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The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) has said that it has observed high concentrations of molasses from unknown sources on the Kafue River which is giving a brown colour to the water after the treatment process.
In a satetement released to the media today , the the company said that its water surveillance unit has established that there was a high concentration of molasses that was being discharged into the Kafue River, hence polluting the water.
The firm said that a team has since been dispatched upstream to further investigate the source of this molasses contamination.
“The company would like to take this opportunity to assure its customers that the water is safe for consumption despite the color. Efforts are being made to ensure the color of the water is within acceptable limits”, read the statement.
The company further said that it has engaged Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and the Zambia Environmental Management Authority, (ZEMA) so that they can come on board to help investigate this matter.
The company also commended its team which undertakes water quality surveillance on a daily basis and quality control to ensure that the water supplied meets the quality standards required.
“LWSC is guided by the Zambia Bureau of Standards guidelines to produce and supply quality drinking water to its customers. In that regard, the water supplied by the utility company goes through a standard treatment process before it is supplied to the customers”, concluded the statement.
First Lady Esther Lungu receives a banquet of flowers from 12 years old girl Charity Daka during the hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANISFirst Lady Esther Lungu is tomorrow expected in Pemba City in Mozambique to attend a two days conference on ending child marriage and early pregnancies under the invitation from her Mozambique counterpart Isaura Nyusi.
ZANIS reports that the conference’s main agenda is national capacity building on child marriages and early pregnancies.
Senior Private Secretary to the First Lady Florence Chawelwa noted that the conference will tackle the devastating impact of child marriages on communities in both countries.
Ms. Chawelwa said Zambia’s First Lady was invited to the conference due to the enormous strides that her office and the Zambian government have put up in order to curb the vice.
She further observed that as a result of the efforts put in place to address the scourge in Zambia, the country has recorded a dramatic drop in the prevalence rates of child marriage from from 42% to 31%.
During the conference, Mrs. Lungu is expected to share experiences on approaches and responses to early marriage.
Zambia like any other African country is faced with the challenge of child marriage that is leading to early pregnancies in girls.
In July 2015, a quantitative study on child marriages in Zambia was conducted and due to the need for evidence based results, the study took on a more consultative form.
It was after this study that government developed its first ever five (5) year National Development Strategy on Ending Child Marriage whose goal is a further 40% reduction in child marriage by the year 2021.
Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga has called for dialogue among political leaders and civic leaders in the country.
In a statement issued to the media, Dr Mwaanga said recent developments including the disputed 2016 general elections and the handling of the subsequent Presidential Petition has left the country deeply divided hence the need for dialogue among stakeholders.
He said divisions of this nature have the potential to saw seeds of ethnic and political divisions which our country can do without .
“For many years now, I have been calling for dialogue among our political and civic leaders . This became more urgent after the disputed Presidential election of August 2016, and the shambolic manner in which the Constitutional Court handled the Presidential Petition . It is undeniable that all these developments have left our country very deeply divided as never before,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He said Zambia has always promoted dialogue among warring ethnic and political formations in the region and beyond , with salutary results which have contributed in no small measure to regional and international peace.
He wondered why political leaders have now failed to build instruments of dialogue among themselves.
Dr Mwaanga said a Centre for Inter Party Dialogue which was set up with the support of the Netherlands Institute for Inter Party Dialogue was meant to enable political leaders to meet regularly but that the institution has now become moribund.
He also wondered why the country should be in the forefront promoting dialogue in other countries when Zambians are not talking to each other.
“What is the point of promoting dialogue in other countries if we as Zambians fail to talk to each other and reach out to each other as brothers and sisters who are committed to developing and building a better Zambia for all ?
He said the centre was set up that Centre to strengthen leadership capabilities, create an infrastructure of peace building, creating capacity for implementing whatever agreements are reached, promote trust among our leaders, and institutionalise the culture of meaningful dialogue.
Dr Mwaanga said real dialogue would go a long way in promoting political, economic,and social stability in the country.
“Our country faces many challenges such as energy, governance, weak institutions, lack of trust among political leaders,the electoral process, human rights abuses, low economic growth, threats to press freedom which have led to a clamp down of some private media houses as never seen before, falling educational standards in our institutions of learning, un-inclusive appointments into government and the public service,and mining policy.” He said
The Veteran politician noted that the use of unpalatable language by leaders against each other, state church relations, application of the public order act, political violence, agricultural policies, the role of NGOs , hate speeches, health facilities, youth unemployment , among many difficulties the country is going through.
He said the dialogue plays a huge part in facilitating consensus, prevents election,and political violence.
Dr Mwaanda pointed out that the the contribution of dialogue in promoting peace and harmony in the country should not be trivialised or underestimated as it an indispensable role in facilitating consensus , strengthening peace , building trust among leaders, preventing election, and political violence.
“Experience in many parts of our globalized world has shown that although dialogue does not always guarantee success, there is sufficient evidence to show that the impact of dialogue always leads to lowering of tensions at different levels of society . When citizens see their leaders talking, it breeds relief and confidence that all is well in our country,” he said.
He said though dialogue is not always able to address all the variables and the potential for conflict in a society, it lays a solid foundation for seeking solutions to given problems.
“Complex political problems and deeply embedded patterns of distrust and hostility, such as what we are witnessing on our country , cannot be solved through one off dialogue events, but through a sustainable and continuous process. Ultimately, we should work towards building a political culture that resorts to dialogue as the first response to rising tensions and misunderstandings.”
Dr Mwaanga also called on stakeholders to invest in institutions that assume responsibility for dialogue and that enhance the potential for the success of dialogue.
“It is the duty of all of us as Zambians and particularly political and civic leaders to invest in institutions that assume responsibility for dialogue and that enhance the potential for the success of dialogue. We should as a country encourage our leaders at all levels to treat each other with respect even when they disagree and to learn to sit down in a calm and thoughtful manner to discuss and find solutions to the many problems facing our country ,” he said.
He further said SADC leaders also have a duty to help promote dialogue.
“SADC leaders also have a duty to help promote dialogue, using the existing early warning systems, help to bring leaders together and encourage them to embrace building blocks for peace . Blaming each other, using threats and name calling will not bring peace, but only entrench hatred,” he said.
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya says Zambia has recorded progress in
the reduction of HIV prevalence rate to 11.6 percent among people
between the ages of 15 and 49.
Dr Chilufya said Government was committed to reducing HIV prevalence
further through strengthened health systems and expanding access to
primary health care services.
Speaking in Washington DC ahead of the 2017 annual President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) management meeting, the
minister said that the country had seen a significant reduction of HIV
prevalence because of the interventions including test and treat
program and the elimination of mother to child transmission.
He said that some of the objectives of the annual meeting were to
review the country strategy and agree on priorities for the 2017
Country work plan.
PEPFAR was the largest donor aid to the HIV/ AIDS programme in Zambia.
Dr Chilufya said that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has been
committed to reducing HIV hence the increase in budget allocation for
ARVS from US$4 million in 2011 to US$44 million last year.
He said his ministry was determined to upscale its commitment to
fighting HIV through increased resources and strengthened surveillance
systems in communities.
Dr Chilufya said that with the onsite test and treat would see the
number of people on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ARVs) increase from
900,000 to more than a million.
According the statement issued yesterday by First Secretary for Press
and Public Relations at Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in
Washington DC Patricia Littiya, the Health Minister was accompanied
to the meeting by Ministry of Health Clinical Care Specialist and HIV
Program Manager Dr Chrispin Moyo.
Dr Chilufya was met on arrival by Zambian Embassy Charge’ D’affaires
James Chisenga on arrival at Washington Dulles Airport.
Government says it is coordinating the anti-gender based violence act which will correct young girls from engaging in abusive relationships.
Minister of Gender Victoria Kalima says her ministry was reviewing the Act to protect young girls especially of school going age from being abused during relationships which she said contributes to the rise of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, among others.
ZANIS reports the minister saying during an interview in Lusaka today that girls account for 71 percent of new infections among adolescents in the sub-Saharan Africa of which this should change.
She attributed the high rates of HIV/AIDS to low self-esteem and lack of confidence in women as well as limited or zero negotiating skills for safe sex.
She said the dreams program will go a long way in contributing to the reduction if not the elimination of new infections among women adolescents.
And National Arts Council Chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe said in the past ten years, Lubuto Library partners has been serving the most marginalized African children and youths in the country.
Ms Kapwepwe, who is also Lubuto Library Partners Advisory board member, added that through its unique model, beneficiaries are able to develop the knowledge and skills that reconnect them to their culture, respective communities thereby enable them to fully participate in society.
The Lubuto libraries has had more than Eight Hundred and Twenty one thousand five hundred and eight (821, 538) visits of which Three Hundred and Six Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Six (306, 396) visits were by girls.
Speaking earlier, Lubuto Library Partners Country Director Kasonde Mukonde said that his institution provides an open system of libraries and accessible services to children in order for them to become better citizens.
Mr. Kasonde said public libraries are a platform for linking high-risk girls to the information and services that empower them to develop life skills, avoid HIV infection and stay in schools.
He has since announce that Lubuto Library Partners will over the next course of two years target at least 20, 00 young girls aged between 15-24 years through libraries in Lusaka.
In investment terms, property in Lusaka over the last twenty years has been a sound choice. A shortage of housing and a lack of retail-leisure facilities have driven a boom in pricing as the growth of the Zambian economy out-paced many of its sub-Saharan counterparts.
The general trend has been that a suburb grows in popularity, causing an incremental rise in land prices as demand for accommodation and auxiliary services in that area increases. Roma (Roma Park being a good example), Lilayi and Makeni, then Leopard’s Hill and New Kasama, have all seen this trend, which tends to be more pronounced in areas where there is large tracts of previously undeveloped or agricultural land. As demand grows, and housing develops, so to do leisure and retail services, resulting in further increases in value.
As each area approaches it’s practical saturation point, the city turns to a new frontier. And the newest frontier? Chongwe and the North-East.
With the massive re-development programme underway at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, three new Malls (including Waterfalls and Garden-City), a golf course at Bonanza, property along the Airport-Chisamba Lusaka by-pass is set to rise significantly in value over the next five years – and this will only be strengthened by the Minister of Finance’s recent affirmation of the Government’s commitment to a Lusaka – Copperbelt dual carriageway.
But how might prospective investors avoid the biggest challenges to future property values in the areas they choose: poor zoning and a lack of control of what an immediate neighbour might choose to construct, increased commercialization, water and natural resource challenges?
During a boom period, property owners and investors may turn a blind-eye to these issues, but the instant a recession or dip in property prices hits, areas facing these challenges are the first to depreciate. That’s where Chaminuka Wildlife Estates stands out. A home in the Estates isn’t just a case of jumping on the latest escalating price trend. It is a sustainable future, in a park whose eco-system has been carefully managed for over 40 years, where the stability and worth of the investment is virtually guaranteed.
Property prices in areas that are carefully managed are always stronger than competing areas – even more so in the event of a recession. And Chaminuka Wildlife Estates is so much more than that. An amazing natural habitat, a lake with excellent leisure facilities on your doorstep, access to the full range of amenities and entertainment that Chaminuka Game Reserve has – and the chance that at any point a giraffe might amble past while you sip your morning coffee. Don’t take our word for the rare investment opportunity that this is though – come and see it for yourself. You won’t regret it.
To learn more about property in Chaminuka Wildlife Estates, visit CHAMINUKA ESTATES or call 0963 716 899 or 0211 254 140 to arrange a viewing.
The Drug Enforcement Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Western Province has arrested a 42 year-old female Revenue Collector of Lewanika General Hospital for money laundering activities involving over K200 thousand.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by Drug Enforcement Commission Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo.
Ms. Katongo said Charity Sitwala, 42, a Revenue Collector residing at Forest Plots in Mongu has been arrested for fraudulent false accounting, theft by public servant and money laundering contrary to the laws of Zambia.
She said particulars of the offence are that Charity Sitwala on dates unknown but between 1st January 2013 and 30th April, 2015 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown with intent to defraud did falsify GRZ general receipts amounting to K61, 641.00 in that the original receipts had different amounts from the duplicated ones.
The suspect then deposited amounts reflected on the duplicate receipts by purporting that the amounts deposited were the ones received when in fact not.
Ms Katongo said it is also alleged that during the same period, Charity Sitwala failed to deposit revenue amounting to K216, 961.30 and stole government revenue amounting to K278, 651.30 which came into her possession by virtue of her employment as revenue collector at Lewanika General Hospital.
The suspect, therefore, engaged herself directly or indirectly into money laundering activities by laundering K278, 651.30 of government revenue, Ms. Katongo said adding that the suspect is currently on Police Bond and will appear in Court soon.
Meanwhile Ms. Katongo also disclosed that the Commission has in other parts of the country arrested four (04) small scale farmers for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants.
Ms. Katongo said those arrested include Frank Kapande, 53, a small scale farmer of Nachandwe village in Kawambwa District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 325.48kg, Veronica Musonda, 49, a small scale farmer of Nabwindo village in Nchelenge District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 198.77kg and Evans Katongo, 38, a small scale farmer of Mukosa village in Kasama District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 86.3kg.
She said also arrested is Mwape Mwewa, 42, a small scale farmer of Shikapande village in Nchelenge District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 20.87kg.
Ms. Katongo also announced that the Commission in Eastern Province has arrested Luwo Mwale, 51, a businessman of Kabaza compound in Chipata District for being in possession of assorted medicinal drugs weighing 104kg without a pharmaceutical licence.
From Left to right: Dante Saunders, MacDonald Chipenzi and Gabriel Namulambe
Electoral Expert MacDonald Chipenzi says President Edgar Lungu must, with immediate effect, disband the Commission of Inquiry on Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence because its mandate has expired.
According to the Statutory Instrument No. 72 of 2016 that gave birth to the Commission of Inquiry late last year, its lifespan was for 120 days which have since expired.
It was expected within these 120 days to complete its work and handover the report to the President.
Mr Chipenzi said it will be illegal and against the dictates of the Statutory Instrument for the Commission of Inquiry and its commissioners to exist beyond the stipulated timeframe in the Instrument.
He challenged President Lungu to tell the nation whether he has issued another Statutory Instrument to extend the life of the Commission of Inquiry and at what cost to the country.
“On what basis would the Inquiry exist beyond its lifespan and how credible would its work be which would be done after the expiry of its mandated? The credibility of the findings and the entire report would be rendered illegal, questionable and an academic exercise in the public court,” he said.
“It is clear that the Inquiry has lamentably failed to attract enough witnesses as it is fact that people have resisted to be wooed to support a Commission of Inquiry bent at violating their constitutional right to vote, associate and the right to a secret of the vote.”
Mr Chipenzi said it is reasonable that the money being spent on the 15 commissioners who are currently gallivanting around the country and spending huge sums of taxpayers’ money on lodging in expensive hotels and fuel be channelled to needy areas such as uplifting the lives of persons with disability and also stocking hospitals and health centres with necessary drugs and essentials.
“Further, President Lungu would better learn from his Malawian counterpart who only appointed a 3-member Commission of Inquiry on the maize-gate scandal involving Zambia and that country, gave it less days than ours to finish its work and submit its report which it has since done and the Malawian president has acted upon it based on its recommendations. In our case, 15-member commission of inquiry which was given 120 days has failed to conclude its work on time. Where is efficiency and the prudence in the utilization of the country’s meagre financial resources? Mr Chipenzi asked.
Teacher Union leaders at the annual congress in Livingstone
Four teacher unions have merged to form a new union called the Zambia Teachers Union (ZATU).
The four unions are Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT), Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) and the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ).
The Merging Process Spokesperson Kangwa Musenge who read out the resolutions of the annual congress in Livingstone said the four teacher unions have agreed to merge into a single union.
Mr. Musenge said the proposed structure of ZATU shall take on board the leadership of all the four unions and that working committees will be set-up immediately to address issues of the constitution, liabilities and conditions of service.
Mr. Musenge, who is also PROTUZ General Secretary said that the roadmap for the merger is a serious process that demands commitment, and looking at the best interests of all teachers.
“The merger has been a call from the teachers themselves and we are glad to take up the challenge. It is not easy. The merger may not solve all the problems that teachers have but it gives a greater advantage in the solidarity and advocacy for teachers,” Mr Musenge said.
The roadmap for the merger was successfully launched in Livingstone, and now gives way for the parties to agree on matters such as the constitution.
Merging Process Chairperson Sitibekiso Wamuyuwa says the unions are proud of the achievement and has urged the four unions to be committed to ensure the process of merging is quickly concluded.
And ZNUT General Secretary Newman Bubala says the merging of the unions has been the wish of teachers across the country.
The two-day congress was also attended by representatives of Union of Education Norway and South African Democratic Teachers Union-SADTU.
The two are affiliates of the Education International and have been giving financial and moral support to the merging process.
Teachers following the deliberations at the annual congress in LivingstoneTeachers marching on World Teachers Day 2014 at the Showgrounds in Lusaka
Locally sourced Grapes stocked in Shoprite
Africa’s biggest supermarket chain Shoprite has called off talks for a possible merger with Steinhoff of South Africa after an agreement could not be reached on the exchange ratio that would apply to the share exchange.
The end of the talks marks a blow to the deal making ambitions of Steinhoff, which is known as “Africa’s Ikea”, to become a major international retailer.
In Zambia, Shoprite runs an expansive network of 29 shops across the country.
In a statement, the companies said the negotiations had collapsed over a disagreement between shareholders over terms.
Christo Wiese, South Africa’s richest man and the biggest shareholder in both companies, brokered talks last year to create a separate listed company, Retail Africa, from the combination of their assets.
Mr Wiese, who owns 16 per cent of Shoprite, had received the support of South Africa’s powerful Public Investment Corporation, which manages the assets of the government’s employee pension fund and holds a 10 per cent stake in the company.
But on Monday the companies said that “the PIC, Titan [Mr Wiese’s investment vehicle] and Steinhoff could not reach agreement” on the ratio at which shares in the two companies would be exchanged.
The deal could have eventually paved the way for Steinhoff to take over Shoprite, which has a market capitalisation of $8bn and stores in 15 African countries including Zambia, creating a retailer worth $30bn.
If the Retail Africa plan had gone ahead, Shoprite would have issued shares representing a “significant equity interest” to Steinhoff, in return for assets including the regional operations of Pepkor, a retailer Steinhoff paid $6bn for in 2014.
Steinhoff would also have acquired the Shoprite stakes of PIC and Titan, leaving a buyout of Shoprite minority shareholders as the last step to a full takeover.
But Shoprite investors lined up to attack the deal after its announcement in December given concerns that the assets offered by Steinhoff undervalued their shares.
In their statement, Steinhoff and Shoprite said that although the merger “presents exciting opportunities for the companies and their respective management teams, the fact that the relevant parties could not reach an agreement in respect of the share exchange resulted in the negotiations being terminated”.
Gerald Chiluba meeting MMD National Secretary Raphael Nakacinda at the party Secretariat in Lusaka
New MMD Die Hard Youths National Coordinator Gerald Chiluba has called on Republican President Edgar Lungu to fire Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya so as to pave way for investigations in her involvement of the Maizegate scandal which has led to her counterpart from Malawi being fired.
Mr Chiluba who has taken over the controversial Youth wing of the MMD which has remained dormant after the now Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo left the party said the Minister was cited in the report by the commission of enquiry in Malawi And should therefore be relieved of her duties so that the ACC can clear her of any wrong doing in the exportation of maize to Malawi.
He said the committee that found the Minister of Agriculture in Malawi Dr George Chaponda guilty of wrong doing cited Ms Siliya to have aided him in the fraudulent activities.
“We the MMD Die Hard Youths would like to appeal to Edgar Lungu to relieve Hon Dora Siliya from her duties to pave way for investigations.
“Dora Siliya has been cited by the commission of enquiry report which was instituted in Malawi to investigate the transaction of maize between Zambia and Malawi, that she worked in collaboration with the now fired Minister of Agriculture in Malawi to sale maize at an exorbitant price.
“It is for this reason that we want to appeal to the conscious of his excellence president Edgar Chagwa Lungu to immediately relieve Dora Siliya from her duties with immediate effect, as it is now a public secret that the minister was at the centre stage of this fraudulent transaction,” he said.
He further said not firing Ms Siliya has the potential of portraying the country as a corrupt nation hence eroding investor confidence.
“We want to further encourage the president to use his executive powers to bring integrity and confidence in the government system because her active involvement in the matter as greater potential to portray Zambia as a corrupt nation thereby reducing investor confidence,” he said.
The committee which was tasked to investigate the importation of maize by the Malawi government from Zambia “found that in his wrongful endeavour, Hon. Dr. George Chaponda was aided by the Zambian Minister of Agriculture who instructed her Permanent Secretary to issue Transglobe with a maize export permit for 50, 000 MT when Transglobe did not legally qualify for one on account of not being a registered taxpayer in Zambia.”
And opposition UPP leader Savior Chishimba says his party has started the process of assisting President Edgar Lungu to fire Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya.
Dr Chishimba who was warned and cautioned by the Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday for his role in the OYDC financial scandal when he served as Chairman commend the Commission for doing its very best under intense political pressure by the state to silence the press and political leaders by abusing the ACC.
Dr Chishimba commended Malawian President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika for the bold step he took to appoint a commission of inquiry as well as permit the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to freely investigate.
“We recommended that since the two presidents enjoyed the immunity, for now, let them fire the two ministers of agriculture as well as ADMARC and ZCF officials. We also recommended that criminal investigations should not be hindered by the two presidents.
President Mutharika has fired Dr. George Chaponda his closest ally. He has also suspended the management of ADMARC. President Lungu is doing the opposite – he is busy abusing the ACC to waste our time through baseless charges that are reminiscent of colonial times when freedom fighters were persecuted for fighting for their God given rights,” Dr Chishimba said.
“Ever since the UPP reported the K345 million maizegate case, with hard and indisputable evidence, to both the Zambian and Malawian investigative authorities, President Lungu embarked on an embarrassing smear campaign against the UPP leadership using a useless newspaper which is not even worthy to be used as toilet paper as well as through paid poverty-stricken stooges.”
Authorities counting millions of cash found at Chaponda’s house. The cash has been taken to the Reserve Bank of Malawi –
Meanwhile, in Malawi, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday found thousands of dollars and millions of Kwachas stashed inside suitcases hidden in the bedroom of sacked Malawian Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda, during a search of a home in Lilongwe.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday found thousands of dollars and millions of Kwachas stashed inside suitcases hidden in the bedroom of Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda, during a search of a home in Lilongwe.
During the search at offices of Admarc, the bureau searched and confiscated computers and several files.
The graft busting body carried out the operation as part of the investigations into the maize procurement deal by Admarc from Zambia.
Among others, ACB investigators searched the houses of Admarc chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe and his director of operations Feckson Kantonga.
Mulumbe is currently on forced leave he was given by Admarc board of directors to pave the way for investigations.
Cameroon Under-20 will play Red Arrows in a training game in Lusaka.
The match will be played on Thursday morning in a 10h00 kickoff at Nkoloma Stadium.
Cameroon were the first team to arrive after landing in Lusaka at midnight on Monday for the 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations that Zambia will host from February 26 to March 12.
They will after the friendly travel to Ndola where they will be based and play their Group B games at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Cameroon will play South Africa in their opening match on February 27.
Sudan and Senegal are their other Group B opponents.
First Lady Esther Lungu presents food stuffs to Mrs Agness Langa during the hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANIS
In a motherly gesture, First Lady Esther Lungu feasted hundreds of households in Misisi compound where beneficiaries received food packs.
And Misisis community nutrition outreach programme director Dr Beatrice Amadi thanked the First Lady for donating food hampers to the outreach programme.
Mrs Lungu dished out the food packs through her Esther Lungu Foundation Trust ‘s Misisi community nutrition outreach programme valued over forty thousand Kwacha.
Two hundred households who are under the Misisi community nutrition outreach programme are expected to benefit from the donation.
Speaking during the handover ceremony held at St Lawrence Catholic Church in Lusaka, Mrs. Lungu said the fight against malnutrition should not be left to the ministry of health only.
Mrs. Lungu said malnutrition is a multi-sectoral issues which needs concerted effort in addressing the high cases of malnutrition.
She expressed optimism that with concerted effort childhood morality from malnutrition can be reduced in communities.
Mrs. Lungu said individuals and organisations have a key role to play in preventing and managing malnutrition.
The First Lady said her foundation decided to donate to the Misisi community nutrition outreach programme because of the many households who are benefiting from the outreach programme.
Mrs. Lungu said there is need to empower economically households which are adversely affected by nutrition.
She explained that empowering households affected by malnutrition is key in reducing poverty in communities.
Meanwhile the First Lady has urged mothers to eat locally available foods which highly rich in nutrition.
Mrs Lungu noted that indigenous foods if well prepared have the potential to eradicate malnutrition among the affected children.
And Misisis community nutrition outreach programme director Dr Beatrice Amadi thanked the First Lady for donating food hampers to the outreach programme.
Dr Amadi disclosed that the outreach programme is aimed at reducing high cases of malnutrition recorded in Misisi and Kuku compounds.
She further informed the First Lady that over 2000 children have been enrolled under the project which was launched in 2009.
Meanwhile speaking at the same function, Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention acting country director Margo Riggs said her organization is pleased to provide support to Misisis community nutrition outreach programme.
She pledged to continue rendering support to the outreach programme so that more people can benefit from the programme.
And Chawama area Member of Parliament Lawrence Sichalwe assured the First Lady that the donation will go a long way in curbing malnutrition in Kuku, Misisi and surrounding communities.
First Lady Esther Lungu presents food stuffs to Mrs Catherine Simwanza during the hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANISFirst Lady Esther Lungu carrying a baby at a Health Centre during a tour and hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANISFirst Lady Esther Lungu admires a baby at a Health Centre during a tour and hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANIS First Lady Esther Lungu receives a banquet of flowers from 12 years old girl Charity Daka during the hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANISFirst Lady Esther Lungu flanked by Misissi Outreach Health Centre Nutritionist Lina Sianzele(r) samples some food stuffs during the hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANISFirst Lady Esther Lungu flanked by Misissi Outreach Health Centre Nutritionist Lina Sianzele(r) tours some stands during the hand over of food hampers to beneficiaries of Misissi Health Outreach Center at St.Lawrence Parish in Kamwala South. PICTURES BY KACHA MIYOBA/ZANIS
Vincent MwaleLocal Government Minister Vincent Mwale says his ministry has embarked on a programme to appoint management boards which will manage and control markets and bus stations in the country, in line with clause 31 of the Markets and Bus stations Act.
Mr Mwale has told Parliament in a ministerial statement that the management boards are expected to be in place by June 2017.
He says this intervention is envisaged to eliminate undesirable influence of various political cadres in the management of markets and bus stations, and ensure effective and efficient running of the markets and bus stations .
He says the intervention will also ensure adequate revenue collection for local authorities.
Mr Mwale says his ministry intends to pilot this intervention in a few selected local authorities initially, especially those along the line of rail were undesirable political infiltrations in the management of markets and bus stations are more pronounced.
He has however, clarified that even were a particular market or bus station will be managed by a board, the overall responsibility and control lie in the local authority having jurisdiction in the area in which it is situated.
