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THAT there appears to be a thaw in the frosty relations between the ruling United Party for National Development and the Patriotic Front is encouraging.

It could be a harbinger of the much-anticipated peaceful co-existence that Zambians yearn for between the country’s two largest political parties.

The reported meeting this week between the PF officials and the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Mr Jack Mwiimbu over the former’s application to hold a mass rally in Lusaka is thus encouraging.

The PF was prompted to request for a meeting with the minister after the Inspector General of Police, Mr Graphael Musamba refused to allow them hold a mobilisation mass rally slated for tomorrow.

The police chief cited security reasons for his refusal not to sanction the planned mass rally.

Obviously, not happy with the response they got from the police, the PF sought to write to the minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security and appeal. Mr Mwiimbu then overturned the decision by the Police Inspector General to reject the notification by the PF to hold its mass public rally and has allowed them to proceed.

Mr Mwiimbu, responding to a letter of appeal written by the rally’s organising chairperson, Mr Christopher Shakafuswa dated August 17, 2023, stated that he had considered the appeal and guided that the rally organisers should file a fresh notification of intention to hold the public rally. 

He also proposed alternative dates so as to allow the Zambia Police Service to indicate a favourable date for purposes of providing security.

Here in lies the bone of contention which we feel should be resolved with cool heads from either side – Government and PF.

Mr Mwiimbu, while over ruling his police chief has asked the PF to reschedule its rally which we feel is a win-win situation for all the parties involved.

We do sympathise with the PF member of the central committee, Mr Raphael Nakacinda, who had earlier led a delegation to meet Mr Mwiimbu saying they gave adequate notice to the authorities and would be pleased to hold the rally this week.

Mr Nakacinda, who is PF information and publicity chairperson said the former ruling party met Mr. Mwiimbu and informed him that the stopping of the mass rally by the police was irregular and illegal.

Mr Nakacinda said their writing to the minister was because it was provided for in the law and was of the hope that he would be able to align the police conduct and responses according to the law.

“The law only provide that the police have to be notified and not to get permission from them, a precedence was already set in the case of Mulundika,” Mr Nakacinda said.

We do not think there should be any antagonism between the ruling UPND and the PF.

We implore the two sides to keep the channels of communication open which is what Zambians want, rather than resort to acts that might only lead to violence.

As the PF’s deputy chairperson for information and publicity Mr Emmanuel Mwamba said, Mr Mwiimbu had been decent enough to have accorded the former ruling party audience over the matter, thus the more reason they should also replicate and ensure that they come to a common understanding that will help build and strengthen the country’s democracy.

Antagonism should not be the norm.

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A new health humanities essay from the University of Missouri highlights how the narrative of many news stories detailing the challenges of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic often emphasized individual experiences. However, many of these news stories often left out broader public health, socioeconomic and environmental contexts that are critical to how consumers of news shape their thoughts about the pandemic and how to respond.

…with Okocha, Diouf, Gyan, Adebayo to face Chipolopolo legends 

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

AFRICAN legends, Jay Jay Okocha, Alhaji Diouf and Ghana’s all-time top scorer Asamoah Gyan will lead a team of African legends that will face Chipolopolo legends in an intriguing exhibition match slated for November 4 at Lusaka’s Heroes Stadium.

The exhibition match organised by Kings of Africa aims at unifying people across borders through sport, Minister of Sports Youth and Arts Elvis Nkandu said.

The exhibition match has positive multiplier effects as business opportunities will be boosted in the hospitality industry, transport, general trading and tourism, thereby creating temporal and permanent jobs for all in the country, especially the youth, said Nkandu during the launch of the exhibition match at Heroes Stadium. 

He said Government was working towards amplifying the economic contribution of sport through job creation especially amongst the youth and increase the income opportunities.

“I am proud that our own Chipolopolo legends will once again battle it out with our brothers from our motherland Africa. We once again look forward to having a wonderful time as we are accorded an opportunity to see our legends in action,” Nkandu said.

“I am also delighted to note that the organisation of the African legends exhibition match will be done using resources from various private entities, and not from government,” he said.

Nkandu urged the corporate world to consider partnering with the organisers in sponsoring the event, and use the platform to market their goods and services.

And Kings of Africa Sports spokesperson Lecille Wadee said the organisation was determined to host another successful exhibition match after hosting the Barcelona legends match last May.

Wadee noted that the opportunities that the Legends match will bring to the economy of Zambia is invaluable. 

Meanwhile, Gyan, who was part of the Black Stars squad that lost to Zambia at the 2012 AFCON final said he was excited to participate and have fun in the legendary match against the Chipolopolo legends.

Gyan said the match which will unite legendary stars from across the continent was crucial as it will enable the players to share a joyful moment with Zambian football fans.

The former Black Stars international also took a jibe at the 2012 Chipolopolo squad that won the AFCON said they were lucky because they were helped by some spiritual forces in a country where the Zambian national team perished in the Gabon disaster crash.

By JAJAH COULIBALY

THE Fountain of Hope orphanage in Lusaka has received a significant boost from ADG Legal, a Dubai-based law firm with a focus on Africa, including Zambia. The law firm donated laptops and various accessories, amounting to K66, 000.

Chirag Mittal, the managing director of ADG Legal said the decision to donate ICT gadgets, particularly laptops, was motivated by the orphanage’s need for computer services due to their educational classes and learners’ requirements.

Recognising the importance of technology in today’s world, Mr. Mittal said, “With everything becoming computer-based these days, we felt it was important to contribute. We have also identified other areas of need and intend to provide further assistance in the future.”

Mr. Mittal, who was warmly welcomed by the children, emphasised the law firm’s commitment to giving back to the community, particularly in Africa and Zambia, where orphaned children are among the most vulnerable.

He noted, “We’ve witnessed individuals from similar backgrounds in society who were once orphans and have now become successful lawyers or business leaders. By supporting orphanages, we recognise their potential and aim to make a positive impact.”

Expressing gratitude for the donation, John Mwewa, the Executive Director of Fountain of Hope, emphasized the significance of the four laptops donated to the school and orphanage. He highlighted that these laptops would play a crucial role in enhancing the learners’ ICT skills.

Mr. Mwewa noted the growing number of orphanages in Lusaka and the competitive nature of receiving funds or donations. He appealed to other philanthropic individuals and corporate entities to follow the example set by ADG Legal in contributing to the community, as this collective effort is vital in uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable.

“Considering that Lusaka alone has more than a hundred orphanages, the demand for support is substantial. We hope that more corporate entities and well-wishers will join hands to contribute, no matter how small, towards making a difference,” he remarked.

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KALOMO District Commissioner, Joshua Sikaduli says the HIV response in Zambia has performed well in its efforts towards the attainment of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets with 89 percent of the population knowing their HIV status.

Officiating at this year’s HIV testing, counselling and treatment day in Kalomo yesterday, Mr. Sikaduli observes that 98 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) have been put on antiretroviral treatment (ART) while 96 percent are being virally suppressed.

Mr. Sikaduli further observes that annual AIDS related deaths have decreased from 138 in 2022 to 56 in 2023 and urged people to take HIV testing and treatment seriously to safeguard their lives.

“HIV testing is essential for slowing the spread of the HIV infection among people who are unaware that they are infected and may be less likely to take precautions to help prevent spreading the virus to others, taking into consideration that our focus is to end AIDS by 2030, but without intensified testing, this may remain a dream and not a reality,” Mr. Sikaduli notes.

The event was graced by Kalomo town council chairperson, Coy Makaya and Kalomo central parliamentarian, Harry Kamboni alongside Simayakwe councilor, Miyoba Mulongo, all, calling on people to take a lead to know their HIV status. Other stakeholders and partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS were present also to give support to the district HIV and AIDS task force (DATF).

This year’s HTCT day was celebrated under the theme ‘young people make a difference! Test for HIV’ and took place at Moonde rural health Centre in the outskirts of Kalomo district.

The theme reinvigorates the importance of HIV testing among adolescents and young people as they account for approximately 40 percent of the recorded new HIV infections for the past year. – ZANIS.

Acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are recommended as first-line treatments for managing short-term dental pain in children under age 12, according to a new clinical practice guideline developed by the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute (ADASRI), the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. The guideline has been endorsed by the American Dental Association.

Potentially modifiable comorbid conditions and complications have a major impact on the risks of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for people in their nineties, reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is more common in older individuals with long-term Type 2 diabetes. However, emerging research at Saint Louis University School of Medicine has found that ED indicates undiagnosed prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in young men under 40.

In 2012, University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher Anath Shalev, M.D., reported that a decades-old blood pressure medication called verapamil completely reversed diabetes in animal models.

…Kaluba Kangwa named TD, Kanyemba to lead COSAFA squad 

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

ZAMBIA’S envoys in the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League/COSAFA qualifier, Green Buffaloes Women Football Club have beefed up their technical bench with the inclusion of former Under-20 national women’s team coach Kaluba Kangwa as one of the technical directors.

Green Buffaloes Women’s team chairperson Major Nisa Chakupa confirmed that Kangwa will be assisting coach Carol Kanyemba who will lead the team in the absence of head coach Charles Halubono and assistant coach Beauty Mwamba who will be returning to Tanzania to complete their coaching courses.

“Currently coach Kaluba Kangwa is helping us for the sake of the Cosafa and we will travel with him as one of the technical advisers. Coach Halubono is still the head coach. The rumours you heard that he had left are not true although the one we are going with to South Africa as head coach is coach Carol because coach Halubono and Coach Beauty are going back to Tanzania to finish their coaching course,” Chakupa said.

Chakupa is confident that Buffaloes will be able to defend the Cosafa Cup after preparing adequately for the games set to take place in South Africa next month.

As defending champions, Buffaloes will face Double Action Ladies of Botswana in the group stages of the tournament as they hunt for a historic back-to-back regional triumph.

Buffaloes other opponents are Lesotho Defence Force and Ntopwa FC of Malawi while hosts Mamelodi Sundowns are in Group B with Olympic De Moroni of Comoros, Mozambique’s Costa Do Sol and Young Buffaloes of Eswatini.

The third edition of the regional qualifier will be held from August 30 to September 8 in Durban.

The teams will face-off in a round-robin format with the top two sides in each pool advancing to the semifinals. 

Only the club that wins this year’s qualifier will advance to the continental competition, which is scheduled to be held from November 5-19.