Deforestation and its effects on human activities and animal welfare.

By Hannah Nyirenda and Anderson Zulu

The rapid degradation of the forests woodland ecosystem is also of global concern and is increasingly at risk due to deforestation and encroachment on protected areas.

Therefore deforestation means clearing of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use.

Lottie Katebe is Petauke District Forestry Officer says due to the rapid increase in population in Zambia has resulted in an increased pressure on land, causing a substantial degradation of the forests and vegetation cover of the environment and a general decline in soil fertility.

Katebe notes that apart from the wooden poles local people in Petauke depend very much on the forest for energy requirements such as cooking and heating and because of this there is wood fuel deficit in these areas causing women and children to walk long distances in search of wood fuel. 

The District Forestry Officer says the impact of deforestation has resulted into global warming, drought, climate change and soil erosion.

Katebe explained that measure have been put in place to curb all perpetrators who are cutting down trees such as Mulombe, Pine, Mukwa and Mukula tress that are being cut indiscriminately.

Mukula tree a newly discovered specie of trees described as Zambia gold has seen its worse days in terms a number of people cutting this type of a tree.

Despite its medicinal properties, the tree is also being used for making gun bats, wooden interior décor for vehicles etc. 

Katebe however warns residents of Petauke to refrain from cutting down Mukula tree adding that once the culprits are caught the law will take its course.

He says Mukula tree internationally has scope the market as it is more valuable compared to other trees.

Despite various in terventionm government has put in place through law enforcing agencies, what are the police doing in Petauke? 

Robert Ngosa Petauke District Police Officer In charge charges that police will not sit idle but bring to book all perpetrators.

He has however advised timber traders to follow procedures if they are to cut down Mukula trees.

He has warned residents of Petauke to refrain from cutting down Mukula tree and that those without license the law will take its action.

Ngosa says once the culprit has been detained, the court will sentence an individual according to the number of logs. 

The authors of this article are members of the Children’s News Agency (CNA) Petauke Bureau. cnazambia@gmail.com

THERE IS NEED TO PROVIDE WATER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT- WORLD VISION

By MacPherson Mukuka

On 22 March of every year, Zambia joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Water Day… this year''s event was held on the Sunday under the theme: Water for sustainable development…

However, Zambia had to push the commemoration of the event to Wednesday March 25^th, to attract more participation especially from the general public.

During the very day of the event, Zambia being a SADC member state was also celebrating the water week which coincides with the commemoration of world water.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Commemoration, World Vision Zambia, Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) technical advisor Sebastian Kunda, says  sustainable development can only be attained if there is water provision in the communities.

Mr. Kunda adds that domestication of water especially in rural communities gives a families enough time to do other things other than concentrating of drawing water from distant places.

Mr. Kunda says his Organisation which focuses on the development of children’s education, health and wellbeing in totality, has been working relentlessly in the Southern Province of Zambia to see to it that water and Sanitation is provided to the rural families.

He said the provision of water in the area has made the life of farmers in the Southern province because they can now grow vegetables for marketing from which they realize some funds to pay for their children’s education.

He said Gwembe and Magoye farmers have mainly benefited from the World Vision’s projects as most of them are into dairy farming.

He said this has been so because the World Vision in enhancing the provision of water as a resource for sustainable development.

The Wash technical advisor further indicated that Government has a huge task ahead of it to ensure there is provision of water for sustainable development in Zambia.

He said the Ministry of Mines Energy and Water Development needs to set up community dam that will provide readily available water for communities to venture into irrigation farming and thereby earn some income once the produce are ready for sale.

Mr. Kunda further said if the abundant water resource that Zambia has is utilised to maximum potential, even the power outages the country is currently facing will come to an end because there will be more Hydro Power stations in the country to generate more electricity to mitigate the deficit.

Meanwhile, United Nations Children’s Fund wash officer Humble Siboli told a gathering during the Water Day exhibition that his Organisation has been supporting the government of Zambia through the provision of boreholes which supplied to over 8 hundred thousand people.

And Government says water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival.

Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister Charles Zulu also told the Gathering that Water is Vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving the health, welfare and productivity of populations.

Mr. Zulu also noted that although Zambia boast of relatively abundant water resources, the country is still faced with challenges in ensuring access to sustainable safe water supplies for all competing needs.

And Bright well Ntini a school going pupil of Chawama Township, called on Government to ensure that the theme: water for sustainable development, is seen to its logical conclusion.

Meanwhile, National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) Public relations Manager Rose Tembo the 2015 theme water day theme has come at the right time when the world is reviewing the progress it has made on the millennium development goals on water.

According to research, Zambia holds about 40 percent of the resource in the SADC region, yet provision of safe and clean drinking water is still a challenge… worse still on the day the people where having a good time at the event, some  residents in some parts of Lusaka where busy moving about with containers looking for water.

ZNBC RADIO TWO ZAMBIAN ID RADIO PROGRAMME WITH SAMUEL MACHISHI

By MacPherson Mukuka

Zambian ID
Programme Presented by Samuel Machishi
Aired Date: 21 February, 2015
Time: 10: 05 hours.

The Zambian ID is a product of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Radio 2 by Great Samuel Machishi every Friday at 10:05 hours.

The Programme aims at highlighting the importance of Zambian Culture to the modern society and upholding the Zambian Culture through Language, tradition and traits.

This is completed by people who have vast knowledge about their Ethnic group, tribe, and or clan. The Programme also feature officers from Government Departments and Ministries such Ministry of Tourism Department of  Arts and Culture, Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and the Ministry of Education- Department of Curriculum development.

In the Edition of the Programme, Samuel looked at the Commemoration of the International Mother Tongue Day which falls annually on the 22 of February.

 

In picture, Samuel Machishi on Air.

DEVELOP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS WASTE DISPOSAL - ZEMA

By MacPherson Mukuka

The Earth today, has been subjected to a number of environmental degradation… the forms of dilapidation include: deforestation, soil erosion, and air and water pollution, land pollution which cover indiscriminate disposal of wastes.

Human activities world over have largely contributed to the depletion of the earth, thereby causing serious and to some extent irreversible effects. 

Zambia has not been spared from some forms of environmental degradation, activities such as indiscriminate disposal of waste is one permanent feature that is never missed in areas.

Some members of the public spoken to, feel the local authority has not done much to sensitize the people on the importance of waste management, while other feels the money payable for waste collection is too much.

And The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) says if waste management is to be a success story in Zambia, those responsible for waste collection of waste must be held accountable for the delay in waste collection.

ZEMA principle information and communications officer Irene Chipili says local authorities entrusted with the power to collect waste must also revisit their waste collection system.

She further called on the public to utilize designated dump sites provided by the local authority to dump in respective areas.

And when contacted for a comment, Lusaka city council public relations Manager Hebeenzu Mulunda complained of lack of waste disposal compliant levels by some members of the public.

Mr. Mulunda said some people have a tendency of throwing garbage indiscriminately despite the local authority’s efforts in clearing the areas.

Indiscriminate disposal of waste, if not controlled of gotten rid of completely has the potential to cause more injury to humanity that ever… water bodies may be subjected to receiving waste through streams thereby contaminating the much needed natural resource.

Another effect could be loss of soil fertility which automatically leads to loss of vegetation if soil harming substances are disposed in undesignated places.

MacPherson Mukuka Scoops 2014 NSTC Electronic Media AWARD

Source: Zambia Daily Mail (December 2014)

Government has appealed to scientists in the country to write and publish their works for them to be used in the country’s development agenda.

Education, Vocational Training and Early Education Deputy Minister Evelyn Wilombe noted that the works of scientists can play a critical role in sustaining development in various sectors of the country’s economy.

Professor Wilombe said it was in this vein that government will spare no effort in ensuring that works of scientists are put to good use by supporting their publications.

He was speaking in Lusaka last night during the launch of a book authored by University of Zambia lecturer Professor Philip Nkunika titled ‘Terminates Management and Tropical Agro Forestry.

The book launch preceded the science and technology awards ceremony where deserving journalists and scientists were awarded for their contributions in the development of science and technology.

And National Science and Technology Council chairperson Henry Musenge noted that statistics on science writing and reading in southern Africa and Zambia in particular were unacceptably low.

Dr. Musenge said there was therefore need to inculcate a culture of reading and writing among scientists for the nation to benefit from their knowledge.

He encouraged other scientists who may be working on some manuscripts to contact the council for help in the publication of the materials.

Zambia Daily Mail staffer Christine Chisha walked away with the national science and technology merit awards in the print media category while ZNBC Radio 2 reporter MacPherson Mukuka won the electronic media category.

Sondashi, Sinkamba files in as Sikazwe withdraws

By MacPherson Mukuka

http://macphersonmukuka.blogspot.com/Green Party Presidential Candidate Peter Sinkamba has become the second Presidential candidate to successfully file in his nomination papers for the January 20^th 2015 Presidential poll.

Mr. Sinkamba was successfully accepted as a presidential nominee by the Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda after a long wait of about three hours on December 17, 2014

He was successful after Forum for Democratic Alternative Party Presidential candidate Ludwig Sondashi successfully filed in his nomination. 

The delay in Mr. Sinkamba's filing in was caused by the lack of the required number of 200 hundred supporters, but later totaled up after the remaining number of supporters showed up.

And Acting Chief justice Lombe Chibesakunda, who was accompanied by Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima, congratulated Mr. Sinkamba for his successful filling in of nomination.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sinkamba has express confidence that his party will form government come January 20^th 2015 because of the strong political campaign he has carried out.

Mr. Sinkamba further explained that the party’s campaign ideology of legalising marijuana should not be misinterpreted by people.

And People’s Redemption Party has withdrawn from the January 20^th, 2015 Presidential election race.

Presenting the decision before acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda and Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima, PRP president Gerry Sikazwe said he has taken the decision because he wants to support the ruling patriotic front.

Mr. Sikazwe who was scheduled to file in his nomination at about 11:30 hours came hours later without any support and made the announcement to the Presidential election presiding officer Justice Lombe Chibesakunda.

On Thursday, 18 December 2014, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Leader Edith Nawakwi, National Restoration Party (NAREP)'s Elias Chipimo Jr. and United Poor People of Zambia Freedom Party Leader Alex Muliokela are expected to file in their nominations. 

out of the 11 candidates, Only one female candidate is contesting the January 20, 2015 Presidential Elections. 

Allow Church Members to participate in Politics- ZEC

By MacPherson Mukuka

macphersonmukuka.blogspot.comThe Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has called on the Church to allow its members to participate in the political process but should not provide a blue print for them as to which political party or candidate they must support.

ZEC Secretary General Cleophas Lungu said the Church should teach principles of a good candidate and leave the choices to the individual faithful.

He charged that the habit by some men and women of God of inviting candidates for church service and providing them with a platform to campaign under the guise of greeting the congregants is unacceptable.

He said Churches must strive to be apolitical. 

Father Lungu said this during the launch of the Christian Churches Monitoring Group, an association comprising 4 faith based organisations entrusted with the mandate of   managing of election results.

Meanwhile Father Lungu has also called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to undertake a sound preparation for the forthcoming January 20^th 2015 presidential election.

He said delays in planning may only lead to uncertainties among stakeholders and loss of confidence in the process.

The Catholic Clergy emphasised that ECZ must give election monitors genuine space for effectively monitoring the elections.

He said Monitors are partners in ensuring electoral transparency and that prohibitive cost of access to materials like voter registers and complicated monitor registration and accreditation process can only work to impede the genuine cause of monitoring the elections.

The newly launched organisation in composed of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), The Zambia Episcopal Conference(ZEC) and The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR).

CSPR Launches Walk the Talk: End Poverty Campaign

By MacPherson Mukuka

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) says poverty levels in Zambia have remained pervasive in the country with the overall incidence of suffering at about 60 percent while extreme poverty has remained stubbornly high at 42.3 percent.

CSPR Board Chairperson John Lijimu says Western and Luapula provinces have the highest rating at 81 percent in extreme poverty.

Mr. Lijimu has further indicated that the possibilities of Zambia to meet the targets stated under the Millennium Development Goals number one of halving extreme poverty by 2015 are no longer slim but impossible.

Mr. Lijimu has alleged that Government has failed to provide sufficient opportunities for citizens to meaningfully engage in national development process.

He said inadequate budget information and restrictions on public participation make it difficult for citizens to engage in exacting accountability form the leaders and representatives.

Mr. Lijimu adds that this has created a situation where citizens are cut off from meaningful decision making process that could be critical in realising the development agenda in Zambia and setting priorities for eradicating extreme poverty.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lijimu has disclosed that his organisation has launched a campaign dubbed WALK THE TALK: END POVERTY, with the aim of bringing to light the views and the voice of people living in poverty on issues that Government should take in alleviating their poverty situation through efficiency in budget execution and improved service delivery, especially in the agricultural sector.

UK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO OPEN IN ZAMBIA

By MacPherson Mukuka

Zambia’s commerce and trade Industry is unquestionably headed for massive growth in the next years if all the local and foreign companies succeed in setting up their investment in various parts of the country.

The United Kingdom has is already putting up plans to bring its business men and women into the country to set base of their respective companies.

British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton says Zambia is among the many ideal business destinations for the UK because of its favorable economic and political environment…

Mr. Thornton said this during the 2^nd UK trade Mission business meeting held on Thursday 13^th November, 2014 in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Government has welcomed the plans by the British Government to set up the British Chamber of commerce in Zambia.

Commerce, trade and Industry Minister Robert Sichinga say there is need for more foreign business houses to set base in Zambia.

Mr. Sichinga was however quick to mention that Government is putting much emphasis on value addition as it is a critical component for employment creation.

Mr. Sichinga further indicated that Zambia has enough land that requires to be invested on by way of setting up huge industries such as the Multi facility economic zones.

Meanwhile UK trade and Investment Director of Investment projects Ajay Desai said Zambia has proved to be a stable nation for investment by UK companies.

The commerce industry in Zambia has steadily grown over the years; however, one particular component that has been more of a hindrance to an excessive growth is the exportation of raw materials.

It is probably the reason why government is insisting in value addition as a way of improving the revenue base for the country.

WORLD VISION ZAMBIA EMBARKS ON A CHILD HEALTH TARGET IMPACT STUDY

By MacPherson Mukuka

World vision Zambia in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and the has embarked on a five year Child heath targets impact study designed to measure the impact of world vision’s maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition programmes on the health of mothers, babies and children.

Speaking during the baseline dissemination meeting for the study held in Lusaka on 29^th September, 2014, World Vision Zambia, Maternal, neonatal and child health Regional Coordinator Martha Mwendafilumba says the study’s long time benefit will be that it will help mothers to develop lifesaving abilities especially during their pregnancy stage adding that world vision would want to see a community which is well vest with health.

Mrs. Mwendafilumba has however bemoaned the high number of illiteracy levels among the rural populace as well as the shortage of community health workers.

She said much as the Organisation has invested in production of health materials as way of communicating to the rural community, a number of them cannot read and therefore understanding the information remains a problem.

The Coordinator further stated that it is therefore inevitable and imperative to engage community volunteers who will try to mobilize the mothers in the respective community and share information.

Meanwhile, World Vision Zambia Associate Director for grants Acquisition and Technical Support Rose Zambezi says some of the interventions that the study will provide will include training of volunteers on the importance of the early access to antenatal care which they will later transfer to expectant mother.

Mrs. Zambezi says most mothers delay going to seek for antenatal services quite late due to lack of information.

She said the engaging community volunteers will definitely be of help because the volunteers are closer to the mothers.

Mrs. Zambezi further stated that engaging the community volunteers is one way of complimenting government’s efforts in delivering quality health services to the rural community.

The study covers four countries which include Cambodia, Guatemala, Kenya and Zambia.

*Outcome of the meetings between Zambia and Zimbabwe to discuss the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam Successful- ZRA*

By MacPherson Mukuka

Zambezi River Authority Chief Executive, Munyaradzi Munodawafa says the outcome of the meetings between Zambia and Zimbabwe and the Cooperating Partners to discuss the rehabilitation of the Kariba has been successful.

Mr. Munodawafa says a number of issues relating to implementation were discussed which paves the way to ensure the rehabilitation works are adequately funded.

He said this in a statement at the end of a series of meetings between the Cooperating Partners and officials from the two Governments over the past three weeks.

Also welcoming the conclusions of the evaluation meetings by the Cooperating Partners, EU Head of Delegation to Zambia, Gilles Hervio confirmed that he was pleased with the progress that has been made so far in the preparatory work to ensure that the rehabilitation works are done in a timely manner to avert a power deficit in future.

Meanwhile African Development Bank Country Representative Freddie Kwesiga stated says he is impressed with the great team work and sense of urgency by the technical teams of the financing institutions and ZRA.

He said that the team has shown that working together among Cooperating Partners can achieve greater development results.

He added that the rehabilitation is important in that it will also secure an already constrained generation capacity in the southern African region.

And World Bank Group Country Director, Kundhavi Kadiresan, said the Organisation is pleased that the intensive work that the technical teams have been doing in the last few years has finally come together with this program of rehabilitation for the Kariba dam.

She said Reliable power generation is needed to meet the ever increasing demands of the region.

Ms. Kadiresan added that the work between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Kariba rehabilitation has paved the way for further collaboration on harnessing energy sources between the two countries so that transformational changes can be made in the lives of the people in the sub-region.

And Swedish Sweden’s Ambassador to Zambia, Lena Nordstrom, says the consequences of a dam failure would be a serious setback for efforts to reduce poverty and to the impressive economic development of Zambia in recent years, adding that making swift rehabilitation of the dam is the only available course of action.

The Kariba Dam and Hydro-Electric Scheme (HES) was constructed across the Zambezi River between 1956 and 1959 and has been central to energy security and supporting economic development in both Zambia and Zimbabwe.

After 50 years of operation serving the Southern African Region, the Kariba Dam now requires rehabilitation works for its continued safe operation. A failure to invest in the timely rehabilitation of the dam will result in the gradual degradation of key dam safety features to a level below international standards. Therefore, this rehabilitation project, which represents the culmination of a series of in-depth technical studies over the past few years, is absolutely crucial, and will restore the full safety of the dam.