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Minister of Information and Media has created a Vacuum, Bally has to be bold and deal with her

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Minister of Information and Media has created a Vacuum, Bally has to be bold and deal with her

By McPherson Mutale

The drama at the Ministry of Information and Media should come to an end. Bally’s way of solving the problem is merely creating another.

By appointing Mr.Thabo Kawana, the hope is that he will fill the void. Unfortunately, he has just created another problem. Mr. Kawana was better left at the party Secretariate as a functionary.

The problem is the Minister and the team around her. She was thrown in the deep-end without a life jacket. She is drowning and she may not drown alone.

A cabinet is like a bicycle chain, when it’s broken in one place, it’s useless. The earlier Bally realizes the weakest link, the earlier he can solve his problems.

There are a number of Ministers in Bally’s administration who are just seat warmers and he is not doing himself a favor by keeping them to warm seats. For now, it might be bearable but soon people will get tired.

It’s never too early to change your team if you realize in the first minute that one of your players is not fit. The bulky problem for Bally is that the person who is supposed to be the eyes and ears of the administration is actually unable to see and hear.

The vacuum that Hon Kasanda has created has forced people like Anthony Bwalya and Cornelius Mweetwa to try and fill in the gap. Unfortunately, this is a nightmare as they both can’t freely speak on government policy without crossing the line and stepping into the Minister’s office.

President Bally has to be bold and deal with the Minister. If he needs her so badly in his administration, he can reshuffle her. The work ahead is very brutal and requires a competent communicator and an agile public policy expert.

The administration has IMF and its attendant tough choices that need effective and efficient communication machinery. There is none at the moment. Regardless of the major successes, the administration has scored so far, the Minister and her team have lamentably failed to create a contrast between what we vomited and what has been achieved so far.

What has happened is that the Minister has allowed and enabled the opposition to have a field day. Governance, like politics, is about perceptions. You should not just DO but you should also be SEEN to be DOING.

The opportunity to do the right thing is now before the water gets to the nose. Bally can choose to babysit adults and get grey by 2026, or he can do the right thing and have a team that helps him to deliver a prosperous and equitable Zambia.”

Taxing Mining Companies

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Taxing Mining Companies

By Fred M’membe

In the last 25 years, out of the eight (major mining corporations that have operated in Zambia, only two companies have been paying Company Income Tax (CIT). Meaning the rest have been declaring losses as our tax authorities have no capacity to find loopholes in their tax declarations. Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) seems to be very easy for these corporations. To maximize value from this sector, the Zambia Revenue Authority proposed the introduction of Mineral Royalty Tax (MRT) to bring certain “loss-making” companies on the tax base.

Mineral Royalty Tax is not a fee, it’s a tax. Currently, it’s paid as final tax by both loss-making and profit declaring mining corporations as a final tax. So it is net tax income to the Zambian people.

Why do mining corporations love income tax? Simple transfer pricing and exaggeration of costs to declare lower taxable income. Why do they hate MRT? It’s based on extracted minerals and easy to administer by ZRA and difficult to cheat.

Remember this, countries with deductible MRT and lower taxes in this industry have higher stakes or even controlling shares in private mining corporations. So they collect lower taxes and get dividends. In Zambia, some mining companies are 100 percent privately owned. Why such concessions? If Parliament has any spine, this is the time to show it.

At a time when the copper prices are reasonably high, the UPND government has proposed in the 2022 Budget that MRT becomes a deductible tax. Meaning whatever losses they make off CIT can be netted off MRT. This may result in a significant resource mobilisation loss. In the end, the only benefits we may get from the mining sector are only business and job opportunities and PAYE. This is a clear demonstration of surrendering our sovereignty to the capital and not the people.

Zambia is known as the second-largest producer of copper in Africa. Yet this sector has only been contributing an average 13 percent to our GDP before Covid-19 hit and around 25 percent after the pandemic hit us due to disruptions in trade and the global supply chain.

Power, Nkana Draw in Jubilee Derby

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Power Dynamos and Nkana on Wednesday battled to a goalless draw in a friendly match played at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

The match dubbed “Kitwe Derby Reloaded” was played to celebrate Power’s Golden Jubilee.

Nkana came from behind to hold hosts Power.

Kunda Musonda put Power in front just after the break.

Tady Etekiama leveled deep in additional time as Nkana refused to lose to their Kitwe rivals.

This match was played less than two weeks after Kalampa thumped Nkana 2-0 in a league match in Wusakile.

Meanwhile, the friendly match was preceded by a social game involving Power legends and Copperbelt Energy Corporation workers.

Power legends present at Arthur Davies today included Peter Kaumba, Elijah Litana, Linos Makwaza, Ronald Mukosha, Mwape Miti, Martin Mwamba, Mwenya Chipepo, Douglas Chiwaya, John Munkonje, Francis Kombe, Francis Kasonde, Tenant Chilumba, Kalililo Kakonje, Joseph Sitali, Evans Mwewa, Laughter Chilembe and Wedson Nyirenda among others.

Suspected UPND cadres fight running battles with Zambia Police at Zambezi Portland Cement

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Suspected UPND cadres fight running battles with Zambia Police at Zambezi Portland Cement

Several workers at Zambezi Portland Cement (ZPC) in Ndola have sustained injuries after a group of youths attacked the plant with stones on Tuesday.

The stone-carrying youths who included some identified UPND youth members attacked the plant on accusations that it has employed PF members and that it was keeping PF regalia in the plant.

This is despite the case of ownership of the cement plant being active in the Court of Appeal.

Ndola police fought running battles with the youths as workers at Zambezi Portland Cement retaliated when two company vehicles and the main gate was damaged.

Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri, who rushed to the plant, checked the premises in the company of police and the media.

Mr. Phiri, who was flanked by UPND Ndola District spokesperson Joseph Zimba, did not find PF regalia in the containers checked.

In his address to the workers at the cement plant, Mr. Phiri challenged police to deal with the assailants.

“There were accusations that there are containers with PF regalia but we have not found any regalia after searching with the police. Let the youths refuse to used because the law will catch up with them,” Mr Phiri said.

“There is no one from the Government who is going to represent wrongdoers. Police work according to the rules. Police ensure that the rule of law is followed,” he said.

Zambezi chief executive officer Gomeli Litana said he suspects that the attackers were sponsored by individuals fighting for company ownership in court.

“We are here as management not because of the Government but the court, not because of PF or UPND but a stay from the court. People who are coming to cause confusion here are using money. We know the people giving them money to cause confusion. People who want this company must come forward and prove to the court,” said Mr. Litana.

UPND Ndola District spokesperson Joseph Zimba said UPND youths who took part in the violent incident will not be protected and urged police to operate freely.

“I am representing the ruling UPND party. I am here to say that the nonsense (violence) happening here at Zambezi Portland Cement must end immediately. You know that in the last ten years of the PF rule no new company has opened here in Ndola because of violence and cadrelism. As UPND we will not allow that violence forces investors to run away from Zambia,” Mr. Zimba said.

“This issue is in court and all of us have no power over the happening here. It is the court to rule who is eligible to run this company. We are not supposed to be throwing stones at each other, let’s leave the case in the hands of the court. We know that there are people sponsoring these youths to cause confusion. Those youths can’t rise on their own, so as a ruling party we are telling the police to take charge. Find people sponsoring violence here at Zambezi Portland Cement,” he said.

ZPC chief executive officer Litana is fighting in court with Phesto Musonda, who wants to take over the plant.

Two weeks ago Musonda and his counterpart Kalunga, along with 70 youths defied court orders and attempted to takeover ZPC operations while the shareholders case is still very active at the Court of Appeal.

The duo, together with their accomplices, went to the plant where they tried to force their way into the plant with the intentions of taking over operations.

Assertions that Vedanta Resources will resume operations at KCM next year are false-Mines Minister

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Assertions that Vedanta Resources will resume operations at KCM next year are false-Mines Minister

The government has reassured miners and stakeholders at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) that assertions that Vedanta Resources will resume operations at the mine next year are untrue, as the mine remains under the provisional liquidator with ongoing court cases.

The government also says it appreciates the anxieties surrounding Mopani and KCM from stakeholders but notes that there is a need for court cases to be resolved before the future of the latter is announced while any speculations about Vedanta repossessing the mine remain untrue.

And the government says while it is true that Mopani needs investments to become fully operational and profitable, the government is currently renegotiating some of the Glencore agreements done under the previous regime especially since the mines remain integral to Zambia.

Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe has told Phoenix News that discussions around the future of both Mopani and KCM are ongoing but cannot be disclosed to the public until the state makes pronouncements at an appropriate time after all the processes involved are concluded.

Meanwhile, Mr Kabuswe has said that government will come up with a policy that will stop the export of raw Manganese and other minerals.

Mr Kabuswe says this will be done in consultations with the Ministry of Finance and Justice and that it is unacceptable that huge tonnes of raw Manganese is leaving the country when it can be processed locally.

The minister was speaking when he met Manganese Mine owners in Serenje District.

And Mr. Kabuswe has suspended operations at Philip Kosamu Artisanal Mine and Keprochamu Youth Mining Cooperative for flouting safety measures.

He said the two mines should stop operating until safety measures are put in place.

Mr Kabuswe said the lives of people were more important and ordered that operations should only resume when safety measures improve .

I’m not in the office to seek re-election in 2026-President Hichilema

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I’m not in the office to seek re-election in 2026-President Hichilema

President Hakainde Hichilema has said that he is not in office to seek re-election in 2026 but that people will decide on their own based on issues such as taking development closer to them.

The Head of State said that to serve the people diligently; difficult decisions will have to be made that will help to reconstruct the country’s economy which collapsed under the previous regime.

Speaking when he swore in Chief Justice Mumba Malila, Judicial Service Complaints Commission Chairperson Vincent Malambo, Police Service Commission Chairperson Dr. Peter Machungwa, and Local Government Service Commission Chairperson Ackson Sejani, the president said that the agenda of the new dawn administration is to transform the country’s economy and that people will decide on their own whether to re-elect him or not, adding that a person who goes to State House with a view of being re-elected to serve two terms is more likely to play politics than performing to the expectations of Zambians.

Addressing Mr. Sejani, President Hichilema said if it has to take offending the people to deliver water closer to them and flushable toilets to institutions such as schools in the next three to four years, this should be done and he is in full support.

The President said at his age and experience, Mr. Sejani does not need to be praised by anyone hence he should do the right thing as his mandate is supported by the release of the equalization fund to all councils which will help in taking services closer to the people.

And on the appointment and subsequent ratification of Dr. Mumba Malila as Chief Justice, President Hichilema said that this has come with a lot of expectations from citizens to transform, bring change and deliver justice in a fair and speedy manner.

He added that the UPND Alliance Administration found a horrible situation where there was a breakdown in the rule of law and the Police are integral in ensuring compliance with the laws.

And President Hichilema said the Judicial Complaints Commission must ensure enforcement of the code of conduct for judges and judicial officers.

He said for some time now, the bench has been perceived to be above reproach while concerns of citizens are not taken Into consideration.

President Hichilema has since tasked Dr. Malambo to work with other appropriate commissions to address the lacunas and omissions in the judicial system.

President Hichilema has tasked newly appointed Zambia Police Chairperson Peter Machungwa to address the many challenges faced by Police officers. He said Government has demonstrated its commitment to working on challenges such as cadres confronting Police officers while on duty.

President Hakainde Hichilema with UN country coordinator Caumba Mar Gadio and Dr. Nathan Bakayta hold high the placards during the relaunch of COVID-19 vaccine at OYDC
President Hakainde Hichilema with UN country coordinator Caumba Mar Gadio and Dr. Nathan Bakayta hold high the placards during the relaunch of COVID-19 vaccine at OYDC

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has disclosed that COVID-19 has hit State House with some staff in the presidency being in isolation.

President Hichilema said that the Coronavirus is right in Statehouse and has since urged the media to help the ministry of health and the authorities send the message to the people to ensure their protection.

Mr. Hichilema said that people should distinguish jokes from serious issues, noting that people are using jokes and social media to make wild claims about COVID-19.

Mr. Hichilema said that there is need to protect loved ones by sending the right messages so that people can adhere to the five golden rules.

President Hichilema has, however, noted with delight that the relaunch of the vaccination program has seen a phenomenal increase in the number of people being vaccinated.

He has emphasized the need for people to take COVID-19 seriously.

President Hichilema also dismissed insinuations by PF Chairman for information and publicity Raphael Nakacinda that he was sick.

Zimbabwean president calls for remains of Cecil John Rhodes to be exhumed and sent to Britain

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Zimbabwean president calls for remains of Cecil John Rhodes to be exhumed and sent to Britain

The Zimbabwean president wants the remains of the colonialist to be exhumed and repatriated to Britain.

Rhodes died in 1902. His self-chosen burial place is at Matobo Hills National Park, south of Bulawayo.

Mnangagwa told traditional leaders on Friday in Harare that Rhodes’ remains should be returned in exchange for Zimbabweans’ ancestors’ remains in the UK.

“We still have Rhodes’ remains in Matobo. What do you think about it? If you go to the shrine, you don’t know whether you are talking to Rhodes or our ancestors. His remains must be returned to where he hailed from and we can also have our ancestral remains which are being kept in Europe,” said Mnangagwa.

Calls for Rhodes’ exhumation date back to 2012. The late former president Robert Mugabe blocked war veterans and Zanu-PF politicians from exhuming his remains, saying his legacy was part of the country’s history. The veterans had blamed his grave for the lack of rain in the Matobo area.

The gravesite is a tourist attraction, visited by thousands of tourists both local and foreign. It lies at the summit of a hill known as the “World’s View.” Locals call the hill where Rhodes lies “Malindadzimu”, a word meaning “burial place of the defied ancestors”.

Zimbabweans are charged ZWL$40 entry to the national park and an additional ZWL$25 to see Rhodes’ grave. Foreigners pay US$15 (R237) for admittance and an extra US$10 (R158) to view the site.

In 2003, the sacred Matobo Hills was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and the gravesite is under the custodianship of the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.

The proposed 2022 National budget is anchored on the draft Eighth National development plan, Finance Minister tells Parliament

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The proposed 2022 National budget is anchored on the draft Eighth National development plan, Finance Minister tells Parliament

Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has said that the proposed 2022 National budget is anchored on the draft Eighth National development plan and some elements in the Seventh National Development Plan.

Dr. Musokotwane said that the UPND Administration used the draft 8th NDP because it was not completed in time by the previous administration and that it is a requirement of the law that the budget should be anchored on a National Development Plan of which, at the time the UPND ascended into office, there was a draft 8th national plan.

Dr. Musokotwane said that the Eighth National Development Plan is still a work in progress and has been referred to in the Yellow Book.

The finance minister said this in a Ministerial statement today when he circulated the corrigendum to remove the reference to the draft 8th NDP.

And Dr. Musokotwane, who later responded to questions raised by Members of Parliament however explained that UPND incorporated into the budget some of the elements in the 7th NDP that were not actualized by the previous administration because they were still important such as the employment of teachers.

He said it was the only practical thing to do so that the country can have a budget for 2022.

Meanwhile, Economist, Noel Nkhoma has said that the removal of subsidies on fuel is one of the government’s strategies for rebuilding the country’s economy.

Mr. Nkhoma told to ZNBC in an interview today that citizens will have to endure the impact for some time before positive results are witnessed in the UPND’s Administration.

He says the country has also undergone economic disturbances such as Covid-19 which has resulted into higher inflation the country has never experienced before.

Mr. Nkhoma however urged the government to find other fuel alternatives to keep people’s lives at ease during the economic recovery process.

The hike in fuel prices has now resulted in public bus operators increasing fares.

Some public transport users have received the increase in transport fares with mixed feelings.

Political interference in the procurement led to companies being paid for projects they have not fully implemented

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Political interference in the procurement led to companies being paid for projects they have not fully implemented

Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa ha said that political interference in the procurement process has led to companies being paid for projects they have not fully implemented.

Mr Nkulukusa said that this practice has consequently weakened Zambia’s macro economic performance because of lack of transparency therefore making budget credibility weak.

Mr. Nkulukusa said that Zambia’s transparency score over the years has been very low with public participation recording 20 out of 100 while budget oversight being 46 out of 100.

Mr. Nkulukusa said that regional comparisons have shown that Zambia only managed to beat Malawi in budget transparency scoring 30 out of 100.

Making a presentation on Zambia’s economic performance to local authority officials from about 33 councils from Eastern, Lusaka and Central Provinces in Chongwe today, Mr. Nkulukusa said lack of citizens’ involvement in the budget process has led to abuse of resources thereby affecting its implementation.

He said the new dawn government is, therefore, sealing off such loopholes through the decentralisation process of giving citizens the authority to decide on areas that CDF will be used.

Mr Nkulukusa also stated that weak oversight and political interference especially in the procurement process has also contributed to weakening the economy as there has NOT been enforcement from the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA).

He said weak internal controls and oversight have resulted in over procurement with institutions like the National Road Fund Agency -NRFA- having contracted over 1-thousand projects worth over 1-hundred billion kwacha against an annual allocation of 3-billion kwacha.

Mr Nkulusa said these challenges have led to unstable macroeconomic environment leading to increased borrowing thereby affecting fiscal stability.

He, however, said Zambia has to reposition its development strategy to avoid borrowing more which will worsen the situation.

Mr. Nkulukusa said the country needs to undertake structural reforms of key sectors, provide fiscal incentives to promote investments and trade, taking advantage of its neighbouring countries as markets.

And, Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Technical Services Wisdom Bwalya said the team participants have been engaged in discussions the past few days.

Mr. Bwalya added that he wants the existing animosity between management of the councils and unions to end through harmonization.

The PS further noted that he will not take kindly the unions harassing the principal officers while calling on the principal officers to respect the unions because he wants both parties to move together.

Social Media Posting influenced the Mealie Meal Price Hike Frenzy-MAZ

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Social Media Posting influenced the Mealie Meal Price Hike Frenzy-MAZ

The Millers Association Of Zambia (MAZ) has said that the price of mealie meal on the market should be between K120 and K140 per 25kg bag of breakfast meal depending on the brand.

Speaking in an interview with Phoenix News, MAZ president Andrew Chintala has attributed the high prices of mealie meal of up to K175 per 25kg bag to some traders taking advantage of prices being circulated on social media following an upward adjustment on fuel which is not reflective of the current true retail price of the commodity.

Mr. Chintala in an interview with Phoenix News has since advised consumers to consider buying mealie meal from designated selling points of milling companies and from registered agents to avoid being exploited with none reflective prices.

He however says the exploitative prices are out of the control of millers especially since Zambia is a liberalized economy but disclosed that millers are worried with the distortion in pricing and are currently looking at ways to address the matter.

Following a hike in the price of fuel, pictures circulating on social media show mealie meal prices as high as K175 per 25kg bag of breakfast meal that has resulted in some retail outlets taking advantage of the situation and changing the cost of the commodity upwards.

Youth Receiving Oil Tankers for Empowerment urged to incubate themselves among established businesses

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Youth Receiving Oil Tankers for Empowerment urged to incubate themselves among established businesses

Youth and Sport Minister Elvis Nkandu has implored Youths that will benefit from the government-sponsored Oil tanker Youth Empowerment Scheme to incubate themselves with established Oil Marketing companies in order to learn the art of Oil business.

And Kinglong Company General Manager Wu Ming says his company that has been in the country for over two decades will soon sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at training and capacitating 50 Zambian Youths with engineering skills to manage the Oil tankers.

Minister Nkandu who was in the company of his Permanent Secretary Chileshe Kangwa during the inspection of the acquired trucks at Higer premises said it would be practically impossible for the Youths without any experience in Oil business to effectively manage the tanker trucks hence the need to incubate with existing OMCs.

Mr Nkandu told the media after a conducted tour and inspection of the fleet that the will be fairly distributed to Youths across the country including areas off the line of railway.

He further revealed that government has started recovering amounts from the previous fleet of 50 distributed under the PF regime citing the recent payment of K 9million by Kapekisa Oil marketing company which incubated 30 tanker trucks and another K1,5 million from Mount Meru which got 18 trucks.

The Minister added that his ministry which is expected to distribute the trucks by January 2022 is happy to note that the supplier Kinglong has pledged to ensure that Zambian Youths were attached to its after service workshop in order to acquire necessary skills in the maintenance of the trucks with a Chinese Engineer already on site to impart the knowledge.

He has since urged Youths across the country to form Co-operatives in order to benefit from the initiative aimed at reducing the levels of unemployment among Youths in the country.

Oil tankers for youth Empowerment Schemes
Oil tankers for youth Empowerment Schemes

And Kinglong General Manager Wu Ming says his company which is one of the largest truck and bus manufacturer in China will use the soon to be signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Youth and Sport on skills development as a bedrock for its relationship with Zambia.

Mr Ming says his company which has been in the country for over 20 years will provide after care services through its well equipped workshop and technical staff to ensure that the project meets its desired goals.

He thanked the Minister and his Staff for their warm relations and pledged to continue working with the new dawn government in Youth Empowerment programs.

John Sangwa and Frank Mutubila discuss HH Presidency

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John Sangwa and Frank Mutubila discuss HH Presidency

Thousands of DR Congo refugees in Zambia opt to head home

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Thousands of DR Congo refugees in Zambia opt to head home

Nearly 5,000 refugees who fled violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) four years ago are opting to head home voluntarily from Zambia in coming months, with the first 100 people setting out yesterday.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Zambia’s authorities began the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees from Mantapala settlement, in Luapula province, to Pweto in Haut-Katanga province in DRC, as security has improved sufficiently to allow for their return in safety and dignity.

Some 4,774 refugees have expressed their intention to return voluntarily through intention surveys carried out by UNHCR in October. The voluntary repatriation which will continue into 2022 is part of the?continuation of the tripartite agreement signed in 2006 by UNHCR and the Governments of Zambia and the DRC.

As security has improved in some areas of Haut-Katanga, an estimated 20,000 refugees have spontaneously left Zambia since 2018 to return to their areas of origin – mainly to Pweto territory. UNHCR is working with authorities in DRC and involving development partners like CARITAS, to advance reintegration projects including education, health and agriculture, and to ensure conditions for safe and dignified returns.

Congolese volrep pre-departure 1
Congolese volrep pre-departure

Some 18,000 Congolese refugees live by farming at Mantapala settlement alongside 5,000 Zambians, across 11 integrated villages. The settlement was established in early 2018 to accommodate refugees who were displaced because of inter-ethnic clashes as well as fighting between Congolese security forces and militia groups in parts of the south eastern DRC in 2017.

The governments of Zambia and the DRC, UNHCR and its partners including UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are working closely to support the returning refugees. That support includes the provision of Voluntary Repatriation documents, expedited immigration clearance, health screening and school certificates to allow children to resume their education in the DRC.

UNHCR and WFP have provided two buses and two trucks to transport refugees and their belongings, as well as food for the journey. In addition, they will receive a cash grant to help them as they pick up their lives again in the DRC.

UNICEF has improved water and sanitation facilities at the reception centre in Chiengi district, where returning refugees will sleep over to process immigration documents before embarking on the final leg of their journey home.

The Government of Zambia has prepared a COVID-19 rapid test for the returning refugees at the Mantapala Rural Health Centre, before they commence the journey. UNHCR will disinfect the buses, provide face masks, hand sanitisers and, together with the authorities, ensure that COVID-19 prevention measures are observed, including loading of buses to half the capacity.

Zambia hosts some 103,028 refugees, asylum seekers, and former refugees. These include 63,681 from the DRC.

Debt Restructuring with Zambia’s creditors to be concluded by June 2022-Musokotwane

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Debt Restructuring with Zambia’s creditors to be concluded by June 2022-Musokotwane

Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said that government expects negotiations for debt restructuring with Zambia’s creditors to be concluded by June 2022.

Dr. Musokotwane says the country will begin accessing part of the International Monetary Fund 1.4 billion U.S Dollars package upon conclusion of the negotiations with creditors.

And the Finance Minister has projected that the country is set to attain annual growth rates of above 6 percent within the next 5 to 6 years.

Dr. Musokotwane was speaking during an interactive forum with journalists at his office in Lusaka yesterday.

He said he is convinced that the UPND administration is taking the necessary reforms to resuscitate the economy and improve the welfare of the people.

Dr. Musokotwane also took time to justify Zambia’s decision to get on an IMF economic programme saying it is the right path to economic recovery from unsustainable debt.

And Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda said the UPND administration is committed to fulfilling its campaign promises.

Ms. Kasanda urged the Media to track the strides being made by the new dawn administration.

She also urged the media to be objective in its execution of duty saying her office will mantain an open door policy for enhanced interaction.

CIDRZ signs MOU to enhance TB sensitization and workplace screening.

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CIDRZ signs MOU to enhance TB sensitization and workplace screening.

The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project Tuberculosis Local Organisations Network (TBLON), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) to enhance TB sensitization and workplace screening.

The partnership will assist CIDRZ, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to have easy access and carry out TB sensitization for people working in member companies affiliated to ZACCI. The MOU outlines the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) to which the partnership will adhere to, this also includes the provision for the establishment of a TB workplace policy for ZACCI affiliate companies.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, CIDRZ Chief Executive Officer Dr Izukanji Sikazwe who was represented by CIDRZ Chief Financial Officer Mr Ackim Sinkala, said the partnership is a great opportunity which will contribute to achieving of one of the project’s objectives to strengthen private sector engagement in the fight against TB.

She noted that Private Sector Engagement (PSE) is one of the many avenues through which most unreached communities in TB can be accessed and the partnership between CIDRZ and ZACCI will help in achieving this.

Dr Sikazwe said, the MOU will contribute towards enhancing government efforts to meet the national goal of ending TB by the end of 2030.

And ZACCI president Dr Chabuka Jerome Kawesha who is also the Chairperson for Zambia Private Sector Alliance (ZPSA) said the two parties enter into this agreement with the desire to promote good health standards across the country. The MOU therefore becomes an additional step towards the private sector participation in ensuring that the health care agenda of the country is upheld to the highest level.

He noted that ZPSA strives at creating unity across sectors of interest and foster a robust public and private partnership which ensures economic development, sustainability and it is important to have a healthy population and a healthy society.

Dr Kawesha said the Zambia private sector alliance recently signed an MOU with the Ministry of health to ensure that it participates in the fight against COVID-19 and further to that they noted the need for the private sector to partner with organisations that are experts at providing health care for the people of Zambia.

“We are happy to see the willingness of CIDRZ in the TB elimination program which can be brought to our workplaces. We are willing to discuss the scop to which our involvement should extend, where should provide technical, material or even information support to ensure that we roll back TB countrywide,” said Dr Kawesha.

Meanwhile CIDRZ announced and handed over a letter to Mr James Koni who is Atlas Mara Bank CEO as the new TB champion for showing leadership by spearheading private sector engagement in TB activities. Through he’s leadership, a handsome donation was made to the TBLON project with an aim of sustaining income generating activities for community health workers who are vital in the fight against TB.
Mr koni has shown personal commitment and passion towards promotion of good health in our communities. He has availed himself for TB advocacy which shall galvanise other corporate leaders and Zambians at large to fight TB and end TB by the year 2030.

And receiving the letter, Mr Koni thanked CIDRZ for the privilege accorded to him and appealed to fellow corporate and community leaders to hold hands together and take part in the promotion of TB awareness.

“During this time when we are dealing with ither infectious diseases such as COVID, it is easy to forget that there these other illnesses that we have to deal with and so I would like to urge everyone and thank CIDRZ and everyone to take part in the awareness so that we meet the objective of ending TB by the year 2030. Am happy to note the presence of Dr Kabwesha who signed the MOU with CIDRZ on behalf of ZACCI that we should together as a business community support such initiatives as a health country shall lead to a wealth nation,” said Mr Koni.

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