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Choma HIV/AIDS prevalence rate rising

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HIV
Youth Development Organization (YDO) Executive Director Partner Siabutuba has bemoaned the rising HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Choma District.

Mr. Siabutuba has since called for enforcement of stringent measures to curb the pandemic.
Mr Siabutuba who is also Choma District Aids Task Force (DATF) Chairperson said there was need for various stakeholders in the district to put concerted efforts in curbing the increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

He was speaking at a welcoming ceremony of 12 volunteers from the United Kingdom (UK) who are on a three months working visit in Choma to support government’s delivery of quality reproductive health services to the people.

He said the current HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the district was currently at 15.3 percent describing it as worrying.

Mr Siabutuba said the 12 volunteers attached to his organization are keen to support government in promoting quality health reproductive services with the goal of reducing the HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among youths.

“As a host organisation of these volunteers, we are happy that they have come with multiple skills in areas of reproductive health to work with the community,” he said

Meanwhile, Ministry of Youth and Sport Development representative Hezron Mukonka said government was grateful to stakeholders supplementing efforts in improving the living standards of Zambians.

He said the exchange of developmental programmes such as the coming of
volunteers with multiple skills to Choma was essential in enhancing quality health services.

He said government would continue to create a conducive environment that would entice more stakeholders to come to Zambia and offer developmental skills with communities.

The 12 UK volunteers join 12 other Choma-based youth volunteers under the Youth Development Organisation (YDO) to implement various reproductive health and community service programmes.

Mr Siabutuba said his organisation was happy that the volunteers would closely work with their Zambian counterparts to enhance reproductive health services.
The volunteers with reproductive health skills such as nursing and counselling will be deployed in among others centres in Choma, Shampande Clinic, Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) and the Railway Clinic.

Use of counterfeit banknotes is a crime-Chikwanda

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chikwanda

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has told parliament that it is a criminal offence to use counterfeit banknotes and those found with them will be liable for imprisonment.

Mr Chikwanda said the penalty is enough deterrence for people to be discouraged to engage in the production and use of counterfeit banknotes.

The Minister explained in parliament that the Bank of Zambia incorporates sophisticated security features in designing the banknote especially on high value banknotes as they are more susceptible to counterfeit.

The Finance Minister was responding to a question from Kaputa Member of Parliament Maxas Ng’onga who wanted to know what measures government has taken to address the problem of counterfeit Kwacha notes and what it is doing to sensitise rural communities on counterfeit notes to protect them from being swindled.

Mr Chikwanda said government through the Bank of Zambia conducts regular sensitization campaigns across the country on the security features of genuine banknotes.
He said the programme was especially visible during the time of rebasing of the Kwacha in 2012 and added that the Bank of Zambia also provides literature that assists the public to know more about genuine banknotes.

Mr Chikwanda added that the Bank of Zambia monitors both the quantity and quality of banknotes in circulation by ensuring that clean banknotes are in circulation and that all intercepted counterfeit notes are removed from circulation.

Suspected rabies break out in Chinsali leaving one person dead

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Suspected rabies has broken out in Chinsali district of Muchinga Province leaving one person dead.

Provincial Veterinary Officer Kabwe Puta confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Chinsali yesterday.

Dr Puta said recently three people had been reported bitten by stray dogs in Kaluyapusa area while another boy was bitten in Mulilansolo area and has since died.

He said in the past two months over 105 people have been bitten by stray dogs in the district causing fear among the residents.

Dr Puta said 15 dogs bites have also been reported in Chinsali town.

He attributed the increase in dog bites in the area to people keeping more than two dogs per household which he said is against the law.

He explained that most of the dogs were not vaccinated adding that most pet owners fail to take them for vaccination despite using them for hunting purposes.

He said the Veterinary Department in the province has put up measures to control the disease adding that 350 doses of vaccines have been procured.

Dr Puta however lamented that the department only managed to purchase 350 doses of vaccines against a population 11 000 due to inadequate resources.

He explained that this means that about 10 000 dogs will not be vaccinated therefore posing a great danger to the people.

Dr Puta explained that the department had also written and submitted a budget to their headquarters in Lusaka and was awaiting a response.

He said the department has engaged other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, Police and the Council to help with other logistics for the awareness campaign which is currently underway.

Dr Puta further told ZANIS that the veterinary department had gone a mile further to do massive sensitization to enlighten the residents on the dangers of rabies as well as interpreting information about rabies into the local Bemba language.

Dr Puta pointed out that it was more expensive to treat rabies in a human being than to vaccinate a dog adding that anti rabies for people cost about K400 for a patient while the vaccines for dogs only cost K40 per 10 dogs.

Police raid bars to enforce compliance of Local Government Laws

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A combined Team of Zambia Police(ZP) and Council Police Officers raided several Bars and taverns in Mkushi District during an operation that aimed at enforcing compliance to Local Government Laws.

Mkushi Council Public Relations Officer(PRO) Mumba Mafwenko disclosed this to ZANIS that the combined operation raided premises that are said to have be operating beyond the stipulated time, as well as Trading without Licenses.

Ms. Mafwenko elaborated that six Bars were found to be operating beyond stipulated 22hrs closure time, during the operation that was conducted from 22 hrs yesterday to 03 hrs this morning.

She said that several other Bars and Taverns were found to be operating without Trading Licenses, whilst other offences included Under age Patronage as well as Noise Pollution.

She said that the Proprietors of these Bars and Taverns have since been charged a Penalty Fee of K450 for operating beyond the stipulated 22hrs closure time.

Ms. Mafwenko said that a similar Penalty Fee has been applied on those Trading without License.

She said that the Local Government Authorities would remain steadfast in its commitment towards enforcing the laws, adding that the more operations are to be expected.

She said that in view of this, it was imperative for the Owners of Bars and Taverns to comply with the Laws pertaining to opening and closing time, as well as the issue of Trading Licenses that could be obtained from the Council

Barotse landscape to enter World heritage site List

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National Heritage Conservation Commission Regional Director Kagosi Mwamulowe says the Barotse Plains is unique hence it deserves to be on the list of World Heritage Sites.

Mr. Mwamulowe said the Barotse Plains deserves to be included on the World Heritage sites because it has a rich cultural heritage which includes burial sites of former Kings which must be passed on from one generation to the other.

The Director who was speaking during the Barotse Cultural Landscape awareness meeting for Heads of Departments in Nalolo and Limulunga districts said he hoped that the landscape will be declared as a heritage site next year in June.

Mr. Mwamulowe said it was important to conserve Zambia’s unique culture for education and entertainment.

Speaking at the same meeting, Chief Natural Heritage Officer Muyumbwa Ndiyoi said there will be a lot of benefits when the Barotse Landscape is declared a World Heritage Site because it will attract many tourists and business ventures will increase.

Mr. Ndiyoi said the site will also benefit young people as knowledge will be passed from one generation to the other.

He was reacting to a question from Nalolo District Labour Officer Jason Ngoma who wanted to know what the people of Western Province will benefit once the Barotse Landscape is declared as a World Heritage site.

And University of Zambia Lecturer Charles Namate said there was need for the site to be included on the World Heritage Site because 50 years after Independence Zambia only has one heritage site which is the Victoria Falls.

Professor Namate said the Barotse territory was facing a lot of environmental degradation hence the need to recognize the heritage which is the value of landscape and memories of departed kings.

The National Heritage Conservation Commission in conjunction with the Ministry of Chiefs and Eraditional Affairs are in Western Province to hold sensitization meetings with Heads of Government Departments and stakeholders.

The Commission also held closed door meetings with the Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II of the Baroste Royal Establishment.

Civil Society bemoans continued low funding to nutrition programmes

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CSO-SUN National Cordinator William Chilufya delivering his opening remarks at the High Level Policy Forum on agriculture
CSO-SUN National Cordinator William Chilufya delivering his opening remarks at the High Level Policy Forum on agriculture

Zambia Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance has observed that funding to nutrition has continued to be undesirably low.

Alliance Country Coordinator William Chilufya said Zambia is today experiencing the double burden of Malnutrition where under-Nutrition affects overall growth in childhood and limits the development of full intellectual and physical potential of children.

Mr Chilufya added that over-Nutrition on the other hand has equally adverse effects that lead to non-communicable diseases such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Heart Conditions among others.

“In essence, Malnutrition is devaluing the Zambia’s human capital. In spite of these challenges, the funding to Nutrition has continued to be undesirably low,” he said.

Mr Chilufya was speaking on Wednesday when he appeared before the Expanded Committee on Estimates of Revenues and Expenditures at parliament to analyze the 2015 National budget from the nutrition perspective.

“In our analysis of the 2015 budget we not that Government has adopted the Multi-Sectorial response to Malnutrition and, in line with this, funding to Nutrition specific and Nutrition sensitive interventions is spread-out along six 6 Key line ministries; namely Ministry of Community Development, Mother & Child Health, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives including the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and Ministry of Gender and Child Development. “

Mr Chilufya added, “We find that the size of the grand total of the national budget has increased by approximately 9% from 2014’s budget. Of this, around 0.1% constitutes spending towards Nutrition as a share of the National Budget. This represents a slight increase from nutrition spending in 2014 which was at 0.03% as a share of the national budget. Even with this increase is extremely low to make an impact on the nutrition crisis in Zambia.”

He said the Alliance specifically noted that funding to the National Food and Nutrition Commission has barely been increased to less than 0.74% from last year’s allocation.

“With the commencement of the Scaling up Nutrition initiative, for which we commend Government for taking a bold decision in mandating the NFNC with the responsibility to coordinate all line Ministries involved in Scaling up Nutrition.”

He continued, “This meagre budget allocation to the NFNC as a coordinating body demonstrates inadequate appreciation on the part of Government of the potential dangers exerted by undernutrition to national and economic development. It also does not give hope to the vulnerable groups – children and mothers – that in the near future the government will act favourably to addressing some of its commitments as recently made at the Nutrition for Growth summit to increase Nutrition funding by 20% annually.”

He revealed that Government Expenditure per Child under 2 Years is 4 Kwacha 5 Ngwee per child for direct Nutrition interventions in 2015.

“This is a slight increase from 2013 and 2014 which reflected 2 kwacha 4 Ngwee and 2 Kwacha 6 ngwee respectively. This falls short of the $30 (K189) spending per child per year commitment during the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013.”

He said, “We are glad to see ambitious commitments to reducing under Nutrition in important global declarations: Nutrition for Growth commitments, African Union Malabo Declaration. But we note a discrepancy between these international commitments and actual action on the ground, especially as regards to budgetary allocations going the national budgets on Nutrition.”

He charged that the alliance is concerned that both President’s address at the opening of Parliament and the Minister of Finance 2015 Budget address to parliament never had specific mention of the word Nutrition and yet nearly one in every two children is stunted in Zambia.

Farmers should take advantage of the weaker Kwacha-Guy Scott

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Farmers should take advantage of the weaker Kwacha-Guy Scott
VICE President, Dr. Guy Scott, addresses a rally at Vubwi Boma on Tuesday to drum up support for PF candidate, Margaret Miti in a Vubwi by-election slated for Thursday next week
VICE President, Dr. Guy Scott

REPUBLICAN Vice president Guy Scott says farmers should take advantage of the weaker Kwacha and export more agriculture products.

Speaking at the official closing of the of the two-day 109th annual congress of the Zambia National Farmers’ Union in Lusaka yesterday ,Dr Scott said farmers should not continue mourning but take advantage of the weak Kwacha to export more.

“Zambia farmers need to be reason if they are to acces export markets interms of commodity pricing, farmers in this country expect to earn more than what is prevailing in the regional and international market,” Dr Scott said.

He observed that there was plent of politics in most of the fields in the country which required radical changes to put things right to move forward.

“In any business venture thee is need to follow the law of supply and demand sometimes if commodity prices drops work out something that can ustain your business,” he said.

Aand Evelyn Nguleka the first women to be president of the farmer’s union ,has been re-elected as the president of the farmer’s union.

Spaeking earlier Dr Nguluke said farmers have continued experiencing
rising costs inputs due to increase in the cost of fuel, interest
rates, electricity and labour.

She said it was amazing that Government has turned a blind eye by allowing interest rates to go up as high as 24 per cent.

“We appeal to the Government to do something anmd if the Government failed to address that ZNFU will be calling upon Government to put all farmers under the subsidy program,” She said.

Dr Nguluke added that the revised fees and charges by statutory organizations such as the Workman’s Compensation Fund, the introduction of loading fees by some local authorities in some districts plus the upward increase in the cost of imported inputs due to Kwacha depreciation.

“If requested to pass a verdict on the 2015 national budget, our assessment is that it is a “business as usual budget” in as far as the agricultural sector is concerned.

This is because, apart from the reduction in the cost of jet fuel and raising of the import duty on imported refined oil from 80 ngwee per Kg to K2.20 per Kg, the focus reflects doing more of the same,” she said.

MISA Zambia welcomes appointment of the IBA Board, calls on them to be independent

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MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale
MISA Zambia
Chairperson
Hellen Mwale

Press Statement

15 October 2014

MISA Zambia welcomes appointment of the IBA Board – calls on them to be independent

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia would like to commend the government for appointing the Board of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

This step completes the establishment of the IBA and operationalization of the IBA Act which had been in limbo since 2002.

MISA Zambia always considered the IBA partially operational when the board was not in place. MISA Zambia felt that it was a mockery to state that the IBA was fully operational when the previous interim board comprised only the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Information and the Director General of the IBA.

MISA Zambia would like to urge the IBA Board to observe professionalism and act independently to ensure that the broadcast sector is independent and operates professionally.

We further call on government to adequately provide for independence of the IBA board by reinstating the appointments committee in the IBA Amendment Act of 2010 in order for the full purpose of the law to take effect. This should be in addition to including a clause that will allow Parliament to Ratify the IBA Board.

Hellen Mwale
Chairperson – MISA Zambia

Boy dies in after falling off a moving van

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A 10 year -old – boy of Mwansabombwe district in Luapula province has died after he fell off a moving van.

The boy identified as James Ilunga of Salanga village in Chief Mwata Kazembe’s area met his fate when he fell off the moving van after he tried to cling to it and was run over.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner Malcolm Mulenga confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Mwansabombwe yesterday.

Mr. Mulenga identified the driver of the van as Evans Bupe aged 33 of Kampampi village in Nchelenge district who was driving a Mitsubishi Canter registration number ALF 1266.

He said the accident happened in Salanga along Kazembe – Mwense road on October 11, 2014 around 14:20hours.

Mr. Mulenga said the boy was run over by the Canter truck on his right leg and sustained a fractured leg.

He said the boy was rushed to Mbereshi Mission Hospital where he was later confirmed died.
The body of the deceased is lying in Mbereshi hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem and the driver of the van is in police custody awaiting further investigations.

Meanwhile, a one –year- three months old baby of Kachesha in Chifwalo village of Nchelenge district has been burnt to ashes after the house it was sleeping in was set on fire by unknown people.

Police have since visited the scene of the crime and relatives have been advised to bury the ashes.

Residents demand release of ambulance bought using CDF funds

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Dozens of Salanga village residents in Mulele ward of Mwansabombwe district yesterday matched to the District Commissioner’ s office demanding the release of an ambulance bought using Constituency Development Funds (CDF) early this year.

The residents who matched from Salanga to Kazembe in Mwansabombwe carried banners demanding to know why the ambulance delivered to Mwansabombwe last March has not been released to Salanga.

The residents who were accompanied by Mulele Ward Councilor, Dimus Bwalya also wanted to know why residents of Kazembe have continued to use the two ambulances while the residents of Salanga are suffering when faring patients from the villages to Mbereshi Mission Hospital.

And speaking on behalf of the residents Mulele Ward Councilor Dimus Bwalya said the women of Salanga are the most affected because the lack of an ambulance in the ward was resulting in pregnant mothers delivering in the bush while being taken to hospital.

He said the Area Member of Parliament, Rodgers Mwewa made it clear during the youth day celebrations that the three ambulances in the district be shared equally but that nothing has been done to ensure that the ambulance is delivered as promised.

He wondered why the ambulance bought using CDF and meant for Salanga was still working in Kazembe when there is another ambulance there.

He said provision of an ambulance in his ward was necessary as it would reduce the number of maternal deaths especially in Mulele and Chipunka wards.

Meanwhile, Mwansabombwe District Commissioner, Victor Kasuba could not talk to the demonstrators as he said their action was illegal.

The angry residents only called off their demonstration after Mwansabombwe police told them to end it.

Zambia move into second place

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Zambia moved into second place in Group F after a 3-0 home win over Niger on Wednesday.

Zambia sneaked into second place on five points, displacing Mozambique who lost 1-0 away to cape verde in the late Group F kickoff in Praia.

Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mayuka were on target in the 58th and 73rd minutes after a first half they dominated but were poor in front of goal.

Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene then stepped up to convert the final goal from the penalty spot after Given Singuluma was brought down in the box.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde scored a 75th minute goal through Heldon to move them to 9 points.

FDD supports planed country wide demonstrations by public workers.

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FDD supports planed country wide demonstrations by public workers.
Forum for Democracy and Development spokesperson Antonio Mwanza stresses a point during the meeting to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution
Forum for Democracy and Development spokesperson Antonio Mwanza stresses a point during the meeting to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution

Forum for Democracy and Development spokesperson (FDD)Antonio Mwanza says his party supports the intended calls for countrywide demonstration by public workers over the wage freeze.

Mr. Mwanza wondered why the public workers and their unions have been so lenient with the PF Government when it has continued to implement unpopular policies such as the wage freeze without any consultations.

He noted the public workers should know by now that the PF government does not listen to reason and that they will continue to ride on their backs as long as the continue bending them.

He said public workers and Zambians should not continue tightening their belts when PF Ministers and their families are busy fattening themselves by sharing the country’s resources through road contracts at the expense of poor workers and Zambians who are just scraping by for survival.

He added that PF Government will not give into their demands of lifting the wage freeze as long as no action is taken.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mwanza has called on Government to scrap off the bursaries committee and give the money to the banks to provide student loans.

Mr. Mwanza said the current system is not sustainable and that it has outlived its usefulness as the country’s population has grown to still have a centralized system administered in Lusaka.

He observed that the bursaries committee has challenges and that it has become an institution where corruption thrives hence the need to scrap it off and give the money to the banks to administer loans to students something he said is sustainable as the funds will be revolving.

He noted that currently with the system based in Lusaka most of the children living in rural areas are disadvantage as they do not know about bursaries hence end up becoming peasant farmers or fishermen even after acquiring good results at grade twelve.

He further said the K200million given to Universities is not enough to carter for all the students as it is only enough to carter for 1 academic year at UNZA and not all the public universities.

Zambia XI against Niger

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Zambia face Niger this evening at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Here is the starting XI

Zambia: Mweene, Sunzu, Mbola, Nyambe,Malama,Sinkala,Singuluma,Musakanya,Charles Zulu,Kalaba, Mayuka

Subs:Munyao, Chamanga,Jacob, Chisamba, Kampamba,Munthali ,Fwayo

Muslim community receives kudos for helping the poor

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The Muslim community in Zambia has been praised for the support it is rendering to the needy people in society.

Programme Officer at the Community Support for the Needy, Titus Sinyangwe, said the Muslim community has greatly helped the poor people who lack improved basic facilities such as clean drinking water, food and blankets.

He told the Zambia News and Information Services in Lusaka today that partners such as the Muslim community should be praised for their role in society.

Mr. Sinyangwe observed that there were a lot of less privileged people in society who are critically in need of help but the Muslim brothers and sisters have rendered significant assistance.
“The Muslim community in Zambia is doing a commendable job in alleviating the suffering of the less privileged people in society. They need to be praised for their contribution,” Mr. Sinyangwe said.

And Mr. Sinyangwe has praised government for having created an enabling environment for the Muslim community and other partners to operate freely in the area of helping the needy people in many Zambian societies.

He noted that the Muslim community in Zambia has so far lined up a number of programmes aimed at assisting the poor people as the country celebrates its 50th independence anniversary.
He said the Muslim community was willing to assist the needy especially this time when the country is celebrating its golden jubilee.
Mr. Sinyangwe has since urged other business entities operating in Zambia to emulate the good works of the Muslim community.

First ever IBA board unveiled

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Government has officially unveiled a nine-member Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) board.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony in Lusaka today, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema said the board comes into office against the backdrop of high expectations from both the government and the public on the need for the media to exercise high ethical and professional standards.

Dr. Katema said through the appointment of the board ,government was reassuring the nation that in line with its “hands off” policy on the media, it has given the IBA and indeed the media fraternity at large, a leeway to operate independently and professionally in order to benefit the citizens.

Dr. Katema, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said the first ever board of the IBA has a mammoth task of laying a firm foundation upon which the independent broadcasting authority should grow.

He said some people doubted when government announced that it would make the media operate freely.

The minister said government has now been vindicated because of liberalising airwaves.

Currently, there are over 70 community and commercial radio stations and not less than 12 television station in Zambia.

Dr. Katema expressed confidence that the board has the competence, expertise and experience to grow the IBA from its current infancy stage to a formidable organization that will oversee the growth of a professional and vibrant broadcasting industry in the country.

The members of the board are former commandant for intellectual security Brigadier General Justin Mutale (rtd), an accountant Mr. Hillary Banda, Managing Director Izone ICT solutions Ms. Hildah Akekelwa and a retired broadcaster Mr. Alphonso Kashulwe,.

Others are Ms. Patricia Mwase, who is Director and Chief Executive Officer at Opti-Quest Media Corporation Limited, Mr. Evans Muhanga, who is Chief Marketing Officer at ZAMTEL Company Limited, former Central Province Education Officer Ms. Enita Hamatumbika, Ms Brenda Tambatamba Liswaniso, who is Sustainability Manager at Barrick Lumwana Mine and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Bert Mushala.

The IBA is a corporate body established by the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act No.17 of 2002 to regulate the broadcasting industry in Zambia.

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