Visiting United States (US) Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has left Zambia after winding up her schedule in the country where she also addressed the 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum which officially closed yesterday.

The plane carrying Mrs. Clinton took off at the Lusaka International Airport at 14-30 hours local time. She has gone to Tanzania on other official duties.

ZANIS reports that the former first Lady was seen off at the airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Tourism and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala, US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella and senior government officials from the two governments.

Later in the evening, Mrs. Clinton who arrived yesterday (Friday), in the country private talks with President Rupiah Banda at State House where a dinner was also hosted in her honour.

Today, the US Secretary of State graced the official launch of the Zambia-American Chamber of Commerce at Intercontinental Hotel.

Mrs Clinton also handed over a state of art Pediatric Centre of Excellence at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) to President Banda who received the facility on behalf of the Zambian Government.

Shortly after the handover ceremony, she held private talks with two major opposition political party leaders; Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema of the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) respectively on this year’s elections.

While in Zambia, the United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has bemoaned the low level of economic cooperation, integration and trade among African countries saying this was an obstacle to sustainable growth on the continent.

Mrs Clinton noted that the benefits of economic integration were well known which included reducing food insecurity by allowing agricultural goods to move efficiently to the places where they are needed and landlocked countries have access to ports and habours.

ZANIS reports that officially closing the 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday, She added that other benefits of economic integration was that African companies were allowed to tap into a very promising new market.

Addressing more than 3 000 delegates from US and 37 eligible African countries, the US Secretary of State said there was less trade within the Sub Saharan Africa than within any other region of the World and attributed this to partly improving Africa’s infrastructure stressing that the limiting factor was not roads but people.

‘’It is partly a matter of improving Africa’s infrastructure. But the most important limiting factor isn’t roads. It’s people.’’She said.

[pullquote]‘’It is partly a matter of improving Africa’s infrastructure. But the most important limiting factor isn’t roads. It’s people.’’She said.[/pullquote]

Mrs Clinton who is also former First Lady cited a number of problems to economic integration noting that trade officials wanted to protect their home-grown industries with Government leaders of smaller countries concerned about larger ones gaining too much influence among others.

She further stated that while these problems were not unique to Africa, they had a powerful and lasting impact and emphasised that it was up to leaders in the Sub Saharan region to decide whether they wanted economic integration.

‘’They will have to take on entrenched interests and respond to concerns about new competition, while making clear to their constituents how they will benefit from expanded regional trade,’’She said.

Host, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati was present.

In another development, the US Secretary of State hailed women for their significant contribution towards African economies and the rest of the world.

Mrs Clinton noted that evidence showed that small and medium-sized enterprises run by women were major drivers of economic growth adding that when a woman prospered she reinvested her earnings in her family and that the positive effects rippled throughout the entire community.

She further said there was need to help more women connect to the global economy adding that no country could survive when half of its people are left behind.

However, Mrs Clinton observed that cultural traditions continued to make it difficult for a woman to start a business as they discouraged her from handling money or managing employees.

The AGOA Forum was held under the theme: ‘’Enhanced Trade Through Increased Competitiveness, Value Addition and Deeper Regional Integration.’’
ZANIS

President Banda assured Mrs Clinton that the elections would be held within the next few months and that they would be transparent. President Banda said this is a very special year for Zambia as it goes to the polls.

He said since 1964, the country has had good, fair and transparent elections. “Of course, the country has grown, the population has moved from three million in 1964 to 13 million now.

The economy itself has grown and the opposition parties have also increased and they are challenging us in these elections as it should be,” he said. The President said Government will work with all partners, including the United States, to ensure that elections are free, fair and transparent, and held in a peaceful atmosphere.

“We had a few hiccups over the by-elections we have had and I personally made sure that I went to court to challenge results of one of these elections where violence was observed…,” he said.

President Banda also invited investors from the US to explore Zambia’s vast potential. Earlier, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there is a positive sign that Zambia will hold free, fair and transparent elections.

And Mrs Clinton said the US hopes to become a better partner in helping develop the economy of Zambia. She was speaking yesterday during a press conference shortly after having a closed door bilateral meeting with President Banda at State House.

Mrs Clinton said as Zambia approaches another national election, the country has a chance to set a model for the rest of the world. “We discussed with President Banda the importance of conducting the upcoming national elections peacefully, transparently and fairly and freely in a manner that reflects the will of the Zambian people,” she said.

She is pleased that President Banda has invited both international and local observers to monitor the elections, and that he has repeatedly said in his campaign messages that he is against election violence. “That is an important message for all Zambian citizens including the one million young people voting for the first time. I congratulated Zambia for registering more than 82 percent of your eligible voters.

You know, too often the news is dominated by what is wrong with Africa, not about what is right,” she said. Mrs Clinton said when the people of Zambia adopted multi-party democracy in 1991, they sent a powerful message to Africa and the world. “Political leaders are answerable and accountable to the people, not the other way round.

Candidates may express passionate differences in campaigns but they must accept the people’s vote and join together for the sake of the country,” she said.

Mrs Clinton also said the US values Zambia’s role as a regional leader. “Since your independence, Zambia has helped Africa evolve into a continent of peace, stability and tolerance across the region. Thanks for hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees, including many Angolans who seek refuge and peace inside your country.

Thank you for supporting a peaceful transition in Madagascar,” she said. Mrs Clinton said Zambia has shown it is on the right path to tackle its challenges. “We have achieved important results together through our close collaboration on health issues, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and yesterday the United States joined other global leaders in calling for action towards eliminating pediatric HIV by 2015.

We are getting closer to the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV in Zambia, and we see people living with this disease now leading increasingly productive lives,” she said. Mrs Clinton assured President Banda that the US is fully committed to supporting Zambia’s progress. She said the US has always valued its partnership with Zambia, both globally and regionally.

“Zambia has joined the United States and the international community in support of human dignity, freedom of speech and religion. I would like to thank Zambia for joining in the international community’s strong stance on behalf of the rights of the people of Syria and Iran at the Human Rights Council,” she said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The Zambia Widows Network Association (ZAWNA) has today launched its three year strategic plan in Lusaka today.

Speaking at the launch , ZAWNA president Florence Mwewa said the 2011- 2015 strategic plan is aimed to ensure that her organisation successfully implements its programmes and operations in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

” This will enable the organization respond positively to the needs of its members and existing inequalities affecting widowed women,” said Mrs Mwewa.

She noted that the organization’s partnership with the government, media, civil society, and private sector is pivotal in allowing women in Zambia attain social economic independence.

She said the organization has a vision to create a society were women are empowered to attain sustainable livelihoods.

Mrs. Mwewa said the launch showcases the value and significance of facilitating an enabling process to engage vulnerable women such as widows in strategic and productive livelihoods.

“Our strategic plan 2011 to 2015 is an agreement with many such development women empowerment process such as the millennium development goals, gender policy, enterprise development policy and vision 2030, ” she said.

She pointed out that it is the mandate of ZAWNA to contribute positively towards those challenging statements and commitments by way of implementing the strategic plan and annual action plans.

The organization has a membership of 3000 that work in organized groups in all the nine provinces of Zambia.

Its membership generally engage in various productive work such as agriculture, poultry, and cloth making.

ZAWNA is optimistic that the 2011 to 2015 strategic plan will be harnessed with successful key results to be able to be a model organisation to champion the needs of widows in Zambia.
[ ZANIS ]

The Ministry of Education says it has launched an electronic knowledge centre at the Curriculum Development Centre in Lusaka that will help learning institutions in the country to access the Internet.

The knowledge centre focuses on professional development, distance education and Information Communication Technologies (ICT) integration in education and was set up with the support from the Flemmish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (VVOB).

Speaking at the launch today, the ministry’s Acting Director for Teacher Education and Specialised Services James Silwimba said the centre aims at improving the training of Basic School Teachers.

Mr. Silwimba said his Ministry and VVOB plan to distribute more than 350 refurbished computers and desktops, 35 beamers and 59 printers to selected resource centres, Zone and community schools in Central, Copperbelt, and Northern provinces.

And VVOB Programme Advisor for ICT Bart Cornille said the centre has been set up to make teaching and learning more attractive and effective.

The launch of the centre is part of a three phase programme embarked on by the Ministry of Education and VVOB and runs up to the year 2013.

[ ZANIS ]

MMD Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has challenged all opposition political party leaders to condemn political violence ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.

Mr. Banda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the growing culture of political violence in the country should be condemned by all political leaders before, during and after the elections.

He advised opposition leaders especially to emulate President Banda who has on many occasions spoken against any form of violence.

The provincial chairperson said all political players in the country should embrace dialogue whenever they have grievances and not resort to violence.

He advised the youth to be wary of political leaders who may want to use them in violent activities before, during and after the elections.

Mr. Banda said Zambians should preserve the peace the country has enjoyed by ensuring that violence is not entertained at any point in the electoral process.

ZANIS

And visiting American Ambassador at Large for Global Women Issues Melanne Verveer has commended the Zambian government for its efforts in addressing the problem of girl’s child in schools.

Ms. Siliya said this is as a result of immediate suspension to all teachers found wanting in sexual harassment related cases while pending investigation.

She said Ministry of Justice was collaborating well with her ministry by intensifying the prosecution of under age sexual offenders.

Ms. Siliya said this in a speech read for her by Education Deputy Minister Dr. Boniface Kawimbe. This was during the Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) event in Lusaka today.

She said government is also encouraging girls who drop out of school because of pregnancy under the re-entry policy.

The minister, however, stated that despite the achievements made, government is still facing challenges in keeping the girl child in school.

The education minister has since called for concerted effort in discouraging early marriages especially among school going children who are below 18 years.

Ms. Siliya said the programme of keeping girls in schools should be encouraged by families, community, the church,and traditional leaders.

“The challenge of keeping the girls in school has to be met at several levels; at the level of the family and community. This should not be left by the government or the ministry of education alone.

There should be continuous sensitization of the importance of girl child education targeting the parents, church, traditional and civil
leaders.” He said.

The minister has also commended the Forum for African Women Educationist in Zambia (FAWEZA) and Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) for supporting the vulnerable children in schools through provision of scholarships.

And Ambassador Melanne Verveer has commended the Zambian government for its efforts in addressing the problem of girl’s child in schools.

Ms. Verveer , who also met with girls and teachers from selected schools Peace Corp offices , said education for a girl child remains the best possible way of fighting problems in the world.

She said women and girls continue to face the same problems of illiteracy and abuse world over but noted that most African countries have since started making strides in addressing the problems.

The Ambassador has also advised government to continue investing in the education of girl children for them to have meaningful development.

“Educating a girl child still remains the biggest investment for a nation especially a developing nation like Zambia to attain growth.
By educating women we are educating the family and the nation, ” she said.

She has also applauded the girls for their determination and vision in life.

And Forum for African Women Educationist in Zambia (FAWEZA) National Coordinator Daphne Chimuka said her organization is working with other cooperating partners in providing scholarship to needy girls.

Ms. Chamuka also said they are having problems in returning girls in schools because of the safety problems.

She said the provision of scholarships has,however, helped the girls to remain in schools.
[ ZANIS ]