Dr. Elias Munshya, the new High Commissioner of Zambia to New Zealand, presented his Letters of Credence to Her Excellency Dame Hellen Winkelmann, Administrator of the Government of New Zealand, at a ceremony held at Government House. The event marked his formal accreditation as the High Commissioner of Zambia to New Zealand.

Dr. Munshya highlighted that President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration is committed to strengthening the economic ties between Zambia and New Zealand. He emphasized the importance of bilateral relationships and expressed his enthusiasm to explore potential opportunities for cooperation.

In response, Her Excellency Dame Hellen Winkelmann acknowledged the longstanding warm bilateral relationship between the two countries, despite the distance between them. She expressed her pleasure in receiving the Letters of Credence on behalf of His Majesty The King of New Zealand.

Furthermore, Dame Winkelmann noted that both New Zealand and Zambia share a commitment to sustainable agriculture. She highlighted that New Zealand has already partnered with the Zambian Government on a dairy project that focuses on improving milk quality and productivity among smallholder farmers in Zambia. The US$7.5 million project is an important part of the New Zealand’s aid program.

President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has called for water harvesting in order to maximize crop production. President Hichilema says water harvesting can play a critical role in enhancing crop production throughout the year.

Speaking this afternoon at State House when he held discussions with the Grain Producers and Traders of Zambia, comprising the Zambia National Farmers’ Union, Grain Farmers, Grain Traders, and Water Harvester Associations,

President Hichilema emphasized the importance of water harvesting as a means of enhancing year-round crop production, particularly for crops such as wheat and maize.

The meeting also focused on issues relating to food sufficiency, availability, and affordability.

President Hichilema stressed that food sufficiency and affordability are matters of national security hence urged all stakeholders to view the problem of grain or mealie meal shortages as an opportunity to work together towards finding a lasting solution, rather than blaming each other.

The Head of State said that Zambia’s favorable geographical position as a land-linked country surrounded by 8 neighbours and its hydrological conditions make it well-suited to becoming a breadbasket for the region and the continent.

As such, President Hichilema encouraged farmers to explore the option of growing early maize to increase crop production.

The UPND Party Manifesto seeks to strengthen climate resilience through improved farming methods, climate -resilient seed varieties and irrigation.

Government says it remains committed to improving the education system in the country.

Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima says the UPND government will continue working towards improving the country’s education sector by increasing the learning space, providing desks and other learning materials.

Speaking this morning when he flagged off the distribution of padded jackets and vests, Mr. Syakalima said that the Ministry working with other stakeholders has a mandate to provide accessible, quality, relevant and inclusive education.

“We can only provide quality education in collaboration with various cooperating partners who include Good Neighbours Zambia,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged the efforts of the organisation in complementing government efforts to improve the learning environment for the learners.

Speaking at the same event, Good Neighbours Zambia Country Director Je Li said that his organisation will continue supporting local communities in terms of education as that defines its core mandate.

Sixteen thousand four hundred and nineteen (16,419) padded jackets and eleven thousand five hundred and fifty two (11,552) vests were donated to Good Neighbours Zambia and Ministry of Education by Good Neighbours Korea and are earmarked for distribution to vulnerable pupils in selected schools across the country.

Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, has handed over three houses in Bauleni Township to vulnerable female-headed households. The bank has invested ZMW200,000 to support the provision of decent housing for vulnerable women, under the Habitat for Humanity Annual Women’s Build.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Standard Chartered Bank CEO, Sonny Zulu said the bank was delighted to be handing over the three houses in Bauleni. He said Standard Chartered through its collaboration with Habitat for Humanity has continued to finance the building of homes for dis-advantaged women in communities such as Bauleni.

“At Standard Chartered Bank, we strongly believe in making a positive, lasting impact in the communities where we operate – by making a real difference in people’s lives, in line with our stand to ‘lift women participation.’ We are pleased to support Habitat for Humanity in their mission to improve the living conditions of female-headed households who, in effect, are facing a housing crisis. Their plight deserves the right levels of attention from us all, as decent housing and shelter is a basic human right,” Mr Zulu said.

Mr Zulu highlighted that the bank was cognizant of the housing crisis that some vulnerable, female-headed households were facing in Lusaka. He stated that through partnerships with organisations such as Habitat for Humanity, the bank has been able to respond to the housing challenge among vulnerable women. “The onus is on all of us – government, the private sector, NGOs and indeed individuals – to play our part to empower Zambians, especially women. Standard Chartered will continue to support government’s efforts to empower vulnerable women in the communities that we operate in, through various initiatives such as the Women’s Build,” he said.

The annual Women’s BUILD empowers vulnerable women in some of the poorest, dis-advantaged communities across the country. The female-headed households are often occupied by widowed, female-headed households living in deplorable conditions, often caring for orphaned grandchildren. These families tend to live in cramped, over-crowded homes, with poor ventilation and sanitation.

Criminals in Chingola have shot and injured two Chinese nationals and got away with K200, 000.

The victims are identified as Tony Dong, aged 33 and Su Bei Qiang also a Chinese national aged 45 who sustained a gun shot in the stomach and a painful back after he was hit with a block.

The incident occurred when the criminals attempted to break into Calastone Technology Company along Lulamba road in Chingola on April 17, 2023 and around 22:30 hours.

Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Peacewell Mweemba who confirmed the incident to ZANIS, said the two victims were rushed to Sinozam Hospital in Kitwe by fellow Chinese nationals, where they are admitted.

“Brief facts are that on the April 17, 2023 at around 22:30hrs about eight criminals who were wearing masks, armed with three pistols, others armed with pangas and an iron bar, jumped over the wall fence of the company and attacked the workers, including the guard,

The criminals later ordered one of the workers to awaken the victims who were sleeping in the house. In the process, one criminal who was near their room was gunned down by the Chinese. Whilst in pursuit of other criminals, the victim was also shot in the stomach,” Mr Mweemba explained.

Mr Mweemba said the criminals got away with a bag that contained K200, 000 cash, work permits and passports.

“Police officers rushed to the scene and found that other criminals had already run away but Police found the dead body of a criminal at the scene, who was shot at. They took the body and deposited it in Nchanga North Hospital mortuary,” he said.

Mr Mweemba said to ascertain what occurred, Police will review the CCTV cameras once the victims have been discharged from the hospital with hopes of identifying the criminals.

He said no cartridge was picked from the crime of scene and investigations will continue in the case.

The Signing of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) amendment Bill of 2023 into law has cheered many people in Mambwe District.

Mambwe District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Christine Sinyangwe, says the signing of the Bill by the President had cheered most administrators in the area.

In an interview with ZANIS, Ms Sinyangwe said the actualization of the NAPSA amendment Bill of 2023 would enable many teachers who were in debts to lessen their financial burden once they accessed their partial benefits.

Ms Sinyangwe observed that the funds could be used by teachers to pay off some of their debts that they have and eventually relieve themselves of financial pressure.

She also advised teachers who would access part of their benefits to put the money to good use.

“I would advise my teachers to go and access these monies from NAPSA and use it wisely. I urge all of them to invest these monies wisely so that they can no longer be laughing stocks in society,” she said.

Meanwhile, Jumbe Primary School Teacher, Stephan Chulu, said the signing of the NAPSA Amendment Bill of 2023 into law came at the right time especially to the teaching fraternity as teachers needed a lot of support.

Mr Chulu said teachers had a lot of challenges that affected their performance in schools.

He noted that many teachers were drowning in debt, which led to many of them moving up and down searching for money that they could use to settle their bills at the expense of attending to pupils, which eventually led to poor pupil performance in school.

He further said the actualization of the NAPSA amendment Bill would help many teachers settle their debts once they accessed their funds and ultimately improve their work output.

“I see more advantages than disadvantages with the NAPSA Amendment Bill of 2023. Because of our short life span, not many people will be able to reach their retirement age,

Therefore, the partial withdrawal of one’s benefits will enable those who qualify to get their funds and invest it and also enjoy the fruits of their labour,” he said.

And Mr Chulu advised his fellow teachers who would access the funds to invest in something tangible and also keep in mind that the partial withdrawal arrangement was a once off thing, hence the need to use the money wisely.