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SUSPECTED Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has broken out in southern province and over 25, 000 animals are at risk of getting the disease. Southern Province Permanent Secretary Edwin Zumbunu has confirmed the development but could not give further details on the matter and referred all queries on detailed information to the provincial veterinary officer. However, Mr Zumbunu said that the Government has released K 20 million to address the problem immediately. “I can confirm that there is an outbreak of FMD in Livingstone and Kazungula districts, about K 20 million have been released towards the same programme to control the diseases. Mr Zumbunu said the ranches that are near Livingstone had been affected. And Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) in Livingstone –Kazungula has called the government to be more proactive by ensuring the ministry is well funded. ZNFU Livingstone –Kazungula chairperson, Ruth Henson said that there is lapse in the vaccination of the animals on FMD ...

by Chali Mulenga The Governments of Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ghana says they are impressed with the mutual competition and cooperation that exist between the Zambia and Zimbabwe countries and described as a classic mutual case. Uganda minister of tourism professor Ephraim Kamuntu said that the classic mutual competition that would exist especially during the 20th Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly to be held in 2013 in the tourist capital. Livingstone city in Zambia and Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe will next year co-host the 186 member countries UNWTO general assembly at which more than 2, 000 delegates across the world are expected to attend. Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, the minister said the a result of the mutual cooperation it would be easy for the two countries to jointly host the UNWTO meeting and called for the removal of border barriers between the two countries. “The two countries should develop part...

By Chali Mulenga The Commonwealth governance advisor, Dr Roger Koranteng has called for concerted efforts in the fight against corruption in Africa. Speaking at the close of the 2nd commonwealth regional Conference for heads of anti corruption agencies in Africa at sun hotel in Livingstone. Dr Koranteng said that there is need for concerted efforts as corruption affects the vulnerable in society. “If there is corruption it affects the vulnerable the women, children that will suffer the consequences of the corrupt acts,” he said. Dr Koranteng said that the anti corruption agencies are the voice for the vulnerable thus the need to stamp out corruption. Commonwealth governance advisor said the fight against was against the powerful in the society thus the need to know the fight against is national duty. “It is not about a salary but it is call for national assignment because the anti corruption agencies deals with the ugly and the dirty,” he said. “You should learn more than ...

By Chali Mulenga  Minister of foreign affairs and Tourisms, Zambia Given Lubinda said that the hosting of the UNWTO would have a great impact on tourism in Africa. Speaking, at dinner hosted by the Zambian ministry of tourism at Sun hotel on Monday night, on the eve of the singing of the golden book and trilateral agreement hosting agreement, which was attended by diplomats and other high government ranking officials, he said the meeting would give the desired boot to the growth of the tourism. He said that not only would the two countries benefit but the region would benefit especially the Kaza Park - African Game Reserve KAZA (Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier), the world's largest conservation area straddling Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He said that the two countries would strive to host a successful UNWTO meeting and that this and the signing of the long awaited agreement would signal the start of a lot of work. “Zambia and Zi...

by Chali Mulenga Deputy Minister of Education, science vocational training Prof. Nevelyn Wilombe has called on teachers in the country to upgrade themselves academically whenever they get the opportunity to do so. The minister was addressing teachers after touring David Livingstone High in Livingstone on Thursday he explained that no District Education Board should stop teachers from upgrading themselves as they need more competent skills to march with the ever changing trends. “Teachers should not leave when there is no replacement for them as the children will suffer,” Prof. Wilombe said. “Teachers are very important and their contribution to quality employable education should be encouraged for the benefit of the pupils,” the minister added. Prof. Wilombe urged the teachers to show competes and hard work as pupils tend to take on teachers attitudes towards their school work. “If you are always late and do not prepare for your lessons to help better educate the pu...

By Chali Mulenga Non Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Provincial Liason Officer Faith Simukoko has bemoaned the ever increasing number of early marriages in southern province. Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, she revealed that the leading towns in the province in terms of early marriage for young girls are Livingstone and Kalomo. “It is very difficult to empower women if they lack proper education as education is very important in the empowerment of women for the future,” she said. Ms. Simukoko said each year the number of girls dropping out of school keeps increasing. “The most worrying area where rampant cases of early marriages are being reported is Sinkobo area in Livingstone where one of the local head teachers complained of the alarming trend,” she stated. She noted that the matter needs to tackled as soon as possible by all stakeholders especially the traditional leaders. “It quite a saddening thing, as we are talking about the empowerment of wo...

By Chali Mulenga   THE government says it will not tolerate civil servants that are engaging in active politics as they are frustrating government programmes and the Patriotic Front (PF) has directed all government departments in the country to ensure that they have a copy of the their party manifesto. Southern Province Obvious Mwaliteta has said that his office has received reports that they are civil servants that want to participate in active politics. He was speaking in Livingstone when the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General, Wynter Kabimba paid a curtsey call on him at his office in Livingstone, he said that theses same civil servants want to even contest the parliamentary seat in the province. Mr Mwaliteta said the even PF government would not allow this kind of conduct and urged them to step down. “A lot of these same civil servants are frustrating the efforts of the Government and the best they can do is to resign their positions,” he said. Mr...