A PROGRAMME of providing food to pupils is set to be implemented throughout the country following its first-class performance in 38 piloted districts and 2,700 pre- and primary school learners.

The school meals programme was launched as a pilot project on the back of several research findings that suggested that lack of food was widely responsible for the poor enrollment levels as parents used their children for economic activities.

Ministry of Higher Education permanent secretary Henry Tukombe said this in Lusaka on Friday during a workshop to evaluate the impact of the school feeding programme in Lusaka.

“This programme will not only promote national food security but more importantly, contribute to national food and nutrition security leading to poverty alleviation,” Mr Tukombe said.

The programme is financed and implemented by Government, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the European Union and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Mr Tukombe said the school feeding programme has improved school attendance for a larger percentage of pupils who stayed away from school on account of hunger.

The programme involves parents in the catchment areas producing food which is sold to schools and given to pupils for free to enhance performance.

“In this way, the majority of our people who earn their living through agriculture will be able to access a market for their produce, thereby improving not only their individual household productivity but also local economy,” Mr Tukombe said.

Mr Tukombe said the Government will prioritise the school feeding programme because it fits within the Patriotic Front (PF) pro-poor policy.

Mr Tukombe said Government and development partners will know the impact of investing in pupils.

Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Julius Shawa said the agriculture sector will continue to play its role of ensuring that the programme succeeds because it enhances agriculture by providing ready market for the suppliers of agricultural produce to schools.

He said social protection interventions such as school feeding programme and agriculture scaling up programme are very important and need the support of all stakeholders.

Mr Shawa said the evaluation of the pilot programme should help Government and its development partners to address challenges for future interventions.

FAO country representative George Okechi said the programme has potential to stimulate economic growth in future through the expansion of land for production of food for supply to schools.

He said the launch of the evaluation should help with the necessary tools to respond to the needs of the pupils and school authorities.

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) National Policy Committee has directed all FDD members to refrain from attending any Party meetings that has not been sanctioned by the National Secretariat.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Party Secretariat in Lusaka yesterday, FDD National Chairperson Potiphar Chungu said anyone who will disregard the National Policy Committee’s directive risks being disciplined.

Mr. Chungu also revealed that National Policy Committee (NPC) during a two day meeting that was held in Lusaka from 25th to 26th March, 2017 ratified the decision of the standing Committee to expel the party Vice President Chifumu Banda who was recently expelled, adding that from now onwards Chifumu Banda will no longer be an issue in the FDD party.

He further disclosed that the National Policy Committee (NPC) also resolved to also expel 21 FDD Party members who are part of the leadership of the “Save FDD Committee” and he was quick to mention that all the expelled members will not be missed due to the fact that they were just rejects from other Political Parties apart from Chifumu Banda.

And Mr. Chungu noted that Lawrence Mwelwa who claims to be the National Coordinator of the “Save FDD Committee” has never been an FDD member and the only connection to the FDD is that he is the husband to the FDD Chiengi Member of Parliament Given Katuta who, adding membership in the FDD is by card not by marriage.

The Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde reports that Mr. Chungu has however stated that FDD has made tremendous Progress towards meeting the logistical requirements to hold the party National Convention.

Mr. Chungu said the party has so far managed to raise a total sum of one million out the six million budgets for the convention, affirming that all the catering arrangements in terms of food to feed all the delegates at the convention are in place as well.

“We have directed all our members through the National Policy Committee to refrain from attending any Party meetings that has not been sanctioned by the National Secretariat” Mr. Chungu said

Meanwhile, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Gender National Chairperson Alice Kapasa has revealed that the FDD has now realized that certain clauses in their constitution need revision for it to serve the interest of the people.

“We have realized that certain clauses in our constitution need revision for it to serve the interest of the people” Ms. Kapasa said

Tourism and Art Minister Charles Banda says his ministry is ready to partner with the Galilee International Management Institute of Israel.

Mr. Banda said his ministry plans to partner with the Galilee International Management Institute in a training programme that would help grown the tourism sector.

This comes after President Edgar Lungu’s recent visit to Israel country.

Mr. Banda said the coming of the President of the Galilee International Management Institute Joseph Shevel to Zambia is a commitment of the partnership between the institute and the Ministry.

He said the visiting head of the institute wants cooperation between the Minister and his institute so that people can be equipped with the knowhow of doing things.

Dr. Shevel said his university would wave tuition for students that will come from development countries like Zambia.

He said the kind of training offered will definitely show the tourism growth effects in a space of three years.

And Mr Banda noted that there is need for training if the tourism growth agenda is to be driven well.

He added that the more tourists the country receives, the more revenue would be collected adding that the Ministry is ready to send a delegation for the training in May once all the logistics are put in place.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sakabilo Kalembwe.

A 42 year old Indonesian miner has died from injuries he sustained after being hit and pushed by a launder steel pipe whilst working at a process plant at Kansanshi mine in Solwezi District in Northwestern province.

The accident took place on Thursday 23rd March 2017 around 03:00 hours at the mine’s floatation area but the matter was only reported to police in Solwezi on Saturday..

ZANIS reports that Northwestern province Commissioner of Police Auxensio Daka has confirmed the incident in an interview today and identified the deceased as Antonius Simatupang, a pipe fitter.

Mr Daka said Simatupang died on 24th March at Kenneth Kaunda International airport as he was about to be flown to South Africa after being referred there by doctors at Mukinge mission hospital where he was attended to.

Mr Simatupang sustained rupture of the lung due to the accident and was rushed to Merryberg clinic in Solwezi and then to Mukinge mission hospital in Kasempa for surgery.

The Police Chief said the body is in the mortuary in Lusaka awaiting postmortem and a docket has been opened to ascertain the facts that led to the death.

Veteran Politician Sikota Wina has sensationally back tracked on his intentions to marry 40 year old Lusaka lady Elizabeth Chalikulima.

Mr Wina, 87, last week sent emissaries to Mama Kankasa’s House where marriage negotiations where held.
The story of the marriage proposal sent tongues wagging with many Zambians questioning the real motive for the marriage given the 47 year age gap.

But in a statement, Mr Wina who lost his wife of many years Princess Nakatindi some years ago has changed his mind about marrying Elizabeth.

He said the marriage proposal was an incorrect judgement on his part.

“I strongly believe that the decision is in the best interest of all involved wish Ms Chalikulima the best in her future endeavors,” Mr Wina wrote.

Government has called on members of the public to turn up and contribute to the ongoing Consultative process on Zambia’s position on its membership to the International Criminal Court.

Copperbelt Provincial Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga who advised against politicizing the exercise made the call when he officially opened the consultative meeting in Ndola at the Civic Centre this morning.

Mr Kamanga emphasised that it was a good and progressive gesture that government was consulting the citizenry on the decision that the country should take.

The Copperbelt Permanent Secretary further said government had opted to remain neutral on the issue and left it to the general public.

And Consultative meeting Chairman, who is also Ministry of Justice Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Mwewa Chola, explained that the Ministry of Justice is carrying out a countrywide consultative exercise on whether or not Zambia should withdraw its membership from the ICC.

He explained that the consultative process had been necessitated following the resolution which was passed during the 28th summit of Assembly of African Union which resolved on a non-binding recommendation for a mass withdrawal of African country from the ICC, citing alleged impartiality of the court.

Mr Mwewa further said it was encouraging that members of the public in Ndola had responded favourably to the call and had by press time made various petitions.

President Edgar Lungu has assured the former employees of the Zambia Tanzania Railway Authority (TAZARA) that he will ensure that they receive their retirement benefits.

Speaking when he addressed thousands of Mpika residents during a thanksgiving rally yesterday, President Lungu said that he had received reports that TAZARA Retirees have not yet been paid their benefits.

Mr. Lungu stressed that when he gets back to Lusaka he will work hand in hand with the Minister in the Vice President’s office Sylvia Chalikosa to ensure that their due retirement benefits are processed and paid to them as soon as possible.

The Republican President is on a three day working visit to Muchinga Province.

Meanwhile, Mr Lungu has also directed Mpika Central Member of Parliament Sylvia Chalikosa to ensure that the challenge of water experienced in Mpika Market is worked on.

President Lungu said the challenge of water in Mpika Market which is on and off should be looked into because Government has got money to ensure that its people access water.

And PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says civil servants and party officials should unite by upholding the national motto: One Zambia One Nation.

President Lungu said it was important for civil servants in Muchinga province to work with the PF in order to build this country.

He said this when he addressed both civil servants and party officials in one meeting at Chimbalanga Gardens in Mpika District of Muchinga Province.

President Lungu has urged civil servants to ensure that they read and understand the Patriotic Front Manifesto so that they know the vision of the party and keep check on Government operations

Mr. Lungu says party officials should not be bosses to civil servants and vice versa.

President Lungu says Muchinga Province is a new province therefore there is need for the area to discover different ways of contributing to the development of the nation.

He has since challenged the Provincial Minister, Malozo Sichone to tell people in the province his plans and vision for the province and how best development can be brought to Muchinga.

And in his vote of thanks, the District Party Chairperson Patrick Eneyar assured the President that Mpika will stay peaceful as party officials and civil servants will continue to work together.

Speaking on behalf of civil servants District Health Director, Dr. Jane Mweenda says civil servants and party officials are working together as a team to move Zambia forward.

The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has expelled its Party Vice president Chifumu Banda from the party.

Mr. Banda was suspended in December awaiting final determination of his fate by the party’s disciplinary committee.

FDD National Chairperson Potipher Chungu however says if Mr. Banda is not happy with the decision he should appeal to the convention due anytime soon.

Mr. Chungu dismissed claims there is a split in the opposition party.

He said the party will not engage any members who have not shown commitment to the Party’s values.

Mr. Chungu has also confirmed that the party has mobilised resources required for the convention which will be held on a date to be announced.

He was speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka.

But Mr. Banda says he does not recognize his expulsion because the decision has been reached without following the party’s constitution requirements.

He has told ZNBC News in an interview that only the National Convention is supposed to expel him adding that any other party organ can only recommend.

Mr. Banda says a statement of his expulsion from the FDD is baseless.

The opposition Economic and Equity Party (EEP) has endorsed the move by Government to consult Zambians before deciding on leaving the International Criminal Court or not.
The opposition political party says it has endorsed this move because it manifests democratic practice.

EEP President Chilufya Tayali says he has read and heard so many comments condemning the consultative process relating to whether Zambia should pull out of ICC or not and that almost all the comments are against the process and especially the huge expenditure of K2 Million.

Mr. Tayali says a number of alternatives have been suggested on how this can be done without spending so much money and that he appreciates most of them especially the one using Parliament.

He explains that there is no case on Zambia or by Zambia at the ICC, and that Zambia cannot be accused of running away from prosecution, therefore we can debate the issue comfortably.

He also says there is need to look at matters internally, if there are cases, which have a potential to end up at the ICC, so that, if the nation has to pull out, no one will cry foul.

Meanwhile, Governance Activist David Kapoma says during his National address to the nation in parliament, President Lungu stated that Zambia has no money for holding of the referendum on the Bill of Rights.

Mr. Kapoma wonders how has government has managed to find K2 million within two days to hold consultative meetings on whether Zambia should leave the ICC or stay.

And UPND Member Dante Saunders says the government should prioritize the holding of a referendum to adopt the Bill of Rights as opposed to spending more money on consultation on the ICC membership.

Mr. Saunders says government is on record saying there is no money for the referendum and yet the money for consultative meetings has been found.