Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu has directed Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba not to allow anarchy to prevail in the country.

Mr. Mwiimbu has prodded the police command not to allow anyone to engage in any criminal activities at any police station, saying that police should maintain the rule of law fairly and professionally regardless of who is involved.

Mr. Mwiimbu said this when he officiated at the Zambia Police pass-out parade of recruit officers at the Kamfinsa School of Public Oder Maintenance today.

Mr. Mwiimbu said that he is encouraged the 1 228 graduands to act responsibly, fairly, and firmly in their execution of duty.

And Mr. Kajoba said out of 666 of the over 1 200 graduands are female, representing 54 percent while 562 were male, which translates into 46 percent.

He said the accolade is unprecedented and only goes to show how serious matters of gender equality have been taken in the Police command.

Mr. Kajoba said he received a good report that the female graduands competed favorably with the male folk in all areas of training.

And Kamfinsa Mobile Unit Divisional Commander, Patrick Bili appealed to the government to help in addressing the challenges faced by the School.

Mr. Bili cited the lack of a dining hall and modern kitchen as some of the constraints which need urgent attention.

Education Minister Douglas Syakalima has said that pupils in boarding schools will still pay one thousand kwacha tuition fees next year.

Mr. Syakalima said that only vulnerable pupils who will be selected at the ward level by communities will have their fees paid from the Constituency Development Fund, adding that a bursary scheme has been introduced for vulnerable pupils in boarding schools.

Mr. Syakalima was speaking in parliament when he gave a policy statement on the 2022 budget estimates for the Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, Mr. Syakalima said government schools will get the equal amount of funds that they collected from the user fees.

He said for grant-aided schools the ministry will have to discuss and agree because they made a request to the ministry.

Mr. Syakalima also clarified that 2 thousand student loans that have been awarded to the University of Zambia students are in the 2021 budget for the 2021- 2022 academic year and not in next year’s budget.

And Muchinga Member of Parliament Emmanuel Banda appealed to have schools for differently-abled people in rural areas.

Mr. Banda further requested the government to consider the recruitment of teachers at the constituency level.

Meanwhile, Milanzi Member of Parliament Melesiama Phiri urged the ministry of education to ensure that the proposed 30 million Kwacha that has been allocated for sanitary towels for girls reached the intended beneficiaries.

Lumezi Member of Parliament Munir Zulu was sent away from Parliament for wearing an outfit that allegedly breaches parliamentary dress code.

Munir Zulu, who is a Muslim, was wearing an outfit known as the thobe.

The thobe is a long robe worn by muslim men.

The top is usually tailored like a shirt, but it is ankle-length and loose.

Zulu stated that he has not breached any Parliamentary Dress Code as outlined in Standing Orders 206 where his outfit is listed in the category of African Togas and such outfits are allowed.

But first deputy Speaker, Hon. Attractor Malungo Chisangano sent the Lumezi lawmaker away.

A consortium of organisations led by the Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) have joined efforts with the Government in driving sustainable change for children’s rights relating to quality education, health and social protection on the Copperbelt.

Working in partnership with Save the Children and the Sweden Sverige, Panos has yesterday in Ndola launched the Driving Sustainable Change for Children’s Rights (DSCCR) project which Panos is implementing in Ndola, Masaiti and Lufwanyama.

The DSCCR project that will involve over 2,500 children is aimed at fostering child-led and focused accountability for improved delivery of children’s rights to quality education, health, and social protection.

The project was launched by Copperbelt Provincial Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo, who was represented by his deputy Daniel Kamenga, at Urban Hotel.

In his speech, Mr. Kasongo bemoaned rampant cases of children’s rights abuse on the Copperbelt.

The Copperbelt Provincial Permanent Secretary cited violence against children as a common form of abuse happening in the province.

Mr. Kasongo revealed the Government’s plan to enact the Child Code Bill in Parliament in a bid to protect children.

“Through various human rights instruments Zambia has committed to ensure those children’s rights are upheld and protected. As you are aware Zambia is signatory to many human rights instruments that affect children,” he said.

“Domestically our commitment to children’s rights are reflected and amplified in the Republican Constitution under the bill of rights and various provisions on human rights. Despite this being the case, child rights violations are still rampant in our midst in many ways through our actions and decisions on failure to act when it matters as society. Parents, leaders and guardians deprive children of the opportunity to live and enjoy their rights which all these protocols assured them,” Mr. Kasongo stated.

“When society does not provide that school space to a child his or her right is violated. When the health services are lacking and a child dies of preventable diseases his or her rights are denied. And when society leaves a child safeguarding to chance his or her rights are at stake from potential abusers. Let me take this opportunity to state that the province will soon launch the programme to end violence against children,” he said.

Mr. Kasongo further reminded children present at the project launch to be responsible saying human rights come with responsibilities.

Panos Institute Southern Africa Executive Director Vusumuzi Sifile said every citizen has a duty to advance sustainable change for children’s rights in education, health and social protection.

Mr. Sifile said children must hold leaders to account over their rights, especially those relating to quality education, health and social protection.

“In our approach as Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf), children feature prominently. Children need to also have platforms where they express themselves. We also implement actions that focus on stimulating actions to address problems and we do not do it as Panos, stimulate community action because we believe in citizens driving the development agenda themselves. Yes we have the duty bearers; the Government, we have cooperating partners, we have civil society but we believe that the most sustainable development is that which is driven by the communities themselves,” said Mr. Sifile.

Speaking on behalf of children, Henry Musonda, a grade 11 pupil at Northrise Combined School in Ndola, hailed the launch of the Driving Sustainable Change for Children’s (DSCCR) Project.

Musonda, who was accompanied by three other children and a teacher, spelt out children’s expectations from the project.

“As children we are thankful for this project being launched concerning the driving sustainable change for children’s rights. We believe that for sure this project will bring sustainable change for children’s rights and that it will be beneficial for us as children,” Musonda said.

“The first right I feel should be protected is the right to education because as it is said education is the key to success. Whenever a child is being educated it is important as they will contribute to the development of the country,” he said.

The Panos (DSCCR) Project seeks to foster child-led and focused social accountability for improved delivery of children’s rights to quality education, health and protection.

The main objectives of the project include facilitating effective child participation in fostering accountability in decisions and actions to advance children’s rights at district, provincial and national level, facilitating advocacy for responsive policy and legal environment for sustainable delivery for children’s rights among others.

The project will work with school based child rights clubs and various stakeholders including relevant government agencies to ensure that these objectives are achieved

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on all countries to unite to find solutions to new Covid-19 variant, Omicron challenge as well as ensure equitable access to vaccines across the developing world.

Speaking yesterday when received Letters of Credence from Margaret Kamoto, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malawi and Margret Verwijk, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Mr. Hichilema expressed concern about the new Covid-19 varian.

During the ceremony at the State House in Lusaka, President Hichilema underscored the Government’s commitment to pursuing robust and far reaching economic diplomacy to build fruitful relations that will yield mutually beneficial and tangible deliverables through the establishment of new areas of cooperation.

President Hichilema stated that his recent working visit to Malawi reflects the warm bilateral relations that exist between the two countries.

The Head of State emphasized the need for the two countries to expedite, among other projects, the operationalization of the Mwami/Mchinji One Stop Border Post to facilitate trade between the two countries.

The Head of State noted the longstanding, warm bilateral relations between Zambia and the Netherlands and further underscored the Government’s focus on restoring historical ties and scaling up the level of partnerships in areas of interest such as agriculture, gender and climate change.

The President called for increased cooperation with the Netherlands to enable Zambia to draw lessons from the Kingdom’s vast experience in sectors that are vital to Zambia’s economic transformation agenda.

And High Commissioner Kamoto pledged to work towards expanding and deepening trade and economic cooperation that exists between Zambia and Malawi, taking into consideration the opportunities in regional, sub-regional and continental bodies.

The High Commissioner also reaffirmed her commitment to enhancing relations through good neighbourliness and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Verwijk hailed Zambia for holding successful elections in August 2021 and consolidating its position as a beacon of democracy.

The Ambassador highlighted the areas of cooperation between Zambia and the Netherlands in sectors such as agriculture and education and further pledged to work towards strengthening the existing bilateral ties during her tenure of office.