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Schools are not re-opening on Thursday, 8th July, 2021, says Government

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INFORMATION Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga says there is need for further preparations and monitoring  of the  COVID-19 situation in the country before schools reopen.

This is contrary to the statement by General Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Jobbick Kalumba who stated that schools will reopen on Thursday July 8, 2021.

In a statement, Malupenga said President Edgar Lungu through the secretary to cabinet directed heightened interventions to prevent Covid19 in the country.

“On Wednesday, 16th June 2021, His Excellency the President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, through the Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Simon K. Miti, directed a number of heightened  interventions to further prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country.His Excellency the President stated, among other things, that Government was cognizant of the negative impact COVID -19 has added to the education sector. However, he reiterated that as a country  we needed to put the lives of our leaners, teachers and other staff in our schools at the core of our decisions,” Malupenga recalled.

“Arising from the above, pre, primary and secondary schools were then closed for 21 days with effect from Thursday 17th June 2021 subject to review, inspection and certification of the schools, depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic would evolve. As for universities, colleges and other higher learning institutions, subject to the above conditions, they were directed to conduct only online classes for one month effective 17th June 2021. It was further directed that two weeks from 17th June 2021, joint inspections were to be conducted by the ministries of health, general and higher education in conjunction with the Disaster Management  and Mitigation Unit to inform further decision making. His Excellency the President also directed school authorities to use the closure period as an opportunity to conduct inspection, preventive, monitoring and maintenance  activities.”

He stated that the position has been reviewed and the situation is still been monitored.

“This position has since been reviewed and the preliminary assessment conducted on the readiness of the schools and higher learning institutions to re-open after 21 days of closure indicate that there is need for further preparations and monitoring  of the  COVID-19 situation in the country. While Government is resolved to keeping our learners in schools as we continue responding to COVID-19, we have to strike the delicate balance between saving lives and allowing learning to continue.”

“The COVID-19 situation in the country has  seen a generalized  person-to-person transmission of the infection with an average  positivity rate of 24%, increased admissions to hospitals and deaths of which leaners and  staff remain at risk. To this effect, a detailed assessment of schools, universities, colleges and other higher learning institutions countrywide will be jointly conducted by the ministries of health, general and higher education together with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit from  8th  to 15thJuly  2021 to further ascertain their readiness to re-open and resume normal operations. A decision will then be made on the way forward,  subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 situation in the country,” he said.

Malupenga said this statement supersedes any earlier statement.

“This will be done on a case-by-case basis in order to encourage those schools and institutions of higher learning who maybe lagging behind in terms of implementing the COVID-19 five golden rules to improve or risk indefinite closure. Therefore, this calls for diligence and aggressiveness from the school authorities in implementing these golden rules because the schools that will fall short of this standard will remain closed while the compliant ones may re-open and normalize operations.”

“Consequently, sanctions from higher authorities will follow those charged with the responsibility to man these institutions that may fail to meet the benchmark for re-opening. The preliminary assessment revealed that some institutions are doing more in observing the five COVID-19 golden rules while the majority have taken a laissez-faire attitude. Responsible officers will be held accountable. It will no longer be business as usual. This fight against COVID-19 calls for extra-ordinary input from all of us if we are to defeat it,” he said.

Malupenga said for now pre, primary and secondary schools remain closed.

“Until then, pre, primary and secondary schools will remain closed while institutions of higher learning will continue to offer only online classes. All these measures will be subject to review depending on how the pandemic evolves.This statement supersedes any other statement on this matter.”

Politics

US Govt releases USD$16million toward corruption fight

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UNITED States Vice President Kamala Harris has announced that more than USD$16 million has been released towards the fight against corruption and other reform programs.

Ms Harris said the US is keen on helping accelerate the fight against corruption to help pave way for democracy to flourish.

Speaking at State House today, Ms Harris said the strong ties between Zambia and the US will continue and those include the fight against corruption .

“Democracy is a priority for the United States. We have released more than USD$16 million for programs including anti-corruption and other reform programs,” she said.

She commended President Hakainde Hichilema for the strides being made in the fight against corruption as well as debt restructuring.

“We will quicken the debt restructuring and we advise other bilateral official creditors to have  meaningful debt restructure for Zambia as well,” she said.

And Mr Hichilema said Zambia values the bilateral relationship held with the US and will ensure to maintain the good historical friendship.

He noted that Government priority is to rebuild the economy.

“What is keeping us down is debt over hung. It is contributing towards the affected foreign exchange market prices and so we are pushing to unlock that so that we create more jobs and more businesses,” he said.

Mr Hichilema further reiterated that Zambia will continue upholding good governance and also stated that Zambia is a democracy by choice and not through persuasion.

(Mwebantu, Friday, 31st March, 2023)

(Picture by Munati TV)

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US Veep to hold bilateral talks with President Hakainde Hichilema

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MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo says Vice President of the United States of America Ms Kamala Harris is today expected to embark on her official visit to Zambia from today to 1st April 2023, accompanied by the Second Gentleman, Mr Douglas Emhoff.

Mr Kakubo said Vice President Harris will hold a bilateral meeting with President Hichilema, which will focus on important matters of mutual interest at bilateral, regional, and global levels, including democracy, food security, and sustainable economic growth.

He said the Vice President’s visit will serve to advance US efforts to expand assistance to Zambia in accessing the digital economy, supporting climate change adaptation and resilience, and strengthening business ties and investment, including through innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment of women.

“President Hichilema has been driving the country’s bold and ambitious economic development agenda, and this visit will solidify Zambia’s partnership with the United States, while exploring new areas of cooperation in identified sectors that will accrue tangible benefits to the people of Zambia,” he said.

Mr Kakubo said the increased high-level visits by foreign leaders and dignitaries to Zambia serve as a testament to the renewed confidence the international community has in the country’s current leadership.

“These visits are crucial and demonstrate Zambia’s standing as a preferred investment destination. The country is open to collaborative partnerships, and the international community has shown willingness to work with the government in various areas such as health, education, agriculture, mining, water and sanitation, energy, and tourism,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Friday, 31st March, 2023)

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Dr. Nevers Mumba says the discussion and debate on democracy is long overdue

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MOVEMENT for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba says the discussion and debate on democracy is long overdue and has since commended the co-hosting of the summit in Zambia.

He has however advised the western world not to use democracy as a pipeline to impose certain values against the country’s norms.
Dr Mumba has since challenged the western world to respect the county’s cultural, religious, christian and social values.
The politician, who is also a former vice president, said during the sidelines of the summit, there is a lot of business with the western world to help propel development and that is why the business should not be hindered by other agendas.

“We think the discussion and debate on democracy is long overdue. Africa is ready to take on this debate. What we are against is interference from the western world or anywhere. We do not want democracy to be used as a pipeline to impose certain values. If this continues, there will be a huge divorce from the pipeline,” he said.

Dr Mumba said a strong partnership with the western world will continue but that they should respect the country’s cultural values.

“We have a lot of business of Democracy and we remain committed, but we do not want anything to come in between that,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Thursday, 30th March, 2023)

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