Posts in category: Uncategorized

For newborns with congenital hypothyroidism, early diagnosis spells the difference between a normal, healthy life and lifelong disability.

 A FAMILY of Serenje has sadly experienced a double tragedy after losing two people in just a week. 25-year-old Abel Mukosha , a mental challenged man on May 3rd, this year killed his 32-year-old sister Christabel Mukosha. Barely two days later, as he was being transported to the police station , he jumped off the […]

Asian Americans have significant differences in genetics, socioeconomic factors, culture, diet, lifestyle, health interventions and acculturation levels based on the Asian region of their ancestry that likely have unique effects on their risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

By VITA BANDA

THE Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) says there is need for the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) as the cost of borrowing is becoming unbearable to SMEs.

ZAM board member  Sajeev Nair says as much as the MPR helps address inflation, it has increased the cost of borrowing for businesses which already do not access finance with ease despite its critical need.

He adds that one of the key challenges with high interest rates is linked to large domestic borrowing or domestic debt.

Mr Nair says there is   need to address the high cost of borrowing for the SMEs and the manufacturing sector in general.

He adds that the manufacturing sector will only contribute positively to the GDP if they have cheap and easy access to finance.

President Hakainde Hichilema is right that the country needs increased trade and investment to develop.

And for this to be a reality, there must be economic diplomacy to market the business opportunities available.

With the country’s external debt having ballooned to a staggering US$13.96 billion, this is the more reason why there should be an aggressive drive to woo investors and boost foreign trade.

Only with increased foreign exchange earnings could the country be assured of settling this crippling foreign debt that hinders development.

Thus, the goodwill that the country has continued to attract must be interpreted into increased investment and trade.

We are glad that President Hichilema’s outing to Europe, primarily for yesterday’s coronation of King Charles III, includes investment-related engagements.

“This trip is not just about attending the coronation, this trip is more anchored on increased trade investment. Without trade and investment, no country can develop,” said Mr Hichilema before he left for the UK.

Already, the ninth annual Africa Debate forum Invest Africa is set to host a Zambia Investor Forum with President Hichilema and his team on Tuesday in London to highlight the country’s priorities and areas of opportunity for investment.

This follows a successful Invest Africa Trade Mission to the country earlier this year, according to a statement issued from the organisers.

“The half-day forum will provide an opportunity for President Hichilema to reinforce the message that Zambia is “open for business” and highlight the country’s priorities and areas of opportunity for investment.

This will be followed by presentations from key ministries including Commerce, Trade and Industry; Energy; Finance and National Planning as well as Mines and Mineral Development.

The Africa Debate is London’s leading Africa focused business forum.  The 2023 forum will focus on the continent’s trade profile in the wake of COVID-19 and a multitude of global economic shocks, with speakers discussing and debating the future for African trade.

We think these are important engagements that will bring into reality the many investment pledges made in the past.

According to the Zambia Development Agency, the country has in the first quarter of this year recorded a boom in investment pledges worth US$8.6 billion in different sectors of the economy.

Investment pledges worth US$8.6 billion have been recorded by the ZDA in the first quarter of this year, registering 81 projects.

We agree with the ZDA Director General, Mr Albert Halwampa, that this is a significant increase recorded in the same period last year of US$240.13 million investment pledges, from 74 projects.

Mr Halwampa attributed the increase to President Hichilema’s foreign trips where he had been engaging various investors.

Attracting credible investors will ultimately improve the people’s standard of living as the increased investment will help create jobs for the thousands of unemployed Zambians while boosting the country’s coffers.

A recent clinical trial showed that the drug combination of cemiplimab plus platinum chemotherapy can prolong survival in patients with advanced lung cancer when compared with placebo plus platinum chemotherapy. Now an analysis published by Wiley online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, indicates that cemiplimab plus platinum chemotherapy also affects quality of life compared to chemotherapy alone.

By MICHAE MIYOBA

ZAMBIA’S 2-1 victory over Morocco in their last group B fixture was not enough to propel the Ian Bakala-drilled Junior Chipolopolo to the quarter finals of the Algeria 2023 TotalEnergies Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Junior Chipolopolo put up a spirited fight and had to come from behind at the 19 Mai 1956 Stadium in Annaba, to overcome Morocco who had nothing to lose after winning their first two games against Nigeria and South Africa.

Zambia were behind as early as the 18th minute when Zakaria Ouazane put Morocco ahead inside the box from a well-timed pass by Mohamed Kebdani.

However, Bakala introduced Samson Malaya as one of the three players brought in the game at the start of the second half and the midfielder justified his introduction by levelling matters 17 minutes from time.

Zambia continued to dominate the North Africans with Aaron Simpasa and Emmanuel Mwanza constantly troubling their opponent’s backline and with five minutes to the end of the match, Marcel Zimba was tripped by Kebdani and referee Merveil Vendafara pointed to the spot.

Man, of the match Emmanuel Mwanza sealed the win two minutes from time when he sent Hamza Jlid the wrong way from the spot to score his third goal at the tournament after he grabbed a brace in the defeat to South Africa.

Despite having finished with a better goal difference than South Africa, the Junior Chipolopolo were ranked fourth in the group with three points on par with South Africa who finished third and qualified to the knockout stage as best losers.

South Africa qualified ahead of Zambia due to a head to head record after the Amajimbos beat the Junior Chipolopolo 3-2 in the second group tie played on May 3 at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine.

Bakala said he was proud of his boys despite the team’s failure to go past the group stage.

Bakala is hopeful that Zambia will do better next time after picking lessons from how the youth Afcon was organised in Algeria.

“All we wanted was to come out with a win. It is a good experience we have seen how tournaments like these are organised and going forward we are going to do better than this,” Bakala said.

Meanwhile, Bakala believes African football is going to develop if kids are introduced to modernised venues at a young age.

“For most of my boys it was their first time playing in stadiums like these of which is good. African football is going to go higher if we play in stadiums such as the ones we have found here. My boys did well despite losing the first two games but it was a good experience for them,” he said.

With Zambia eliminated, South Africa will face Senegal while Morocco will travel back to Constantine, where a battle royale against hosts Algeria awaits them in the quarter finals on Wednesday.

Nigeria will face Burkina Faso or defending champions Cameroon who by press time yesterday had unfinished business while Mali will meet Congo in the last eight.

Should healthy people be screened to help reduce their risk of fragility fractures? A new interactive online Fragility Fracture Decision Aid for shared decision-making can help clinicians and patients visualize their individual risk of fracture and the potential benefits and harms of preventive treatment.

By GRACE CHAILE

THE Lusaka High Court has ruled that the 3, 523 former civil servants who were victims of the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) programme introduced in 1998 and were not paid their full packages should have been retained on payroll as directed by the 2006 judgement.

By ELVIS MILAMBO

Government says smallholder farmers should adopt climate smart agriculture technologies to improve their farming practices.

Nyimba District Commissioner Paul Daka was speaking during the official opening of the field day organised by the Ministry of Agriculture in Nyimba, he said the adoption of climate smart agriculture contributes to national food security, reduces poverty and increases income.

He said climate smart agriculture is environmentally friendly and contributes to Zambia’s economic growth.

Mr Daka said environmentally harmful practices (monocropping, deforestation, harmful pesticides,uncrontrolled fires) should be discouraged by farmers.

Mr Daka has also urged seed companies in the country to help find solutions to combat fall army worms.-NAIS.