Swine flu causing havoc, Zambia on alert

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

SWINE influenza, also known as swine flu is a deadly viral disease which has so far claimed at least 152 people, with 1,614 suspected victims still under observation in Mexico, raising world-wide concern as it has the potential of becoming a pandemic.

Already, there are reports that new cases of the flu have been confirmed in New Zealand and Israel. The United Nations has warned that it cannot be contained.

The US, Canada, Spain and Britain have also confirmed cases but no deaths have been reported outside Mexico, where the virus was first reported.

We commend the Ministry of Health for reactivating the national surveillance system to monitor a possible outbreak of the disease in Zambia.

Setting up screening facilities at Lusaka’s International Airport is an indication of how serious the Ministry of Health views the problem.

We urge the ministry to ensure that similar facilities are established at major entry points such as the Livingstone International Airport where there is high traffic of tourists coming into country.

It is gratifying that although Zambia is geographically far away from the affected countries, Government is on high alert.

The government is obviously aware that the country is not immune to infections because the disease is airborne and the virus can easily spread from one area to another.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said on Monday that Government is working with the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a public health agency, to mobilise drugs and logistics in case the swine flu breaks out in Zambia.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease suffered by pigs and is caused by an influenza virus, which according to the CDC, the symptoms and transmission of infection from human to human is much like that of seasonal flu.

Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite and coughing, while runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported.

It is believed to be spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.

To prevent infection, it is recommended that people should take standard personal precautions against influenza.

The public is advised to stay in good general health and observed the recommended standards of hygiene, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

We wish to warn people especially those with intense exposure to pigs that they are at risk of infection from these animals, if the animals carry a virus strain that is also able to infect humans.
The current swine flu outbreak is the spread of a new strain of an influenza virus A (H1N1) that was first detected by health agencies in March 2009 in three areas in Mexico.

The CDC has recommended the use of drugs for the treatment and prevention of swine influenza viruses but that the virus isolates that have been tested from the US and Mexico have shown resistance.

We call on the public to cooperate with the medical authorities and observe personal precautions against influenza during this difficult time.

We also appeal to other stakeholders to mount sensitisation campaigns about swine flu and assist the government to adequately prepare the nation for any eventuality.

New medical diagnostic centre set for Lusaka

By Pelekelo Liswaniso
ZAMBIA has joined several other African countries in reducing the number of deaths from malaria by more than half through aggressive control measures.

This is a remarkable achievement and a tribute to the hard work and commitment by the Ministry of health and its partners, who over the years mapped out various strategies to combat the killer disease.

Some of the measures included an accelerated distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and in-door spraying of households.

These were preventive measures which resulted in a 66 per cent reduction of malaria in the country.

We revisit the issue of malaria again this week as a reference to remind the nation on the importance of prevention being better than cure following reports that Bharat Nuclear Scans of India plans to set up a diagnostic centre in Lusaka at a cost of US$3 million.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) in Lusaka on Monday, the Company Managing Director, Dr Emmanuel Rajamani said his firm is in talks with Government on the possibility of setting up the centre, which is likely to be established in six months time once discussions are concluded.

The firm is also discussing with the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and private health institutions on how it can work with them.

Such a medical service is more than welcome because it will not only enhance medical care but will result in a reduction on the number of deaths amongst the people.

We are confident that the introduction of a new diagnostic centre will also reduce the cost of health services in the country because it will provide for early detection of diseases and enable medical personnel to prescribe appropriate treatment in good time.

As Professor Neil Nkanza said, the first thing in health management is correct health management and treatment can be effected once the proper diagnosis is known.

The plan to set up the new diagnostic centre is therefore commendable because, at the moment, Zambia lacks proper diagnostic facilities.

Apart from Nkanza laboratories in Lusaka and some X-ray equipment at UTH, and the CT scan in Kitwe, some of which are obsolete, the country has no diagnostic facilities to talk about.

Most patients are often treated without any diagnosis about the ailments they complain of while others spend huge sums of money on travel abroad where the facilities are available.

Many have died because of insufficient diagnosis and we feel this is unacceptable.

We are, therefore, cheered by reports that Bharat Nuclear Scans plans to set up a medical diagnostic centre in Lusaka because the service will augment the few established diagnostic centres in the country and assist early detection of diseases and save lives.

North-West urged to partner with investors

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

FORMER World Bank country manager Ohene Nyanin once described the North-Western Province of Zambia as an awakening giant in the Zambian economy.

This is because of the recent economic activities particularly the booming mining industry from the production of copper at Kansanshi and Lumwana mine near Solwezi. Lumwana is now considered to be the largest copper mine in Africa.

The copper mines have attracted many people with various business and investment interests and have made Solwezi in particular to become one of the fastest growing towns in Zambia.

Only a few years ago, some workers were reluctant to be transferred to North-Western Province because of its underdevelopment and many considered it a demotion to be transferred there.

But this is no longer the case as the province is quickly graduating into the new Coppperbelt of Zambia.

The North-Western Province is endowed with abundant natural resources waiting to be developed and these include large quantities of various mineral deposits, woodlands, large tracts of fertile land and good rainfall, rivers and above all, hard working people.

All these provide good opportunities for investments and other economic activities.

It is with background that we join the call by North-Western Province permanent Secretary Dr Eustern Mambwe to the people in the province to take advantage of the investment opportunities by forming partnerships with foreign investors.

Speaking when he officially opened the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) business climate investment workshop in Solwezi over the weekend Dr Mambwe said it is up to the people of the province to stand up and be counted in national development.

We agree with Dr Mambwe that for too long, this part of Zambia has been called a cinderella province and with increased investment in the province, the people need to take up the challenge and be counted by partnering with investors.

Dr Mambwe said Government is convinced that the development of the country will largely depend on the North-Western Province as the area holds 50 per cent of minerals.

The province is the second largest in the country and holds 52 per cent of water in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), which is not put to good use.

Furthermore, the province is endowed with rich biodiversity and wildlife areas that remain largely untapped, for example, the West Lunga National Park and its adjacent Chibwika-Ntambo, Lukwakwa and Musele-Matebo Game Management Areas (GMAs), which are undeveloped and have been depleted but hold promise for recovery.

There is definitely need to ensure that the vast resource endowments do not just remain potential opportunities but become real and actual investments for the benefit of the province.

We commend traditional rulers in the province for the role they are playing in attracting investment because the country stands to benefit from productive relationships between community leaders and investors.

With such concerted efforts from community leaders and other stakeholders, the province is certainly headed to be an economic giant that it should be.

Master Plan to ease congestion in the capital

LUSAKA is facing huge challenges such as traffic congestion and poor sanitation which are impacting negatively on efforts to attract investment.

The proposal by Lusaka City Council to create satellite towns around the capital to relieve pressure on population growth in the city is therefore most welcome.

Lusaka City Council director of engineering Bornwell Luanga said on Thursday that the council intends to develop satellite towns to ensure that development and business activities were not only in Lusaka but also in surrounding districts as well.

The satellite towns would be self-contained and would help decongest Lusaka city through the Lusaka City Master Plan which was devised last year with the support of the Japanese government.

The Master Plan is aimed at developing water supply and sanitation, public transportation, traffic and infrastructure improvement in dwelling places.

We are particularly elated by this Master Plan because focus will be directed on public transport to have ring roads to reduce traffic congestion in the central business district.

The town centre has become a no- go area particularly at peak hours due to traffic congestion and this is not good for any business, hence the need to open up the area.

Two types of ring roads have been proposed and would include the inner and the outer routes, which under the first phase, will run from Kafue Road through Misisi to Musi-o-Tunya extension near Woodlands Stadium and then run parallel to Chilimbulu road.

The second phase will run from Kafue road through Chibolya and John Laing and will join Lumumba road.

With such a vision, we are hopeful that the capital city will be transformed and traffic congestion in the business district would become a thing of the past.

The Master Plan that will include building of standard houses, putting a reliable water supply, proper sanitation, streetlights and creation of shopping centres, will certainly revive the glorious days of Lusaka when it was a garden city with beautiful surroundings.

With this type of development the quality of life of the people will certainly be enhanced.

Congolese refugees urged to go home

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

ZAMBIA has a long tradition of hosting refugees that flee civil and political strife from their own countries.

The refugees mostly come from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a smaller but significant number from Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia.

With peace now returning to some of these war-torn countries, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in, conjunction with the Zambian government, has in the recent past been helping repatriate these refugees to their countries of origin.

It is with this background that we join the call by Ministry of Home Affairs permanent secretary Ndiyoyi Mutiti to Congolese refugees in Zambia to take advantage of next month’s voluntary repatriation programme so that they can contribute to the reconstruction of their country.

Mrs Mutiti said on Thursday last week that conditions in Congo are conducive for refugees to return home.

The Zambian government, she said, would work hard to ensure that it played its role in the implementation of the repatriation programme.

We are aware that some refugees may no longer want to return to their native countries and would want to prolong their stay in Zambia.

With assistance from the UNHCR, some refugees have, for example, set up fish farms, poultry units and even a bakery at Meheba refugee camp and many would be tempted to prolong their stay in the country.

But such refugees, who have made Zambia a home for themselves must be mindful of the fact that the UN refugee agency will close voluntary repatriation programmes in the next two years.

Without help from the UNHCR and other donor organisations, which have rendered commendable support over the years, the refugees who may try to put off their return home may just find themselves stranded and it is best that they seize this opportunity to return home when there is still goodwill.

In the 2006 and 2007 season, 74,000 Angolans and 7,000 Congolese refugees were repatriated to their countries of origin. The UN humanitarian agencies are hoping to assist some 26,000 Congolese and other refugees return home during the 2008 and 2009 season.

The International Organisation for Migration is expected to facilitate transportation while the World Food Programme will provide food to the returnees.

It is clear that the necessary support and logistics are in place for the safe return of the Congolese refugees.

It is gratifying that the Secretary-General of the Congolese Ministry of the Interior and Security Bynza Sanda, who was in the country for a meeting with the Zambian government and the UNHCR, was also satisfied with talks on the repatriation programme and subsequently called on his fellow nationals to return home and take part in the development of their country.

Thumbs up to grain traders for reducing prices

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE commend the grain traders who have reduced the price of roller meal, wheat and stockfeed by between K10, 000 and K15, 000.

This is a significant reduction and it has come as a huge relief for most households who were unable to afford mealie meal, bread and let alone chickens and eggs due to high prices.

As the Millers Association of Zambia vice-chairman Peter Cottan said on Wednesday, the reduction will definitely stimulate consumption of the staple food and the other foodstuffs.

Most traders are increasing prices of essential commodities and often exaggerating the effects of the global recession and causing untold hardships in homes but grain traders have chosen a different direction. This is how it should be.

We are particularly cheered by the reduction in the price of roller meal because it is consumed by most people and constitutes the much needed energy food for majority of the people.

We are confident that with a reduction in the price of wheat and flour, bakers will also push the benefit to consumers of bread, which has become part of the main menu in most households especially for breakfast.

The price of wheat on the international market has reduced from $600 per tonne to between $300 and $400 per tonne and the decision to push this relief to consumers of wheat products is commendable because bread will become more cheaply priced.

The price reduction of stockfeed will also enable many families to afford chickens and eggs, which had become prohibitive.

We are anxiously waiting for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to announce the floor price of white maize for this season but so far indications are that a bumper harvest is expected this year.

It is estimated that Zambia’s total white maize out -put in 2008/2009 is expected to exceed 1.2 million tonnes produced in the previous season.

With such amounts of grain in the country, we hope more price reductions will be effected to include breakfast meal.

We appeal to peasant farmers in particular to patiently wait for the announcement of the new maize price so that they can get real value for their produce.

Once FRA collects the maize, millers will in turn receive adequate quantities and flood the market with cheaply priced mealie meal.


We also wish to warn unscrupulous traders who are in the habit of clinging on to high prices to stop the practice and pass on the benefits of price reductions to consumers.

It is important that the country has sufficient and affordable mealie meal because this constitutes the main diet in most homes and the nation cannot afford to have skyrocketing prices of essential commodities when it is grappling with the effects of the global credit crunch.

EU pumps K261.1bn to boost Zambia's health service

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE salute the European Union (EU) for committing a grant of K261.1 billion to the government to help improve public health service delivery.

We have no doubt that with such an injection of financial resources, the government will use the funds judiciously to improve the quality of life of the people.

Zambia’s health sector is weak and is challenged by several factors that include a high and complex disease burden, which is compounded by the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and malaria.
The hospitals across the country face staff shortages while the supply of drugs and other medical requirements needs to be improved.

Most of the medical equipment and accessories need to be upgraded while at the same time improving the general working environment.

The grant, whose agreement was signed in Lusaka last week by the EU commissioner for health and consumer protection, Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, and Minister of Health, Kapembwa Simbao, has therefore, come as a relief as it will go a long way in addressing the bottlenecks in the health sector.

The grant is under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) for Zambia, under the period 2009-2011 and it will be channeled through sector budget support, which is Government’s preferred aid modality.

This support is a clear demonstration of the confidence the EU has in President Rupiah Banda’s Government’s to protect core sectors of national development in the light of the global financial and economic crisis.

The assurance from Mr. Simbao that Government was determined to provide a comprehensive policy and legal framework for effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of health services is also commendable particularly now when fears are mounting that the global recession may get worse.

During hard times like now, the nation pins its hope on an effective health system and it is gratifying that the EU has come to our aid when help is needed most.

The country is already feeling the harsh realities of the recession and it would be a tragedy to have a non-functioning health sector.

We urge other cooperating partners to emulate the EU and show compassion to poor nations like Zambia and assist where possible.

Zambians urged to unite as global recession bites

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WITHOUT doubt Zambians are feeling the effects of the world-wide economic recession but it is also a time of reflection as a people to cast individual differences aside and strive to be more united than ever before.

As the minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Lieutenant-General Ronnie Shikapwasha observed on Monday, this is a crucial time for the nation to provide the necessary leadership to overcome the difficulties the country is facing.

We are aware that there are some politicians including some members of the clergy and civil society organisations who want to take advantage of the situation and fan trouble.

The peace and tranquility Zambia is enjoying may just fizzle out if the country is not careful. This is a timely warning which should be taken seriously.

It is with this background that we echo Lt-Gen Shikapwasa‘s call that those in leadership, at all levels, should refrain from politicising economic problems but join government in finding solutions.

The various interest groups should instead work with the government to mitigate the effects of the recession.

We also agree with the opposition party- UNIP- that the global economic recession had put the national economy at stake and that it would be irresponsible for political parties, civil society organizations and church organizations to use its effects to settle political scores.

The nation should be on alert and ignore statements aimed at inciting people to rise against the government but should concentrate on promoting peace and unity in the country.

We are mindful of the fact that a lot of workers have lost jobs particularly on the Copperbelt and residents must be very careful with some members of the clergy and civil society groups who may want to upset the peace in the region.

Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde should be commended for issuing a timely warning to would be trouble makers that the law will visit them if they try to use the economic crisis for their own selfish motives.

Destroying peace has devastating consequences and it would be naïve for anybody to blame the leadership of President Banda for the recession because his government was nowhere close to the origins of the credit crunch.

It is very clear that the scale of the global recession is vast and that in every country, workers are confronted with the urgent need to fight back against job losses and pay cuts. Other countries are even worse off than Zambia.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that this year, the world is heading for the first year of zero economic growth since 1945. As many as 51 million jobs could go, bringing official global unemployment to 240 million by the end of this year.

With such a scenario, there is definitely need for prudent planning and unity of purpose by every nation, Zambia included.

Peace be with you: Catholic Church not political

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

IT IS a sigh of relief to hear that the Catholic Church it is not a political party to fight and criticize the government but that it was in fact a partner in development.

The assurance from Catholic Bishop of Mongu diocese, Paul Duffy, at the weekend, has dispelled mounting speculation in the country that the Catholic Church was at logger-heads with government following some recent developments within the church.

We were particularly concerned with activities and statements surrounding some of its leaders such as those attributed to Radio Icingelo station manager, Father Frank Bwalya, who is alleged to be at the centre of a political movement through which he is calling on Zambians to “change or die for Zambia.”

Father Bwalya’s activities including his reaction to the general leadership of President Banda leave question marks on what his role is at the radio station, let alone, his role as a leader of one of the most influential churches in the country.

We are concerned on whether Father Bwalya consults his superiors in the Church or if he has the blessings of the leadership and general membership about his work or about what he intends to do now.

The Catholic Church has generally been an inspiration about its messages of dialogue and reconciliation, but the recent happenings in the church like the recent boycott of the national consultative forum on the economy, was a clear indication of double standards.

Its silence on the activities of Father Bwalya, has also raised questions on whether the leadership in the Catholic Church consults its members in the same spirit, it has repeatedly called on the government to consult on important issues affecting the nation.

We wonder therefore, whether members are consulted before the leadership issues pronouncements, some of which, border on unwarranted attacks against the government.
The church is a sacred institution whose role is to provide healing and guidance to the nation and not a source of conflict.

We are therefore delighted that Father Duffy, who met and held fruitful talks with President Banda in Mongu, has assured the nation that the Church and the government will work together for the ultimate benefit of the people of Zambia.

The assurance is commendable particularly that it was made during the Easter weekend, which is an opportunity for all Christians and the nation at large to renew their hope and pray for a better country.

North-South Corridor urged to address HIV/AIDS

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE ARE happy with the efforts of our leaders in Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC) and Comesa to open up these regional groupings and strengthen integration among people under the North-South Corridor, as this will enhance development and reduce poverty.

We are, however, worried that as much as this development is desirable, the resultant effects of such integration could worsen the HIV/AIDS epidemic which is ravaging the three sub-regions.

The bottlenecks in infrastructure, particularly the roads and rail systems, once improved, will result in quicker flow of trade and consequently, the people too, will find it easier to cross from one country to another.

The much-needed economic activities will be enhanced and this is critical especially in the wake of the world-wide economic meltdown. But while our leaders find funds and ways to harmonise policies and regulations including infrastructure development, they should also pay attention to curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS that may increase due to deepened integration.

We agree with Britain’s Minister of State, Gareth Thomas, who said last week in Lusaka that there was need for the sub-region to invest more in the fight against HIV/AIDS while developing the North-South Corridor project.

Mr Thomas made the call during a transport, HIV/AIDS and health roundtable discussion organised by UK’s Department of International Development.

It is with this understanding that, as much as we welcome the North-South project, we hope that clear measures will also be taken into account to combat the epidemic as we develop the region’s infrastructure.

Obviously, human traffic along the corridor is bound to increase with improved policies but this can also have negative consequences as it may trigger more problems associated with HIV/AIDS.

Furthermore, there is a general assumption and perception that truck drivers are spreading HIV and STIs and although little data is available to support this assertion, researchers say increased mobility is one of the drivers of HIV/AIDS.

We therefore urge our leaders, donors and other partners to critically look at the problem of HIV/AIDS and plan for its inclusion as they come up with packages including funding for the North-South Corridor.

The corridor is intended to uplift the living standards of the people and it would be a futile exercise if the same population the project is aimed at assisting is imperiled further by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Zambia confronts global economic crisis

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

The die has been cast and all eyes are now on Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka where the National Conference kicks off today to find solutions to the country’s pressing economic problems.

The next two days will either spell boom or doom for Zambia as more than 500 delegates deliberate for solutions to challenges facing various sectors of the national economy.

Uncertainty and instability in international financial, currency and commodity markets, coupled with doubts about the direction of monetary policy in some major developed countries, have contributed to a gloomy outlook for the world economy and this has presented considerable risks for developing countries like Zambia.

We salute President Banda’s government for convening this consultative meeting because it is timely and focused.

This consultative meeting is also a plus for Zambia because the country is probably the first in Africa to hold a meeting of such magnitude, so soon after the G20, the world’s most influential nations, met in London two days ago in search of solutions to the global crisis.

If leaders of the world’s richest nations can take the trouble to consult amongst themselves, what more with poor nations like Zambia? The conference is, in fact, a matter of life and death for us because the majority of our people are poor and the economic meltdown will worsen if not confronted in good time.

We obviously do not expect eminent personalities who have been invited to turn the meeting into a mere talking shop but to use the occasion to explore strategies that can offer hope and bring solutions to the country’s economic problems.

We are aware that the conference provides great temptation for politicians to engage in diatribes intended to catch the attention of voters, but we warn all those who may try to do so that the red card is already up for them.

It is a pity that the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) have boycotted the national conference.

The two opposition parties should have seized this opportunity to articulate their concerns and spell out their proposals on the global economic crisis instead of boycotting a national cause of this nature.

President Banda has adopted an open door policy that also embraces opposition political parties and it is disappointing that UPND and the PF have decided to shun the Indaba.

However, it is not too late for them to get to Mulungushi and join the rest of the delegates because their voices could make a difference.

The recent closures of the mines, which have led to thousands of people being jobless, are an indicator that not all is well in the economy.

Zambia’s stock markets have fallen and the Kwacha has depreciated to worrying levels, resulting in difficulties to engage in meaningful trade with other countries. Large financial institutions have also collapsed and this has had an adverse effect on Zambia.

Governments even in the wealthiest nations have had to come up with rescue packages to bail out their financial systems, and we hope rescue plans for Zambia will emerge from the conference.

It is during such times of crisis that unity of purpose is required and we call on all delegates to be patriotic, serve mother Zambia and help turn the economy around.