Pick 'n'Pay Zambia Donates Computer Lab to Mahatma Ghandi Primary School

By MacPherson Mukuka

The Communities are the number one contributors towards any business’s growth, and in realizing this, companies have a way of saying thank you to their customers, through their corporate social responsibility policy.

On Friday, May 29, 2015, one of the fastest growing Chain stores in the country, Pick ‘n’ Pay demonstrated this by handing over a Computer Laboratory Building to Mahatma Gandhi Primary school in Mtendere Township.

The event was graced by Gender Minister Nkandu Luo, who is also patriotic Front Munali area Member of Parliament.

Addressing the audience, Professor Luo praised the Pick and pay for the support rendered to school.

She said their support has come at the time when the constituency is grappling with financial limitations to embark on the many projects that have been earmarked.

Professor Luo emphasized on the need to guard jealously the infrastructure as it will serve lives and bring about development in the education sector.

She said the Government values the contribution the private sector plays in uplifting the standards of the people through supplementing Government's effort of taking development to all sectors.   

And Pick and Pay Zambia General Manager, Mark Vickery pledged his store’s continued support towards community development.

He said the organization partners with a school in each community it is located and Mahatma Gandhi happens to be one of the partners.

Mr. Vickery added that the chain store has been privileged to work with all kinds of people including the physically challenged.

In the area of education, Mr. Vickery said the store put much emphasis on the sector and that the donation of the computer lab is a demonstration of the store's commitment to enhancing ICT development.

And speaking earlier School heard teacher Stanley Chileshe, took advantage of the event and shared the challenges the school is facing, among them lack of electricity.

Mr. Chileshe added that the school also has challenges in other areas such as teaching facilities, and the encroaching of it's land by the political party cadres.  

Meanwhile, Ministry of Education Senior education standards officer in charge of natural sciences, Nyambe Sefulo said the donation has come in handy especially that government has just revised the curriculum which includes computer lessons.

He has since appealed to the school management and pupils to look after the infrastructure with at most care.

The fruits of the public private partnership which government has been promoting, are seen in such gestures by the private community, the responsibility now remains with the school to look after the infrastructure.

The building has been constructed at a cost of over 100 thousand kwacha and is in honor of Late South Africa First Republican President Nelson Mandela.

Government has finalized the development of the National policy on climate change- KAWANDAMI

By MacPherson Mukuka

 

The fluctuations in the weather pattern, the rains, the winter, summer and the death of natural vegetation are but a few impacts human activities have inflicted on the earth.

All this, has now resulted in what is termed as Climate Change, a global concern issue affecting every living organism.  

However, not all hope is lost in trying to reduce on the impacts; the Zambian Government is awake to this fact and doing all can to fight mitigates climate change impacts.

Lands Deputy Minister Susan Kawandami says Government has finalized the development of the National policy on climate change to provide a framework for coordinated response to climate change issues.

Ms. Kawandami said Climate Change has emerged as one of the most pressing issues in the country affecting socio economic development.

Speaking during the launch of the development of Zambia’s Intended Nationally determined contribution to the 2015 agreement on climate change, Ms. Kawandami said climate change presents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet that requires to be addressed urgently.

She said the initiatives been formulated are aimed at building the resilience of the Zambians Economy and the poor rural communities to the adverse effect of climate change and reduce emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change.

Meanwhile, United Nations Development Programme Director Martin Maya has commended the Zambian Government for the efforts it is putting in to address climate change issues in the country.

Mr. Maya added that his Organisation remains and the United Nations remains committed to supporting Zambia’s efforts in addressing climate change issues.

And Wildlife and Environmental conservation Society of Zambia National Coordinator Patrick Shawa said despite not having a climate change policy, the society will support government in its efforts to address climate change issues.

Climate Change remains a major global concern issue affecting both socio and economic sectors, and if not addressed, the human race and other living organisms risks suffering due to its adverse effects.

ENSURE YOU GET VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY- ZW&MA URGES MOTORISTS

By MacPherson Mukuka

The Zambia Weights and Measures Agency (ZW&MA) has advised motorists and the general public to the alert and ensure the get value for their money when buying fuel at filling stations.

Agency Public Relations Officer Diana Ngula tells MacPherson Mukuka in a telephone interview that there is need to motorists and the general public to also ensure that fuel pumps at the filling station have weights and measures stickers on them.

She said customers must further check and ensure that the pump meter reads zero before the fuel attendant begins to pump in the commodity in the vehicle.

“if you discover that the pump has no weights and measure sticker, ask the person in charge for the certificate of operation from Agency, and if there is none, report the matter to the agency.

Ms. Ngula added that the Agency prioritizes fuel measurements because it runs the economy saying anything that goes wrong with the fuel business has a direct bearing on the economy.

The public relations officer has further advised customers to be vigilant and see to it that they get what they deserve. She said customers have the right to request for the nozzle to be at zero rate before the attendant pumps fuel.

“It is important to verify as a customer that the pump nozzle is at zero, because failure to do so may result in you spending a lot on less quantity or may cause the trader to suffer losses.” She said.

She has also urged members of the public to report either to the police or the agency all cases of cheating by fuel attendants.

“It you see that the fuel attendant is not zeroing the pump nozzle, report them to their supervisor of the police, or even to the agency.” She added.

This comes in the wake of concerns by some motorists who alleged that some fuel attendants at filling stations do not give the correct quantity of fuel.

MacPherson Scoops 2015 Climate Change Radio journalism Media Awards

Original Story By Interim Climate Change Secretariate 

2015 Climate Change Media Awards

The long wait for the 2015 Climate Change Media Awards finally ended on Monday, 4th May, 2015, during the World Press Freedom Day Commemorations, when the inaugural winners of the Climate Change Media Awards were announced.

These winners are shown in the picture together with ICCS’s National Coordinator, Daivid C. Kaluba (2nd from Left) and ICCS’s Communication and Administration Officer, Chama Nambeya (Far Right): (L-R) Violet Mengo for Best Photojournalism and Best Feature Print Journalism; Mutukwa M. Mooya for Best Television Journalism; and, MacPherson Mukuka for Best Radio Journalism.

The Climate Change Media Awards, which were held with the theme “Increases awareness levels of the general public on issues of climate change,” did not award a winner in the Best News Print Journalism, as the independent adjudicators chosen could not find worthy of the honour any entry that was submitted.

MacPherson Mukuka, a reporter with ZNBC’s Radio 2, is seen in the picture being presented with his Climate Change Media Award trophy for Best Radio Journalism by the Interim climate Change National Coordinator, David C. Kaluba, in front of the Freedom Statue during the 2015 World Press Freedom Day.

Mr. Mukuka won the award for his Radio 2 production entitled “Waste Disposal Report” which featured, Zambia Environmental Management Agency communications officer Ireene Lungu, Lusaka City Council Public relations officer Habeenzu Mulunda and the members of the Public.