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The Human Rights Commission says the project to computerize the judiciary in Zambia once completed will speed up the process of administering justice in the country.
Speaking in an interview, Commission Director Enock Mulembe says the computerization of the judicial system will also provide a proper way of record keeping thereby ensuring a fair dispensation of justice. He says detaining suspects for over 14 days without trial has always been the concern of the Human Rights Commission.
Mr Mulembe said that a quick and fair trial is not only a human right but also a democratic right which every Zambian citizen is entitled to.
The Supreme, High and Magistrate courts have been earmarked for the computerization project.
The project is being facilitated by a grant from the Investment Facility for Africa IFCA which pumping in US$ 500,000 representing 75 percent while the remaining 25% will be covered by government.
Minister of Home Affairs Lameck Mangani has made a revelation that the government has been quietly doing investigations on the Carrigton maize, Mr Micheal Sata’s $27 000 left in South Africa and some NGOs who were abusing public funds.
Mr Mangani has revealed that the Attorney General will advise Government on how to proceed with the Carlington Maize scandal in which Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi is implicated.
“Some of these investigations are being carried out quietly so that we are not accused of victimising some people,” he said.
On Mr Sata, Mr Mangani said the US$27,000 which was confiscated from Mr Sata by the South African authorities has been traced to some alleged irregular transactions which took place at the time.
[pullquote]Mr Mangani said the US$27,000 which was confiscated from Mr Sata by the South African authorities has been traced to some alleged irregular transactions which took place at the time.[/pullquote]
He said investigations have intensified in the matter.
Mr Sata told authorities in South Africa that he was paid the money for consultancy services.
And Mr Mangani said investigations into misuse of public funds by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have reached an advanced stage.
He said these investigations are not aimed at victimising the NGOs, but to ensure that public funds are well-accounted for.
“In fact, Government wants to work with these NGOs. There are NGOs such as the Zambia Red Cross who are consistent with their agenda and we don’t have a problem with them,” he said.
Tourism minister Catherine Namugala and United Nations Development Programme country co-ordinator Macleod Nyirongo during a press briefing on the Copenhagen climate change summit
TOURISM, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala has said it is immoral for some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other countries to reject Zambia’s proposal to downlist its elephant population for the purpose of trade.
Ms Namugala castigated the NGOs and other countries which campaigned against Zambia’s proposal, saying they had no moral right to oppose a proposal which came from a sovereign state.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the media briefing on the outcome of CITES, Ms Namugala said some NGOs which had never been to Zambia and knew less about the country opposed the proposal to downlist elephant population.
The so-called African Elephant Coalition which own a small percentage of the total 430,000 elephant population on the continent campaigned aggressively with Kenya against Zambia’s proposal.
‘‘This group, which is largely supported by NGOs, was collecting money from emotional old men and women. What moral right do these organisations have to decide for us that elephants should continue terrorising villagers in Chiawa and other parts of Zambia?’’ she asked.
Zambia’s proposal failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote, polling 57 votes in favour and 54 votes against.
The implications of the non-acceptance of Zambia’s proposal entails that the elephant population still remains on CITES appendix I listings, and international trade in raw hides, trade in live animals and ivory would not be permitted.
[pullquote]‘‘This group, which is largely supported by NGOs, was collecting money from emotional old men and women. What moral right do these organisations have to decide for us that elephants should continue terrorising villagers in Chiawa and other parts of Zambia?’’ she asked.[/pullquote]
This means that funds for conservation would remain a constraint and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) would continue the stockpile of ivory at high cost.
The communities would also continue suffering crop and other forms of damage without any real benefits accruing from elephants.
Ms Namugala, however, said the Zambian proposal received outright support from parties such as Japan, China, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, Uganda, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Canada as well as NGOs such as Wildlife Fund, the World Conservation Trust, Japan Federation of Ivory Arts and Crafts
Association, Safari Club International and Global Guardian Trust.
As a way forward, Ms Namugala said Zambia needed to engage the United States of America to allow import of trophy ivory from Zambian elephant population before the country could propose to increase hunting quota to 120 elephants as outlined in the proposal.
‘‘We lost our bid but we are not out. The Government will commence preparations for Zambia to make another proposal for the next Conference of Parties due in 2013,’’ Ms Namugala said.
It cost US$10,000 to hunt a single elephant. Currently, hunters are only allowed to hunt 20 elephants.
During the 15th CITES held in Qatar from March 13 to 25, 2010, Zambia lost the bid to downlist elephant population from Appendix I to Appendix II of the Convention which in pursuant to Article XV of the congress which gives Parties to the Convention the right to propose amendments to Appendix I and II for consideration by the Conference of Parties.
The major setback to the Zambian proposal was the opposition from Kenya which counter-lobbied for the ban on trade in ivory.
Zambia’s proposal involved trade in hunting trophies for non-commercial purposes as well as trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations.
Other proposals the country had made involved trade in raw hides and trade in the registered 21.6 tonnes of Government-owned stockpile of raw ivory which is safety stored at Chilanga.
Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) chairperson Mark O’Donnell, who was present during the briefing, said it was disturbing that some people rejected Zambia’s proposal when they did not offer alternatives to support the country’s development agenda.
Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati (R)
The establishment of the multi-facility economic zones is set to generate more that 50,000 employment opportunities in Zambia once the US$2 billion project is fully implemented, Commerce Minister Felix Mutati has said.
Mr Mutati said about 2,000 job opportunities had already been created under the Chambishi multi-facility economic zone on the Copperbelt while more Zambians would be engaged when the opening up of other zones across the country is completed.
Mr Mutati assured the Government was working in line with the articulations in the 2010 national Budget and would exceed the $2 billion investment attraction and create the 50,000 opportunities.
He said on Radio Phoenix’s Face The Media programme yesterday the Lusaka economic zones would attract a $300 million investment where more 2,000 jobs would be created.
Mr Mutati said an industrial park would also attract an investment of $500 million.
He described as myths and misconception allegations by some people that the Government was favouring foreign investors and discarding the local entrepreneurs.
The Government was offering equal incentives to local and foreign investors, adding that it was a myth for some people to suggest that foreign business persons were being favoured.
While the Government was attracting foreign direct investment, it had also continued to help local investors to build the capacity to be competitive and boost the economy.
Many local investors were currently producing goods not only for the local market but also for export after being supported by the Government.
Zambia was among the top five African countries that had managed to record a six per GDP, a feat he said was no mean achievement.
With the economic facility zones, Zambia had continued to attract foreign investors who had expressed interest to set up various investment of up to $500 million as well as create 2,000 jobs.
Mr Mutati said the entrepreneurs wishing to invest in the multi facility economic zones were given a minimum requirement of adding value to the economy so as they could benefit the ordinary Zambians.
Apart from the Japanese company that was setting up a plant on Great East Road, Indian experts had also visited Zambia with the view of settling down in one of the economic zones in Lusaka.
The key aspect of the multi facility economic zones was to drive forward the Zambian economy hence the need to have investors that would add value to the economy.
Responding to a caller who wanted to know how the zones would benefit ordinary people in far flung areas, Mr Mutati said the zones would create a revenue base for the country where investors would be taxed.
The proceeds would thereafter be reinvested in the communities around the country with various social problems through the rehabilitation of roads, hospitals, schools and market access.
He, however, said the Government had a challenge of elaborating what it was doing in assisting the people through its economic reforms.
Mr Mutati said his ministry would continue to promote investment – both local and foreign – as well as encourage people to participate in the economic development through entrepreneurships.
As with all great celebrations and parties, there is always an end. What goes up must always come down.We are glad to inform you that from midnight Zambia time we shall shutdown Lusakatimes, exit this market and cease to exist. It has been a wonderful ride for us and we are glad that we have achieved a lot of the objectives that we set out to accomplish and it is important that we exit while we are still at the top of the game.
We really don’t want to have the Zambia politician syndrome of not leaving the stage when you are at the top of your game. But again who can blame the Zambian politician really, after all politics in Zambia is one of the best pension schemes for those that didn’t bother about taking care of their future. Gratuity is paid out consistently. Loans for luxury cars are readily available. So very understandable why our colleagues can prolong their stay on the stage. Even when they are fired, all they do is change parties , attack their former parties and hope to ride on the wave of another dependable pension scheme with their new found home…. Anyway we are getting distracted. This update is about LT closing down and lets focus on some of the objectives we achieved.
First, our objective was to populate the web with Zambian content. Today you can search the internet for some obscure place in Zambia and some obscure politician and chances are that you will get a substantial number of references linked to lusakatimes. We have also pumped links for most Zambia posts in to social media like Tweeter, though we wished we had done more with facebook. The same can be said for images as well, we have pumped more images about Zambia and if you search for a picture on Zambia again you are bound to get a reference connected to lusakatimes.
Secondly, we feel we have managed to influence the delivery free news on the internet. Today Zambians can roam the web and read news for free everywhere they go. Even some budding entrepreneurs who thought they could set up web sites and charge Zambians for breaking news, and become millionaires in six months, got a rude awakening when they found the elephant in the internet room called lusakatimes giving free news. Thankfully they also resorted to free news. We are glad we did this for the internet citizens of Zambia.
Thirdly, we raised the standard of delivering content to a whole new level. Sites never bothered to take live feedback from their readers and the designs where of low standard and since LT entered the frail there has been a wake up call to the major online papers to raise the bar. The Post Newspaper now allows comments and you can now debate on their stories and we are glad to report that ZNBC,ZANIS, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia, have hired the best geeks money can buy in Zambia to design their websites in such a way that they have the exact features as lusaktimes, if not more. Pause,by the way, thanks for taking time off your busy schedule to read this far without rushing to comment. We have noticed a tendency of a lot of our readers who just read the headline, first paragraph and last paragraph, and then rash to comment without reading the entire story. Since you have come this far, we guess you wont be fooled. This whole post has just been an April fools prank, happy April fools day- whatever that means. Thank you for your support to lusakatimes and for making it what it is today. We owe it to you and we are still around! Have a great and fabulous day. Oh, by the way, you can read the last paragraph if you want to, just for entertaiment.
Certainly, you can see why we feel that we don’t need to exist because all that we do will be duplicated by the sources we cut and paste from. It’s time to move on to what we are good at. But before we do that lets talk about some of the things we have failed during the course of our existence. We certainly failed to shake off the tag of shushushu in some people’s minds. Are you shushushus? This unconstitutional question kept popping up in our inbox. It is really an unconstitutional question because there is really no right answer to it. If we say yes we are, you wont believe us because a shushushu is not supposed to admit s/he is one. If we say we are not, again you wont believe us because a shushushu will never admit s/he is one. What came first, Chicken or Egg?
Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu addressing a press briefing
THE Catholic Church in Zambia does not support the Patriotic Front (PF) or any political party and will not allow any politician to ascend to public office using the name of the church, Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu has said.
He said the Catholic faithful would instead be encouraged to vote for candidates who would contribute positively and effectively to national development regardless of their political affiliation.
In a letter addressed to MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba, dated March 15, 2010, Archbishop Mpundu said the Catholic Church leaders were not “king makers” and had never told their followers which political party, presidential or parliamentary candidate to vote for.
“Nobody, therefore, has ever ridden, can or will ever ride to Manda Hill (National Assembly) or to Plot number 1 (State House) on the back of the Catholic Church either by playing a ‘Catholic Card’ or maligning the Catholic Church.
“All we tell the Catholic faithful is to vote for candidates they are reasonably sure will contribute positively and effectively to national development regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.
What the Zambian people wanted was a president who would be the choice of the majority of voters in a free, fair and transparent election.
He said there was a diversity of political opinions and affiliation in the Catholic Church, which the leaders encouraged, cherished and of which they were proud.
“Among your party members are found many Catholics like yourself, some of whom are senior members of the Cabinet.
“Naturally there are also some Catholics who belong to other political parties, this is healthy and that is what it should be.”
Archbishop Mpundu said what should unite Zambians was not religion, tribe or race but their common values, heritage, destiny and human solidarity.
The letter was in response to Dr Kalumba’s concern over statements by a PF Copperbelt Province youth secretary that the PF would provide security to a Ndola Catholic Diocese priest, Augustine Mwewa and the church in general following perceived threats from some MMD members.
According to the letter, the Catholic Church did not need any special security and had never accepted any offer of such security from anybody as the PF cadre was alleged to have discussed on a radio station.
The prelate also said he had never belonged to any political party and would never join partisan politics.
Archbishop Mpundu said the Catholic bishops, priests or religious brothers and sisters drove themselves everywhere they went, including remote places, without body guards.
“Whenever we avail ourselves of the services of private security firms on Church premises it is to guard Church property, not to protect the bishops or clergy from political violence.
“We still have a good deal of confidence in the ability of the Zambia Police Service, notwithstanding their many challenges, to protect the public which we are part of,” he said.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has described as wishful thinking PF president Michael Sata’s claim that his party has gained popularity in the province.
Mr Munkombwe said PF, even after getting into a pact with the United Party for National Development (UPND), had not made any inroads into Southern Province as claimed by Mr Sata.
Mr Munkombwe said in an interview yesterday that the PF-UPND pact had actually cost it popularity in the province.
He said Mr Sata was a man who thought he could control everyone, hence his statement that his party had gained the support of the Southerners.
President RUPIAH BANDA has pledged to intensify government’s efforts towards attracting more investment from CANADA.
President BANDA says increased investment flows will accelerate economic growth and national development.
Mr. BANDA was speaking when he received credentials from CANADIAN High Commissioner to ZAMBIA, ROBERT ORR, at State House in LUSAKA this morning.
The President said increasing investment is the best way to promote growth, create jobs and boost the health and education sectors.
President BANDA also said there is need for the two countries to re-focus their relationship towards using the CANADIAN Development Assistance to withstand unexpected global economic shocks.
Mr. BANDA further NOTED that interventions by the CANADIAN government in the health sector have resulted in reduced incidences of diseases and improvement in the procurement of medical supplies.
And President BANDA says the country will NOT achieve its set targets in various economic and social sectors if regional peace and stability is NOT guaranteed.
He said this is why his government’s foreign policy focuses on promoting peace, security and stability on the continent and beyond.
And High Commissioner ORR observed that the ZAMBIAN government is making strong and pragmatic efforts in promoting good governance.
He said his country looks up to ZAMBIA to provide leadership within the SADC region in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement in ZIMBABWE.
Labour Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba has called on investors in the country to consider giving Zambians managerial positions in their organizations.
Mr. Kachimba says it is sad that most foreign investors come with their own expertise while there are Zambians who are qualified to take up some of the top positions in their companies.
Mr. Kachimba said this in Lusaka when he visited Spar Arcades and First Alliance Bank Cairo Road branch to assess conditions of service of local employees among others issues.
And speaking earlier First Alliance bank Executive Director Suresh Gupta said his organization has not engaged any expatriates in the last 10 years.
Meanwhile Spar Zambia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Yeatman disclosed that his company has promoted many Zambians in various supervisory positions.
Home affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has revealed that government has managed to find the prisoner warder who registered Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata during the time he was imprisoned in the colonial days.
Mr Mangani said the prisoner warder will help government to establish the truth whether or not the PF leader was not imprisoned for a criminal offence.
He dismissed assertions that the Rupiah Banda administration is keen on fixing the Patriotic Front leader in order to weaken his chances in the 2011 presidential elections.
He stated that the Zambian people have the right to know who really the PF leader is, and whether he can be trusted to run the affairs of the nation.
Mr. Mangani told journalists in Lusaka this afternoon that Mr. Sata should not panic if it is not true that he has a criminal record.
He says the prisons department is keen to dig deeper to find the truth on Mr. Sata’s past. He added that the whole investigation process will take longer as the alleged criminal activity took place in the 1960s.
And lusakatimes has received information that Mr Sata was in fact arrested for activities related to the independence struggle. Mr Sata was arrested by detective constable Blackwell Barrow Chifita of Force No. 1230 which was based at Roan Antelope police station in Luanshya whose officer-in-charge was Mr. H.W. Witsher and the CIO Mr. Chaongopa. Mr. Chifita was sent for training at the Metropolitan Detective Police Training School in London. He retired as Detective Inspector on health grounds
According to the source familiar with the situation, Mr Chifita arrested Mr. Michael Sata in a mine section 5 beer hall in 1958 for the offence of ”proposing violence to an assembly.” Mr Sata was then tried by the magistrate Mr. Hannah and the case was prosecuted by a Mr. Cook, while the interpreter was Mr. Annel Silungwe, the former Chief Justice. Mr. sata was jailed for two years.
According the source, during the time of his service in the police force, Mr. Sata was identified to have been one of those who were passing vital information to the freedom fighters, while on the other hand, there were among the freedom fighters within the nationalists’ political parties people who were police informers.
[pullquote]According to the source familiar with the situation, Mr Chifita arrested Mr. Michael Sata in a mine section 5 beer hall in 1958 for the offence of ”proposing violence to an assembly.” [/pullquote]
The source further said that Mr. Sata was fighting for the freedom and independence of this country and his arrest, prosecution and imprisonment were considered political just like any other freedom fighters, for example, the father of the Zambian politics, the veteran politician, Mr. Harry Nkumbula or the first Republican President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
And after the attainment of independence, all cases which were considered to be ”politically motivated” were removed and finger-prints deleted from the records. And this included the most notorious criminal at that time, the late Mr. Martin Nondo whose role in the struggle for independence was to steal police vehicles. After independence, Mr. Nondo was given the post of District Secretary in Northern Province.
In the same way, all the records of freedom fighters who were police informers were also destroyed during the days leading to independence.
Retired Detective Constable Blackwell Barrow Chifita who arrested Mr Sata
Aggrey Chiyangi’s Under-17 team road to Rwanda begins in a fortnight time with a preliminary round clash against Uganda.
Chiyangi’s 28-member provisional squad gores into camp in Lusaka on April 1 to begin preparations for the Caf Under-17 Cup qualifiers for the final tournament to be hosted by Rwanda next year.
Zambia Under-17 will face Uganda Under-17 during the weekend of April 9-11 with the return leg to follow a fortnight later.
The team will be camped at the Faz technical centre next to Independence stadium all through the Easter weekend.
Meanwhile, winner over both legs will face two-time Fifa World Under-17 Cup winners Ghana in the first round at the end of September.
The winner from that first round two-leg tie will advance to the final qualifying stage set for November to face either Liberia, Guinea or Senegal.
Team:
Goalkeepers:John Banda (Libala Basic), Dave Banda (Amakumbi Stars), Kelvin Malunga (Kitwe United)
Warri Wolves coach Lawrence Akpokona remains wary of Zesco United despite enjoying a comfortable lead over their hosts coming into this Saturdays Caf Confederations Cup 1st round, return leg matc.
Wolves enjoy a 3-0 lead over Zesco from the first leg played on March 21 in Nigeria.
The Nigerian club arrived in the country at midday after landing at Lusaka International Airport before connecting to Ndola by air.
“On a bad day, any team can be beaten,” Akpokona said upon arrival in Lusaka. “Forget about the result in Warri.”
Akpokona added that he still had a lot of respect for Zesco United despite Wolves enjoying a comfortable lead.
The Zesco- Wolves match will be played at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.
Zesco need to win by four unanswered goals to advance while a 3-0 score line would force the match into a post-match penalty decider.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has urged Change Life Zambia executive director Frank Bwalya to respect First Lady Thandiwe and avoid dragging her into purely government business.
And Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha has revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs has started a screening exercise of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure that those that have departed from their agenda are de-registered.
Gen Shikapwasha, who was speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, said the First Lady is not part of government and, therefore, should not be dragged into matters which concern the running of government.
He was reacting to reports in The Post Newspaper that Fr. Bwalya has written to the First Lady to ask President Banda to cut down on trips abroad and reserve the savings as money for transport for released prisoners.
“The First Lady is the mother of the nation and, therefore, she should be allowed to carry out her role and not be thrown into issues which are purely Government,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said it is impossible for government to stop President Banda from attending important meetings abroad and undertaking trips which bring investment to the country.
“We have a set programme for the President and his trips have benefited this country in terms of investment. We have also seen Zambians prospering because of these programmes,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said government has a programme it follows and that they are well budgeted for and approved by Parliament. He said care is taken to ensure that the money is spent appropriately.
“So, whatever is being spent on trips is budgeted for and is being spent to prosper Zambians economically. So, Father Bwalya cannot determine what Government should do or how it should operate,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha wondered why Father Bwalya rushed to write to the First Lady on a matter which directly involves President Banda.
“He should have written to the President himself. We have so many Zambians who write to the President and he replies to them. And as Government, we take into consideration some of their suggestions,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha said the MMD government is working hard to ensure that it brings prosperity to the people of Zambia.
“There are so many indicators that there is economic growth, there is construction taking place everywhere, among other activities, this is as a result of the hard work the MMD is putting in,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha said the economy will continue to grow while employment opportunities will increase. He said those civil society organisations and some political parties which always criticise Government do it out of jealousy of the MMD’s achievements.
And Gen Shikapwasha said Government has observed that most NGOs have departed from their original agenda. He said the Ministry of Home Affairs is checking on such NGOs, and that those found to be pursuing political agendas will be de-registered.
“We have seen that a number of these NGOs have gone political, so we will de-register them to allow them to form political parties,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani yesterday led hundreds of mourners, who included service chiefs, in putting to rest Zambia Prisons Service commissioner Gibbie Nawa at Mukobeko Prison grounds.
And President Rupiah Banda has directed that Dominic Nkonde, a prisoner at Mukobeko medium prison who was instrumental in preparing the burial site for Mr Nawa, be put on parole for six months after which he should be employed by the Zambia Prisons Service under the buildings department for his diligence.
In his address to mourners, who included senior Government officials, Mr Mangani, who represented President Banda, said Zambia had lost a vibrant and hard working officer who had demonstrated humility and kindness.
Mr Nawa was instrumental in ensuring that the welfare of his staff was uplifted and the zeal was reflected in the housing initiative he had formulated.
“His death is a loss to all and, importantly, the family. Let me state here that out of every bad situation, God has a hand and, as such, family members should support the widow and children,” Mr Mangani said.
He advised Prisons Service staff to remain steadfast in discharging their duties even in the absence of the commissioner.
The minister hailed the South African government for assisting Mr Nawa and his family while he was in hospital in that country. He also commended the family for allowing the Government to choose the burial site for the late commissioner.
And on behalf of President Banda, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Mr Mangani directed that Nkonde, who was serving a five-year jail term for the offence of motor vehicle theft, be put on parole for six months and that he be employed later.
Mr Mangani also promoted assistant superintendent John Phiri, who supervised the preparation of the burial site, to the rank of superintendent. The pallbearers and officers who participated in the drills were also awarded a rank each for the job well-done during the burial of Mr Nawa.
In a citation, Home Affairs deputy Permanent Secretary Willies Manjimela described Mr Nawa as a humble, approachable and friendly person.
Mr Manjimela said the late commissioner had contributed to the Prisons Service and that Zambia had lost a gallant serviceman who was loyal and hard working.
Earlier, Africa Correctional Services Association (ACSA) representative, Mary Magoro said the association was saddened by the loss of a visionary leader. She said Mr Nawa provided good leadership under ACSA and the region would miss his wisdom.
Family spokesperson, Bartholomew Tilasi thanked the Zambian and South African governments and all well-wishers for the assistance rendered during the illness and eventual death of Mr Nawa.
Mr Nawa is survived by a wife Beatrice, nine children and three grandchildren.
THE Public Health Partnership Forum (PHPF) has called on Government to ban the sale of skin-bleaching creams in the country, arguing that indiscriminate use is harmful to the body.
PHPF publicity secretary Enock Kaputula said in a statement Monday that the indiscriminate use of the creams can cause many health problems such as skin cancer, pigmentation disorders, speech and hearing impairment and kidney problems.
Mr Kaputula said Zambia has become a dumping ground for such products.
“The number of women in Zambia using skin dermatological creams containing high-dose steroids, hydroquinone and mercury to bleach their skins has reached alarming levels,” he said.
Mr Kaputula said it is regrettable that the creams are sold in many places including supermarkets, beauty and hair salons and drug stores.
He said some hair salons have even resorted to applying creams containing steroids on the scalps of their clients to stop skin inflammation and to enable hair to grow fast.
Mr Kaputula said skin bleaching is caused by genetic and socio-economic factors and that its root cause is the need by users to overcome perceived suffering from social norms.
Mr Kaputula said because of that, the practice can be considered a disease in the general definition of health.
He said skin-bleaching, being a psycho-socio and health problem, needs to be addressed with interventions aimed at changing the users’ perceptions of themselves and educating people on its consequences.-
Some women of Munagaba area in Choma sharing goats which were given to them by the government for poverty eradication
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has observed that poverty levels in Zambia are still on the increase.
CSPR information and programmes officer Patrick Nshidano observed that an average of 85 percent of people in rural and 34 percent in urban areas is still living under the poverty datum line.
He told QFM in interview that findings of the ongoing current review of the budget from the 2006 to 2010 whose aim is to build capacity among the non-governmental organizations and the public on the budget awareness indicate that the current fiscal policy currently being used in implementing the budget is not effective.
He stated that the poverty levels in the country have continued to rise under the current budgetary implementation framework.
Mr Nshindano further explains that there is need to review and further implement strong and workable fiscal policies that will ensure prudent management of the funds in the National budget.
The CSPR has also recommended Government to increase expenditure towards capital development to at least a third of every annual budget stressing that massive capital expenditure will eventually lead into infrastructure building and improvement which is a vital component of any nation’s development.
