Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo calls on African countries to hinge their development on the African developmental free trade area focusing on value added products and services that promote Intra-African trade.

Speaking during the official opening of the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit, Mr Kakuba said that Zambia is willing and ready to play its part in promoting and enhancing increased Intra-Africa trade and there’s need to take advantage of the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area so as to attain the aspirations of the African people.

“In order to take full advantage of the AFCFTA it is necessary for our countries to produce and trade in value added products,” he said

Mr Kakubo added that to address the challenges of experiencing the high cost of capital which is bidding and constraining to value addition, growth and transformation agenda of the industries, innovative ways of reducing the cost of capital for Africa need to be identified, resource mobilisation and also access alternative financial resources that will booster the competitiveness of the African products.

He noted that reflecting on the theme for the year 2022, everyone should be reminded of the need to up efforts in translating the continental agriculture potential into agricultural growth and food security for all.

Mr Kakubo cited that the quest to eliminate hunger, malnutrition and enhance social economic development, reaffirmed commitment in the implementation of the 6 global targets outlined in the African regional nutrition strategy.

He noted the need to seize emerging economic opportunities to improve production capabilities in the agriculture sector, as this will not only make Africa sufficient in food production but also make Africa a net exporter to the rest of the world.

“The implementation and aspirations of the agenda 2063 remains high in our organisation priority and it is for this reason that I wish to call upon all of us as members states to renew our commitment to fully implement Agenda 2063 and all of its flagship projects,” he said

Meanwhile, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahammat highlighted in his speech that the sessions of the executive council will not only discuss the implementation of different programmes but will give priority to implementation of the recommendations that aim at countering the negative impacts on the lives of the people.

Mr Mahammat noted that the specialised technical committee in charge of social development convened in order to discuss among others the issues that relate to the strengthening of gender equality, the empowerment of women and positive masculinity, decent employment, the programme for the protection of migrant workers and children.

“There are many activities that have been carried out but we focus on traditional medicine, the fight against drugs and speeding up reducing maternal mortality,” he said

He added that the implementation of the theme of 2022 on food security and nutrition has generated over the past 6 months as many activities that are focusing on the increased investment in nutrition, the strengthening of partnerships and billing institutional capacity as well as an environment that is conducive to nutrition.

He further added that the activities to be carried out should further mobilise and harness the approach for nutrition agricultural production, school feeding and other such activities.

And AU Chairperson of the Executive Council whose also Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister Aissata Tall Sall noted that the continent’s economic integration has been on the agenda since the Abuja Treaty in 1991, and creating an effective operation of the AFCTA since January 2021 is the biggest stride made this far.

Ms Tall Sall noted the need for Africa to expedite the process in making the African CDC operational in order to produce its own quality and affordable medicine.

She added that it is important to have the African CDC up and running so that in the medium term in order to resolve the lack of access of African people to quality and affordable medications as this is the only way to reduce the dependence of imported medication from outside Africa.

“There’s need to boost its operation especially in terms of response to emergencies,” she said

The government says it plans to create a fund to support innovation and enterprise in the country with the support of the World Bank.

Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati said the World Bank has been Zambia’s partner in the development and disclosed that Zambia and the World Bank have agreed to work together in the areas of innovation and enterprises and smart schooling.

“As a matter of urgency we settled on things that we can work in cooperation with the Bank and the two areas that we have prioritized among the many that we have is that we are going to focus on innovation and enterprise. Working with the Bank ultimately creating a fund that will support innovation and enterprise and the second area that we have prioritized are smart schools” he disclosed.

ZANIS reports that Mr Mutati was speaking when visiting World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa Victoria Kwakwa paid a courtesy call on him today.

Ms Kwakwa said the World Bank is delighted to partner with the government of Zambia as they implement transformative changes for the benefit of the people of Zambia.

Dr. Kwakwa said technology is the key driver to transformation and innovation.

“As the Minister has mentioned the conversation has been essentially about how to use ICT to spur the transformative changes that the government wants to bring to the economy and society of Zambia and we all realize that across the world technology has been the driver of transformation, the driver of innovation, helping to create jobs, helping to improve welfare and uplift people ,”she said.

Dr. Kwakwa is in the country on a familiarization tour of the Country since her assuming office earlier this month.

The 41st ordinary session of the African Union -AU- Executive Council has opened in Lusaka with a call for unity of purpose among African countries towards the advancement of economic growth.

Chargé d’ Affairs for the embassy of the republic of Cuba in Zambia Milens Caridad Zaldivar Piedra said unity of efforts among African countries is cardinal to address and strengthen food security on the continent.

Speaking  in an interview on the sidelines of the session in Lusaka, Ms. Piedra echoed the need to reinforce and enhance the unity of Africa.

Ms.  Piedra acknowledged that when there is unity of purpose economic advancement becomes easy.

She also noted that the level of speeches during the opening session of the Summit gives hope to Africa adding that issues regarding food security and self-reliance on African resources should be addressed adequately.

Ms Piedra who is an observer at the ongoing AU Summit highlighted that with the theme centering on food production and nutrition, it is paramount for African countries to produce enough food for themselves.

“As long as African countries have decided to get together and work in harmony it will be easier to gain what the union and the whole of Africa desires,” she said.

Meanwhile Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa said he is expecting that the AU summit will address issues of trade integration among African countries.

Mr. Sampa who is also chairperson for the Audit Committee for the Pan African Parliament explained the need for fair trade across the African continent.

He expressed optimism that effective facilitation of trade will be tabled effectively during the Summit and that leaders will ensure barriers that hinder African countries from freely trading goods produced in Africa are addressed.

Zambia is hosting the 42st Ordinary Session of the African Union and the 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECS) under the theme “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African continent.

The 41^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council is underway in Lusaka with a call from Zambia for African Union countries to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

And Zambia has expressed readiness and willingness to contribute effectively to the promotion of increased intra-Africa trade.

Speaking during the official opening, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo urged African states to make use of the AfCFTA by concentrating on value addition.

He said there is a need to access alternative financial resources to bolster the competitiveness of African products.

Mr Kakubo said the high cost of capital is posing a serious challenge to value addition saying it needs to be addressed.

“In order to take full advantage of the AfCTA, it is necessary for our countries to produce and trade value-added products. We are all experiencing the high cost of capital which is binding and constraining the value addition, growth and transformation agenda of our industries.  To address this challenge, we need to find innovative ways of reducing the cost of capital for Africa,” he said.

And the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation further called on African countries to renew the commitments towards the attainment of Agenda 2063.

Mr Kakubo said Agenda 2063 is a huge priority for the African continent.

“The implementation of the aspirations of Agenda 2063 remains high in our organization’s priorities.  It is for this reason that I wish to call upon all of us member states to renew our commitment to fully implement Agenda 2063 and all of its flagship projects,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said Africa needs to reduce dependence on cooperating partners.

Mr Mahamat said it is important for the continent to be self-sustaining in order to reduce external shocks.

He also observed that the African continent has been affected by crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine Russia conflict.

Mr Mahamat said despite challenges the continent is facing, Africa is still committed to attaining Agenda 2063.

He also said the Commission has in the recent past improved the image of the pan African parliament.

-Medical doctors at Kitwe Teaching Hospital  successfully managed to remove a bullet from the neck of a 14 year old boy who was shot by his grandfather over the weekend.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Abidan Chansa confirmed that the boy is out of danger but remains  admitted for continuous treatment.

Dr Chansa, however, noted that the dental and general surgeons at the hospital will further assess the condition of the patient and decide if he should also be examined by plastic surgeons at the University Teaching Hospital.

“The boy was shot through the nose and the bullet went to lodge at the posterior aspect of the neck, we had surgery yesterday and the bullet was removed, he sustained extensive injuries, the hard palate on the left side was shuttered and he had a big vacillation on the tongue, but what was gratifying to note during the operation is that the major structures in the neck were missed and he is recuperating well,” Dr. Chansa said.

Dr. Chansa further stated that the mother of the boy who was also shot in the chest by the same assailant has since been discharged.

And Kitwe District Commissioner Lawrence Mwanza who checked on the boy commended the medical officers for successfully removing the bullet from the boy.

Mr. Mwanza said the successful operation on the boy is a testimony of the skills that the local medical practitioners have and their commitment to duty.

He noted that the hospital staff has all the necessary expertise to attend to various medical cases except that there is a need to fully equip the health facility with medical equipment.

“I was under pressure from people saying the boy needed to be sent to India for an operation to remove the bullet since it was in a sensitive position, but I am now glad that local doctors have managed to remove the bullet successfully, this is testimony that our medical practitioners are competent enough to handle such cases, so we may not need to travel abroad for medical services, but we just have to equip our health facilities as we already have competent people,” Mr. Mwanza said.

ZANIS reports that last weekend, a 61 year old man of Kitwe identified as Isaac Gondwe committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth after shooting his 26 year old daughter and his 14 year old grandson.

Copperbelt Province Commanding officer Sharon Zulu said police recorded a case of attempted murder and suicide which happened on Sunday morning around 03:00 hours at plot number AA 83 Cha Cha Cha road in Kitwe.

Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane has advised that the much anticipated second meeting with International Creditors will be held on Monday 18th July and expressed hope that good policies will be generated from the meeting

Mr Musokotwane said this at State House yesterday when visiting World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Victoria Kwakwa paid a courtesy call on President Hakainde Hichilema this afternoon.

“We have been informed that the second meeting of the creditors will take place on Monday 18th of July and we are hopeful that some good policies will come out of that.”

Dr Musokotwane who earlier on held talks with Dr Kwakwa at his office disclosed that the two touched on various issues of national development including the economic performance of the country, debt and economic reforms .

He further disclosed that discussions included other economic reforms such as the increased funding to rural areas through the Constituency Development Fund, teacher and medical staff recruitment as well as free education.

“We discussed the former agenda including putting money in social sectors like education which has seen more children in schools, infact now we are hearing that schools are full.” he added.

Dr Musokotwane advised that the country’s corruption fight efforts were discussed and also explored ways in which the country can avoid going into a debt crisis that it faced some years back.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has signed the letter of agreement for the market analysis(pre-investment) for the COMESA Africa Cloud Ecosystem project.

COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Kapwepwe says that the COMESA Africa Cloud Ecosystem project is estimated at the cost of USD$550,000 with support from the Africa Development Bank (ADB).

The Secretary General said that the goal of the Africa Cloud Ecosystem (ACE) project is meant to contribute to the implementation of a state of the art facility that will offer essential and sustainable ICT infrastructure services to COMESA member states and the African continent.

Ms Kapwepwe said this in a speech read on her behalf by Assistant Secretary for programmes Ambassador, Kipyego Cheluget during the signing ceremony of the letter of agreement between COMESA and Africa Development Bank (ADB) for the market analysis (pre-investment study)for the COMESA Africa Cloud ecosystem project held at COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka yesterday.

Mrs Kapwepwe said that once the African Cloud Ecosystem project is completed, it will reduce the cost of doing business and enhance competitiveness on the global scene through fostering regional connectivity and deepening regional integration on the continent.

“The project aims to provide an affordable, secure, reliable, fast cloud hosting system for Africa,” She stated.

Ms Kapwepwe notes that the launching of the market analysis for COMESA Africa Cloud Ecosystem project is a manifestation of the existence of the cordial relationship between the two institutions and assured of COMESAs full support and commitment to further strengthen the cordial Partnership.

And Country Manager, Africa Development Bank Zambia Country office and Special Representative to COMESA, Raubil Olaniyi Durowoju said that despite Africa being the second largest continent after Asia, Internet penetration in Africa was the lowest at 20 percent less versus 90 percent in Europe and North America.