Posts in category: Uncategorized

A large outbreak of typhoid on a ship in the Netherlands has been traced to contaminated water, this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2023, Copenhagen, April 15-18) will hear.

By NATION REPORTER

ZAMBIA would not have multiple transitions of governments from one political party to another without the active participation of the civil society, Alliance for Community Action (ACA) executive director Laura Miti has said.

Ms. Miti has said civil society in Zambia often set the agenda and informed citizens by alerting citizens on matters that needed to be dealt with, especially matters that to do with the constitution and governance.

She said civil society worked hard to ensure that the 50 percent +1 type of elections were included in the constitution as well as the date for elections including the infamous Bill 10 which, according to her would have prevented elections from taking place.

Ms. Miti said civil society had been vital to the country’s democracy such that when there was no one speaking, even when opposition parties were weak, the civil society voices had always come out to ensure that there was always someone who spoke for the voiceless.

“We go further to simplify issues of debt so that an ordinary person could understand what is happening, that is why Civil society must be valued,” Ms Miti said.

She said it was important for citizens to know that politicians should be held accountable at all times because if left unchecked, the citizenry would not know what those in leadership could do for their own selfish interest.

And Electoral Commission of Zambia  chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis has said Zambia has done tremendously well in upholding peaceful transition of power during elections since 1991.

Ms. Zaloumis said the inclusion of the voting day in the constitution was a great milestone in the country’s electoral process because in the past. 

By NATION REPORTER 

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has ostensibly converted the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into an appendage of the UPND by moving as operations to State House, Wright Musoma has said.

Mr Musoma says it is not surprising that the ACC and other law enforcement agencies were only pursuing alleged corruption cases of those perceived to be political foes to the UPND administration because the agencies had become appendages of the governing party.

Mr Musoma in an interview said that recent revelations by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Kasonde Mwenda that three of his reports at the ACC had gone unnoticed was a clear indication that the fight against graft was but politically selective.

Recently Mr Mwenda dropped what he claimed was a dossier at the ACC detailing alleged corrupt activities by some Cabinet Ministers and other high-ranking Government officials in the procurement of farming inputs.

Mr Musoma said that the investigative wings were being given instructions on who to pursue from the powers that be, claiming that the fight against corruption under the UPND had become a mockery.

“I just want to urge the ACC and other investigative wings not to be used by the current regime because political power is not perpetual. There shall come a time when those in power will have their tour of duty come to an end and time to account for their transgressions shall certainly come,” Mr Musoma said.

He said that the people of Zambia were watching and were waiting for results because as things stood it was evident that they just wanted to fix those in the PF.

GOVERNMENT must be commended for starting a 24-hour operating module at Kasumbalesa border beginning with passenger clearance.

We have no doubt that this will please cross border traders especially for it will greatly reduce their overhead costs.

For instead of being made to stay in lodges as they wait to clear the border formalities if they arrive late, they are now assured of crossing at any hour of the day.

Although delays still remain for transport firms, it is encouraging that their plight is being looked into as well.

Government through the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has increase operating hours for passenger clearance at Kasumbalesa Border Post in Chililabombwe from 18:00 hours to 24:00 hours.

This was disclosed by the ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Oliver Nzala said in an interview with Millennium TV, that the revised working hours are with immediate effect both on the Zambian and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sides.

“Operating hours at Kasumbalesa border post have been revised from 18:00 hours to 24 hours with immediate effect. Now at the same time, the two revenue authorities or administrations are also putting in place mechanisms to ensure that commercial cargo operation hours also in terms of the operating hours, are revised.”

It is good that the two governments are working together to ensure that operations at the busy border crossing are improved.

It does not augur well for transporters to have their trucks marooned at the border post for days on end for this increases the cost of doing business.  No one wants this. 

The congestion experienced at Kasumbalesa border post has been a thorn in the flesh for the government as the line of uncleared trucks stretch as far as Chambishi.

Obviously this is quite an inconvenience for the drivers as they are not able to access ablution facilities along the roads, let alone water for cooking and drinking.

According to Mr Nzala, the two governments at their March 6, 2023 meeting resolved to try and find solutions to some of the challenges that are faced at the border. 

And among the commitments that were made and resolutions was to ensure that the border goes 24 hours in terms of passenger clearance and commercial cargo, Mr Nzala said.

He said the two revenue administrations would continue working out mechanisms to increase operating hours for commercial cargo clearance in due course.

“There were many other resolutions that were agreed upon including infrastructure at the same borders so to that effect Sakania, Mokambo and Kipushi mechanisms are also being put in place to ensure that even those three borders go 24 hours in terms of operating. 

But while Government is trying to improve operations at Kasumbalesa, it must also ensure that the Chirundu border post also gets an upgrade in operating hours.

If anything, the border crossings – Kasumbalesa, Chirundu, Kazungula, Nakonde and Mwami – which are key trade routes should all be operating 24-hour shifts.

Moreover, the increased incomes from these border crossings will enable the government recoup the money spent on improving the facilities.

These border posts have all been upgraded to one-stop border posts hence it makes economic sense to ensure they start operating 24 hours for they have all the facilities.

That is ensuring a 24-hour economy becomes a reality.

By NATION REPORTER 

JACK Mwiimbu has been told to desist from threatening citizens who wish to express themselves through protests if they are displeased with the manner the UPND is running the country.

Brian Mundubile, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament says it is undemocratic for Mr Mwiimbu the Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister to threaten citizens who did not agree with the manner the country was being governed.

Mr Mundubile says Mr Mwiimbu should resist the temptation of being autocratic because Zambians hated any form of undemocratic tendencies and shall therefore any attempts by the UPND to govern the country by the whims of man instead of the rule of law.

Mr Mundubile says Mr Mwiimbu should never attempt to weaponise the police and other security agencies because Zambia was a constitutional democracy where citizens frowned upon leaders who exhibit dictatorial traits.

“There comes a time my dear brother, when there will be no amount of armour, no amount of gunfire that will restrain the people that would like to exercise their democratic rights. If you want to govern this country, govern it using the principles enshrined in the Constitution. We have a Constitution. We have a Bill of Rights, that give us fundamental rights to demonstrate,” Mr Mundubile said.

Meanwhile Mr Mundubile has said the PF Members of Parliament will not be joining the list of puppets but would defend the interests of Zambians.

He said the people put the MPs in that Parliament to defend the interests and aspirations of this country and not to champion the interests of the imperialists.

“We as Members of Parliament from the PF, we will not join in the list of puppets, who are going to sit back in fear and submit to imperialists. I want to state that we are not going to join that list of puppets. We will remain steadfast and refuse to defend the interests of the imperialists. People put us in that Parliament to defend the interests and aspirations of this country. So, when we look at our Constitution, we are very clear in our minds that some of these cultures that they are bringing are unconstitutional,” Mr Mundubile said.

He said Zambia had cultures and norms that should be respected and that the imperialists should not dictate what the people should be doing in their own country.

 THE number of youths from Chilubi East Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church who have died after their boat capsized on lake Bangweulu has risen to nine. Eight more youths have been retrieved bringing the death toll to nine. The nine are out of the 12 victims who went missing after the boat capsized as they […]

By NATION REPORTER

KAMALA Harris, the Vice-President of the United States has announced a US$505 million bilateral assistance to Zambia that will see increased investment democratic institutions and good governance, political accountability and leadership project, bolstering health cooperation, global health security as well as inclusive COVID-19 response recovery and promoting innovative food security, energy and climate solutions. 

And Vice President Harris has announced that the US shall continue with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme which has been in Zambia for the last 20 years. 

Vice President Harris’ arrival in Lusaka is a demonstration of the United States’ commitment to advancing its cooperation with Zambia that would see the two countries have renewed focus on economic transformation, increased investment in democracy, and governance programming as well as expanded global health efforts.

According to the United States Embassy in Lusaka, Vice President Harris who arrived in the country yesterday came with a pledge of the US$505 million investment in various sectors as the two countries work to maintain strong relationship based on shared democratic values, growing commercial engagement, long-lasting health cooperation and people-to-people ties.  

In a fact sheet detailing initiative to advance the US partnership with Zambia, the US embassy says the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was planning to provide US$10 million to support Zambia and non-stakeholder efforts to promote democratic and accountable local governance.

The statement says the USAID was to provide US$3.5 million for the support of the civil society in an effort to implement reforms and oversight activities with the aim of deepening Zambia’s democratic processes and the support of women participation.

The US$3.5 million shall be spent on the promotion of electoral integrity by fostering greater transparency and effectiveness of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

“In strengthening good financial governance, the USAID plans to participate in a new four-year Strengthening Good Financial Governance project with the government of the Republic of Zambia to strengthen its financial management system. The United States will contribute US$3 million to the programme,” the US embassy says.

In bolstering health cooperation, Vice President Harris has announced that the US shall continue with the PEPFAR programme to which it has provided more than US$5.2 billion in support of Zambia’s national HIV response from 2002.

“These investments have helped increase Zambia’s average life expectancy by 20 years and currently provide nearly 90 percent of the funding for the Zambia national HIV response including the provision of life-saving HIV medication to over 1.2 million Zambians. Over the next two years, the United States plans to deploy more than US$372.1 million in appropriated funding and has requested an additional US$387,.9 million in the President’s Financial Year 2024 budget,” the US embassy said.

Vice President Harris says the US under the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) is planning to invest about US$28 million over the next year in partnership with the government of Zambia to deploy life-saving interventions proven to fight malaria, including bed nets, fast acting malaria medicines, rapid diagnostic tests and preventive treatment in pregnancy.

Vice President Harris says the US government through the US Centre for Disease Control and USAID shall provide US$17 million over the next three years in support of efforts to enhance global health security and pandemic preparedness.

By NATION REPORTER 

GREYFORD Monde has chastised Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa for including him (Monde) on a list of witnesses in a matter in which the Matero lawmaker has sued the Patriotic Front (PF), the party for which he is vying to take up its presidency.

“I want to denounce the move by Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa to include me on the witness list in the matter he has sued the Patriotic Front party,” Mr Monde said.

Mr Monde said the PF was still intact and strongly united and that he was not willing to testify on behalf of Mr Sampa because he did not agree with him nor was he consulted over the matter.

Mr Monde has accused the UPND of causing confusion in the PF, claiming that the governing party was the architects of this Mr Sampa’s schemes to disintegrate the former ruling party so that the UPND could have an easy sail in the 2026 general elections.

“Mr Sampa has included me on the list of his witnesses in a matter I do not agree with him. I wish to strongly denounce Mr Sampa and his schemes to create confusion in the PF so that the UPND could have it easy in the 2026 general elections. I am not for the idea of going to court to support his uncalled-for acts, Mr Monde said.

He said while Mr Sampa had his right, he should have realized that others were against his actions and wanted to settle the matter internally.

And Mr Monde has said former President Edgar Lungu was not interested in a political comeback and that the propaganda by the UPND was only meant to malign the former head of State.

He said the UPND was pushing former President Lungu to announce his come back into active politics even after he had informed the nation that he had retired.

A study from the National Eye Institute (NEI) identified rare genetic variants that could point to one of the general mechanisms driving age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of vision loss in older adults.

 THE United States of America (USA) has generated more than USD$7 billion meant to help farmers in Africa and Zambia included in support of Agriculture. Vice President Kamala Harris says the money was generated with support from the private business sector and stands to support around 116 million farmers in Africa. Ms Harris has since […]