The Ministry of General Education, through the Zambia Library Service, has flagged off the distribution of 6,000 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) books worth 35,400 British Pounds from Book Aid International-UK.

The Zambia Library Service (ZLS) has also received K65,500 to purchase 564 books suitable for the local curriculum and US$1,777 for the printing and publication of 400 Pass It Booklets aimed at helping pupils in examination classes on how to answer questions during examinations.

The flagging off of the distribution of the STEM books to four schools was graced by the Ministry of General Education Director for Teacher Education and Specialised Services, Kotati Ngosa.

Mr. Ngosa thanked Book Aid International for a noble gesture that will help change the mindset of girls regarding taking up subjects that are deemed to be for boys.

“This special donation will encourage more girls to learn STEM subjects,” he said

Mr. Ngosa added that the four schools that will receive the books are not STEM schools but the donation will help encourage their female pupils to take keen interest in reading and studying STEM subjects.

He explained that all the four schools are located in provincial headquarters that have libraries run by Zambia Library Service.

Mr. Ngosa further said officers from provincial libraries should always make follow-ups to ensure books are being put to good use.

And Zambia Library Service Assistant Director Robinson Bwato noted with gratitude that the STEM books will inculcate the interest of reading at a tender age as they have a component of learner support that fulfils the reading culture.

“We treat illiteracy as a disease that must be treated with reading,” he said

Mr. Bwato added that the STEM programme is intended to curb discrimination that girls must not take up science.

He said it is unfortunate that is deemed normal for a girl child to fail in science.

“The provision of these reading material supports learners, learning and teaching to ensure that children are excelling in their examinations at the end of the day,” he said

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Chaebwa, the Senior Library Officer at ZLS and STEM Projects Coordinator, said a three day stakeholders training will be held to ensure that various stakeholders acquaint themselves with knowledge on the STEM projects.

“The training will have 16 participants which includes four provincial librarians, 12 teaching staff constituting of head teachers, one STEM teacher and one librarian,” she said

The government has expressed concern over the continued abuse of social media by unscrupulous people.

Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said it is unfortunate that some people are using social media to commit crimes such as cyberbullying, online sexual harassment and hate speech among others.

Mr Malupenga said Government values social media and fully supports its use but will not tolerate any form of abuse.

He said Government wants to ensure that the cyber space is safe for electronic business transactions and safe for receiving information for both genders and all age groups.

The Permanent Secretary was Speaking when he officially launched the Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group social media monitoring initiative in Lusaka yesterday.

And Mr. Malupenga has expressed happiness that organizations such as the Women’s National Lobby Group and the National Democratic Institute are coming up with initiatives aimed at raising public awareness on cyberbullying, hate speech and online sexual harassment against women.

He explained that the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes law which recently came into force was meant to cure such abuse.

“There is no law in Zambia that is against the use of social media and Government has no intention of enacting any law against the use of social media. We know that social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp among others, have transformed the communication landscape the world over and Government would not like to have its citizens remain in the past,” he said.

“Government is doing everything possible to get as many citizens as possible on the internet for their own benefit and ensure they move together with the rest of the world. That is why Government has, so far, spent over US $ 280 million in building and upgrading over 1000 communication towers across the country,” he said

And Zambia National Women’s Lobby Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said her organization is worried with the fast growing trend of cyberbullying, hate speech and sexual harassment against women in politics.

She disclosed that more than 70 percent of the Zambian female political leaders have testified experiencing online bullying, hate speech or sexual harassment in the course of their political leadership.
“Our organization, with the help of other partners, hopes to create a safe environment for women’s participation by raising awareness against such vices. We have since set up a monitoring tool through which members of the public as well as victims can report such incidents,” said Ms. Katebe.

Zambia National Women’s Lobby group has come up with a WhatsApp and Mobile Tip-Line (0973591491) which will be used by members of the public to report cases of cyberbullying, hate speech and sexual harassment against women in politics.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Press and Public Relations Unit.

The government does not own MV Gauja, the cargo ship that was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea on suspicion that it was carrying illegal arms, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation (IR&C), Ambassador Chalwe Lombe has said.

And Ambassador Lombe says Government does not own MV Antalya general cargo ship and has never registered the vessel. Ambassador Lombe said Government has never at any time issued any registration of the general cargo vessel, MV Gauja.

“The Government is yet to set up an International Ship Registry. Further, the Government is not undertaking any operation in the Mediterranean Sea,” Ambassador Lombe said.

He said as a consequence, Government had communicated to the International Maritime Organisation to inform the body responsible for all maritime matters, of this position.

The Permanent Secretary was responding to a press query on allegations suggesting that a vessel registered in Zambia and bearing the Zambian Flag was intercepted by the European Union Naval Force on suspicion of carrying illegal arms.

Ambassador Lombe also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in receipt of communication from the European Union Naval Force dated May 10, 2021 regarding the vessel MV Gauja that was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea.

He said the matter was being addressed through the relevant diplomatic channels.

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia remains unequivocally committed to safeguarding the interests of the country and its people, and reiterates its unwavering commitment to the principles that underpin its Foreign Policy in furtherance of cordial relations with other countries,” Ambassador Lombe said.

Meanwhile, Government says it is in receipt of communication from the European Union Naval Force dated June 21, 2021 regarding the vessel MV Antalya that was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ambassador Lombe clarified that Government does not own MV Antalya general cargo ship and has not issued any such registration.

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia has not yet set up an International Open Ship Registry and does not issue registration for international vessels,” he said.
Ambassador Lombe reiterated that Government is not undertaking any operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

“In view of these developments where organisations are illegally using the Zambian Flag and the Zambian Ship Registry, the Government of the Republic of Zambia has continued to engage the International Maritime Organisation, the body responsible for all maritime matters, and the European Union Naval Force to ensure that the matter is resolved urgently and conclusively,” Ambassador Lombe said.

He said it was unfortunate that a private tabloid published two articles regarding this matter without seeking an official Government position.

Vice President Inonge Wina says government intends to recruit more agricultural extension officers to teach farmers new methods of farming in the face of climate change that poses a serious challenge to the agricultural sector.

Mrs. Wina also said government would continue to support the vulnerable people in society through the social cash transfer, which she said would be increased. Speaking in Ngabwe today, Mrs. Wina said government wants to promote development in Ngabwe in the next two years.

She added that government would want to have an aerodrome constructed in the district in order to exploit the tourism potential. She said all the developmental projects taking place in the district cannot be realised if the headmen and the community were not working with government.

Mrs. Wina reiterated that the creation of new districts was initiated by the late President Michael Sata. She feared that voting for another political party would reverse all the development activities that have been initiated by the Patriotic Front (PF) administration.

”These districts were created for a purpose due to challenges our people were facing by walking long distances. That is why PF felt the need to make these services available to our people who live in rural areas,” she said

Speaking earlier on behalf of headmen, Kennedy Kasongo commended government for the early delivery of farming inputs under the Fertilizer Input Support Programme (FISP). Mr. Kasongo further commended the government for the social cash transfer programme and for putting up communication towers in the district.

Meanwhile, Vice President Inonge Wina has thanked traditional leaders in Ngabwe district for making sure that peace is maintained in the area during the campaigns for the forthcoming elections on August 12.

Mrs. Wina noted that there has been no serious clashes that have been recorded in the district since the inception of the campaign period.

She said this is because of the good leadership that traditional leaders have provided in the district.

Mrs. Wina was speaking in Ngabwe district in Central Province this afternoon when she held a meeting with the traditional leadership in the area.

And the Vice President stated that President Edgar Lungu remains committed to ensuring that the implementation of infrastructure development in the new district is completed.

Mrs. Wina noted that new districts are a creation of the Patriotic Front, hence the government is committed to ensuring that civil servants in these areas have decent accommodation while children have equal access to education among other services.

And chief Mwinuna thanked the government for the many developmental projects that have been implemented in Ngabwe district.

The traditional leader said it would not be fair for the people of Ngabwe to vote for other political parties or independent candidates when the development in the area is so visible.

Chief Mwinuna has since assured that the two traditional leaders in the area will continue working together to ensure that the headmen encourage people of Ngabwe to vote for the PF candidates and also sensitise them on challenges likely to be faced if they vote otherwise.

Meanwhile, chief Mukubwe thanked government for completing the construction of a mini hospital in the area.

He said once operational, the health facility will help address the many challenges people face when accessing health services.

Later, Mrs. Wina addressed headmen in the district and called on them to ensure that President Lungu and all the PF candidates are voted into power for continuity of developmental programmes.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has expressed happiness for being granted an opportunity to be part of the election observers for the August 12, 2021 general elections.

COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe disclosed that her organisation is already deploying an election observer mission which will be led by Members of the COMESA Committee of Elders, Ambassador Ashraf Rashed of Egypt with the assistance of Hope Kivengere of Uganda.

Ms. Kapwepwe added that others in the mission will include observers from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe and the COMESA Secretariat staff.

This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS by an officer in the COMESA Secretariat Corporate Communications Unit, Muzinge Chibomba.

Ms. Kapwepwe said the COMESA election observer team will be deployed to the field after going through a training programme on the COMESA election observer principles and methodology.

She further noted that the observation process will be guided primarily by the Zambian constitution and legal framework, as read with the relevant international and regional instruments including, the COMESA guidelines on election observation.

“As part of its mission, the observer team will consult various electoral stakeholders including political parties, security, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, civil society, and the media, among others. They will also exchange views with other election observers,” Ms. Kapwepwe explained.

Prior to the deployment of the observers, the COMESA Secretariat, which is based in Zambia, has been monitoring the evolving pre-electoral situation in the country including campaigns, civic education, and voter registration, among others.

Ms. Kapwepwe added that the mission will cover all the 10 provinces and was looking forward to the cooperation of all Zambians