WestMac Media : July 2015

Friday 31 July 2015

Embrace fish farming, INONGE WINA urges Lumamwa residents

Vice-President Inonge Wina has challenged people of Lumamwa community in Samfya district not to engage in bad fishing methods but rather embrace fish farming to improve their livelihoods.

Mrs Wina, who was speaking at a Patriotic Front (PF) rally at Chishikishi Primary School in Samfya, said people can earn a living from fish farming.

She said residents in the Lumamwa fishing community should refrain from using mosquito nets to catch fish as this could deplete fish in lakes and rivers.

Mrs Wina also cautioned parents against child marriage and sending of young boys into fishing camps, saying children need to go to school. ZANIS

I will join politics once I acquire a masters’ degree - IRIS KAINGU

By Staff Reporter

Education Minister daughter, Iris Kaingu has said she would like to join active politics after school, she said this when she featured on Radio Phoenix talk show hosted by Luchi.

A 24 year old Iris said in three years’ time, she would have finished her masters career, which she is currently pursuing in Malaysia thereafter join active politics. In an interview with radio Phoenix Iris said she felt bad about the fact that she was the only one prosecuted when she had made the video with her boyfriend.

By Staff Reporter

President Edgar Lungu's announcement regarding the repossession of Kawambwa Tea Plantation has pleased Zambia Open Society Foundation.

Executive Director, Obbious Chikombola says Open Society foundation is greatly enlightened by the president’s announcement on the repossession of Kawambwa tea plantation.

“We feel this has been long overdue. Kawambwa Tea is hardly seen on the shelves of super market and stores, people have been subjected to long period of unemployment and non-payment of salaries,” he says.

Mr Chikombola explains that companies such as Kawambwa Tea, Kapiri Glass Factory and Mulungushi Textile occupies a special position in restoring dignity to the local people especially the youths adding that the government should scrutinize investors at Mulungushi Textile and review their seriousness to invest in the country otherwise, the company should also be nationalized.

Government has officially launched the sale of 17 percent of its shares in Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holding -ZCCM IH- to the public.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says the move is a significant step in the evolution of the PF government’s development agenda which is anchored on creating higher levels of wealth for citizens.

President Barack Obama on Saturday announced that the United States will set up three entrepreneurship centers in Kenya, Mali and Zambia to support women entrepreneurs.

Speaking during the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at the UN headquarters in Nairobi’s Gigiri, Obama said the Kenyan centre will be launched later in the year.

Bring me fish waste, I'll make you shoes

Last year, his business made $130,000 in revenues from the sale of leather products made from fish skin. This year, he expects revenues to reach the $300,000 mark.

This Kenyan entrepreneur has created a truly inspiring business from the fish waste in his local community.

His fish skin products are not only on sale locally, but have also made it to the international.

Deadline for Proposals is: August 11, 2015

Purpose of the program

The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section Grants Program awards grants to Zambian non-profit and non-governmental organizations and independent media for projects that support the development of democratic institutions in the Republic of Zambia.‬‬

AKON dates 10 African countries to assess solar power initiative progress

Just days away from speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Nairobi last Friday, singer and businessman Akon is heading to Rwanda on Tuesday to monitor the progress of his lauded Akon Lighting Africa Solar Power Initiative, according to the New Times.

On Tuesday, the Konvict boss, Akon, as well as co-founders Samba Bathily, a Malian businessman, and Thione Niang, a political activist, will meet with Rwandan officials in order to ascertain what the progress is with his initiative.

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has empowered 127 people in Mbala with community payphones to use for communication and business.

And Acting Mbala District Administrative Officer, Frederick Chilambwe has cautioned the beneficiaries against the misuse of the community payphones provided by ZICTA courtesy of Airtel Zambia.

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“Nobody should be president for life,” OBAMA tells African leaders

US President Barack Obama has charged that Africa, as a continent can’t advance if its leaders refused to step down when their terms ended.

Obama has also called for an end to the “cancer of corruption”, saying it took money away from development.

MILES SAMPA urges Matero youths to get NRCs

DEPUTY Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Miles Sampa has encouraged school going children, youths and all those that have lost their national registration cards to get new ones.

Mr Sampa who is also Matero constituency Member of Parliament at the launch of the Stand-Up and Be Counted National Registration Card Sensitization Programme sympathized with the poor number of youths without NRCs in his constituency adding that it is difficult to assist such youths with employment.

United States of America President Barack Obama is currently in Kenya.

Earlier this evening, he had dinner with the country’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, as well as other dignitaries, in Nairobi.

Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry Chief Economist, Boniface Kunda has confirmed that the ministry has embarked on a field assessment tour of projects funded by the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) Programme in Luapula, Northern, and Muchinga Provinces.

He disclosed this when he and his team paid a courtesy call at Northern Province Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika at his office this week.

Surrender Your Life to Purpose

By Tolu Folade
We all come to this world hungry to move forward. There is an air of competition and survival that litters our environment and each and everyone has followed that trail in some shape or form at different stages in their lives.

The problem is, this trail has been laid by convention and society. It has nothing to do with who you really are as a person.

Revised ZDA Act to create a conducive business environment

The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says it is in the process reviewing its Act in order to make Zambia a more attractive investment destination.

Speaking in an interview with The Business Year, ZDA Director General Patrick Chisanga said the ZDA act is being reviewed in consultation with all stakeholders particularly the private sector.

As Africa celebrates a success story from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), who can better narrate the progress made in the fight against malaria than one of the continent’s celebrities Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

At the 3rd Financing for Development Conference (FFD) in Ethiopia which took place between 13-16 July, 2015, one of Africa’s top music artistes, Chaka Chaka revealed how her experience as UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador against malaria has demonstrated to her the power of research as an effective health intervention tool.

Partners Guide unveils competition finalists

By Staff Reporter

Partners Guide has named its 2015 Young Zambian Business Journalist of the Year Competition finalists.

This year 145 candidates from all corners of Zambia entered for the competition and only 10 applicants were selected.

Partners Guide is Zambia’s leading business magazine, published by the Partners Group, the publication serves as a vital and useful informative and entertaining resource for business people in Zambia and potential investors by discussing current business, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal and ethical issues in Zambia and acting as a platform for businesses to discuss their latest products, services and developments.

Nominations Open for the Future Awards Africa 2015- Imagine Africa

Deadline: September 11, 2015

Young Africans aged between 18 to 31 years making outstanding achievement are invited for Nominations for Future Awards 2015.

The Future Awards Africa are a set of awards given by The Future Project (TFP), a social enterprise set up with a strong, practical commitment to human and capital development, especially in Africa. The Future Project is the largest home- grown network of policy-makers, business people, and other stakeholders in Young Africa.

Media should create platforms to engage children

A lack of resources is among the reasons that governments are not meeting regional and international standards in child rights protection, cited Gugulethu Ndebele, Executive Director of Save the Children South Africa at the recent Children and Media meeting.

Ndebele addressed media professionals, children and civil society representatives from southern Africa who convened in Pretoria on 2 and 3 July 2015, for MISA’s annual Children and Media meeting.

PILATO set free

The State has entered a nolle prosequi in a case in which popular musician, Chama Fumba (Pilato) was charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

When the matter came up on July 13, 2015, before magistrate Aridah Chulu, the state informed the court that it was acting on instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions' office to enter a nolle.

Magistrate Chulu subsequently informed the accused of the state's decision.

Young people are an asset

Yesterday, 15 July 2015, at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a side event “Investing in Youth & Ensuring Decent Jobs to Harness the Demographic Dividend” took place to mark the first-ever World Youth Skills Day.

Convened by the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and co-organized in partnership with ILO, and UNESCO, the event brought together high-level speakers and youth activists to highlight the importance of investing in the skills development of today’s largest generation of youth by financing youth policies and programs and ensuring they have access to decent jobs.

GODFREY CHAMA takes 4th place in semi finals of the IAAF World Youth competitions

By Ray Mbale

Chingola's rising Star Godfrey Chama Came out 4th in the semi finals of the IAAF World Youth competitions been hosted in Colombia in the early hours of Friday were he is representing Zambia.

Chama recorded another season best of 1.51.56 to come out fourth in the semi finals which had 23 other competitors.

President Edgar Lungu has pardoned jailed musician Clifford Dimba, alias ‘General’ Kanene, who was convicted of defiling an underage girl and sentenced to serve 18 years.

The President said this is in exercise of the powers vested in him by Article 56 of the constitution of Zambia.

Kenyan Students threatens to commit suicide if Obama Skips Campus Visit

Kenyan’s are eagerly awaiting their ‘Son’ who is also the president of the most powerful nation in the world USA.

Obama’s father, Barack Hussein Obama Sr, was born in western Kenya in 1936 and died there in a car accident in 1982.

This is not Obama’s first trip to Kenya. But it seems Kenyans can never get enough of him and hence the ‘ObamaMania’ that has gripped the country.

Kenya will be hosting US President Barack Obama in the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

But almost everyone wants to have a piece of Obama and the Nairobi university students do not want to be left out.

Eighteen University of Nairobi (Kenya) students have threatened to commit suicide if US President Barack Obama fails to visit the campus, The student union chairman Babu Owino has said.

YANICK SANGA a Zambian student dies in China

A Zambian student has died in China. Yanick Sanga, 24 who was a second year student at Guangdong University of Foreign studies died on July 10th, 2015 after an illness.

Father to the deceased, Benny Sanga informed Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the death of his son.

The cause of death is not yet established but details are yet to be revealed.

Mr. Sanga said the family was making arrangements to transport the remains of his son from China to home, Zambia for burial.

This contained in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dorcas Ilunga Chileshe.

Friday 10 July 2015

Why education is the key to development

Education is a human right. And, like other human rights, it cannot be taken for granted. Across the world, 59 million children and 65 million adolescents are out of school. More than 120 million children do not complete primary education.

Behind these figures there are children and youth being denied not only a right, but opportunities: a fair chance to get a decent job, to escape poverty, to support their families, and to develop their communities. This year, decision-makers will set the priorities for global development for the next 15 years. They should make sure to place education high on the list.

Five women clubs empowered with funds in Nsama district

Government through the Department of Community Development has disbursed over K30,000 for women empowerment in Nsama District.

Nsama District Community Development officer Cain Mbambo revealed the development to ZANIS in Nsama.

Mr Mbambo said last month five women clubs were empowered with funds that are meant to uplift their living standards.

Government recognizes role of Art in job creation - JEAN KAPATA

Tourism Minister Jean Kapata says government recognizes the role that theatre plays in the creation of employment in the country.

Ms Kapata said community theatre also plays an important role in addressing the many issues affecting the country such as health, education and HIV/ AIDS prevention among others.

By Staff Reporter

One of Zambia's finest mobile service provider covering every district in the country and offering the widest range of tariffs & Value Added Services on the market suiting all our subscribers, Airtel Zambia is set to award tech Journalists and Writers.

The “Airtel media excellence awards” ceremony will take place on 11 July, 2015 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka.

US-based Zambian writer Namwali Serpell has promised to share her winnings in the Caine Prize for African Writing with the runners up. She received the £10,000 ($15,600) prize for her short story The Sack.

The judges described it as "innovative, stylistically stunning, haunting and enigmatic".

Ms Serpell was among five writers short-listed for the prize, regarded as Africa's leading literary award. Two South Africans and two Nigerians were also shortlisted for the prize - Masande Ntshanga for Space, FT Kola for A Party for the Colonel, Elnathan John for Flying and Segun Afolabi for The Folded Leaf.

Everything is possible if you believe

In 1987 Barack Obama at the age of 26 visited his father’s homeland Kenya for the first time. He met his brothers, sisters and grandmother and later he said, the visit was to transform his life.

These images come from that trip to connect with his African roots.

By Staff Reporter

The Copperbelt University (CBU) has been closed indefinitely and with immediate effect, students have been told to vacate the university premises within 24hrs.

Education Minister, Michael Kaingu has ordered for the closure of the university indefinitely with immediate effect, July 8.

Envisioning agriculture as a business for youth in Africa

By Alemayehu Konde Koira, Roy van der Drift

Agriculture is the single-largest source of income for rural Africans and contributes to a quarter of the continent’s gross domestic product. The sector occupies more than 70 percent of the labor force in Africa’s low-income countries and contributes to food security and poverty reduction.

However, agriculture cannot meet its potential for growth if it does not increase in productivity and if the opportunities along value chains are not explored.

Government has assured the nation that the recruitment of 73 Immigration Officers and 389 Prison Service Officers will be transparent.

Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila in an interview said that people should not be spreading fears that the recruitment process will be marred with corruption.

Men: 4 Things You Do That Destroys Your Sperm

No man really likes the look of their sperm when it’s splashed on the floor or on the bed but tell any man he has no sperm and he’s going to freak out. Men view sperm as potency and their “sure banker” to procreation and so sperms are very important to men. But unfortunately, many men do not know that their lifestyles affect their sperms daily.

There are several lifestyle factors that can negatively affect sperm morphology, but the good news is that, since men always recreate sperms always, it is possible to reverse this damages with time.

Engage youth to create leaders of tomorrow

By Richard Jones
Development organizations are sometimes criticized for talking about carrying out an education project here, or a sanitation project there, without taking the long-term view on what will happen to their target communities once the project runs its course, the funds dry up and the aid workers leave.

That’s why Plan International CEO Nigel Chapman claims he is often much more excited about what his organization is doing to help nurture the future leaders of tomorrow.

10,000 Zambians shows interest in joining the Zambia Police Service

Hundred of job-seeking youths yesterday thronged Edwin Imboela Stadium in Lusaka to undergo physical fitness tests for the police recruitment exercise.

Zambia Daily-Mail reports that about 10,000 job-seekers from all over the country applied to join the Zambia Police Service although the recruitment exercise targets 1,500 people.

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Govt partners with IFAD on a US$ 46.3 million livestock project

Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have embarked on a US$46.3 Million livestock project in the country.

The project known as Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Project (E-SLIP) will run for a period of seven years.

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda disclosed this when he launched the project in Chongwe yesterday.

After maternity leave re-entry policy abused

The re-entry policy that allows school girls to return to school after maternity leave is being abused and corrective measures must be found, says Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Sydney Mushanga.

Mr Mushanga, in an interview in Kabwe, said it is saddening that the re-entry policy is being abused despite efforts by Government to give an opportunity to the girl-child to return to school after falling pregnant.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has been voted Africa’s President of the year 2014-2015 for his outstanding leadership.

The Head of State was picked for the prestigious Africa Education and Leadership Awards for his ability to build consensus locally and abroad and his efforts to change policies for the better and supervise solutions that address Kenya’s pressing issues.

NYDC board dissolved to pave way for investigations

Government has announced the dissolution of the National Youth Development Council Board with immediate effect.

Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Mwale announced the development at a news briefing today.

Mr Mwale said the move is aimed at paving way for investigations into corruption allegations at NYDC involving Chairman Dr Savior Chishimba.

Deadline: 1st July, 2015

Are you 30 years old or younger? Do you represent a youth-led organization or work for an organization with a mandate to work with youth? Or are you an individual, passionate about humanitarian work?

Sign up on the form here to join the youth involvement in World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), it's easy! Also, make sure to join the mailing list of the UN MGCY WHS Working Group at the end of the form to keep you informed and updated.

Zambian laws do not define the age of marriage - NKANDU LUO

Government has attributed the increased number of child marriages to the dual marriage system in Zambia.

Gender Minister Nkandu Luo said in Mambwe that the customary law and statutes of Zambia does not define the age of marriage.

Prof Luo said that this has contributed to the high number of girls getting married at an early age.

Govt is lacking fiscal discipline - ZANASU Veep

Zambia National Students’ Union (ZANASU) Vice President, Prince Ndoyi says the union is deeply submerged in shock at the revelations in the headlines that government has spent not less than K2 million tax payers money on Former First family.

He says this translates into a daily expenditure of not less than K16,000 on lodging expenses since our late President MCS died Mhsrip.