The government says it is determined to increase the participation of small-scale farmers in the country’s food production.

Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Paul Thole says the new dawn government has prioritized agriculture as one of the main engines of enhancing the nation’s social and economic development.

Mr Thole said this on Saturday in a speech read on his behalf by Assistant Secretary Clement Chilembo during the Seed and Food fair organized by Community Oriented Development Program (CODEP) held in Chiparamba.

The event gave an opportunity to the farmers to exchange and share ideas as well as create market linkages hence improving the well-being of farmers.

“This event is important because it will enable trading, exchange and sharing of plant propagation materials and the creation of market linkages among farmers.

“ The healthy and productive competition we see yesterday will help to instil confidence among the farmers, showcase their capabilities and encourage more social interaction among them, ” he said.

Sharing of information will support increased recognition of traditional seed and food as it greatly contributes to the food value chain in terms of nutrition enrichment a and economic empowerment.

And CODEP Executive Director Joseph Mwale said seeds are the first link in the food chain hence farmers have the responsibility to protect the traditional seeds and pass them on to future generations.

Mr Mwale the seed and food fair which draw farmers from Katete, Sinda and Kasenengwa districts gave an opportunity to exchange seeds among themselves through cash selling, barter system or free of charge as basis to maintaining biodiversity and food security.

A Ndola based organisation called Mwana Mfumu Foundation has under its Turning Pages- Advancing Girls Education and Leadership” project re-integrated 100 teenage mothers who dropped out of school due to pregnancy on the Copperbelt province.

The teenagers who are from Kitwe, Ndola and Mpongwe districts have been given the opportunity to return to school by the Foundation.

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ZANIS reports that the Organisation Founder Kayula Chisanga says the programme will also target rural areas where there are higher cases of school drop outs due to pregnancy.

“ Despite having the free education and the 1997 school re-entry policies, there are other factors that prevent the young mothers to go back to school after delivery, hence coming in to bridge up the gap, “Ms. Chisanga said.

She said this during the launch of the “Turning Pages- Advancing Girls Education and Leadership project in Ndola which is being funded by the US embassy through the Zambia- United States Exchange Alumini Association ( ZUEA) .

And ZUEA president, Moses Mwansa said his association is ready to complement government’s efforts of improving the welfare of citizens through such programmes.

Speaking at the same function, Copperbelt Provincial Education Officer, Stephen Chishiko through Senior Education Standards Officer, Suwilangi Silwamba said less than of those that fell pregnant go back to school after delivery.

Dr. Silwamba said there is need for stakeholder collaboration in encouraging teenage mothers to go back to school adding that government has done its part by making education free.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer, Cris Hilwele said there is need to directly involve communities if such programmes are to be successful.

Meanwhile, the new dawn administration says it has put in place strategies to increase girls and boys education in the country among them being the re-entry policy and free education .

The two policies have allowed the disadvantaged girl child to return to school after delivery to continue learning while free education has increased accessibility to education by all.

This move has hailed Sinazongwe Secondary School Teachers and pupils.

School Head teacher Jimmy Siamupa says the Re-entry policy and free education has seen an increase in the pupils population at the School from 650 to 823.

Mr. Siamupa acknowledges that the recent teacher recruitment has cushioned the teacher pupil ratio as seven were deployed to the school.

He says the Government has also increased the grants which are being received on time to uphold quality education standards.

And Kalaluka Ndopu ,a guidance teacher at the school says the government policies on education has increased the number of learners coming to school.

He has said there is still need to safeguard the girl child from possible abuse by building safehouse for them.

The Zambia Correctional Service ( ZCS ) has advised the community and families to desist from stigmatizing ex-inmates saying doing so may cause further mental distress.

Deputy Commissioner General Bwalya Kuyomba says this is because acceptance is cardinal for successful re-integration into society and reducing re-victism.

Mr. Kuyomba said this on Friday at Katombora Reformatory School in Kazungula district when he graced this year’s World Mental Health day in the area.

“You will agree with me that the recent happenings in our communities relating to committing of heinous offences and suicide are classical examples of mental instability,” Mr. Kuyomba observed.

He called for concerted efforts in sensitizing the public on mental health challenges to avoid actions that may result in conflicting with the law.

Mr. Kuyomba however, noted that the road to comprehensive mental health for inmates and officers has not been without a number of challenge citing inadequate supply of medicines and non-availability of isolation facilities.

He added that others are inadequate rehabilitation activities for recovering patients, inadequate number of trained mental health staff as well as insufficient information on mental health among the general populace of inmates and officers among others.

“ Despite the highlighted challenges above, the Zambia Correctional Service remain resolute to promoting and protecting mental health patients as stipulated in the mental health act of 2019 and Mandela rules which call for access to health for all inmates, “ he said.

Speaking earlier, Kazungula District Health Director, Belita Zulu observed that for most people, when they hear the word mental health, what comes to their mind is picking papers on the street which is not the case because that is limiting one’ scope of understanding.

Dr. Zulu said mental health encompasses emotional, psychological as well as the social well-being of individuals.

She mentioned that when one is exposed to recurrent stress and trauma then the person is more likely to have mental illness.

This year’s mental health commemoration was held under the theme, “make mental health and well-being for all a global priority”.

Chief Justice Mumba Malila says the media is entitled to freely trend and report on public proceedings fairly in order to ensure fairness.

Dr Malila says the presence of interested observers, including the media, aims at keeping adjudicators, lawyers and court-room staff mindful of their responsibilities and actions to make them more accountable.

The Chief Justice, however stated that in an even the judiciary’s actions are unacceptable, the media is at liberty to offer factual and fair criticisms.

Dr Malila said this during an interactive media workshop held in Lusaka on Friday adding that constructive criticisms help the judiciary implement their objectives better.

“Criticism of the judiciary should be factual and fair. However, distractive criticism is discouraged,” he said.

Meanwhile, Justice Bubile Shonga said the media is obliged to protect the the judiciary through fair, credible and factual reporting.

Kanyama Member of Parliament Monty Chinkuli says he is disheartened with reports that some Constituency Development Fund (CDF) beneficiaries in his Constituency plan to share the empowerment grants meant to bring development in communities.

Kanyama Member of Parliament Monty Chinkuli says he is concerned with information reaching his office that some people are planning to share the funds.

Speaking during a handover ceremony of CDF grant cheques in the constituency, on Friday, the lawmaker government will not condone retrogressive behaviour.

” I encourage people in Kanyama Constituency to instead work hard and ensure that the much needed jobs are created through various approved CDF programmes, ” he stated.

Mr. Chinkuli however thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for walking the talk through the CDF empowerment initiative that will uplift lives of the citizenry.

62 groups out of the 118 beneficiaries have received K976,000.00 for the first and second quarter of 2022.

“We are happy with the funds that we have received through the CDF funds,” said Mr. Chinkuli.

And Lusaka District Commissioner Rosa Zulu who graced the occasion advised beneficiaries not to derail from the visions they have but instead remain focused and bring development in Kanyama through their different projects.

“ Government has faith in this program so go out and work hard by growing your businesses in order to better your lives and that of your communities,” she said.

Ms. Zulu also challenged the empowered groups to ensure that the grants they have received are seen in increased income activities, reduced poverty and growth of their project ventures.

She said that the empowerment Programme is ongoing adding that those that have been empowered this year will not be on the list next year in order to accommodate others.

Kanyama Constituency has 118 beneficiaries under the CDF empowerment Programme for the year 2022 with an allocation of K1,956,233

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Zambia, Prosper Ng’andu says Zambia is committed to the protection and advancement of the refugees and other persons of concern.

Dr Ng’andu states that the Modernisation of Refugee Settlements Approach (MORSA) that Zambia will use to modernise refugee settlements will strengthen refugee protection as it will ensure refugees are fully self-reliant.

Dr Ng’andu who was speaking when he delivered an intervention statement on protection during the ongoing 73rd Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioners (ExCom) in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday, added that refugees will participate in significant economic activities.

“In order to provide valuable international protection to persons of concern, Zambia has conceived an idea to modernise refugee settlements through the Modernisation of Refugee Settlements Approach which intends to transform refugee settlements into ultra-modern communities,” he said.

Dr Ng’andu disclosed that Zambia is developing a National Refugee Policy which will inform review of legislation in line with international best practices.

Dr Ng’andu noted that the purpose of the National Refugee Policy is to enhance protection services for persons of concern.

He also disclosed that government is working on a permanent solution for former Angolan and Rwandan refugees whose refugee status was withdrawn following the invocation of the cessation clause.

“As indicated in the country statement, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security will be tabling the matter before Cabinet,” said Dr Ng’andu.

Meanwhile, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs called on member states and other stakeholders to step up efforts to safeguard the right of people fleeing conflict and persecution to claim asylum.

Ms Triggs disclosed that the war in Ukraine has shown why the right to seek and enjoy international protection, a core principle of the 1951 Refugee Convention and of UNHCR’s mandate, remains necessary.

“The global response to the Ukrainian protection crisis shows that, with political will, countries and their citizens welcome millions in an emergency,” she said.

Ms Triggs added that countries such as Bangladesh, Turkey and Pakistan have provided protection to the displaced for years.

She further urged member states to focus on improving the management and efficiency of their asylum systems to address bottlenecks at Courts and in procedures to return people assessed as not in need of international protection to their countries of origin.

Meanwhile, Northwestern Province Permanent Secretary, Grandson Katambi says there is need to urgently address the rising cases of statelessness.

Colonel Katambi ( Rtd ) says it is important to identify persons at risk of being stateless as the problem has a negative impact on service provision if not properly handled.

Speaking when he opened a training workshop on statelessness and documentation in Solwezi on Friday, Col. Katambi said Northwestern province has so far identified about 171 self-settled and undocumented Angolans.

” We are alive to the fact that there are potential stateless people even within Zambia especially in Northwestern province where about 171 self-settled Angolans without documentation have so far been identified,” Col. Katambi said.

Government remains committed to efficiently identify asylum seekers and refugees as well as those at risk of being stateless to ensure that their human rights are upheld.

Hence , as part of the implementation of comprehensive refugee response framework, government has deployed 13 nurses and 30 teachers in Meheba.

On this, the Permanent Secretary explained that this will go a long way in enhancing refugee resilience and promoting a healthy and educated community.

Speaking earlier, UNHCR Associate Protection Officer, Towa Chaiwila said there is need to step up collective efforts in identification, documentation.

Mrs. Chaiwila said statelessness is a problem which affects millions of people around the globe and results in a loss of nationality and identity leaving the affected people in vulnerable circumstances.