The eight Regional Economic Blocs (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) on the African continent have pledged to support all initiatives aimed at promoting peace and security in the region.

The RECs have also pledged to support the full implementing of the Inter Regional Knowledge Exchange (IRECKE) platform whose objectives is to provide information on early warnings and response on conflicts and structured exchange of information on conflicts among Member states.

Speaking during the pre-launch of IRECKE on the sidelines of the 4th mid-year coordination meeting between the African Union, the RECs and the RMs in Lusaka yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Chairperson, Monique Nsanzabaganwa at them Africa Union Commission (AUC) expressed concern on number of existing and emerging conflicts in the region.

Dr. Nsanzabaganwa said there is need to sharpen knowledge and efforts in building resilience and sustainable actions on all forms of conflicts on the continent.

She noted that this is why the IRECKE platform will go a long way in ensuring that the provision of early warning and structured system on how to prevent conflicts among vulnerable communities.

She said it is important that RECs and RMs make proper use of the platform to have a consolidated peace and security structures for the benefit of the people.

Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security (PAPS) Chairperson, Bankole Adeoye said Africa has the responsibility to find solutions to its own problems.

Ambassador Adeoye explained that this is why issues of Member states should work together to end all forms of instability that disturbs the peace and security of the region.

He pointed out that currently some African countries are facing peace and security challenges that need concerted efforts from all member states in resolving them if the continent is to achieve its agenda on silencing guns and ending terrorisms among other problems.

He added that for Africa to attain it ambition of being a better continent there is need for respecting the rule of law and better strategies and policies in addressing issues of peace and security.

All the eight RECs were represented at the pre-launch of the platform which will be followed by the official launch tomorrow during the meeting for the Heads of State.

Oxfam International has expressed concern on the reduced agriculture budgets for most African countries.

Oxfam International Plan Africa Director, Peter Kamalingin told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka on the sidelines of the 4th mid-year coordination meeting between the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs) that a total amount budget by 39 African countries dropped by 18 percent between 2019 and 2021.

Mr. Kamalingin said 26 others were spending under five percent of their annual budget on agriculture, adding that this is done amid a worsening food crisis that has already pushed millions of people in the continent to be threatened with starvation.

He explained that in 2021 322 million people in Africa were facing severe food insecurity, adding that the West and East Africa are facing the worst food crisis in a decade due to drought and uneven rainfall pattern and conflicts.

He noted that countries in Southern Africa have recorded a decline in cereal production and an increase in malnutrition cases, with Angola, Malawi and Namibia recording a rise in malnutrition admissions.

“The African continent has about a quarter of the World’s agricultural land, yet it is marred in an alarming hunger crisis, as the continent is spending more than 60 billion dollars annually importing food that they could produce locally,” said Mr. Kamalingin.

Mr. Kamalingin noted that the majority of the African Union member states have not honoured their commitment to invest at least 10% of their budgets on agriculture, as per the Malabo declaration of 2014.

He noted that the region needs about 22 billion dollars to meet the targets that were made during the declaration.

He further added that outbreak of the covid-19 has affected Africa’s economy and impacted the capacity of governments to put money in to key sectors such as health, education, agriculture and social protection, noting that of underinvestment in agriculture has made the sector very fragile against economic shocks such climate change, covid-219 and tensions on the World Market.

Oxfam International Plan Africa Director also noted that the continent is crippled by debt which takes an average of 51 % of its budget revenue, with debt repayment accounting for the largest single expenditure in their budgets.

And Tax Justice Network Africa Executive, Director Alvin Mosioma called on African nations to accelerate their efforts toward regional integration by addressing barriers that affect regional trade for food and agriculture produce to move freely across the nations.

Mr. Mosioma observed that despite being important in the food distribution supply chain, they have continued to be on the receiving end of unfair treatment in trade facilitation processes.

“Many African women cross border traders undergo a lot of harassment at the borders as they play the important role of food distribution, we must deliberately seek to listen to their voices which have been silent because of the high-level discussion around regional integration and trade,” he stated.

Seventeen pupils and three teachers have tested positive to COVID-19 at Dagama School for the handicapped in Luanshya district.

District Commissioner Oncemore Ng’onomo confirmed that both members of staff and pupils were tested for COVID-19 yesterday, out of which three teachers and seventeen pupils tested positive.

Mr. Ng’onomo disclosed that the situation has since prompted  government to close the school, with both day scholars and boarders sent home.

He said the decision was arrived at after further consultation from the ministries of Education and Health.

He said the school will remain closed till further notice to allow for the district health office to manage the situation.

A check by ZANIS found the school was deserted with only a few members of staff around the premises, who declined to comment on the matter.

 Mwinilunga constituency Member of Parliament Newton Samakayi together with members of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee and Councilors have threatened to recommend for transfer and dismissal of staff and management at Mwinilunga town council for alleged misdirection, incompetence, and negligence.

Mr. Samakayi said he is disappointed with the failure by Mwinilunga town council and the CDF committee to submit any community projects to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for approval.

“I am disappointed with you council, don’t let us down, we will not allow this”, he expressed.

Mr Samakayi said it was unacceptable that for over three months, no community project applications have been approved and submitted to the ministry.

He  noted that it is unforgivable that the council is carrying out government projects and programmes with no sense of urgency but taking work causally.

ZANIS reports that Mr Samakayi was speaking during a stakeholder’s engagement meeting held in the district today.

Mr. Samakayi has since given the council a one-week ultimatum to submit the report of projects to the ministry failure to which he is ready to recommend for an overhaul of the institution.

Additionally, Town council Chairperson, Jonathan Chinyimba warned council management that he will not tolerate a negative attitude towards work and that he was ready to remove officers from the council who are not performing.

“I will act to ensure that there is sanity in this council, if you don’t want to work you go out,” Mr Chinyimba said.

In responding to the queries, Council Director of works, Munaye Samapimbi said the committee has already selected the projects but was delayed by the development that the CDF committee was required to prioritize the projects, an explanation the MP rejected.

Town Council Secretary, Kennedy Kazanda accepted responsibility for the delay and promised to ensure that the right things are done further promising to send the report accordingly.

A consortium of Civil Societies Organisations (CSO) advocating for improved nutrition and food systems in Zambia has expressed concern at the continued de-prioritisation of funds towards the sector in combating malnutrition on the African continent.

Civil Society Organisation on Scaling up Nutrition (CSO-SUN) Country Director, Mathews Mhuru says the just released report on the status of hunger in the world poses a challenge to Africa whose findings must be closely studied by stakeholders.

“It is surprising that the world hunger index continues to record an increase of hunger in the world and Africa in particular is greatly affected. This report just released should be taken seriously by African countries,” he said.

Mr Mhuru speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing AU Summit in Lusaka said in an interview with ZANIS that many donors and funders were reducing commitments towards supporting nutrition programmes and this is becoming a concern on its part.

He noted that there is need for African countries to move away from the tendency of depending on donor support for fighting malnutrition and agriculture development.

“We need to move away from depending on donor funding. This dependency syndrome is making it difficult to fight malnutrition and hunger effective” he stated.

He pointed out that a check in most budgets the organization has had an opportunity to look at Zambia inclusive, shows that funds towards the malnutrition fight was slowly reducing.

He said it was time member states on the continent took a lead to ensure that such programmes are locally driven and agendas are in line with aspirations to combat the continent’s social economic problems.

Mr Mhuru pointed out that the world hunger index report requires that Zambia and other countries must invest in improving agriculture so that its people are well fed and nourished.

He intoned that the increase in the number of hungry people in Africa was an indication that there is further need for coordination which has been lacking in the past.

Mr Mhuru emphasized on the need for continental bodies which include regional coordination agencies to work together and harmonise programmes so that there is synergy to tackle agriculture which will lead to improved malnutrition.

Mr Mhuru appealed to the government to increase resources so that the support from other partners and donors supplements its home agenda.

The CSO coordinator was reacting to the AU’s report on the status of fighting malnutrition on the African continent and its efforts to date.

Earlier the AU during a sideline event revealed that the World Bank has released 2. 3 billion United States dollars to the commission to support African countries respond to diseases and outbreaks such as locusts, fall army worms, climate change, cyclones and droughts.

AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Josefa Sacko disclosed this during a press briefing to where she interpreted this year’s AU Mid-Year coordination summit theme adopted by organsiation.

Commissioner Sacko said the organsation is working with the Southern African Development Community and East African Community to enhance the response to emergencies and implement the programme.

The Commissioner further revealed the African Development Bank has released 1.2 billion United States dollars to set up food reserve facilities so as to avoid the crisis that is being experienced following the war between Ukraine-Russian war in Europe.

Ms Sacka disclosed that production of four cereals are being targeted namely wheat, maize, soya beans and rice.

She said the project which has since commenced across the continent will result in Africa having food reserves of 36 million tonnes by the end of four years.

The Commissioner was speaking during a press briefing to interpret the AU theme which is Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent on the sidelines of the AU MID YEAR coordination summit been held in Lusaka at Mulungushi International Conference .

Association of Higher Learning Institutions in Zambia (AHLIZ) has commended the government for recruiting over 30,000 Teachers and over 11, 000 health workers who are yet to be announced.

In a statement revealed to ZANIS in Lusaka today, AHLIZ Secretary General Humphrey Monde stated that this is the first of its kind in Zambia from all the successful Presidents and governments as no one has done what the new dawn government has done including the entire African continent.

Mr. Monde indicated that the government means well for the country which can be seen through the introduction of free education policy which the nation is benefiting from and this should be supported by all Zambians as the government develops the nation.

‘’We want to live in a country where there is a job for every person and every person for every job under the new world order of work,’’ he said.

Mr. Monde also encouraged colleges and universities that have not yet registered and accredited with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) a requirement under the higher education authority amendment Act number 23 of 2021.

‘’We are also inviting universities and colleges to register with the association for them to benefit from various key projects that the association is undertaking in the education sector.

President Hakainde Hichilema is a great leader, we have seen what he has done in less than 12 months in office. What’s more when we give him 10 years in office, greater things are coming our way,’’ he said.

The Economic, Social and  Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) says a lot of efforts still need to be made to achieve the free movement of people, goods and services across Africa.

Speaking during the official launch of the policy booklet on the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and the 2022 Young Africans Writing contest (YAWC) last evening at Radisson Blu Hotel, ECOSOCC Head of Secretariat, William Carew said people in Africa still need to obtain VISAs to move to other countries within the continent which hinders the actualization of continental integration which is one of the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

Mr. Carew noted that continental integration especially the free movement of people, goods and services in Africa should be prioritized by all stakeholders in the continent because it presents various development opportunities which is a positive benefit of migration.

He said the free migration policy for Africa was formulated because there was need to enable people to freely move across Africa and to also strengthen inter regional cooperation on matters concerning migration on the basis of established migration processes

Mr. Carew said the policy booklet on the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MFPA) and its implementation framework was formulated to popularize the framework’s Action plan 2018-2030 as well as the African Union’s free movement protocol within the African civil society movement.

He further thanked GIZ and other stakeholders who have contributed towards the formulation of the Migration Policy for Africa Booklet.

Meanwhile, ECOSSOC Presiding Officer, Denise Khode implored young people in the continent to use their writing skills to voice out their concerns on issues affecting the continent.

Mr. Khode implored young African writers especially those who are contesting for the second edition of the YAWC to write more about the challenges facing migrants.

He also urged parents to encourage their children to take up writing as a skill for them to positively contribute towards building the African continent.

And winner of the first edition of YAWC, Daniela Odong says the story writing gives young people a platform to use their writing skills to voice out their concerns on various issues affecting Africa.

Ms. Odong said stories can revolutionalise change for the continent’s future hence the need to prioritize listening to young voices and their stories.

“Tell your stories, speak, write and advocate. Your stories are change in words that are in waiting,” Ms. Daniela said.

She further urged young African writers to use their stories to inspire change in any way they possibly can.

The African Union (AU) is intending to establish a pan African Stock Exchange.

To this effect, The African Union Commission will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Security Exchange Commission to establish the stock exchange.

Speaking at a media briefing on the sidelines of the ongoing 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council meeting in Lusaka, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Albert Muchanga said the agreement will be signed in the next few days.

He said this is in a quest to mobilise domestic resources for member states.

Mr Muchanga disclosed that last month some African sovereign investors with a combined asset base of 13 billion United States dollars decided to set up an African Sovereign Investors Forum.

“The key objective of the Forum is to mobilise financial resources to invest in cross country infrastructure projects across Africa” he said.

He also said the African Diaspora is also coming on board to contribute in meeting the financial needs of the continent.

Mr Muchanga said a feasibility study is being undertaken on the establishment of the African Diaspora Finance Corporation.

He further revealed that AU has entered into a strategic partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation as a measure to mobilise domestic resources.

Mr Muchanga said in addition to the African Development Bank and the African Export Import Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation has been identified to help mobilise domestic resources.

“Our work on domestic resource mobilization operationalises a key provision in the African Union Agenda 2063 and that is that to fully implement this Agenda, 75 to 90 percent of resources must be mobilised domestically, “he said.