The Voice of Zambia

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…

POLICE officers at Chelston Police Station in Lusaka have been sued for allegedly illegally confiscating over K150,000 and an assortment of groceries from God is Able Grocery owners. The officers are also accused of ransacking the shop and drinking some beverages while conducting investigations over a stolen phone. Phillis Sichinga, owner of the shop, has gone to the Lusaka High Court seeking a declaration that the police misconducted themselves by confiscating K152,700 and other items. Ms Sichinga also seeks damages for loss of business, use and value for the money and further compensation for mental anguish and stress suffered…

ANTI CORRUPTION Commission (ACC) is formulating a law that will compel all government employees to declare their assets to help eliminate graft. Commission director general Tom Shamakamba says civil servants should ‘prepare’ for the policy as “it is now recognised by the United Nations (UN) that a country that doesn’t have an asset declaration regime is not doing enough to combat corruption”. Mr Shamakamba said although the policy might not be welcomed, government workers should be ready to declare their assets.