Local Government Service Commission Chairperson Ackson Sejani says the Human Resource Management Committees (HRMCs) being constituted countrywide will be closely monitored and evaluated to ensure compliance to set standards.

Mr. Sejani warns that once formed the Commission will not hesitate to deal with those who will fail to carry out their mandate.

Mr. Sejani was speaking when he officially opened the five-day programme for the formation of HRMCs in Luapula Province being held at Sali Riverside Lodge in Mansa today.

“ The Commission expects those who will be appointed and sworn in to be responsible personnel who will carry out their delegated functions with dedication and commitment to the public.

“In this regard, be forewarned colleagues, that the Commission will not hesitate to withdraw delegated functions from those HRMCs that will fail to fulfil the obligations with professionalism,” he cautioned.

The Commission has continued to capacity build local authorities especially Principal Officers and Human Resource practitioners to ensure quality and timely processing of Human Resource cases.

Meanwhile, Mansa Mayor Njikho Musuku said the dismantling of all outstanding human resource matters which include confirmations, promotions and filling up of vacant positions needed to be quickly addressed.

“We are aware that the Local Government Service Commission has in the recent past advertised some vacant positions in councils countrywide, and our plea to the commission is to also attend to the outstanding matters in order to motivate the current workforce,” he said.

Mr. Musuku stated that employees needed to be motivated by attending to their needs timely if the local government is to achieve its objectives adding that in order to improve revenue collection for the local authority, different strategies have been put in place.

He added that in the case of Mansa Town Council, the local authority has entered into Private Public Partnerships (PPP) to create avenues for revenue.

Earlier, during the courtesy call by the LGSC on the Provincial Administration, Luapula Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Royd Mwansa stated that Town Councils are the backbone of the new dawn administration as they have been mandated to carry out the decentralization policy.

Mr Mwansa said the Provincial Administration expects the recruitment of quality human resource personnel in the Province.

“Your coming sir with your team, we are hoping that we will have a good team in the province so that after your exit we should start seeing developmental works progressing,” he said.

Mr. Mwansa wondered why even after increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), some councils are delaying to actualise the projects they have the fund.

“Government is doing its best to improve people’s livelihood but some councils are lagging behind in implementing the CDF projects. Where are we missing it? So your coming is a very big achievement for us because we believe things will now start moving,” he stated.

The Programme for the formation of Human Resource Management Committees in Luapula Province runs from 12 to 17 September, 2022.

Taxi and mini bus drivers in Zimba Town, Southern province have welcomed the revision of age to 20 for obtaining a PSV licence.

Government has revised that persons aged 20 can now get a Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) driving license.

Victor Mweemba, taxi driver in Zimba says the revision in age would attract more young people to be employed as drivers in both government, public and private institutions.

ZANIS reports that Mr Mweemba said in an interview that the age limit imposed in the recent past discriminated youths from contributing to the country’s socio economic development.

“The revision from 25 to 20 in which a person can get a PSV driving license is welcome. We young people constitute the majority of our country’s population,” Mweemba remarked.

He added that youths form the majority of Zambia’s population hence their challenges should quickly be addressed.

And George Hyade, bus driver said limiting to 25 for one to obtain a PSV driving license allegedly pushed many youths out of employment.

Mr Hyade said in a separate interview today that the revision to 20 years would enable the youths to gain experience and dangers associated with driving on the road.

“More young people will get experience when given a PSV driving license at 20 years. RTSA should be commended for this move because this is ample time to be mature when on the road,” he said.

Previously, the law only guaranteed the Licence to youths at the age of 25 and above.

Recently, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics working closely with the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) revised the Road Traffic Amendment Act No.8 of 2022 obtaining a PSV licence was brought down to 20 from 25 years.

This development has elated the Bus and Taxi Driver’s Association Of Zambia, motorists as well as other stakeholders in the transport sector in the country.

This amendment addressed concerns from taxi drivers of 25 years had a negative effect of pushing most youths out of employment.

Katete District Commissioner, Malan Zimba says government remains determined to transform the agriculture sector so that it becomes a vehicle for economic development and improved livelihoods.

Mr Zimba says the resolve to make the agriculture sector the driving engine of the country’s economy will be done through enhanced partnerships between government, farmers and the private sector.

He has cited mechanization, digital agriculture and the provision of quality seed as areas where Government will build partnerships with farmers and the private sector to enhance productivity.

“Government in its policy on agriculture has placed emphasis on enhancing production and productivity by improving infrastructure, supporting value addition in order to specifically increase farmers’ income and build their resilience against the adverse impact of climate change,” he said.

ZANIS reports that the District Commissioner was speaking in a speech read for him by Katete District Administrative Officer, Anslow Muchelemba during a World Vision-sponsored agric-marketing and technology fair in Katete.

Mr Zimba further appreciated the efforts by World Vision Zambia for providing a platform that promotes business linkages and partnerships among the private sector.

He was also happy that the agric-marketing fair created a platform for easy access to quality seed, equipment and information for the farming fraternity.

Meanwhile, Induna Gabriel Sakala has appealed to seed companies that are working in various communities of the district not to sell expired seed.

The Induna, who represented the chiefs in the district, said the traditional leadership had received complaints about some seed suppliers distributing expired seed to farmers on loan.

“You, selling seed, please don’t sell us fake seed. Some people are going around our communities giving us loans for seed, however, the seed does not germinate. Sell us good quality seed that will germinate,” he said.

Induna Sakala further appealed to government to deliver the farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) on time.

“Chiefs are appealing that what happened in the 2021-2022 farming season was a difficult and challenging thing where the inputs delayed plus the delay in rainfall. So we are asking that the government may look into it this year by supplying the inputs on time,” he said.

He, however, commended the government for creating an enabling environment that supports and encourages private sector participation in the country’s development.

Meanwhile, World Vision Zambia Transforming Households in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) Business and Marketing Development Specialist, Francis Kamo said increased agriculture production and productivity is paramount to the institution as it alleviates poverty and provides better nutrition to children.

Mr Kamo said, to achieve this and whole year-round productivity, there was a need for farmers to mechanise their farming which will lead to better yields and productivity.

“Our focus as WVI is to improve child wellbeing. Our core business is to increase household income at the community level so that thereafter our caregivers can look after the children,” he said.

The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has on behalf of the Litungu, various chiefs and the people of Barotseland expressed its deep condolences over the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

BRE Prime Minister, Manyando Mukela, conveyed the message of condolences through the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Kalapa while on a six days special tour of the Litunga of Kalabo and Sikongo districts.

Ngambela Mukela said the BRE has cordial relationship with the great monarch of the British Empire, adding that this will continue.

Ngambela Mukela said the late Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered for having an encounter with the BRE when she accompanied King George VI the sixth in 1947 in Livingstone.

King George VI came to confer the medal of gallant to the Litunga I, the father of the present Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II.

The Ngambela added that Litunga Lewanika attended Queen Elizabeth II coronation ceremony in 1953 as Queen of the Commonwealth.

He says the late Queen will further be remembered for proclaiming Barotesland her British Protectorate in 1953 and in 1959 for conferring a Knighthood on Litunga Mwanawina Lewanika among others.

The Zambia National Educational Coalition (ZANEC) notes with concern how youth and adult literacy education has continued to be the least funded in the education and skills sectors despite the role that literacy plays in a person’s wellbeing.

This is evident from an analysis of the 2022 National Budget to the Education and skills sector by the Zambia National Education Coalition.

Zambia National Education Coalition Executive Director George Hamusunga stated that, in order to ensure that no one is left behind, there’s need to enrich and transform the existing learning spaces through an integrated approach that will enable literacy learning in the perspective of lifelong learning.

Mr Hamusunga added the transformation of literacy learning spaces not only entails the management of physical facilities more sustainably but also comprises changes in the governance structure of education systems and institutions by allowing the outcomes of literacy from informal and non-formal settings to be recognized, validated, and accredited through flexible data-driven monitoring and evaluation processes.

“The characteristics of youth and adult learners, their evolving needs for literacy learning such as flexibility, proximity, ease of access, and link with the labour market are guiding factors for the transformation of literacy learning spaces,” Mr Hamusunga stated

“According to the Cambridge English dictionary, transformation means a complete change in the appearance or character of something, especially for purposes of improvement. A transformation is therefore an extreme radical change, as we can extract from this definition, it is indeed important to transform spaces that we have been using to deliver literacy,” Mr Hamusunga added

He noted that this is because the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a wakeup call not to do things as usual in the Education and Skills Sector, learning should no longer be confined to a classroom or meeting physically, instead, there’s need to embrace blended learning spaces that combine face to face and remote learning modes in order to mitigate against the learning loss that has resulted from the closure of schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need learning spaces that can help us provide continuity of learning even during calamities such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said

Mr Hamusunga said that, it has been observed that although digital learning is key in providing continuity of learning in homes, not everyone has access to digital platforms, hence the need for investment in digital infrastructure especially in rural areas.

“There is need to narrow down or completely reduce the divide between the vulnerable and the privileged people to ensure equitable access to e-learning digital platforms,” he said

He explained that the main challenge that the education system is currently facing is the low literacy levels even among children at primary school level, with only 5% of grade 7 pupils achieving minimum proficiency in literacy according to the 2018 report by the organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the education system is experiencing a foundational literacy crisis, and something needs to be done now to reverse this status quo.

“As ZANEC, we are saddened that according to UNESCO, nearly 24 million learners might never return to formal education post COVID-19, out of which, 11 million are projected to be girls and young women,” he cited

Mr Hamusunga further explained that, according to the Zambia Demographic Health Survey of 2018, people living in urban areas are more likely to be literate than those living in rural areas, although the gap in literacy rates between urban and rural populations is higher among women than among men, and 81% of urban women and 91% of urban men are literate, as compared with 54% of rural women and 74% of rural men.

“It is also evident that most people in our communities are unable to access Constituency Development Funds (CDF) because they are unable to read and write,” he noted

Mr Hamusunga has since appealed to the government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to allocate more funds to recruit more adult literacy instructors targeting all the provinces in the country and not only one province as it was in the 2022 National Budget.

Mr Hamusunga highlighted this in commemoration of the International Literacy Day which falls on 8th September, with this year’s theme “Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces”.

Three women in Kitwe have been arrested by the Police for enticing a mental patient to drink alcohol before engaging in a sexual act.

And capturing and circulating a video of one of them having sex with a mentally defied man.

The three women are detained in lawful custody and charged with two counts of making and circulation of obscene matter and having carnal knowledge of an imbecile or person with a mental illness.

Copperbelt Province Commanding Officer Sharon Zulu stated that the three (3) suspects have been identified as Thandiwe Phiri 43 years, Kangwa Chembeya and Mary Mugala, all of Mindolo area.

The matter is alleged to have occurred yesterday September 4th, 2022 at 14:00 hours in Mindolo market in which a concerned member of the public reported to the Police.

Ms Zulu cited that according to the law, Making and Circulation of Obscene matter/Material is against Section 59 (1)(a)(b) of Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Act No. 2 of 2021, and having Carnal knowledge of an imbeciles or Person with Mental illness is against Section 139 Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

“The three women have since been detained,” Ms Zulu stated

Brief facts of the matter are that, on 4th September, 2022 around 14:00 hours, the three women were drinking beer at the house they share in Mindolo, and as they were drinking, the three called the victim, a mental patient who stays within their area and gave him beers to drink and when he got drunk, they enticed him to have carnal knowledge with Ms Phiri while Ms Chimbeya took a video of the act.

Ms Zulu added that, after the act, Ms Chembeya kept the video in her phone, which she later circulated on social media yesterday.

“Members of the public saw the said video on social media and reported to the police,” she noted

She explained that upon receipt of the report, the Police followed up the matter and managed to apprehend the three women behind the video.

Ms Zulu has since appealed to the Community who may know the relatives to the victim to come forward.

Ms Zulu further explained that arrangements to have the victim examined and ascertain his mental disorder condition are being made.