Minister of Energy Peter Kapala has challenged Members of Parliament to quickly partner with the Rural Electricity Authority (REA) and have their constituencies especially those in rural areas connected to the national grid.

Mr Kapala said since the launch of the Priority Rural Electrification Project (PREPs) only 27 councils countrywide have so far signed Memoranda of Understanding MOUs with REA to accelerate electrification access of rural areas.

He observed that this is not the expectation of government adding that the aim of collaboration between the MPs and REA is to see to it that most if not all constituencies have access to electricity.

The Minister said this at parliament during the symposium with members of parliament on the electrification of public facilities in rural areas using the constituency development fund (CDF).

Mr Kapala said from the K1 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Contribution which government directed, it is expected that most if not all public institutions will have access to electricity.

“The rationale behind this is to ensure that once public institutions are connected to the grid, households can also tap electricity and have their houses connected to the grid.

But it is sad to note that only 27 councils have so far signed MOUs with REA and am now calling upon all councils to do so and ensure that all areas are connected to the national grid” said Mr Kapala.

The Minister of Energy has since urged the MPs to ensure that they take advantage of the symptom and learn how they can have their constituencies connected to the grid.

And Members of parliament who have not yet signed MOUs with REA said they will ensure that they enter into partnership with REA and have their constituencies connected to the grid.

Kalomo Central Member of Parliament Harry Kamboni said he has taped a lot of knowledge from the symposium and will ensure that he signs the MOUs with REA.

Mr Kamboni noted that most hospitals in his constituencies have electricity apart from clinics and schools.

Meanwhile, Mumbwa Member of Parliament Credo Naguwa said immediately after the symposium he will start mobilizing his constituency office and ensure that an application is done.

President Hakainde Hichilema says there is a need for the African continent to speak with one voice when it comes to matters pertaining to climate change.

President Hichilema said African countries must come together and orchestrate a single message to be addressed ahead of the Conference Of Parties (COP) 28.

Mr Hichilema indicated that meaningful impact will only be achieved if the continent speaks with one voice on issues concerning climate change.

He explained that Africa has a good case but the polarization of climate change messages has resulted in the voice of the continent not being felt.

President Hichilema said lack of coherence on the part of Africa has resulted in the world not knowing what exactly Africa wants to be addressed with regards to climate change.

“We must be consistent, sometimes we have a good message but because polarization messages are not heard, you know the rest of the world cannot figure out what exactly Africa wants.”

President Hichilema insisted that African Presidents, Ministers and other leaders should all sing from the same hymn sheet and amplify voices in the area of climate change.

He expressed optimism that with clarity, coordination and consistency Africa will be heard on the global stage.

The Head of State said this during a virtual briefing Meeting for the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) hosted by Kenya.

“For us as Africans and other leaders, all of us as a continent we must start speaking with one voice not only at a summit like this one but all the time around the issue of climate change.

“We should sing from the same hymn sheet, COP 28, which is on the way we must orchestrate a seemingly same message towards COP 28,” he said.

“And when we speak as Heads of State or when Ministers represent us, we must sing from the hymn sheet, so that we can make a meaningful impact. So that issues concerning us are addressed by consistently singing from the same hymn sheet,” President Hichilema stated.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema has bemoaned that the effects of climate change are worsening.

He said Africa has been hit hard despite the continent’s low contribution to the global greenhouse emissions which stands at four percent.

“Despite Africa’s low contribution to global greenhouse emissions which is about just four percent, climate change is worsening and making our situation worse,” President Hichilema said.

He said the effects of climate change are visible for all to see as evidenced from increased frequency of flash floods and flooding across the globe.

The Head of State said Zambia has not been spared from the effects of climate change and disclosed that a number of small-scale farmers in the last two days have lost their crops due to frostbite.

The President said this is the first time that the country is experiencing frostbite at a larger scale.

President Hichilema complained that households have been deprived of income as a result of the frostbite.

“In the last two days a lot of our small scale farmers have had their crops affected which include tomatoes and cabbages, and were destroyed by frostbite for the first time. The effects are visible of climate change, we have never experienced a broader frostbite.

President Hichilema said it is very important that measures are put in place aimed at curbing the impact of climate change on communities.

And President Hichilema says developed countries should honour the commitments they made at the Paris summit.

He explained that the commitments were made willingly hence their obligation to honour their commitments.

“The commitments that our colleagues made willingly at the Paris summit must simply meet those obligations, please let’s get our colleagues to meet their obligations,” he said.

He said Africa is already showing strong momentum towards green investment and should continue.

“Africa is clearly already showing strong momentum towards investing in green areas, investments are very important to spur industrialization despite the effects of climate change, indeed we must advance investments that are green in nature,” he said.

And speaking earlier, President William Ruto of Kenya who is the current Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) said Africa should be part of the solution to the fight against climate change.

Mr Ruto said Africa must effectively participate in soliciting for climate solutions as the continent has not been spared.

The Kenyan leader said there is need to accelerate investment as this is key to addressing the impact of climate change.

President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed sadness at the death of chief inspector, Evans Same, a Zambia police officer deployed to the SADC mission in Mozambique.

The head of state has described the death of chief inspector Siame as a tragic loss to the nation.

The President has since conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of government and the people of Zambia to the family of the deceased.

Chief Inspector Siame died in a road traffic accident on July 8, 2023 in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

He was among four other police officers deployed to SAMIM to support the transition from the Rapid Deployment Force to the Multidimensional Force.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS by State House Chief Communications Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka.

Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati says Zambia has started reaping dividends from the debt restructure deal clinched by the UPND administration from the country’s official creditors.

 Mr Mutati said multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the IMF have come on board to provide the much needed resources to drive the country’s economy.

He indicated that prior to Zambia clinching the debt restructuring deal multilateral institutions withheld the much needed financing to steer the national economy.

Mr Mutati disclosed that following the successful debt restructuring deal the IMF will this year provide US$188 million to Zambia.

Speaking at an event last evening during a public forum organised by the Blind Tiger Strategies, The minister further revealed that the World Bank will also give Zambia US$75 million .

Mr Mutati said the funds being availed by multilateral agencies are as a result of the debt restructuring deal clinched by government.

He said Zambia stands to immensely benefit from the debt relief as evidenced from the colossal amounts of money that is trickling into the country.

Mr Mutati pointed out that the money which was being kept away by international lending institutions is now being availed.

“Those that were on the fence such as the multilateral, IMF and the World Bank are now saying this year, the IMF will be able to land into Zambia one hundred and eighty-eight point eight million dollars. The World bank will give us seventy-five million dollars, money that they had kept away from us for many years,” He said.

Meanwhile Mr Mutati also revealed at the same public forum that the Ministry of Agriculture has already received US$14 million meant for supporting over 30,000 small scale farmers.

The Minister said the funds received by the government are meant to assist small scale farmers graduate into medium scale farmers.

“My colleague from the Minister of Agriculture was telling me this morning that he has already gotten 14 million dollars to support over 30 thousand small scale farmers who are going to be given five thousand kwacha each,  to elevate them from small to big farmers. So this tells you what debt restructuring can do,” He said.

And Mr Mutati says Zambia has graduated from the exclusive circle of nations that were termed as defaulters.

He said prior to securing the debt restructuring deal Zambia was among nations that were excluded from accessing international capital from the international community.

The Minister said the debt restructuring deal entered by the new dawn government is a landmark achievement that will transform the economic landscape of the country.

Mr Mutati disclosed that the debt restructuring deal is the biggest deal under the G20 common framework of debt adding that this has never happened before.

He recalled that Zambia was among the first countries to default, adding that the country has managed to liberate itself from debt through the strong leadership provided by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Mutati said Zambia’s experience is being shared across the African continent, particular for those countries in debt distress.

He said countries in debt want to learn and adopt the methodology used by Zambia in clinching a debt restructuring deal.

Mr Mutati insisted that Zambia has become a tutor in Africa on what requires to be done for a country to secure a debt restructuring deal from creditors.

He cited strong leadership exhibited by President Hichilema and his team as a key ingredient required for any country desiring to clinch a debt relief deal from creditors.

“Zambia is going to share her experience with other countries in Africa, “said Mr Mutati.

The Minister pointed out that hope has risen once again for a better Zambia with full opportunities for young people and improved service delivery to the communities.

And speaking at the same public forum Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) Researcher – Public Finance Management Martina Mumba, said the body is complimenting government efforts in sensitizing members of the public on the benefits the country will drive from the debt restructuring deal.

Ms Mumba said there is need for the community to be informed on the benefits that the country is expected to derive from the debt relief programme.

Meanwhile University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) President Chandra Choongo hoped that the debt restructuring deal will translate into increased allocation of funds to the education sector.

Mr Choongo said students in higher learning institutions are anxious to see benefits such as job opportunities and recruitment of teachers.

He further said government should consider expanding infrastructure in public learning institutions so as to accommodate the country’s increasing population.

The organisers of the public forum, Blind Tiger Strategies Executive Director Sikazwa Luyando said the forum was organised with a view to give a better understanding of the benefits that the country will derive from the debt restructuring deal.

Mr Luyando expressed happiness with the information shared during the forum adding that it will help members of the public appreciate the importance of Zambia acquiring debt relief.