Government has today started dispatching 48,000 metric tonnes (MT) of relief food to Malawi and Zimbabwe as part of the U$D2.4 billion Southern African Development Community (SADC) humanitarian appeal for ‘hunger stricken’ countries.

Officially flagging off the GRZ/WFP Humanitarian Relief SADC Operation at the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depot in Lusaka today, Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Co-ordinator Patrick Kangwa said Zambia being part of the global community is mandated to render support to its neighbouring countries that are in need.

Mr. Kangwa disclosed President Edgar Lungu has allowed the exportation of maize as part of Zambia’s contribution to the affected countries.

He said government has put in place the Humanitarian Logistic Committee to resolve operations that impede the movement of maize into and out of Zambia.

“Government of Zambia shall continue to assist in any way possible to mitigate the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in the region affected by dry spells and drought,” said Kangwa.

ZANIS reports that the DMMU National Co-ordinator assured that government has got enough maize stocks for local consumption and has since advised the public not to panic.

He commended the international donors and cooperating partners for partnering with government in rendering support to Malawi and Zimbabwe.

And speaking at the same occasion, United Nations World Food Programme Country Director Simon Cammelbeeck disclosed that the agency was spending US$250,000 to transport one-tonne of the grain.

Mr. Cammelbeeck further disclosed that US, Sweden, Netherlands and the Internal Monetary Fund (IMF0 are among the donors that have rendered support the SADC humanitarian appeal.

He said his organization and government has engaged Transporters association of Zimbabwe as well as J and J to haul the maize from Zambia.

An estimated 40 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Southern Africa among them neighbouring Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

SADC has developed a regional transportation plan whose major goal is to streamline and facilitate the processing of relief consignments meant for countries within the region.

The humanitarian assistance has been brought about due to severe el-nino induced worst drought and prolonged dry spell affecting the SADC region in 35 years.

Zambeef Products has joined the Veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) in raising awareness on the prevention and treatment of rabies, in support of World Rabies Day on September 28, 2016.
“Rabies is a serious condition that affects the nervous system and can lead to loss of life if left untreated,” said Zambeef marketing and corporate affairs manager Felix Lupindula. “The good news is that this can be prevented, and early treatment is vital to saving lives. That is why as a useful and effective corporate member of the community, Zambeef has partnered with VAZ to enable the message to be heard by the communities that need to hear it.”
Rabies is transmitted via bites and scratches from infected animals and can also be passed on by people already infected. Early treatment with the rabies vaccine is the only way to prevent the onset of the disease. If left untreated, rabies will invariably lead to death. An infected person or suspected case must be brought medical attention immediately so they can be treated with the rabies vaccine at the earliest opportunity. Incubation periods for rabies can range from one week to three months or even longer.
Animals such as cats, bats, and rabbits are common carriers, with dogs topping the list of transmitters. Vaccinating pets against the disease beforehand can go a long way in preventing outbreaks or infections.
“We are pleased to announce that 22 clinics nationwide have so far signed up with us in campaigning for better rabies control and dog-bite prevention. Zambeef has come on board as the main sponsor for this year’s campaigns and we intend to put this to good use as we seek to ‘educate, vaccinate, and eliminate’ rabies countrywide,” said Veterinary Association of Zambia spokeswoman Dr Amy Kingdom.
The association will look to engage communities in the areas signed up to the scheme by working with the different clinics in organising localised campaigns.
“Children are the most vulnerable targets in many cases and it is important to teach them to avoid stray dogs and wild animals,” added Mr Lupindula. “We hope that at the end of the campaign, more people will be educated on the proper care of pets and how to make the home and neighbourhoods safer for everyone. Above all, everyone needs to know how to handle suspicious cases or an outbreak, should they occur.”

A multitude of merrymakers turned up to sample the raft of entertainment on offer

Lusaka’s Showgrounds area came to a near-standstill on Saturday (September 24) when thousands of music-loving merry-makers showed up at one of the area’s biggest ever social gatherings.
The Flying Fish beach festival was held at Portico, where some 4,200 party-goers leapt at the chance to join in the  various activities, ranging from zorb balls to dance-offs.
The spirited event witnessed an entertainment platform that displayed such top acts as the renowned disc jockeys Sebastien Dutch, Psycho Tash, Cheyo, Sichuation, Blocks and international whiz DJ Cleo.

Zambian Breweries, which distributes Flying Fish beer, hosted the occasion, and company bosses expressed their glee at the overwhelming success of the festival as well as the responsible manner in which the enthusiastic attendees conducted themselves both during the event and afterwards.
Corporate affairs director Ezekiel Sekele said, “We at Zambia Breweries are happy that the second beach party was a huge success. With close to 4,200 people through the gates, we would like to thank all the Lusaka guests for their continued support of the Flying Fish brand.
“We believe in and promote the responsible consumption of our products. We’re happy that all 4,200 party-goers conducted themselves in a manner that ensured their safety and that of others. We would like to thank our guests for co-operating with officials from the Road Transport and Safety Agency,” he added.

Flying Fish premium flavoured beer comes in pressed lemon and chilled green apple flavours and is the alternative choice for everyday inspiration, as it combines the pure refreshment of beer with some fresh and interesting flavours to transform it into that unique and relaxed drinking experience.
More details are available on Facebook at @flyingfishzambia

MOU aims to grow local talent

Leading information and communications technology (ICT) company Huawei has signed an agreement with the University of Zambia (UNZA) that will pave the way for Zambia to build a pool of local telecommunications experts.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Huawei Technologies Zambia Country Director Emilion Ming and UNZA Vice Chancellor Professor Luke Mumba during a ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka this week.
The agreement will see Huawei and UNZA working together to develop the nation’s ICT talent in line with the government’s Smart Zambia 2030 strategy.
The two will focus on up-skilling and re-skilling programmes to build human capital to support ICT infrastructure and development and create world class graduates and professional ICT talent within Zambia.
The collaboration will build sustainable talent pipelines from institutions of higher learning, and will see Huawei set up a scholarship programme.
It will also improve the practical capability of lecturers by inviting some of them to participate in actual projects in progress.
To realign raw talent from the pool of fresh graduates to the telecommunications sector, Huawei will also provide an internship programme for high-performing students to ensure their studies match industry requirements.
In addition an ICT Practice Centre will be established at UNZA to include transmission, optical fibre, wireless access and solar power equipment. This will be used to cultivate ICT talent and help them improve their practical skills.
Chinese company Huawei is the world’s largest telecommunication and ICT solutions provider, serving 45 of the world’s top 50 telecom operators. Its products and solutions are benefiting one third of the world’s population.
With the joint effort of 170,000 employees in more than 170 countries in the world with over 60 of them in Africa, Huawei is ranked 129th of the Fortune 500 companies. In 2015, the company shipped over 100 million smart phones worldwide.