion” much the the delight of the thrilled audience who sang along word for word. Mafikizolo’s performance was filled with dancing, fan interaction and was backed by an amazing live band.

Apart from Mafikizolo the stand out performance of the event was electric violinist Caitlyn De Ville. She wowed the crowd with a spectacular performance of popular hits such as “Wild thoughts” by Dj Khalid ft Rihanna, “Shape of you” by Ed Sheeran, “Rockabye” by Clean Bandits among others.

The event also had performances were by Chembo , Malawian artist Patience Namadingo, Cactus Agony. Others were Dj Zein Bassflexx, DJ El Mukuka , Game of Tones, Dj DuchAz , Dj Hussein , DJ Nano.

The 2018 MTN Zamfest was a magnificent event that will live long in the memory.

PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

BY KAPA KAUMBA