Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti has told political leaders to take a leading role in uniting the country if future generations are to inherit a better Zambia.

When paying a courtesy call on Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo in Ndola on Sunday, Ms. Mutti said political leaders have a duty to bring citizens together in harmony.

She said the people of Zambia are not interested in seeing divisions as politicians govern the country.

Ms. Mutti said Zambians need to preserve and protect the country so that children can grow in peace and harmony with one another.

“We are glad Honourable Minister (Elisha Matambo) for your assurance that you have reunited the country especially Copperbelt Province. I think the role of politicians is to unite, we don’t want to see divisions as you govern the country. Our role as legislature is to ensure that people are represented and also the oversight function that we provide and this can only be done if people live in peace and in harmony with each other. We should know that we are all one people regardless of what our beliefs are whether politically or tribal. We are just one people and we are all working for the good and betterment of this country we call Zambia. We only have one Zambia which we all need to preserve and protect so that our children can grow in peace and harmony with one another,” Ms. Mutti said.

Meanwhile, Ms Mutti has launched her tour of Constituencies on the Copperbelt with an emphasis that the developmental agenda must meet people’s expectations.

Ms Mutti and her two deputies have started a familiarization tour of all the 156 constituencies in the country.

Ms. Mutti said the National Assembly wants to check on the operations of Parliamentary Offices in Constituencies and to interact with the people.

Ms. Mutti added that the developmental agenda must be tailored according to people’s wishes and needs.

“Honourable Minister we are here to visit our constituencies’ offices as you are aware we have 156 constituency offices all over the country. In some constituencies we have built our own offices. I don’t know how many of our own offices we have from the Copperbelt. So we are going to check and see where our Honourable Members of Parliament are operating from. As you have said with the increased constituency development funds there is so much activity at constituency level by our decentralisation. We want to see how the CDF is being applied, how the people are reacting and also to check the interaction between our offices and members of the public. As you know the Constituency Office is the face of the Members of Parliament because most of the time the Member of Parliament is not at the constituency, he is maybe in Lusaka attending parliament,” she said.

Ms. Mutti continued:”So in his absence, the constituency office is there to provide guidance and collect information from members of the public in terms of what is required of them. If they have any issues to raise with Members of Parliament, they can do it through officers on the ground. We also want to know if our officers are interacting with the people, manpower, what are the challenges of any, how we can improve the function of the constituency office and the interaction so it is a fact finding trip. In future we want to have such meetings at our Constituency Office because when we come, we come for the people of each constituency so we need to have an interaction with the people. They need to see the Speaker, if they have any views or concerns we pick them and follow them up.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Matambo said it was important that the Speaker of the National Assembly is abreast with the operation of Parliamentary Offices in all constituencies.

Mr. Matambo assured the Speaker that the New Dawn Government has restored people and harmony in the Copperbelt Province.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti later on Sunday visited Chifubu Constituency where she planted a tree, inspected the new police post being constructed using CDF.

The Speaker also held a closed door meeting with Chifubu Member of Parliament Lloyd Lubozha.

Zambia is currently facing a high burden of Non-Communicable Diseases and Communicable Diseases, with tobacco consumption being one of the leading causes. The Tobacco Free Association of Zambia Youth Advocate, represented by Obed Lubasi, has called upon the government to prioritize the well-being of the Zambian youth by enacting and enforcing policies mandated by the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

According to Lubasi, tobacco consumption remains a major public concern globally, with its use becoming increasingly popular, especially among the youth. The Tobacco Free Association of Zambia Youth Advocate is deeply concerned about the current trend and believes that significant reduction in tobacco use will ensure declines in Non-Communicable Diseases and a healthier national population.

The organization strongly believes that it is imperative for the government of the Republic of Zambia to enact and enforce policies mandated by the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect the present and upcoming new generation from aggressive marketing and sale of tobacco products. As youths are more susceptible to cigarette advertising and marketing than adults, the vast majority of all smokers begin their addictive habit before they reach age 18, and almost nobody tries smoking for the first time after 18. If large numbers of children, adolescents, and youths did not try smoking and go on to become regular users, the tobacco companies eventually would not have enough adult customers to make staying in the business worthwhile.

The Tobacco Free Association of Zambia Youth Advocate is confident that enacting the tobacco control bill will be an obligation to protect the public from the devastating health, social, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to its smoke. Smoking and secondhand smoke can seriously harm children, adolescents, and youth while they are still young. Aside from the immediate bad breath, irritated eyes and throat, and increased heartbeat and blood pressure, short-term harms from youth smoking include respiratory problems, reduced immune function, increased illness, tooth decay, gum disease, and cancers gene mutations. Exposure to nicotine can have lasting effects on adolescents’ brain development.

The Tobacco Free Association of Zambia Youth Advocate, therefore, calls upon the government to act with urgency and protect the Zambian youth from the devastating effects of tobacco use. Enacting and enforcing the tobacco control bill is a crucial step in safeguarding the health and well-being of the future generation of Zambia.

Former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, has revealed that the Zambian government has committed itself to the Summit for Democracy Declaration with reservations. The reservations relate to the hosting of the Summit for Democracy (African Session) in March 2023. The government of Zambia has expressed its reservations about the term “inclusion” and all its variations, “gender equality” and “gender identity,” “discrimination and exclusion on any grounds,” “marginalized groups,” and “sexual orientation.”

The Zambian government has declared that the term “inclusion” and all its variations entail the embracing of diversity, which may include sexual diversity, such as diversities relating to sex characteristics, sexual orientation, and gender identities. However, Zambia only recognizes two genders- male and female- in its Statute Book. The government reiterates that any other gender is not recognized by Zambia’s laws. Therefore, the terms “gender equality” and “gender identity,” wherever they appear in the Declaration, will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of Zambia.

The government recognizes that the words “any grounds” in the phrase “discrimination and exclusion on any grounds” can be loosely interpreted to include sexual orientation, gender diversity, and gender identity. However, the Laws of Zambia do not recognize sexual orientation, gender diversity, and gender identity as grounds for discrimination. Therefore, the words “on any grounds,” wherever they appear in the Declaration, will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of Zambia.

The government recognizes that the interpretation of the term “Marginalized Groups” is subjective. Still, it has been broadened to include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) people. The government declares that this form of sexual diversity is not recognized culturally or under the Laws of Zambia. Therefore, the term, wherever it appears in the Declaration, will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of Zambia.

The Zambian government recognizes that “sexual orientation” refers to a person’s identity in relation to the gender or genders to which the person is attracted. However, the government only recognizes heterosexuality and asexuality. Sexual relations engaged in by persons who are homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual are proscribed by the Laws of Zambia. Therefore, the government declares that it shall only recognize heterosexuality and asexuality.

By BENEDICT TEMBO

Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communications (ZIPRC) president Ireen Chipili has commended the Zambia Army for contributing to the growth of the public relations and communications sphere in the country.

Ms Lungu made the commendation during the just-ended ZIPRC Annual General Meeting and Conference in Livingstone.
She noted that the media interaction which was recently held by the Zambia Army Public Relations and Foreign Liaison department was a clear indication of its efforts in ensuring healthy media relations.

The event that was themed “Know Your Army” attracted public relations practitioners, media consultants and journalists from various media houses.

And Ms Lungu said that the ZIPRC conference was not only held to enhance the knowledge of participants but also to celebrate the enactment of ZIPRC Act No. 11 of 2022, a milestone that will help enhance the execution of the institution’s mandate.

And speaking at the event, Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa said government remains committed to undertaking sufficient reforms necessary for the goal of ensuring that public relations and communication experts play effective roles in the country.

The minister added that PR practitioners and communicators should incorporate professionalism beyond the conference.
“I am confident, therefore, that the conference will provide you as PR practitioners and communicators with an opportunity to share ideas and experience from various sectors.

Mr Mweetwa challenged PR practitioners to provide effective communication between various organisations and stakeholders.

This year’s ZIPRC conference was held under the theme “professional cutting-edge PR and communication.”

Zambian Gospel Musician, BJ Ngosa’s wife Jubilee has passed away. She had been admitted at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital for almost 2 weeks after a road accident that had claimed the couples 4 year old son Schulel.

The accident occurred when Mrs Ngosa had been driving home with their four children when a speeding car hit into their vehicle as they drove into their property.One of the children called Pastor BJ who then rushed to the accident scene and found his children still laying on the tarmac and his wife trapped in the car.His son died on the spot and was laid to rest last week Monday.

Mrs. Jubilee Ngosa was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of many with her warmth, kindness, and compassion. Her passing is a great loss to all who knew her, and she will be dearly missed.

May The Soul of Pastor Jubilee Rest In Eternal Peace.