The Voice of Zambia

THE prolonged dry spells currently being experienced in the country are expected to continue throughout the month of February, especially over the southern half of the country. Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu said in a ministerial statement to Parliament yesterday that the current dry spells, coupled with high temperatures, are depleting soil moisture and impacting agricultural activities and water availability. Mr Nzovu said the weather conditions are posing several challenges to critical sectors within the country’s economy, and that it is crucial to adapt to strategies for sustainable farming practices, water management, and disaster preparedness…

MINISTER of Health Sylvia Masebo spent Saturday night and early hours of Sunday at Heroes Stadium cholera treatment centre to facilitate the transfer of a patient whose condition was not stable. Ms Masebo, who was yesterday in Lusaka’s Kanyama, Kaunda Square, Mtendere and Kalikiliki to sensitise the public on cholera, said she stayed on to facilitate the urgent transfer to the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH). “I left Heroes cholera centre in the wee hours of this morning, Sunday 02:00 hours,” she said. “There was a patient who was in critical condition who required urgent transfer to UTH, so I stayed there and facilitated the urgent transfer. There was also a baby who was not in stable condition, the child was stabilised by medical staff.” Ms Masebo has advised parents and guardians to reinforce personal hygiene practices among children as schools reopen today..

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema yesterday challenged developers of the Lobito Transport Corridor to create opportunities for everyone, including establishing joint ventures (JVs) with local entities “because the pie is too big to be chewed alone”. President Hichilema says Government is committed to actualise the Lobito Railway Corridor project since it is Zambia’s most significant development initiative after the TAZARA and the Cape to Cairo railway projects. Officiating at the Lobito Transport Corridor private sector investor forum, President Hichilema urged the business community in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to seize opportunities that will arise from the project. “This is not a joke and it shall be a reality soon where African institutions are working with the global community, and all we need is support from you experts and the private sector because we are providing leadership from the highest level, so the project must work and must be supported,” he said...

A TEACHER at Libala South Secondary School has been arrested and taken to court for allegedly assaulting and defiling a teenage pupil whom he also tried to sodomise. Nakisha Wamunyima, 37, is charged with defilement, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and attempts to commit unnatural offences. Between July 1 and August 2 last year, the accused allegedly unlawfully had carnal knowledge of MB, a child under the age of 16. In another count, allegations are that between the same dates, the teacher assaulted the girl and occasioned her actual bodily harm. In the last count, claims are that between the mentioned dates, the accused wilfully and unlawfully attempted to have sex with MB against the order of nature. At the time of his arrest, police were informed that the teacher allegedly took the victim out and when she arrived home late, she was asked to return to where she had been. When the victim returned to meet the teacher, he allegedly defiled her. The accused denied all the allegat...

  The Counter Debasement Commission (ACC) has addressed Agro Fuel Speculation Owner Shashi Patel over the granting of a delicate to his organization for the tidying up of TAZAMA Pipeline. ACC had additionally before gathered Devon Oil for addressing. Also, ACC Chief General Tom Shamakamba says the Commission is "following through with something" and will give the public realize access proper method. As of late Zambian Common Freedoms Association had stopped a grumbling with Boss Equity Mumba Malila against Energy Clergyman Peter Kapala for supposed maltreatment of office and his powers. This was comparable to the fuel supply tenders granted to Agro Fuel Ventures Restricted, Devon Oil Zambia Restricted and Transworld Oil Restricted. Our sources had before announced that Kapala had granted another fuel supply contract without following delicate strategy to Transworld Oil Restricted… Kapala had recently granted an agreement to Agro fuel for the stockpile of fuel without followin...

CHIEF Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says some senior opposition politicians are allegedly involved in a syndicate of smuggling mealie meal out of the country. Mr Mweetwa revealed that a Patriotic Front (PF) councillor has been arrested for allegedly stealing 450 50kg bags of white non-genetically modified organisms (GMO) grade A maize meant for vulnerable people in his ward in Chipangali, Eastern Province. The minister said the councillor, Robert Phiri, was cornered in the bush with his accomplices, following a tip-off. “Information reaching my desk suggests that he was not operating alone, that he is operating within a cartel, with some other senior political bigwigs in the opposition who are running a syndicate of illegally exporting or smuggling mealie meal and maize across the borders of our country,” he said..

ABOUT K110 million has been disbursed to over 4,500 beneficiaries countrywide under the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) that offers specialised financing solutions to small and medium-scale farmers, says Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mutolo. The facility is focusing on those not covered under Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) but have one to five hectares of farmland and it is primarily for maize producers but will soon expand to soya and wheat and eventually include livestock, poultry and fisheries. SAFF is an initiative of Government in partnership with five banks – Zanaco, Natsave, Indo-Zambia, Atlas Mara and Absa Bank Zambia – and backed by the Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme to offer loans at 12 percent interest rate and repayable at the end of the farming season..

RECRUITMENT of health workers for 2024 is starting this month but the positions will not be advertised because the Civil Service Commission already has a database of applicants. And recently recruited health workers who are yet to report at their work stations will be replaced. Acting Civil Service Commission chairperson Choolwe Beyani says this year’s recruitment will broaden the base of health workers because it will focus on new entrants. He said this here yesterday when he called on Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Paul Thole. “The commission is commencing another recruitment exercise for this year and it’s commencing earlier than last year. As early as January going into February we shall begin the process. As indicated earlier, we are not going to advertise those positions because we already have a database of the earlier applicants, but the recruitment process will go through the same guidelines and procedures…

SIAVONGA Town Council has suspended the Monday market activities at the harbour due to the escalating cases of cholera in the country. The market, which operates on Mondays only, attracts traders from Lusaka, Gwembe, Mumbwa and Chikankata, among other areas. Different produce from various areas are brought to the area to give an opportunity for people to buy products which cannot be found in Siavonga. Siavonga Town Council chairperson Given Kwapu said the move is meant to curb the spread of cholera into the district. “The market will remain closed until further notice,” he said, according to a statement issued by council public relations officer Gwendolyn Mchenga…

  PARENTS and guardians should avoid living complicated lives that will make their children rebel into uncultured citizens, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango has said. Mrs Nalumango says parents should endeavour to instil good morals in their children by not leaving the task to society, as there are many vices with potential to ruin lives. The Vice-President said this when she officiated at the launch of a book titled, ‘Living for Posterity – My Remarkable African Mother’, written by Sibeso Luswata, fourth-born daughter of late Wabei Lisulo. Ms Lisulo, commonly known as Bo Ma – Matauka, was a renowned Christian who established a church in Western Province..

A VOLUNTEER nurse who was left out in the recent recruitment of 4,000 health personnel will live to remember this year’s Christmas Day, which saw her being ‘gifted’ a permanent job. Prisca Mushambila’s ‘gift’ is especially special because it was at the decree of President Hakainde Hichilema when he visited staff and patients at University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) to commemorate Christmas. As the President was delivering Christmas hampers to patients at UTH’s Women and New-born Hospital, Ms Mushambila courageously approached the head of State and pleaded for his intervention in her employment status…

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has implored stakeholders and citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to safeguard the electoral process aimed at preserving peace and democracy. The head of State says political actors and their supporters, security forces and other interested parties should act responsibly and peacefully during the remaining hours of the polls and after the elections…

A 55-YEAR-OLD Rwandan of Meheba Refugee Settlement in Kalumbila district has died after he was allegedly hit on the head with a hoe by his friend. The duo picked a quarrel after a drinking spree on Sunday around 22:00 hours at Mana Farm in Matebo chiefdom. North-Western Province police commanding officer Dennis Moola said in a statement yesterday that Patrick Akizimana was murdered by John Bosco Mujenzi, 47, also of Meheba Road 105. Mr Moola said the matter was reported to police on Monday around 11:30 hours by chairperson for the Rwandans, Rashid Gakunde. He said police rushed to the scene and found the body lying facing upwards in a pool of blood. Mr Moola said upon physical inspection of the body, the victim was found with a deep cut on the right side of the head, swollen back of the head and a cut on the right side of the jaw. He said the body was picked and taken to Lumwana FirstLevel Hospital pending post-mortem while the suspect has been arrested.. 

GRIEF and anguish characterised the atmosphere during the burial of a 30-year-old Senseli mine tragedy victim in Chingola last evening. Family members and friends openly wailed for the life of their loved one, Sylvester Kadimanga, who they had hoped would survive the tragedy. Kadimanga was among the over 31 miners who were between November 30 and December 1 this year trapped in one of the tunnels at Senseli open-pit mine site.

ZAMBIA Air Force (ZAF) commander Colin Barry last week braved the rains to surprise No. 15 Air Defence Unit on an outdoor operation in Kasama. Lieutenant-General Barry said the visit underscored the importance of outdoor operations in enhancing ZAF’s strategic capabilities and operational readiness. “I am honoured to witness the incredible dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our personnel during this outdoor operation,” he said. “It is here, in the field, that we validate our training, test our equipment, and hone the skills necessary to face the diverse challenges that may arise.” Lt-Gen Barry highlighted the role of outdoor operations in showcasing ZAF’s strategic mobility and flexibility. He said the operations demonstrate the capacity to swiftly deploy and operate in varied environments that strengthen the strategic position and ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats…

INTERNATIONAL Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and H3D Foundation have announced a new three-year phase of their partnership, aiming to boost the skills and capacity needed to drive increased research and development of new medicines in Africa. The partnership is aimed at boosting kills needed to drive drug discovery and development on the continent. IFPMA communications manager Micaela Neumann said since 2021, IFPMA and H3D Foundation have collaborated to provide early and mid-career scientists in Africa with new opportunities to develop their skills to help address this challenge. “Despite 20 percent of the global burden of disease impacting people living in Africa, just two percent of medical research focused on new infections originates in Africa,” principal investigator for Drug Innovation Group at the University of Ghana Richard Amewu said. He said the IFPMA’s partnership with H3D Foundation has lent credibility to the contine...

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema, in his quest to enhance agricultural production and productivity for both local and regional markets, has urged the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to support local emerging farmers through the Agriculture Credit Window. The President said when he met FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu at the headquarters in Rome yesterday that Zambia’s food sufficiency is threatened by shortages in neighbouring countries. “Zambia’s food sufficiency is threatened by shortages in neighbouring countries,” he said in an online post. “Therefore, we urged the FAO to leverage Zambia’s central location and favourable hydrological and water conditions for two cycles of cereal crop production per year, enhancing per-acre yields.

THE British government has offered Zambia an additional £1 million (about K29 million) as support towards the fight against corruption. Announcing the financial support yesterday, British Ambassador to Zambia Nicholas Woolley said his country and Zambia enjoy a close and candid partnership and will support the country’s efforts to uphold democracy in its governance. Mr Woolley described corruption as a race to the bottom, a vicious cycle where the poorest and the most vulnerable bear the greatest burden.

SOUTHERN Province has cumulatively recorded 319 cases of people suspected to have contracted anthrax with two associated deaths. Last week, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock banned the slaughter and movement of livestock and their products within and out of the province following an outbreak of anthrax in Sinazongwe, Kalomo and Kazungula districts. Sinazongwe, where the first case was noted on July 5 this year, to date has 275 cases, with Kazungula highlighting 20 cumulative hospitalisations while Kalomo has 16. Livingstone has eight cases, and although it is not an area where the ban is enforced, it is the biggest market for livestock and its products. Sinazongwe district health director Christabel Musonda said cases of people suspected to have been infected with anthrax have reached 275…

NATIONAL Union of Private Educators of Zambia (NUPEZ) has advised teachers not to live beyond their means as this may lead to indebtedness. The educators have also been advised to stop gambling, a practice that is reportedly encouraging them to over borrow. NUPEZ Eastern Province coordinator Paul Mazunda told Breeze FM in Chipata that salaries which teachers are currently receiving are enough to sustain their daily welfare, hence they should live within their means. Mr Mazunda said overborrowing is not only limited to teachers but cuts across the civil service. “Some teachers have become highly indebted because they are introducing certain things that can’t be sustained with their salaries, therefore, subjecting them to abject poverty as they can’t manage to pay huge debt,” he said…