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.

Government has called on the Water and Sewerage utility Company in Western Province to devise effective interventions aimed at addressing erratic supply of water in the Province.

The Western Water and Sewerage Company provides 7, 000 cubic litres of water per day to the residents of all the seven districts in the province against the required 14, 000 cubic litres.

Western Province Permanent Secretary Ikanuke Noyoo told ZANIS in an interview that the Provincial administration is concerned with the inadequate and unreliable supply of water by the Water and Sewerage Company.

Mr. Noyoo said there was an urgent need for the company to put in place effective measures to address the situation.

He lamented that the province has been experiencing erratic and inadequate water supply for the past seven years.

Mr. Noyoo pointed out that the erratic and inadequate water supply in the province was frustrating government efforts of enhancing economic development.

He expressed fear that if the water problem continues in the province, there might be an outbreak of water borne diseases in the province.

Mr. Noyoo has since advised the water utility company in Western Province to rehabilitate damaged tanks and repair leaking pipes as water was being lost due to leakages.

ZANIS/TK/AM/ENDS.