GOVERNMENT has observed that the current Constitution should be amended to allow prisoners to participate in general elections.
And the Ministry of Home Affairs has said there is need for stakeholders
and Government to undertake feasibility studies on how countries like
South Africa and Netherlands have managed to handle the aspect of
prisoners’ voting.
The Zambian Constitution does not allow prisoners to participate in elections due to security concerns.
Home Affairs spokesperson Moses Suwali said that prisoners are also
human beings who should be allowed to take part in elections as it is
their fundamental right.
He said prisoners have been disenfranchised for a long time now and “I
am urging non-governmental organisations and all stakeholders to begin
to advocate for prisoners”.
Additionally, Mr Suwali said when the Constitution is amended;
Government will start setting up polling stations in prisons to allow
prisoners to vote.
“This is an important area that has been overlooked for a long time and is worth exploring”, he said.
Mr Suwali said the feasibility studies that need to be conducted should
take into consideration if elections campaigns will also be allowed to
take place in prisons.
“Are we also going to allow polling stations to be set up in prisons or
will prisoners will be taken to existing polling stations to vote? These
are critical issues we need to look at and study carefully from the
countries that have managed this process,” he said.
There have been media reports by Prisons Care and Counselling
Association (PRISCA) for Government to allow prisoners to start
participating in elections.
Monday, 17 August 2015
Chilanga school to spend K120,000 on girls’ ablution block
ABOUT K120,000 will be spent on the construction of an ablution block of
girl-friendly showers at Chilanga primary school in a bid to help
schoolgirls manage their menstruation.
And the school has included the procurement of sanitary wear for schoolgirls.
School head teacher Kenneth Muleya confirmed in an interview recently that works to construct showers are progressing well and will be completed before the end of this year.
Mr Muleya said once the showers are complete girls will no longer miss class because they will have facilities to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness when they are at school.
He said “Apart from helping our girls manage their menstrual periods through the procurement of sanitary wear; our teachers hold regularly talks with the girls so that they understand the whole cycle and how they can manage it”.
Meanwhile, Mr Muleya said the revised curriculum on the introduction of information communication technology (ICTs) in schools has received overwhelming response from both parents and pupils.
He said Chilanga member of Parliament Keith Mukata recently donated 20 computers to the school which has enhanced the teaching and learning of ICTs.
“We can safely say we are getting there in terms of the learning of ICTs in schools but there are still some challenges; pupils cannot utilise the computers due to power outages being experienced countrywide”, said Mr Muleya.
And he has since advised parents in the area to continue taking their young children to early learning centres.
Mr Muleya said early learning is good for the development of every child and must be treated so by parents and guardians.
And the school has included the procurement of sanitary wear for schoolgirls.
School head teacher Kenneth Muleya confirmed in an interview recently that works to construct showers are progressing well and will be completed before the end of this year.
Mr Muleya said once the showers are complete girls will no longer miss class because they will have facilities to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness when they are at school.
He said “Apart from helping our girls manage their menstrual periods through the procurement of sanitary wear; our teachers hold regularly talks with the girls so that they understand the whole cycle and how they can manage it”.
Meanwhile, Mr Muleya said the revised curriculum on the introduction of information communication technology (ICTs) in schools has received overwhelming response from both parents and pupils.
He said Chilanga member of Parliament Keith Mukata recently donated 20 computers to the school which has enhanced the teaching and learning of ICTs.
“We can safely say we are getting there in terms of the learning of ICTs in schools but there are still some challenges; pupils cannot utilise the computers due to power outages being experienced countrywide”, said Mr Muleya.
And he has since advised parents in the area to continue taking their young children to early learning centres.
Mr Muleya said early learning is good for the development of every child and must be treated so by parents and guardians.
‘When digital billboards become a nuisance’
DIGITAL billboards are increasingly becoming the standard way of advertising in Zambia particularly in the capital, Lusaka.
Found at almost every corner of the busy streets, digital bill boards command numerous advantages.
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure, typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads
The digital bill board is the preferred mode advertising because when placed along highways or busy streets, it is a guarantee that people will see it as it can be placed where the most impact can be felt.
And passers-by normally get hooked to the scrolling adverts and are therefore, attracted.
But how about when digital board bill become a distraction particularly to motorists driving in the night?
Yes, today, the light and brightness emanating from digital bill boards at the night have become what motorists describe as an eyesore.
Mwila Sikombwa, a motorist of Lusaka said the brightness emanating from the digital bill boards is too much for the eyes, especially when one is driving at night.
He noted that when the brightness and light is too much for the eyes, a motorist can easily cause an accident.
“You know when light becomes too much it is possible for one to cause an accident and kill innocent people”, he said.
Meanwhile, Felix Banda another motorist appealed to the relevant authorities to order the companies responsible for mounting digital bill boards to reduce the intensity of light emanating from the bill boards.
Mr Banda said inasmuch as digital bill boards are good for advertising, there should be consideration for the motorists as regards accidents.
The plea by motorists has reached the ears of the local authorities who have since asked the multimedia companies to reduce the light from digital bill boards to avoid accidents.
During a physical inspection of digital bill boards in Lusaka recently, deputy mayor Portipher Tembo charged that all multimedia companies should reduce the lighting coming from their bill boards.
As he inspected the bill board at Woodlands Shopping Mall roundabout that was mounted by Continental Outdoor Media, Mr Tembo was dismayed that the bill board business that is bringing in revenue to the council was somewhat contributing to the loss of lives.
Mr Tembo suggested that the multimedia companies must reduce the lighting from bill boards to at least three percent brightness from the current five percent.
The deputy mayor also raised an issue with the location of most bill boards. He noted that sometimes, it was disturbing to find that the location of some bill boards were an obstruction to motorists from having a clear view of where they were going.
And Council director engineering services Maliwa Muchuu expressed shock over the failure by some companies to remove digital bill boards despite being written to.
He said motorists raised complaints of having accidents at that Woodlands Shopping Complex because of the brightness coming from the bill boards and called for their removal.
But Continental Outdoor Media business development and operations manager Sekani Nkhata confirmed having been written to but they were waiting for guidelines on where to place their bill board once it is moved from the present location.
Mr Nkhata said: “We have been waiting for the council and Road Transport Safety Agency to tell us where to place the bill board; up to now, we have not been told. We have no problem removing it and reducing its brightness. We will send our people to inspect the intensity of the light at night to ascertain where the problem is”.
He said during the day, their bill board brightness is at 100 percent but is reduced to five percent at night.
However, promised to further reduce the lightning system to maybe three percent in accordance in line with demands from motorists who are usually affected.
A study by Virginia Tech in the United States (2006) found anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road for more than two seconds greatly increases the risk of a crash.
That study found nearly 80 per cent of all crashes involve driver inattention within three seconds of the crash.
And Swedish and German researchers in a study in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention published in January 2013, found that digital billboards attract and hold drivers’ gazes longer than the threshold that previous studies had shown to be dangerous.
The study found that drivers looked at these colourful, rapidly changing billboards significantly longer than they do at other signs on the same stretch of road – the digital versions often took a driver’s eyes off the road for more than two seconds.
Found at almost every corner of the busy streets, digital bill boards command numerous advantages.
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure, typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads
The digital bill board is the preferred mode advertising because when placed along highways or busy streets, it is a guarantee that people will see it as it can be placed where the most impact can be felt.
And passers-by normally get hooked to the scrolling adverts and are therefore, attracted.
But how about when digital board bill become a distraction particularly to motorists driving in the night?
Yes, today, the light and brightness emanating from digital bill boards at the night have become what motorists describe as an eyesore.
Mwila Sikombwa, a motorist of Lusaka said the brightness emanating from the digital bill boards is too much for the eyes, especially when one is driving at night.
He noted that when the brightness and light is too much for the eyes, a motorist can easily cause an accident.
“You know when light becomes too much it is possible for one to cause an accident and kill innocent people”, he said.
Meanwhile, Felix Banda another motorist appealed to the relevant authorities to order the companies responsible for mounting digital bill boards to reduce the intensity of light emanating from the bill boards.
Mr Banda said inasmuch as digital bill boards are good for advertising, there should be consideration for the motorists as regards accidents.
The plea by motorists has reached the ears of the local authorities who have since asked the multimedia companies to reduce the light from digital bill boards to avoid accidents.
During a physical inspection of digital bill boards in Lusaka recently, deputy mayor Portipher Tembo charged that all multimedia companies should reduce the lighting coming from their bill boards.
As he inspected the bill board at Woodlands Shopping Mall roundabout that was mounted by Continental Outdoor Media, Mr Tembo was dismayed that the bill board business that is bringing in revenue to the council was somewhat contributing to the loss of lives.
Mr Tembo suggested that the multimedia companies must reduce the lighting from bill boards to at least three percent brightness from the current five percent.
The deputy mayor also raised an issue with the location of most bill boards. He noted that sometimes, it was disturbing to find that the location of some bill boards were an obstruction to motorists from having a clear view of where they were going.
And Council director engineering services Maliwa Muchuu expressed shock over the failure by some companies to remove digital bill boards despite being written to.
He said motorists raised complaints of having accidents at that Woodlands Shopping Complex because of the brightness coming from the bill boards and called for their removal.
But Continental Outdoor Media business development and operations manager Sekani Nkhata confirmed having been written to but they were waiting for guidelines on where to place their bill board once it is moved from the present location.
Mr Nkhata said: “We have been waiting for the council and Road Transport Safety Agency to tell us where to place the bill board; up to now, we have not been told. We have no problem removing it and reducing its brightness. We will send our people to inspect the intensity of the light at night to ascertain where the problem is”.
He said during the day, their bill board brightness is at 100 percent but is reduced to five percent at night.
However, promised to further reduce the lightning system to maybe three percent in accordance in line with demands from motorists who are usually affected.
A study by Virginia Tech in the United States (2006) found anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road for more than two seconds greatly increases the risk of a crash.
That study found nearly 80 per cent of all crashes involve driver inattention within three seconds of the crash.
And Swedish and German researchers in a study in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention published in January 2013, found that digital billboards attract and hold drivers’ gazes longer than the threshold that previous studies had shown to be dangerous.
The study found that drivers looked at these colourful, rapidly changing billboards significantly longer than they do at other signs on the same stretch of road – the digital versions often took a driver’s eyes off the road for more than two seconds.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Walala Washala women empowered
FORMER ambassador to Italy Lucy Mungoma has commended women of Lusaka’s
Minestone township for forming a Walala Washala Club that is aimed at
empowering women acquire basic skills that will help in poverty
eradication.
The club comprises 55 women and will empower members in basic entrepreneurship, business management, savings and banking, tailoring, agriculture, carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing and small-scale farming.
Ms Mungoma noted that the club is breaking barriers by encouraging women to engage in the man-titled jobs.
She was speaking at the launch of the club in Lusaka recently.
“This is so encouraging and this group is working towards being influential in poverty alleviation. This group is starting with families, the local communities and later the whole nation,” Ms Mungoma said.
She added that once poverty is addressed starting with the voiceless in the community, “we are assured of healthy people and step towards social development”.
And Walala Washala Club chairperson Christine Katungulu said Government alone cannot provide employment for everyone, and that the club will endeavour to create jobs for women.
Ms Katungulu said the objective of the club is to empower women and youths through special skills that will sustain them.
She said the motto for our club is “to empower a woman, you empower a nation”. Actually, the idea to form a club was based on the appointment of the first female Vice-President, Inonge Wina.”
Ms Katungulu said President Lungu has given women in the country the impetus to believe in themselves.
The club comprises 55 women and will empower members in basic entrepreneurship, business management, savings and banking, tailoring, agriculture, carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing and small-scale farming.
Ms Mungoma noted that the club is breaking barriers by encouraging women to engage in the man-titled jobs.
She was speaking at the launch of the club in Lusaka recently.
“This is so encouraging and this group is working towards being influential in poverty alleviation. This group is starting with families, the local communities and later the whole nation,” Ms Mungoma said.
She added that once poverty is addressed starting with the voiceless in the community, “we are assured of healthy people and step towards social development”.
And Walala Washala Club chairperson Christine Katungulu said Government alone cannot provide employment for everyone, and that the club will endeavour to create jobs for women.
Ms Katungulu said the objective of the club is to empower women and youths through special skills that will sustain them.
She said the motto for our club is “to empower a woman, you empower a nation”. Actually, the idea to form a club was based on the appointment of the first female Vice-President, Inonge Wina.”
Ms Katungulu said President Lungu has given women in the country the impetus to believe in themselves.
We have only 5 female town clerks
OUT of 103 councils in the countr, only five have female town clerks.
Lusaka mayor George Nyendwa described this development as unfortunate and challenged women in politics to show their commitment and work towards being recognised and counted alongside men.
“I am challenging women to start taking part in politics if they are to ascend to the helm of the councils,” he said.
Mr Nyendwa said women can only be appointed to higher positions in the councils if they participate in politics.
Meanwhile, Mr Nyendwa further challenged political parties to adopt women to contest as ward councillors to help increase the number of women in politics.
He noted that the number of women in politics can only be increased if there is a deliberate policy of reserving certain constituencies for female politicians. “Like the way we do it in the Patriotic Front, we deliberately adopt women at both local government and parliamentary levels.”
Mr Nyendwa said the new republican constitution should include a law which will reserve certain constituencies for women so that the number of females in politics can increase.
“We have seen this policy and law work for our friends in neighbouring countries like South Africa. That is why in these countries, there are a lot of women participating in politics and being appointed to decision-making decisions,” he said.
The mayor has encouraged women entrepreneurs to form clubs and solicit funds from Government to enhance their businesses to eradicate poverty.
Lusaka mayor George Nyendwa described this development as unfortunate and challenged women in politics to show their commitment and work towards being recognised and counted alongside men.
“I am challenging women to start taking part in politics if they are to ascend to the helm of the councils,” he said.
Mr Nyendwa said women can only be appointed to higher positions in the councils if they participate in politics.
Meanwhile, Mr Nyendwa further challenged political parties to adopt women to contest as ward councillors to help increase the number of women in politics.
He noted that the number of women in politics can only be increased if there is a deliberate policy of reserving certain constituencies for female politicians. “Like the way we do it in the Patriotic Front, we deliberately adopt women at both local government and parliamentary levels.”
Mr Nyendwa said the new republican constitution should include a law which will reserve certain constituencies for women so that the number of females in politics can increase.
“We have seen this policy and law work for our friends in neighbouring countries like South Africa. That is why in these countries, there are a lot of women participating in politics and being appointed to decision-making decisions,” he said.
The mayor has encouraged women entrepreneurs to form clubs and solicit funds from Government to enhance their businesses to eradicate poverty.
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Connect women to bigger business deals – First Lady
FIRST Lady Esther Lungu has urged the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to expose women in small and medium businesses to ensure their participation in infrastructure projects such as energy and water.
Speaking recently during a gala dinner hosted by Chinese Women in Zambia to commemorate International Women’s Day in Lusaka, Mrs Lungu said the ministry should provide women entrepreneurs with market linkages with bigger formal industries.
She noted that women entrepreneurs face complex issues such as limited exposure to finance their businesses.
“Very few women are able to finance their enterprises through their cash flows and have to explore external sources of funding. Women entrepreneurs lack the substantial collateral to provide as security against loans,” Mrs Lungu added.
Additionally, Mrs Lungu further urged the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry to put in place policies to support women entrepreneurs in order to provide opportunities to succeed.
And she has commended Government over the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise policy that seek to enhance the development of MSMEs in Zambia.
“The policy provided the much needed guidance and direction on all activities and development efforts related to MSMEs,” Mrs Lungu said.
Mrs Lungu added that the development of the strategy paper on industrialisation and job creation by Government which aims at achieving wins in employment creation.
Speaking recently during a gala dinner hosted by Chinese Women in Zambia to commemorate International Women’s Day in Lusaka, Mrs Lungu said the ministry should provide women entrepreneurs with market linkages with bigger formal industries.
She noted that women entrepreneurs face complex issues such as limited exposure to finance their businesses.
“Very few women are able to finance their enterprises through their cash flows and have to explore external sources of funding. Women entrepreneurs lack the substantial collateral to provide as security against loans,” Mrs Lungu added.
Additionally, Mrs Lungu further urged the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry to put in place policies to support women entrepreneurs in order to provide opportunities to succeed.
And she has commended Government over the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise policy that seek to enhance the development of MSMEs in Zambia.
“The policy provided the much needed guidance and direction on all activities and development efforts related to MSMEs,” Mrs Lungu said.
Mrs Lungu added that the development of the strategy paper on industrialisation and job creation by Government which aims at achieving wins in employment creation.
State urged to intevene in illegal abortions
SOME students from higher learning institutions in the country have urged government to scale-up interventions aimed at addressing unsafe and illegal abortions in Zambia.
The students who held a Youth Parliament last week sponsored by IPAS in commemoration of Commonwealth Day moved a motion that Government should scale-up interventions to address unsafe and illegal abortions in the country.
Current Zambia Demographic Health Survey maternal mortality statistics now stand at 398 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, and it is estimated that 30 percent of these deaths are due to unsafe abortion.
Tifwepo Nkunika a fourth-year student at the University of Zambia (UNZA) said Government should start prosecuting girls and women who abort pregnancies without the authorisation.
Ms Nkunika noted that abortion in Zambia is only legal if the life of a mother and child is at stake and three doctors authorise for abortion to be conducted.
“I am meant to believe that prosecutors are not doing their job in prosecuting those women and girls who are aborting without the authorisation of three doctors and putting their lives at risk,” she said.
And Naomi Mikayaya, another UNZA student called on Government to provide information on unsafe and illegal abortions among youths.
Ms Mikayaya noted that young people have no knowledge on what constitutes a safe abortion.
She also called “for more information on the right usage of contraceptives among youths.”
Speaking earlier, Zambia All Party Parliamentary group on Population and Development (ZAPPD) chairperson Highvie Hamududu noted that teenage pregnancies, early marriages and unsafe and illegal abortions are on the rise and that young people should be equipped with information to make informed choices.
“Out of Zambia’s 14million population, 50 percent are young people aged below 19 years. This young population presents both an opportunity and a challenge, depending on the actions we take today,” Mr Hamududu said.
Meanwhile IPAS country director Felicia Sakala also reiterated calls for Government to provide interventions to address unsafe abortions among young people.
Ms Sakala said unsafe and illegal abortions have continued contributing to the high maternal mortality rate the country is witnessing.
The students who held a Youth Parliament last week sponsored by IPAS in commemoration of Commonwealth Day moved a motion that Government should scale-up interventions to address unsafe and illegal abortions in the country.
Current Zambia Demographic Health Survey maternal mortality statistics now stand at 398 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, and it is estimated that 30 percent of these deaths are due to unsafe abortion.
Tifwepo Nkunika a fourth-year student at the University of Zambia (UNZA) said Government should start prosecuting girls and women who abort pregnancies without the authorisation.
Ms Nkunika noted that abortion in Zambia is only legal if the life of a mother and child is at stake and three doctors authorise for abortion to be conducted.
“I am meant to believe that prosecutors are not doing their job in prosecuting those women and girls who are aborting without the authorisation of three doctors and putting their lives at risk,” she said.
And Naomi Mikayaya, another UNZA student called on Government to provide information on unsafe and illegal abortions among youths.
Ms Mikayaya noted that young people have no knowledge on what constitutes a safe abortion.
She also called “for more information on the right usage of contraceptives among youths.”
Speaking earlier, Zambia All Party Parliamentary group on Population and Development (ZAPPD) chairperson Highvie Hamududu noted that teenage pregnancies, early marriages and unsafe and illegal abortions are on the rise and that young people should be equipped with information to make informed choices.
“Out of Zambia’s 14million population, 50 percent are young people aged below 19 years. This young population presents both an opportunity and a challenge, depending on the actions we take today,” Mr Hamududu said.
Meanwhile IPAS country director Felicia Sakala also reiterated calls for Government to provide interventions to address unsafe abortions among young people.
Ms Sakala said unsafe and illegal abortions have continued contributing to the high maternal mortality rate the country is witnessing.
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