NEWSLINE

  An international human rights organization which advocates for the realization of the right to food and nutrition, FIAN International Zambia, has called on the government to ensure that it respects various international treaties which the country has committed to protect, including the right to food. The call was made on Friday [29 April 2022]during the launch of  three reports highlighting human Rights violations  being committed by large scale agriculture and cement companies in three districts namely Mumbwa, Masaiti and Kachibiya. One of the reports titled Land Grabbing for Cement Factory in Masaiti District of Zambia, Analysis of Dangote case from the Human Rights Perceptive, shows that i n Senior Chief Chiwala in Masaiti on the Copperbelt, customary land of 250 hectares belonging to 234 households was grabbed from the residences of Majariwa village in Chiwala and given to Dangote Industries Zambia Limited. And another report titled Land Grabbing for Palm Oil and Ce...

Onion and Potato value chain stakeholders have resolved that the country does not need to import onions and potatoes as it has adequate stocks.   During a protracted meeting by onion and potatoes stakeholders, including traders, processors and producers organized by the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), held at the ZNFU Secretariat, yesterday it was also resolved that there is no need for imports of frozen chips.   Union President Jervis Zimba, who has revealed this in a statement availed to the media, has further disclosed that the stakeholders have further resolved that there is no need for imports of Potato Crisps further stating that importers of Potato Crisps shall be referred to the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry for further advice.   Mr Zimba has indicated that stakeholders are only in support of measures that will lead to increased production of potatoes locally and value addition and that they have agreed to be in constant consultation...

    By Christopher Chisi   President Hakainde Hichilema has assured his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi who is expected in the country in the next few days that the Zambian government will not shut down its borders in order to facilitate the export of mealie meal among other agricultural products to the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC. This came to light when President Hichilema addressed a press conference held at Statehouse in Lusaka on Monday (25 April 2022.) The President said the government wants to export more [agricultural produce] to the DRC hence its decision not to close its borders again. The President said shutting down the borders will result in the country losing the much-needed forex. "President Tshisekedi is coming [to Zambia] and amongst the things we are dealing in, we want to export more to Congo-DR including mealie meal. That is why we are not shutting those borders again, even when people are asking us to shut[down] the border...

By Christopher Chisi   The Participatory Ecological Land-Use Management–PELUM Zambia says there is a need to protect the informal seed sector which mainly comprises the local traditional seed system, in order to preserve the country’s crop diversity.   PELUM Zambia Programs Officer, Wilfred Miga has cautioned that killing the informal seed sector is tantamount to destroying all the crop diversity it promotes.   Mr. Miga emphasized the need to ensure that the informal seed sector which does not only thrive within the communities but also has some cultural attachments is well preserved.   Speaking in his presentation dubbed  the seed sector  during the just ended three days-Ecological Organic Agriculture Media training held in Lusaka, Mr. Miga expressed concern that at present, the country’s seed industry has been infiltrated by some multinational companies while the informal seed system is being weakened.   He regretted that at the same time, farmers ar...

By Christopher Chisi The Participatory Ecological Land-Use Management -PELUM Zambia says there is a need to give the agriculture sector more priority to ensure food security in the country. #PELUM , Country Cordinator, Muketoi Wamunyima says this is in view of the looming food insecurity due to the poor rainfall pattern which the country experienced as well as the late distribution of farming inputs to farmers by the government. And Mr Wamunyima noted that for the agriculture sector to develop there is a need for the media to strategically communicate positive social change and solutions that could help address not only issues of production but also environment and health. He said this today during the ongoing three-day Ecological Organic Agriculture Training workshop for the media, in Lusaka. The workshop aims at achieving two things namely, meeting the needs of journalists in understanding Ecological Organic Agriculture and creating a pool of journalists that will dedicate their wor...

By Christopher Chisi The Women and Law in Southern Africa-WLSA has recognised the need to urgently harmonise existing pieces of legislations which define who a child is , in order to help fight child marriages in the country. Among the legislations which define who a child is in differently ways include ,the Zambian Constitution and Penal Code. According to the Constitution a child is a person who is 18 years and below while the Penal Code says a child is one who is below 16. Under the Intestate Succession Act the definition of a child has no age limit while the Education Act also puts a child up to 18 years. WLSA Project Officer, Matrine Hazyondo has observed that the different definitions of who a child is ,has remained one of the biggest challenges in fighting child marriages. Meanwhile Mrs Hazyondo said there is need to ensure that parents and guidance are fully engaged on the free education policy because some are still finding excuses not to take their children to school.