Former Vice President Inonge Wina has said that she will continue to be passionate about girl child education and will continue to advocate against early childhood marriages and teenage pregnancies.

Mrs. Wina, who was appearing in public for the first time since the August 11, 2021 general elections, wished the new administration well as they work towards steering the economic growth of the country.

She was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the launch of the Women’s World Cup Plaza for the Barotse Jets Football Club organised by MOVE foundation, a Zambian and Australian NGO.

She added that this is why she will support any initiative that is tailored towards empowering the girl child.

She commended the Organisers for the event for considering Western province as is adversely affected by early marriages and teen pregnancies, consequently affecting their various talents and hindering their personal potential in other social and economic spheres.

“I was pleased when I heard that MOVE foundation through the Move 2023 Women’s World Cup project has now identified and recruited vulnerable girls to play soccer in a team formed and named as the Barotse Jets, through this you are in a way fighting early marriages and teenage pregnancies by creating opportunities for the girls, “she said.

And Minister of Youth Sport and Arts Elvis Nkandu has pledged the government’s support to any initiatives that have a positive impact on the well-being of girls in the country.

Mr Nkandu noted that sports is one of such initiatives as it helps to keep girls away from illicit activities that can culminate into child marriages and pregnancies.

He noted that his ministry will continue to promote increased girl and women participation in sports in line with government’s policy of ensuring that women and girls are given equal opportunities to excel through sports and arts.

He expressed happiness that the fact that the Barotse Jets football team will be given an opportunity to witness the women’s World football Cup 2023c in Australia is a morale boost that will make them work even harder to improve women’s sports in the country.

“These young women will become football ambassadors from Western Province, travelling to Adelaide, Australia to witness the women’s world football cup 2023 and play friendly games against the local Adelaide women’s football team will make them aspire beyond their dream and achieve big,” he said.

He further thanked move 2023 women’s world football cup for coming up with an initiative for triggering a 10-year women’s football programme connecting Australia and Zambia with an aim of inspiring, equipping and enabling young women and girls of Western province.

The sports launch was organised by an initiative named MOVE foundation, a Zambian and Australian NGO which is behind the formation of a social empowerment initiative through a football team called the Barotse Jets.

The event was attended by former Vice President Inonge Wina who is the patron of the club.

Catholic schools in Mongu diocese have celebrated their education achievements, values and massive contribution to the education sector in Western Province.

Speaking at the event held in Mongu sports stadium yesterday, Mongu Catholic Diocese Bishop Evance Chinyemba says catholic schools does not only impart intellectual knowledge in learners but also change the fundamental inner values, characteristics and morals towards the attainment of positive social behavior.

Bishop Chinyemba stressed the need for pupils to take religious philosophy as another branch of important education that would bring about God fearing society for the betterment and peaceful nation.

Earlier, National Education Secretary, Reverend Leonard Namulumba thanked the catholic schools in Western Province for supplementing government effort in education sector.

Reverend Dr. Namulumba has since called on all catholic schools in the province to continue setting a paradigm shift towards shaping pupils academically, socially and spiritually.

Meanwhile, Mongu District Education Board Secretary Lisimba Ilutombi has reaffirmed her commitment in ensuring 100 percent pass rate among pupils in both private and public schools.

Mrs. Ilutombi disclosed that pupils including slow learners are given equal opportunities with faster learners through deliberate system policies enshrined in the ministry of education to ensure no single pupil lags behind academically.

The DEBS has observed that Catholic schools have continued producing best pupils and commended teachers for their relentless effort in delivering quality education to pupils.

The celebration which attracted pupils from Catholic schools across Western province was held under the theme: Learn, Serve, Lead and Succeed.

Northern province Permanent Secretary Bernard Mpundu has expressed concern over the underutilization of donor funds under the USAID-sponsored Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN-TA) programme in Kaputa.

Mr. Mpundu said it is sad that government departments are failing to fully utilize the funds and are instead sending back the money to donors.

He explained that the same departments are however complaining of inadequate funding from the central government.

Mr. Mpundu revealed that in the last financial year, about K300, 000 out of the total allocation of over K2 million was sent back to USAID after government departments failed to utilize the money.

‘Money is given you fail to utilize and the same money is taken back to the donor. In other areas, we keep complaining of no money, and inadequate funding from the government. I fail to marry the two.

One benchmark of donors is capacity, do you have the capacity to utilize the money, if you fail, and the same money is sent back. This kind of attitude will not be entertained. This type of work culture must change ‘” he said.

The Provincial Permanent Secretary said this when he held a meeting with district heads of government departments and members of both the provincial and district Nutrition Coordinating Committees in Kaputa.

He has since challenged the DNCC to have a positive mindset, to help contribute toward the reduction of stunting levels in children.

The PS who later visited the community, expressed happiness with the efforts that the district is making in the promotion of gardening, and livestock rearing which is aimed at providing a diverse diet for children to fight stunting.

Mr. Mpundu explained that undertaking gardening projects is a good step in ensuring that children, expectant and lactating mothers are provided with a balanced diet to fight stunting in children below 2 years.

And SUN-TA Kaputa district Manager Falesi Maininga explained that her team has spearheaded the promotion of the gardening project in all health facilities in Kaputa to encourage women to prepare a diverse diet for their children.

Ms. Maininga noted that the team is also working with other stakeholders to ensure that these gardening projects are replicated in communities around Kaputa.

Frank Kalumba, one of the lead farmers, indicated that he is working with SUN-TA to encourage communities to grow enough food to feed their children.

Mr. Kalumba stated that SUNTA is encouraging them to grow foods that are rich in nutritional content such as oranges, maize, sweet potatoes, and vegetables among others.

Northern Province has one of the highest rates of stunting and malnutrition in children below 2 years which stands at about 44 percent.

Buyzed campaign founder Evans Ngoma is happy that the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) has announced an increased production capacity of Compound D fertilizer for the coming farming season.

Mr. Ngoma says it is a positive step that many local companies have ceased the opportunity to venture into fertilizer production in the wake of disruption in supply due to the tension between Russia and Ukraine.

He noted that with plans by NCZ to produce more than 50.000 metric tonnes of compound D and Chemical Capital (UCZ) fertilizers to manufacture top dressing (urea), the country can manage to address the high fertilizer prices that have affected many farmers.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that with the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine which are the country’s major sources of fertilizer imports, it is gratifying to see that local companies have come on board.

He said the coming on board of local firms such as NCZ, UCZ, among many others, will go a long way in mitigating the negative impact that the continued war is likely to put on the country’s agriculture sector.

Mr. Ngoma added that with heightened political will that government has shown towards the agriculture industry, it is vital for local manufacturers to consider investing more in fertilizer producing ventures, in order to caution any shortages that may arise as a result of disturbances in supply.

He said that with support that government has shown towards supporting farmers as a way of boosting production for national food security, there is need for producers to also increase their capacity and ensure that they produce enough to meet the local demand.

And Mr. Ngoma has called on farmer input suppliers and agro dealers to locally source the commodities and exhaust all the local production before considering importing from other countries.

He noted that, doing so will help grow the sector, as producers in order to create market and demand for the local fertilizer companies.

Some concerned parents in Iyendwe Ward of Mpulungu district have appealed to government to scale-up monitoring mechanisms for teacher performance.

The parents noted that some teachers have a tendency of being away from their stations, thereby denying pupils in rural areas an opportunity to receive quality education.

They said measures should be taken before deployment of new teachers to ensure that learning is not disrupted by absence of teaching staff.

The concerned parents said this during a meeting addressed by Mpulungu Constituency Member of Parliament Leonard Mbao at Fundia Mali Primary School.

One of the parents Wellington Chitalu said pupil performance in examinations has been negatively affected by inadequate learning.

Another parent Godfrey Sikazwe said routine inspection of schools by Education Authorities can help to address a number of challenges.

And Mr. Mbao, who is also Northern Province Minister, assured parents that government is taking the necessary steps that will enhance teaching and learning in schools.

He said it is unacceptable that teachers choose to stay away from their stations leaving pupils unattended to.

Mr. Mbao revealed that he will engage education authorities over the matter.

The Mpulungu lawmaker said the new administration has placed premium on education, hence the recruitment of teachers and introduction of the free education policy.

Meanwhile, Mpulungu District Council Chairperson Deo Sichilengwe has implored education authorities to support government’s vision to improve the quality of education.

President Hakainde Hichilema has urged the church in the country to embrace unity through evangelism and taking the country to the desired level.

Speaking when he attended a church service at Kalewa Seventh Day Adventist church in Ndola today, the President said national unity is key in attaining national development.

He added that restoration and national building remains a priority on government’s agenda.

And Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo has encouraged the congregants to establish personal relationships with God.

The Minister noted that spiritual life is about individual accountability, saying no one will have company to face judgement.

Meanwhile Pastor Mayboy Muchabwe urged government leaders to look to God for guidance as they lead the country, saying real life begins when one acknowledges God in life.

The President who arrived in the province yesterday is on the Copperbelt on a three day working visit, where he is engaging with various stakeholders on issues of national interest.

The President is scheduled to meet political party officials later this afternoon before officiating at a gala dinner hosted by the United Party for National Development (UPND)