CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PUMPS IN OVER 1 MILLION CND$ TOWARDS ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE IN ZAMBIA

By MacPherson Mukuka

Let Girls be Girls, and not Brides was the theme for the just ended 3 day National Symposium on Ending Child Marriages in Zambia.

The Symposium which mainly focused on what Government and its cooperating partners will do to end the ever increasing number of girls been forced in to early marriages attracted hundreds of delegates from across the country.

And as a contribution to the campaign, the Canadian Government has pumped in funds to help spearhead the end child marriage campaign in the country through UNICEF.

In presenting the 1 million Seven Hundred thousand Canadian Dollar Cheque to UNICEF, Canadian Head of office in Zambia, Kumar Gupta  said much has been talked about regarding early marriage and what remains in action.

Mr. Kumar said Canada has made ending child marriage a policy and development priority and that it is intensifying the programme and advocacy efforts to address the problem through platforms such as the just ended symposium.  

And in receiving the Cheque, UNICEF deputy representative Lula Marian said UNICEF is aware of the heavy burden child marriage has on girls and the families they come from.

She said the scourge is a recipe for inter-generation poverty and puts girls at risk of their lives.

Dr. Marian further praised the Canadian Government for its financial support, as the funds will go towards the development of a solid action plan for under the Ministry of Chiefs and traditional affairs.

She said the money will support the plan for 2014 and 2015.

Meanwhile Chiefs and traditional affairs Deputy Minister Josephine Limata says as a member of parliament for a rural community, she is aware of the challenges young girls face in their families.

The Canadian Government has kicked the ball, the challenge now remains on UNICEF and the Zambian government together with other stakeholders to continue with the pace until a goal is achieved.

REA EMBARKS ON SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS TO ELECTRIFY RURAL ZAMBIA

By MacPherson Mukuka

Cooking a dinner, heating a house, lighting a street, keeping a hospital open, or running a factory – all these require energy. Energy is therefore at the heart of everybody's quality of life and a crucial factor for economic competitiveness and employment.

In Zambia, the local population and energy needs increase hand-in-hand and the current hydro based energy system is not adequate as it largely depends only on one power source which is the national grid from the Kariba Hydro power station.

Answers to this dual challenge of satisfying increasing energy needs and combating reducing dependency on hydro power at the same time are urgently needed and energy research can play an essential role.

Zambia cannot move towards sustainable growth without radical changes in the way it generates and uses energy.

The rural electrification Authority REA, working in tandem with Zesco has embarked on a solar energy programme which it took over from the department of energy in 2004.

REA Corporate affairs Manager Justin Mukosa says the programme is targeted at electrifying rural institutions such as the schools, health intuitions and palaces.

Mr. Mukosa adds though there a number of challenges in rolling out the programme, the authority is working hard to set up solar mini grids and other ideas in order to supply power to more areas.

Meanwhile Mr. Mukosa has described the solar energy system as the quite a good alternative source of energy other than hydro energy.

And Zesco says it equally support the use of other alternative sources of energy apart from the usual national grid which is powered by hydro energy.

Company Public relations officer Hennery Kapata says branching off from using hydro energy is not a bad idea as it also helps in serving electricity on the national grid.

Mr. Kapata was however quick tom mention that the company would prefer its customers use solar energy only as an alternative and not a permanent solution as Zesco largely depends of the revenue collected from the consumers of its product to run effectively.

Despite Solar energy not been so much appreciated in the country and probably in some parts of the world, it is the best alternative energy source as the sun is usually available compared to water which might dry out within a period of time. 

CORRUPTION

BY MACPHERSON MUKUKA

HIV/AIDS is one of the moist notable diseases that have robbed the world of its economy because of the many valuable lives that it has claimed.

However, there is another disease that does directly affect the health of human being or their physical state, but makes a person weak in mind, it weakens the financial power of one sector and benefits the other.

Most people who suffer from this particular disease have ended up having difficulties to go through right channels of earning income other than through bribes.

The Disease is called Corruption.

Corruption has swept through even the most respected offices of the world living no stones unturned.  It has even dared to sweep through the judicially.

In Zambia, corruption is a major concern to most sections of society and has therefore prompted some organisations to use all means possible to fight it.

On Tuesday, the Judicial Integrity Committee, the transparency international Zambia and other stakeholders launched the Local Court Service Chatter, a handbook aimed at promoting transparency and integrity in local court operations.

Speaking during the launch, Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda says the existence of corruption in the judicially is a matter of reality.

She said it is not a concealed fact that there some officers in the system painting a bad picture of the judicially.

Ms. Chibesakunda adds that the local courts which to most litigants are the face of the judicially have been a source of concern to the organ.

Meanwhile, Transparency international Zambia Vice President Kalungu Sampa has observed that 60 percent of Zambians believe the judicial system does not inspire confidence in Zambians.

Mr. Sampa says Service chatters are a requisite in the national anti corruption commission policy and it’s implementations.

It is hoped that the information provided in the handbook will help fight corruption in the local courts in ZAMBIA.