Zambia is among the hundred countries that have signed the Glasgow Leaders declaration on forests to stop deforestation by 2030.

President Hichilema says the development as a milestone for Zambia as the country moves towards harnessing renewable energy.

Mr Hichilema cited solar, wind and hydroelectricity as of the renewable sources of energy government intends to promote.

The President , who is among the 200 world leaders and delegates attending the COP26, disclosed this on his official tweeter page yesterday.

“We signed the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests to stop deforestation by 2030,” the President’s tweeter post read.

More than 100 world leaders have promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit’s first major deal.

Experts welcomed the move, but warned a previous deal in 2014 had “failed to slow deforestation at all” and commitments needed to be delivered on.

Felling trees contributes to climate change because it depletes forests that absorb vast amounts of the warming gas carbon dioxide ( CO2).

The Department of Immigration in Katete on 3rd November, 2021 secured the convictions of two Zambian drivers.

The Department of Immigration Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka says among the convicted includes Funwel Banda aged 29 and Matias Phiri aged 35 who were arrested for the offence of aiding and abetting 40 undocumented Ethiopians, contrary to section 46 (1) (a) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mr Nshinka ,in a statement issued to to the media, said the duo were handed over to Immigration by the Police on 15th October, 2021 after they were apprehended on 14th October, 2021 at Mudzime in Katete District, Eastern province.

“This was after the duo, together with Forty (40) undocumented Ethiopians were intercepted aboard a Toyota Granvia Registration No. ACJ 1101 and a Grand Hiace Registration number : ABZ 9445 alerted members of the community who were on a night vigil to curb the theft of cattle and other properties which were rife in the area,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer explained that the two Zambian drivers failed to provide a concise explanation for their movements, prompting the members of the community to inform the Police who later apprehended them, along with the Ethiopians.

“ The two convicts appeared before the Magistrate Court in Katete on 3rd November, 2021 and each was sentenced to pay a fine of K 60,000 or in default two years imprisonment with hard labour, “ he said.

The convicts were also charged with possession of money reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1)(a) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.

They are scheduled to appear in Court on 15th November, 2021 for commencement of trial as they denied the charge.

The Toyota Granvia and Grand Hiace used to transport the Ethiopians have since were forfeited to the State.

Mr Nshinka has further disclosed that the number of convictions secured by the Department between 28th October, 2021 to 4th November, 2021 to Forty-Three 43.

“During this same period the Department also apprehended Four Hundred and Forty (440) persons for various immigration offences, removed One Hundred and Fifty-Nine (159) illegal immigrants from the country and refused Sixteen (16) foreign nationals’ entry into Zambia for failing to meet entry requirements,” he added.

Mr Nshinka noted with concern the trend where drivers of motor vehicles are being hired by traffickers and smugglers to transfer or transport illegal immigrants, mostly without the knowledge of the Motor Vehicle owners.

He said the convictions of the two drivers in Katete must serve as a warning to any driver harbouring similar ideas.

He advised Motor Vehicle owners to sensitize their drivers to avoid any such temptations because the owners too risk losing vehicles used in illegal activities to the state.

The Ndola City Council says it has recorded several incidences of damaged buildings due to the hailstorm that occurred on Wednesday.

NCC Public Relations Manager, Rebecca Mushota said some buildings had their roofs blown off while others were damaged by trees that fell on them.

Ms Mushota said the Fire Brigade and Parks and Gardens unit worked over night to respond to the incidences.

She added that the department of public health has also moved into markets and bus stations to clear the waste.

Ms Mushota said some buildings that had their roofs blown off include Ambassador Hotel whose part of the structures also were damaged, provincial agricultural Coordinator’s extension offices and its conference room.

She said no injuries or fatalities were recorded in any of the reported incidences.

“The council wishes to advise the public not to park their vehicles under trees in order to avoid incidences such as the ones recorded,” she said.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has embarked on a pilot programme aimed at reducing carbon emissions in order to mitigate climate change in Vubwi district in Eastern province.

The programme is being undertaken with the support of US$32.8 million World Bank funded Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project (ZFILP).

ZEMA Principal Inspector of Climate Change, Lilian Kalenge, said the project employs advanced data collection technologies that will assist the agency with real time information on the reduction or increase of carbon emissions in the atmosphere of a certain area.

“The background to this is that ZEMA, with support from ZFILP, is developing systems to improve collection of information that enables us to do measuring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gasses,” Ms. Kalenge said.

She explained that using smart inspectorate tablet devices which are equipped with questionnaire forms, the agency will be able to collect information from farmers that will help them to tailor mechanisms of intervention.

She said in an effort to support the agenda of the new initiative, the collaborating sectors will seek to involve stakeholders under agriculture, forestry, livestock departments and other land users because of their direct linkage to the predominant activities in Eastern province.

Ms. Kalenge has since welcomed the initiative which in the long run will help in alleviating poverty following increased crop yield as a result of lowered carbon emission that has an effect rainfall.

She explained that Zambia also stands to gain from carbon credits due to the initiative.

Meanwhile, Vubwi Acting District Commissioner Mustard Phiri said the project would also help equip people in the area with the much needed information on preserving natural resources.

“There is an information gap. Our people don’t really know much about the need to preserve their trees. They don’t really understand the devastating effects of climate change,” he said.

And a farmer, Cosmas Zulu, who attended a trial of the data collection exercise, also applauded the project, declaring that it would help increase his crop yields.

“This was insightful especially on climate change and its effects on our yields. For example, the rains have dwindled over the years and it delays because of climate change resulting in a spiraling down of our yields,” Mr. Zulu said.

Besides Vubwi district, the project is expected to be piloted in Lundazi, Mambwe, Petauke and Chipata districts.

In the recent past, Zambia has experienced notable adverse impacts of climate change which has seen an influx in droughts, occasional dry spells, and unbearable temperatures and also change in the rainfall pattern.

Green party President Peter Sinkamba has said that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) Government should, first of all, reinstate all public service employees who have been fired by President Hakainde Hichilema in the last two months, before a similar gesture can be extended to all those who were fired in a similar manner during the tenure of former ruling parties.

Reacting to a cabinet circular that all former Public Service employees that were retired on political, tribal, or any other unfair grounds and wish to be reinstated in the public service should send their appeals to PMSD for consideration, Mr. Sinkamba said that the move will backfire adding that since taking office, President Hichilema has terminated jobs or retired hundreds of public service employees, including staff in embassies and high commissions.

Below is the full statement

By Peter Sinkamba

UPND GOVERNMENT IS JUST COMPLICATING THINGS FOR ITSELF, BY EVERY MOVE THEY MAKE, THIS ONE INCLUSIVE

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The Secretary to Cabinet has announced that all former Public Service employees that were retired on political, tribal or any other unfair grounds and wish to be reinstated in the public service should send their appeals to PMSD for consideration, will backfire in the face of UPND Government.

Since taking office two months ago, President Bally has terminated jobs or retired hundreds of public service employees. All of them were fired either for political or unfair grounds.

None of them were accorded any hearing. They were fired through TV announcements, and up to now, none have been given reasons why their jobs were terminated.
Clearly, this move by Government is intended to employ UPND members and sympathisers. It is purely a partisan move.

For, if this move were not partisan, the UPND Government should have first of all reinstated all public service employees who have been fired by President Bally in the last two months, and then advise all those who were fired in similar manner during PF, MMD and UNIP to reapply.

Without reinstating those fired under UPND administration, then sadly, it is fair and just to conclude that the whole scheme is nothing but a manipulation and abuse of power by the New Dawn Government for partisan, tribal and regional ends.

By the way, mwebantu, according to Article 266 of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment 2016 “public service ” employee means any person in the “Civil Service, the Teaching Service, Defence Force and National Security Service, the Zambia Correctional Service, the Zambia Police Service, Emoluments Commission, State Audit Commission, Lands Commission, Electoral Commission, Human Rights Commission, Gender Equity and Equality Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission, the Anti-Financial and Economic Crimes Commission, the Police and Public Complaints Commission, and service as a constitutional office holder, service in other offices, as prescribed”.

This includes staff in embassies and high commissions.

The Zambian government says it is committed to biodiversity conservation, proper land management and fighting climate change to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of its people.

Collins Nzovu, Minister of Green Economy and Environment said the government was aware that the conservation of biodiversity that constitutes natural capital was critical to ensuring that Zambia achieves its aspirations of a green economy and attainment of socio-economic development for all.

“I wish to share with you my government’s determination to ensure that the green economy, which entails low carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive approach drives the economic transformation and recovery that we so desperately need,” he said during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, according to a release.

Zambia, he said, was endowed with abundant fauna and flora hence the need to take biodiversity conservation seriously, adding that the creation of a dedicated ministry was meant to synergize efforts to cope with forests loss, climate change, biosafety and environmental protection.

According to him, the bringing together of interrelated and critical functions under one ministry would promote a development path that considers natural capital as a critical economic asset and a source of benefit especially for the poor.

The re-alignment of portfolio functions would enhance green investments that would spur renewable energy and resource efficiency, he added.

“However, we are constrained to achieve most of these targets in time due to inadequate financial resources, making it difficult for us to make our fair share contribution to global efforts in addressing these multiple challenges,” he said.

Zambia, he said, was currently engaged with the global community in formulating a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.