Kapijimpanga ward chairperson, Jacob Mashimango has advised the new dawn government to unreservedly fulfill its campaign promises to maintain it popularity.

Mr Mashimango says there is need for his party to ensure that it delivers its campaign promises so that Zambians do not feel cheated.

He says 2026 is not very far for the party to relax and start discriminating against those who may want to join the UPND from other political parties.

He said this when Solwezi constituency Member of Parliament Stafford Mulusa visited Mapopo area in Chief Kapijimpanga’s area to thank the electorates over the UPND victory in August 12, 2021.

“We should not discriminate against those who want to join our party…whether PF, DP, SP they are all welcome “, he said.

Mr Mashimango said rural communities have a lot of challenges ranging from lack of clean water, lack of teachers houses coupled with shortage of health workers in health facilities and poor road network which need urgent attention.

The councilor said the UPND party was voted into power because people had hope that it would bring change and improve their lives.

And Solwezi central constituency Member of Parliament, Stafford Mulusa said the UPND leadership will not let the Zambian people down.

Responding to the concerns, Mr. Mulusa said throughout Zambia, North-western province is the only area where the UPND was given 95 percent votes at all levels from the councillor to the President.

He encouraged the women and youths to form cooperatives so that they benefit from the K25.7 million constituency development fund (CDF).

“President Hichilema has said out of K25.7 million, K10 million should go towards youths and women programs…so make cooperatives”, Mr Mulusa said.

He asked the people to look forward to 2022 when the UPND national budget will be implemented.

“I am aware my constituency has a lot of challenges which the previous government did not pay attention to…but I assure you the UPND leadership is very committed as you can see from the recent increase of the CDF allocation”, Mr Mulusa said.

He said come next year when the UPND budget starts working all the current social challenges will be swallowed and addressed.

Mr Mulusa warned that with the free education coming in 2022 any parent who will fail to take the child to school shall be punished.

The Solwezi central constituency Member of Parliament is on a two day tour going round the 12 wards to thank the electorates for voting the UPND into power during the 12 Augusts, 202 general elections.

A heavy downpour leftover 42 houses, three bars, and four shops roofless in Baluba ward in Luanshya district.

Acting Luanshya District Commissioner, Kasemuka Mwalo confirmed the incident and described the incident which happened on Thursday evening as unfortunate.

“We received information that a heavy downpour on 4th November left a trail of destruction and immediately, a team consisting of the local authority, police, and other relevant departments rushed to assess the extent of damage caused.” Mrs Mwalo said.

The storm further affected Baluba Police post whose roof was partially blown off and also a number of ZESCO electricity poles that fell down.

“Fortunately, no injuries were sustained although some household property was affected, as first respondents, the District Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit upon assessing the vulnerability of the people, we moved in and food rations was taken in to mitigate the situation” she explained.

Mrs Mwalo disclosed that her office was compiling a report that will be forwarded to the DMMU region office and ultimately the national office for further action.

She however noted that much needed to be done in terms of construction of houses in unplanned settlements, attributing the damage to poor infrastructure.

“ I would like to appeal to the people to seek assistance from the local authority when building their houses so that people use appropriate materials when building so that they meet the minimum required standards to prevent the recurring damages every rainy season, ” she observed.

Mrs Mwalo further appealed to the residents of Baluba to avoid building substandard structures to avoid loss of property.

The government says the Children’s Code bill will be finalized in the next sitting of parliament in order to promote and protect the children’s warfare.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba bemoaned the escalating levels of abuse, against children’s rights on social media.

Ms. Mwamba explained that the surge in the publication of stories of children in conflict with the law on social media is uncalled for.

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services made the remarks when she launched the first-ever Juveniles Justice Activism Week in Lusaka.

She underscored that despite the rise in juvenile delinquency, and high number of children who come into conflict with the law, the general citizenry should refrain from taking to social media as it is illegal.

Ms. Mwamba envisioned that the Children’s Code Bill once enacted, will address bottlenecks that dwindle the rights of children in the country.

She further expressed optimism that the inaugural event will be commemorated annually, to raise awareness and promote the rights of children.

“This first-ever event which is key to enhancing the rights of children reminds me of the urgency that we have attached towards strengthening laws that protect children. We are in the next seating of parliament finalizing the Children’s Code Bill that will protect children and halt all the vices that surround their well-being in society,” she stressed.

And Acting Chief Justice Michael Musonda, that the Judiciary is dedicated to the no delay policy, in disposing of juvenile cases in the country.

The Acting Chief Justice explained that the policy demands that within seven days cases of juveniles should be committed to High Court for further determination.

He hailed Save the Children Zambia and other cooperating partners for working hand in hand with government in building the capacity by training officers that deal with juvenile-related issues.

The Acting Head of Judiciary placed emphasis on the call of the children division which includes promoting, protecting the rights of children and ensuring well-being of juveniles that come into conflict with the law.

“We have dedicated to the children’s seat five judges who resolve matters relating to the welfare of children in the country. The Justice Forum is also in line with the aspirations of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 16 that speaks to the rights of children,” he stressed.

Zambia today launched the first ever Juveniles Justice Activism week under the theme “A child-friendly Juvenile justice system that promotes community-based rehabilitation and reintegration”.

Senior Youth Development Officer, Musheke Kakuwa has encouraged youths in North-western province to actively participate in issues of good governance.

Mr Kakuwa says it is high time young people took a leading role and actively participated in influencing the decision making process in matters of development.

The Senior Youth Development Officer said this in an interview alongside a youth dialogue meeting on comprehensive sexuality education held in Solwezi yesterday.

“We are not going to allow a situation where decisions are made for young people without them getting involved,” Mr Kakuwa said.

He said his ministry wants to involve young people in the formulation of the eighth National Development Plan and the review of the National Youth Policy of 2015 through such platforms.

“This platform also gives young people an opportunity to air out their challenges and also to build up on these other issues of national importance,” Mr Kakuwa said.

In line with the 2022 national budget the ministry wants to ensure young people are involved in national matters especially at district and provincial levels, he said.

Mr Kakuwa has since called on youths to realize that for them to be recognized they need to take up a responsibility and have a share of the national cake.

He said starting next year the ministry wants to see a change of mindset among young people and drive the economy other than just be followers.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu, has called for strengthened global partnerships and renewed commitment to accelerate climate change financing.

Mr Nzovu made the call when he delivered country perspective remarks during the Commonwealth-organised side-event, dubbed “Accelerating Climate Finance Access for Nature-based Solutions in Supporting Climate, Land and Biodiversity Targets” at the on-going COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mr Nzovu said accelerating financing efforts on climate, land and biodiversity is critical, to ensure the country achieves aspirations for a green economy.

“It is our shared hope that through this exchange, we will strengthen our partnerships and realise a renewed commitment by the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the three Rio Conventions: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).” The Minister noted.

The Minister informed the delegates from across the world that Zambia has set ambitious targets on climate change.

He added that the country recently revised and updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which is a State Party to the Paris Agreement, in reducing national emissions, as well as adapting to the impacts of climate change.

On biodiversity, Mr Nzovu said Zambia subscribes to the Aichi Targets and is actively engaged in formulating a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity framework.

“Similarly, we are working towards achieving a no net loss on land degradation by 2030.

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 contribution to global efforts in addressing these multiple challenges.” The Minister said.

Other participants at the side-event were the Minister of Environment Forestry and Tourism of Namibia; the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade of Seychelles and the Minister for Climate Change and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The new dawn government has challenged the corporate world to support the well-being of the girl child in society.

Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe says the private sector needs to embark on initiatives meant to power the girl child as she is a key player for this nation’s future social-economic development.

The Minister was impressed with the waterless lavatory innovation which utilizes a type of technology that allows human waste to transform into manure that can be used in farming.

Speaking in Lusaka yesterday when Savenda Group in partnership with Leedsfit Holdings handed over a girl’s waterless lavatory block to Chainda Primary school, Mr Haimbe commended the two firms for the gesture worth emulating by other firms.

“Innovations such as these that are meant to foster the well-being of the girl child and indeed to foster the general principle of health and sanitation are always welcome,” Mr Haimbe said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Leedsfit Holdings Group Director Kevin Situmbeko said the waterless lavatories are non-contaminable.

“The sanitary pads will be thrown in there and they will dry together with the fecal, the liquid is separated and we are able to harvest whatever remains there. These toilets are very affordable and we’d like to thank Savenda for being s company that supports the girl child,” Mr Situmbeko said.

And Savenda Group Director for Special and Medical Projects Norman Brown said his firm is committed to supporting projects that empower the girl children.

And Chainda Primary School Headteacher Mubita Mubita used the occasion to ask authorities to solve the massive flooding at the school that occurs during the rainy season.