Zambia and Kenya will, with support from the Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF) enter into a staff exchange programme under which staff from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) will interact to enhance quality wildlife management in their countries.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala who is in Kenya to gather first hand information on how Kenya manages its wildlife resources and how tourism development has been boosted to become the major economic engine for the east African nation, says, Zambia has a lot to learn from that country.

Tourism in Kenya contributes 15 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP, earning the country an average of US$1 billion per annum.

Ms. Namugala toured offices of KWS and was later taken on a walking Safari of the institution’s animal sanctuary with species ranging from lions to monkeys among others.

She said her visit would strengthen collaboration in wildlife management and tourism between Zambia and Kenya. She also said Zambia stood to benefit more from Kenya’s model of wildlife management and tourism development.

Ms. Namugala was also impressed with the air wing department of KWS which gives air support services to wildlife management.

The Minister who was accompanied by her Permanent Secretary Teddy Kasonso and Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya Christine Lambert also had an aerial view of one of Africa’s leading city Parks – the Nairobi National Park.

The Park, dubbed Kenya’s Wildlife Shop Window, has contributed greatly to promotion of domestic tourism. It was learnt that, of the two million annual tourist arrivals, 57 percent are local people.

While in Kenya the Minister will tour selected National Parks and pick up lessons on wildlife policy and legislation. The Zambian delegation will also learn how tourism concessions in Kenya have been standardized in addition to best corporate management systems in wildlife and tourism circles.

The Minister’s entourage will also be taken to community conservancies outside Nairobi to see how ordinary people were working with government in conservation of animal resources.

KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich said he was confident that, Kenya would by 2013 become the World leader in wildlife Conservation resulting in a robust tourism sector.

Africa Wildlife Foundation President Dr. Hellen Gichohi assured Ms. Namugla of her organization’s assistance in wildlife management.

Ms Namugala is later expected to visit Arusha, Tanzania, on a similar mission.

ZANIS

The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has condemned government’s decision to donate 9,000 tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe.

ZACA Executive Director Muyunda Ililonga says his organization is saddened with the move taken by government to assist Zimbabwe when some people in some parts of Zambia still do not have food.

Mr. Ililonga explained to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that many parts of the country are still in need of relief food therefore there is need to address their needs before making any donation to another country.

He also added that many millers in the country are still selling their mealie meal at high prices owing to high prices of maize.

Mr. Ililonga said this scenario confirms that the country still has shortages of stock to satisfy the local market demand.

He disclosed that the country at the moment requires a lot of maize as this year’s stocks still have high moisture content hence the need for government to safeguard the old stocks.

He noted that there is need for government to ensure that its citizens have enough food before thinking about assisting its neighbours to fulfill their promises.

The ZACA chief further added that there was no need for the Zambian government to pledge such a big donation when it does not know how much crop it is likely harvest from 2008-2009 farming season.

Mr. Ililonga was reacting to government’s pledge of 9,000 tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe as a contribution towards that country’s economic recovery.

ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS

The Drug Enforcement Commission, DEC, says Cannabis remains the most abused drug among youths in the country.

DEC Public Relations Officer, John Nyawali, disclosed that the drug is mostly abused by male youths.

Mr Nyawali told ZANIS in Lusaka that the Commission has also established that the combination of alcohol and cannabis was also rampant among youths in selected parts of the country.

He, however, disclosed that the Commission has in the first quarter of this year managed to counsel and rehabilitate about 64 drug addicts.

Mr Nyawali said DEC, through the Drug Demand Reduction Programme, managed to reach out to over 23, 000 people in different parts of the country to sensitise them on the dangers of drug and substance abuse.

He said the commission was impressed with the positive response it was receiving from the public in an effort to address the problem of substance abuse, which he said, posed a serious threat to human health.

Mr. Nyawali said DEC would remain focused at carrying out sensitization programmes aimed at discouraging drug abuse particularly among the youth.

ZANIS/MP/ENDS/SJK

Pope Beatitude Theodoros II of the Orthodox Church has commended President Rupiah Banda and his administration for putting in place prudent economic measures aimed at addressing the problems the country was faced with.

Pope Beatitude Theodoros II expressed satisfaction with the leadership of President Banda and pledged that the Orthodox community will closely work with the Zambian government in ensuring that economic development was attained in the country.

He was speaking today when he arrived in the country to hold various festivities with the orthodox community residing in Zambia.

Pope Beatitude Theodoros II, who is also Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt and All Africa, arrived in the country at about 14:15 hours Zambian time.

He was received at Lusaka’s International Airport by officials from Foreign Affairs, Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia and Priests from the Orthodox Church.

Pope Beatitude Theodoros II is also expected to hold high level discussions with priests from the Orthodox Church and inaugurate projects that are implemented by the Orthodox community in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces respectively.

Pope Beatitude Theodoros II last visited Zambia in 1994.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

A senior government official in Kafue has expressed happiness at the on going construction of government infrastructure in various parts of the district.

Kafue District Commissioner, Winford Ngoma, said government will remain committed to taking development closer to the people through construction of infrastructures such as schools and health posts in various communities.

Mr. Ngoma told ZANIS in Kafue today that he was impressive that government was putting up a number of structures in rural areas of the district.

He said this showed that government was determined to develop all parts of the district.

Mr. Ngoma cited the on going construction of the Makeni GRZ clinic, Kabweza, Munyeu and Nakachenje health post as projects which were progressing well, adding that they were all nearing completion.

He said government should be commended for such projects because they would be used to provide quality health services to communities.

He stated that the various on going works which include road construction were costing billions of Kwacha, which the government has committed to Kafue district.

Mr. Ngoma has since called on construction firms engaged to work on these projects to carrying out quality works so that tax payers can appreciate how their money was spent.

ZANIS/BS/KSH/ENDS

The cost of basic food items for a family of six has increased to K788, 200 this month from K766, 500 recorded in March translating into an increment of K 21, 700.00.

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR) attributes the rise in the cost of the Basic Needs Basket to the rise in the cost of mealie meal, Kapenta and other food stuffs.

Meanwhile, the cost of essential non- food items such as housing, water, and energy, among others recorded a nominal reduction of about K16, 400 from a total of about K1, 448 in March.

JCTR attributed the reduction of essential non-food items to reduction in the production and transportation costs.

ZANIS/MP/AM/ENDS

Government says the manufacturing industry is an important engine of economic growth as it contributes positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minster Richard Taima says this is why statistics on manufacturing activities in the country are a key component of monitoring the progress towards achieving goals and objectives in the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP).

Speaking in Lusaka today when he officiated at the opening of the International workshop on the manufacturing statistics, Mr. Taima said statistics play a vital role towards assisting government in policy formulation and decision making.

Mr. Taima noted that government also relies on timely and accurate statistics to monitor and evaluate all developmental projects being undertaken at international, regional and local levels.

He pointed out that a growing economy like Zambia needs statistics that can enable her plan for the development economic that can consequently bring about sustainable economic growth and improve the living standards of the citizens.

Meanwhile, Mr. Taima has also disclosed that government is aware of constraints and shortcomings in the production and dissemination of official statistical data in the country.

He cited inadequate funding for statistical operations, inadequate physical infrastructure and out dated legal provisions as some of the challenges that need to be urgently addressed.

Speaking earlier, Central Statistical Office (CSO) Director Elfreda Chulu said in the face of the global economic crisis, there is need for governments to step up efforts in improving the way of compiling statistics in Africa.

Ms. Chulu called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders within the region to work together improve statistical compilation.

United Nations Statistical Division representative Ralf Becker said there is need for countries to have a broad based understanding about statistics if the current data compiling is to be improved.

Mr. Becker explained that through proper understanding of official national information people will be able to make meaningful contribution to the economic growth of their country.

He also challenged governments in the regional to identify key areas that can result in having comprehensive and improving statistics in their countries.

He further thanked the Zambian government through (CSO) for hosting the workshop adding that it will go a long way in not only sharing ideas in statistics but will also assist in enhancing trade and manufacturing relations region.

The three-day workshop organized by the Zambian Central Statistical Office has attracted participants from Southern African Developing Communities (SADC), and the Eastern African Communities (EAC).

ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS.