The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has publicly differed with the Crushers and Edible Oil Refiners Association (CEDORA) over soya-beans marketing.

CEDORA recently issued a statement opposing the decision made by Oilseed stakeholders to export 100, 000 tonnes of raw soya beans.

CEDORA Director Aubrey Chibumba said processors have not been given an opportunity to acquire the soya beans needed for the processing of cooking oil and other products locally.

But ZNFU Public Relations Manager Calvin Kaleyi in a media statement said CEDORA should be buying what they need but not at the expense of deterring other buyers by pretending that they can buy everything.

Mr. Kaleyi said ZNFU wants a level playing field in crop marketing to enhance competition.

He warned that the Government should be aware of the existence of cartels in the agricultural market space.

Mr. Kaleyi said there are cartels in the agricultural market space that are doing a disservice to farmers.

“The Union and other stakeholders are on record favouring export of surplus production as per statement issued earlier where 100,000MT was established to be surplus and unanimously agreed to be available for export. Anything else besides this position is contradictory to Government policy and the signals which farmers have been receiving from the policy makers, including the highest office. Why should anyone advocate to the Government that they vary and micromanage the exportable surplus of soyabeans? Policy consistency and certainty is good for the entire soyabeans value chain and above all will instill confidence for further investments in soyabeans production,” Mr. Kaleyi said.

“The Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema has been at the helm of marketing Zambia to become a credible source of agricultural products to supply our neighbours plus the rest of Africa and remain a dependable source of agricultural products for own consumption. Unfortunately, contradictory statements attributed to CEDORA are now hinting that they can buy everything.

Well, CEDORA should be buying what they need but not at the expense of deterring other buyers by pretending that they can buy everything or reducing exports volumes agreed by the stakeholders.Such selfish motives should not be entertained as this has potential to erode confidence in the soyabeans industry,” he said.

Mr. Kaleyi continued:”ZNFU is dismayed by such disingenuous sentiments. In fact, Dr Aubrey Chibumba, who issued the statement saying exporting will lead to artificial shortages, attended the stakeholders meeting and at no time during the meeting did he advocate to other stakeholders that domestic consumption is sitting at 421,000MT nor the fact that exporting will cause shortages. We challenge him to substantiate his new position and the allegation that ZNFU rejected offers from CEDORA to buy 100,00MT of soyabeans. Farmers deal with buyers of soyabeans, whether CEDORA members or not. So this allegation is misleading and outright false.“

“Instead, CEDORA’s complaint during the stakeholders meeting was directed at stockfeed processors as he alleged that CEDORA were not receiving placement orders for soya cake requirements from the stockfeed processors, hence they advocated for free fall exporting from August onwards for both soyabeans and soya cake. To now turn around and allege that there will be an artificial shortage by exporting is strange as this does not tally with the existing trading environment because the stakeholders favour regulated exports,” Mr. Kaleyi said.

“No one wants to deny local processors desired raw materials but we are against oversupply as this is to the detriment of farmers. We urge the Government to be alive to the existence of cartels in the agricultural market space doing a disservice to farmers all in the name of value addition. There is a need for a level playing field in crop marketing to enhance competition. Exporting of what is required in the export markets whether soya cake, soyabeans or stock feed should be encouraged and not curtailed as this will spur production,” he concluded.

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Provisional Liquidator Celine Nair has pledged the mining firm’s commitment to supporting the health sector in Zambia.

KCM has been providing oxygen to Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Roan General Hospital, Ronald Ross Hospital, Thomson District Hospital, Nchanga North Hospital, Kalulushi General Hospital, Arthur Davison Hospital, Kakoso TL Hospital, and the two KCM hospitals, Konkola Mine Hospital in Chililabombwe and Nchanga South Hospital in Chingola to help the fight against Covid-19.

When touring the Oxygen Plant at the Nchanga Smelter in Chingola, Ms Nair, who is the Acting Administrator General and Official Receiver of Zambia, said KCM will continuously supply oxygen to government hospitals to ease the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

She said saving lives should be placed above earning profits because life was sacrosanct.

“We should remain steadfast in our contribution to the health sector and especially to life-saving undertakings such as providing oxygen to hospitals free of cost. We will ensure that KCM does not only remain a major contributor to national copper production, but to initiatives that impact on the well-being of our citizens in the health sector,” Ms Nair said in a statement released by KCM Corporate Affairs General Manager Shapi Shacinda.

She added: “Priority must always be to safeguard the health of our employees and their families, communities around our areas of operation and the entire nation.”

Ms Nair said KCM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are managed with the intention of delivering maximum benefit to people in the local community as well as transforming lives throughout Zambia.

Meanwhile, the Manager at Nchanga Smelter Charles Shonongo informed the Provisional Liquidator that KCM has provided 11,165 oxygen cylinders to nine government run hospitals and the Company’s two hospitals costing about $219,044 (K3.72 million) since July 2021.

KCM last year commenced the provision of oxygen for free to government hospitals for medical interventions, particularly to enhance oxygen saturation and breathing in patients infected by Covid-19 from its 750 tonnes per day Oxygen Plant at the Nchanga Smelter.

“The support to the government health facilities came after two oxygen samples delivered to the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) for testing to ascertain its use for medical interventions during the peak of the devastating third wave of Covid-19 were returned with results of 95.7 percent and 97.8 percent, respectively. The hospitals that have been provided with oxygen are Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Roan General Hospital, Ronald Ross Hospital, Thomson District Hospital, Nchanga North Hospital, Kalulushi General Hospital, Arthur Davison Hospital, Kakoso TL Hospital, and the two KCM hospitals, Konkola Mine Hospital in Chililabombwe and Nchanga South Hospital in Chingola.”

“Through its expansive Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes (CSR) programmes, KCM operates two major hospitals and 8 clinics, which provide free medical services to employees and their families, while members of the public pay reasonable user fees. Around 192,000 people received medical services and treatment at KCM medical institutions in the previous year. Issued by Celine Nair KCM Provisional Liquidator,” the statement concluded.

Zambia Youth Alliance is saddened by the demise of former freedom fighter and veteran politician Sikota Wina. Mr. Wina died on Wednesday at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka after an illness.

He was 91.

Alliance Chief Executive Officer Brian Chisanga has described Mr. Wina as a great hero for Zambia.

Mr. Chisanga said Mr. Wina will be remembered as a gallant and fearless leader who stood firmly and was intolerant to corruption.

He said Mr. Wina fought tirelessly with other leaders to help Zambia attain independence.

“Zambia Youth Alliance Zambia is saddened by the demise of Sikota Wina, a great hero. His contribution to this country has impacted the nation positively and tremendously. We choose to celebrate his life today. Apart from being a freedom fighter; he was a veteran politician who served in the first cabinet of UNIP. He was the first Minister of Health. He is remembered as a gallant and fearless leader who stood firmly and was intolerant of corruption,” Mr. Chisanga said.

“He fought tirelessly with other leaders to attain independence and for that, we shall eternally be grateful. This is a difficult moment for the country. We stand with The Winas Family who in all have been of great value to our nation,” he said.

The funeral gathering is being held at Mr. Wina’s residence in Mimosa, Chilanga District.

He was the last surviving member of the first cabinet founding President Kenneth Kaunda made when Zambia just gained independence from British rule.

Mr. Wina was famous for serving as a Cabinet Minister in UNIP for over ten years.

Mr. Wina served as Minister of Local Government and Housing, Minister of Local Government and Prisons as well as Minister of Information Broadcasting and Tourism.

He was also Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy -MMD from 1991 to 1993.

Some traditional leaders in Southern Province have urged Zambians to mourn the late freedom fighter Sikota wina with dignity.

Chief Chikanta of the Tonga people in Kalomo district, says the nation has lost a statesman who greatly contributed to the country’s freedom struggle.

And Chief Cooma of the Tonga people in Choma district, said he is saddened with the demise of Mr. Wina who died yesterday at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an illness.

Mr. Wina who died at the age of 91, is among the heroes of Zambia’s liberation struggle and served in Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s first Cabinet in 1964 as Zambia’s first Minister of Health.

The late freedom fighter served as Cabinet Minister in the UNIP regime for over ten years in various ministerial positions.

Mr Wina served as Minister of Local Government and Housing from 1965 to 1967, Minister of Local Government and Prisons in 1968 to 1969 and Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism from 1969 to 1973.

Under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Mr Wina served as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Until his death, Mr Wina was the last surviving member of Dr Kaunda’s first Cabinet of 1964.

Meanwhile, Freedom Fighters in Mansa District have joined in mourning last of the country’s first Cabinet Sikota Wina whom they have described as a unifier.

Mansa District Freedom Fighters Association Chairperson Cyprian Mulonda says the late Sikota Wina worked hard in ensuring that there is unit among all the tribes in the country.

Mr. Molunda reveals that it was as a result of the efforts which Mr Wina and other freedom fighters put in that the country was never divided on tribal lines.

Mr Mulonda observed that although there were some individuals who wanted to divide the country on tribal lines but they could not succeed because of the strong leadership which the country had in place where Mr Wina was one of them.

Mr. Molunda says Zambians will remember the late freedom fighter Sikota Wina for promoting unit among all the 72 tribes of Zambia.

He stressed the need for the current leaders to always put the interest of the country saying that is what those that fought independence like the late Wins stood for.

The late Sikota Wina who died yesterday at the University Teaching Hospital, was the only surviving member of the first Zambian cabinet where he served as a Minister of Health.

As First Republican President Kenneth David Kaunda marks one year on June 17 since his death, Senior citizens and freedom fighters in Chinsali are asking Zambians to be patriotic and contribute positively towards this nation’s economic development.

The Senior citizens have reiterated the need for the Zambian citizens to put the interest of the country first and promote love and peace.

They suggest that citizens should therefore to take a leaf from the conduct of the fore fathers whose love for the country motivated them to work together for a common goal.

Among these senior citizens is Mukuka Chifwamba of Chandamali who in an interview said the late First Republican President Kenneth David Kaunda and his team were selfless and with love at heart for humanity.

Mr Chimfwamba said that this country’s fore fathers detested corruption the reason why it was possible to achieve what they achieved in various sectors of the economy just few years after independence.

“Almost all the leaders who were in the forefront fighting for our independence including those who formed part of the first Cabinet of Dr. Kaunda after independence are no more but there is something that we can learn from these people and that is there selfless leadership and desire to unity the Zambian citizens, ” said Mr. Chifwamba.

Mr. Chifwamba who was once taught by Dr. Kaunda at Lubwa mission in the early 1950s in Standards Six Lower, says right from his teaching days, Dr. Kaunda who was later to become the President of Zambia, never tolerated nonsense.

Dr. Kaunda was a principled man who wanted things to be done in a perfect manner, said the Chinsali based elder citizen adding that it is important that every citizen works hard to contribute positively towards the economic development of the country.

The senior citizen says in unity there is a lot that Zambians can do to grow the economy and make Zambia prosper again.

“In unity we can achieve a lot and I want to appeal to every Zambian citizens to put in his or her best in making Zambia a better country, said Mr. Chifwamba.

And 86 year old Rodwell Mwansabamba, a freedom fighter also of Chandamali village in the Chinsali , called on Zambians to love one another and promote peace and unity in the country as late Dr. Kaunda did.

Mr. Mwansabamba says no Zambian national should be stigmatised on the basis of tribe, colour, creed or belief.

Mr. Mwansabamba said late Dr. Kaunda preached love and peace and in order to honour him, it is important that there is love and peace in the country.

He says no one should be allowed to divide the Zambian citizens on political divides saying citizens should continue being united and working together to make Zambia a better country for everyone.

“No one should be allowed to divide us. Despite our political affiliations, beliefs, colour and creed, we should work together as a team to develop our country, ” said Mwansabamba.

Dr. Kaunda, founding President of Zambia died on June 17 at Maina Soko medical centre in Lusaka where he was admitted after an illness.

The world community mourned the country’s first Republican President describing him as a liberation icon.

Dr. Kaunda was buried in Lusaka at the presidential burial ground on July 7,2021 after all the 10 provincial centres were accorded a chance to view his body and pay their last respects.

The new dawn government’s free – education policy has like a whale wind taken its toll on many social-economically disadvantaged members of the general public, such as adult learners.

While classroom space has become a headache to crack with so far as education administrators are concerned, the adult learners do not in the least want to be left out as mere spectators.

Against this background, over 50 women have enrolled in the adult literacy and numeric class at Ndola’s Chawama primary school in the Copperbelt Province.

Having felt the exhilarating mood and excitement that goes with learning, these ‘ matures “ have nothing but commend government for the free- education policy which has also scrapped off fees attached to adult literacy programme.

Ms Martha Mulubwa, who dropped out of school in grade seven , 11 years ago has enrolled in the adult literacy and numeric class at Chawama says she decided to go back to class to learn how to read so that she can complete secondary education.

Ms Mulubwa who is also a mother, praised government for removing the K30 that they used to pay previously before introducing the free education.

Florence Kunda, 45, who is also a learner at Chawama Basic school said the removal of the fee has attracted many women in the communities to get enrolled so that they can learn to read and write.

Ms Kunda hoped to learn how to read and write so that she can participate in the development in her community as well as belong to women clubs without facing the embarrassment of not knowing how to read.

ZANIS caught up with the visibly excited women attending class at Chawama Primary School in Ndola and displayed less difficulty in identifying and pronouncing vows in readiness to read.

And Chawama Primary School Head teacher, Mary Mwale said the school has received overwhelming response from both the adult literacy and the main classes.

“ From having 3100 in January this year, an additional 700 hundred pupils have been enrolled at the school from January to date, “ she said.

She confirmed that the over enrollment has created a deficiency of desks making other children to sit on the floor during classes.

The Educationist hopes that government will continue to support the school with more desks as so far 17 were sourced by the district commissioner and other stakeholders.

Following government’s re-introduction of free education a number of government schools have witnessed challenges in classroom space.