Skilled Volunteers from SAP CSR EMEA successfully trained more than 350 local teachers over the weekend as part of the Train-the-Trainer sessions organized by SAP and Africa Code Week partners at Lusaka International Community School (LICS). Participants learnt coding with Scratch, a free programming language designed by the MIT Media Lab to teach coding to the young generation in a fun and interactive way. Everyone received 90 minutes of training, a USB with course notes and Scratch pre-loaded, together with a training certificate upon course completion.

Spearheaded by SAP in 2015 with over half-a-million young Africans introduced to coding so far, Africa Code Week officially returns to the continent from 18-25 October with a goal to empower another 500,000 across 35 countries. Actively supported by UNESCO YouthMobile, the Cape Town Science Centre, the Galway Education Centre, Google, 15 African governments and over 100 public and private partners, the award-winning initiative is on a mission to bridge the digital skills gap across the African continent by empowering its future workforce with coding skills. While 8-17 year olds learn how to program their own animations, quizzes and games using Scratch, older learners (18-24) get introduced to web technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and SQL) and architecture.

“There is no transformation of education through ICT without proper training of teachers first; hence the importance of the Train-the-Trainer sessions organized every year in most participating countries,” says Claire Gillissen-Duval, Director of EMEA Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP and Africa Code Week Global Lead. “This is where the transfer of skills and knowledge takes place as SAP skilled volunteers equip teachers with the teaching materials they need to make coding a daily reality in the classroom,” Gillissen-Duval continues. Last year more than 5,600 adults were trained as part of the 25+ Train-the-Trainer sessions organized all over the continent.

“Throughout the weekend, Zambian teachers showcased sheer determination and commitment in supporting our efforts to bridge the digital divide and empower younger generations with job-relevant coding skills,” Gillissen-Duval adds. LICS teachers don’t just teach coding to their students already, but they are also actively engaged in an outreach program that allowed 22 teachers from other schools (Good Shepard Community School, Kalingalinga Community School, City of Hope School and Ngómbe Community School) to participate in the Africa Code Week training. More Zambian teachers eager to engage their pupils in Africa Code Week 2017 flew from all corners of the country (sometimes as far as Solwezi) to attend the training at LICS and share best-practices with fellow teachers and SAP Master Instructors. They are now getting ready to introduce coding to their own pupils and students during Africa Code Week Zambia – taking place from 9 to 15 October 2017, which is 10 days earlier than most countries in order to accommodate the local school calendar.

According to Charles Mwanza, CEO of Hackers Guild and Africa Code Week implementing partner in Zambia, “Africa Code Week is teaching more than coding: it is encouraging young people to ‘think like coders’, for more and more coders will be needed to overcome society’s most pressing, increasingly complex challenges. Africa Code Week is a fantastic opportunity for Zambia’s youth to learn the skills they need to thrive in the global knowledge economy,” he concludes.

Suspected criminals armed with machetes attacked and killed one of the two  security guards at Winners Chapel Church in Livingstone City in Southern province.

Southern Province Police Commissioner Bonny Kapeso confirmed the development in a statement  saying that the suspects attacked the two security guards between 23:00 hours on Monday and 01:00 hours before getting away with one Dell Laptop and three cordless microphones valued at K5,000.

Mr. Kapeso in a statement to ZANIS said the two guards were beaten up and sustained multiple cuts on their heads and both were taken to Livingstone Central hospital where they were admitted.

However, Mr. Kapeso said Mr. Kunda died a few minutes after admission and his body was currently in the mortuary awaiting post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.

Police have instituted investigations in the matter.

Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Deputy Public Relations Officer Kamufisa Manchishi has urged members of the public to utilise its free counselling service.

Mr. Manchishi says the Commission offers free counselling service to any member of the general public affected by alcohol and narcotic substance abuse.

“We offer free counselling services to the public and I am encouraging them to come through and access these services,” he said.

ZANIS reports Mr. Manchishi pointed out in an interview, yesterday, that DEC also works in conjunction with Chainama Hills Hospital, UTH Clinic 6, psychiatry units available in every general hospital and other private centers.

He emphasized that the general public should feel free to access these services as it is for their benefit.

“People should not be afraid of being arrested when they come to seek counselling for their alcohol or drug problem. We are here to help address problems like these because we understand that drug addiction is harmful to health,” he said.

He explained that the free counselling services have been made available in all DEC provincial centers in the country.

Over the past two years, there has been an increase in the number of people accessing the free counselling services.

“In the period 2015 to 2016, there has been an improvement in the number of clients accessing the free counselling services. In 2015 we had a total number of 415 clients and in 2016 we had a total number 610 clients, giving us a 47 per cent increase,” Mr. Manchinshi narrated.

He further revealed that in the period 2015 to 2016, the total number of clients was 1025 of which 993 were male and 32 were female most of whom are aged between 10 to 35 years old.

“We have anti-drug clubs in schools to help with sensitization because the most affected are the young people between the ages of 10 to 35 years and we have also trained peer educators to help with communicating anti-drug abuse messages,” he said.

Mr. Manchishi appealed to the public to take advantage of these services if they are afflicted with drug addiction and alcohol abuse or they can recommend the service to someone who is facing this problem.

British High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane says the seizure of 32 kilogrammes of rhino horns at Chanida border post in Eastern province is an important development in the fight against poaching.

Mr. Cochrane says this is because Zambia is used as a transit point for smuggling of wildlife and government trophy.

He said this in Chipata City yesterday, when he paid a courtesy call on Eastern Province Permanent secretary Chanda Kasolo noting that the international community is interested in the case in which authorities seized the rhino horns believed to have been smuggled from a neighboring country.

He observed that though the horns are believed to have been smuggled from another country, such illegal activities are also happening in the country saying there is need to curb smuggling of government trophies.

The Envoy noted that animal tasks are an economic asset and stressed the need to protect wildlife for future generations as Zambia is still developing.

The British High Commissioner said that he would meet with wildlife conservation in South Luangwa and discuss the areas in which the British government can render aid in the preservation of wildlife.

Among the projects as One Stop centre for Gender based Violence (GBV) and the social Cash Transfer Scheme (SCT) for the vulnerable.

Mr. Cochrane is in Eastern Province to monitor projects that are sponsored by the British Government and explore investment opportunities for British investors.

And Mr. Kasolo cited mining, tourism and agriculture as some of the areas with economic potential in which British investors can exploit.

The Permanent Secretary said the region which is host to the one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in the continent does not have adequate accommodation in Mfuwe.

He stated that there is need to invest in hotels and lodges and to fully exploit the tourism potential in the province.

Mr Kasolo stated that Government intends to expand Mfuwe international airport and that four companies have declared interest to partner with Government to construct an international airport in Chipata.

He also expressed concern about increased poaching activities and stressed the need to have game farms to safeguard animals.

“The Province is also endowed with minerals that have not been fully exploited. We have some of the best limestone in chief Msoro’s area though the road leading to the area is in a deplorable state. We also have gold in Vubwi, Lundazi and Petauke districts” He said.

Mr Kasolo however noted that there had been rampant illegal mining especially in chief Sandwe’s are in Petauke district where over 5,000 illegal miners are reported to be camping.

Central province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kabwe says late former health minister Dr Emmanuel Kasonde was a patriotic Zambian who served the nation wholeheartedly for improved standards of health in the country.

Mr Kabwe says the late Dr Kasonde was instrumental in ensuring that the health reforms in the country were improved when the Patriotic Front Government came into power in 2011.

“The deceased former Health Minister will be greatly missed by all Zambians and abroad especially in the health sector because he served diligently with passion and without fear or favour,” said Mr Kabwe.

He said the country has lost a gallant health practitioner who not only served in Zambia but in other parts of the world where his works were highly recognized.

“Dr Kasonde was a gallant leader in the country that was determined to make sure he embraced the young people in encouraging them to take up the leadership mantle,” said Mr Kabwe.

He has since appealed to the family members, relatives and friends of the deceased former Health Minister to look up to the Almighty God in this trying moment.

“May the soul of the departed former Health Minister rest in eternal peace and May God guide the Family of Dr Kasonde during this mourning period,” he said.

Mr Kabwe has further urged the young people in the country to emulate the leadership skills and humility levels of the late Dr Kasonde in order for sustainable development to take place.

The Provincial permanent Secretary said this in a statement to ZANIS last evening.