Metro

Zambian opposition parties accuse ruling UPND of ‘systematic’ meddling in their internal affairs

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2023

The 10 leading opposition parties in Zambia have cautioned the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) against what it described as the “systematic” meddling in their affairs.

The opposition parties, which raised the alarm during a joint press conference in Lusaka on Thursday, described the actions of the UPND as act of cowardice by meddling in their internal affairs.

President of Citizens First (CF), Harry Kalaba, who addressed the press conference on behalf of the 10 opposition parties which included the New Heritage Party and Golden Party of Zambia, among others, stated that the actions of the ruling party were aimed at weakening the opposition in Zambia because the “UPND did not want a strong opposition that could stand up to them.”

“For the first time in this country’s history, we are having senior military personnel being drafted to participate in covert activities that are intended to disenfranchise the opposition,” Kalaba said.

He warned those he accused of pushing such an agenda that the opposition parties knew what was happening and would not hesitate to hold them personally accountable at the right time.

The CF President reminded civil servants in the country, military and paramilitary personnel who are being drafted into covert operations to resist such activities as they were not meant for the good of the country.

He added that the country had also seen arrests of several opposition leaders on trumped up charges of espionage arising from them expressing their views.

“It is apparent that this takeover of parties was made possible owing to the apparent lack of unity among opposition leaders as well as other interest groups and the citizens not taking a position to speak out in favor of democracy,” Kalaba said.

The CF leader noted that the country had seen a significant increase in corruption that had been aided by President Hichilema’s alleged single sourcing practice, especially when dealing with key expenses on which the welfare of the nation heavily relied.

“What is ironic is that the oversight institutions have elected silence in the face of national pillage,” Kalaba lamented, expressing shock that donor agencies had equally opted to remain mute even in the “face of blatant abuse of public office orchestrated by those at the apex of public office.”

Lastly, he challenged the Anti-Corruption Commission to visit the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and look at the transaction with Egypt in which he claimed the correct procedure was not followed.

“The nation deserves to know why ZAMRA went ahead to approve the contract and delivery of drugs from Egypt in the absence of a dossier.
The scandal at ZAMRA today will make Honey Bee look like a storm in a cup,” he claimed.

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Metro

Morocco’s Mpox test gets African CDC endorsement

Published

11 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A major step forward in Africa’s response to the continuing epidemic was taken Thursday when the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) revealed that it had endorsed Morocco’s locally created mpox test.

A “major milestone” for African public health systems, the new real-time PCR test can identify mpox pathogen DNA in tissue, saliva, and blood samples, improving the continent’s capacity to address new health risks.

The Africa CDC announced the clearance on X (previously Twitter), highlighting the validity and effectiveness of Morocco’s mpox test.

The support is in line with the African Union’s overarching goal of enhancing public health self-sufficiency in order to anticipate and effectively address disease risks.

This development follows three months ago when the Africa CDC declared the mpox epidemic to be a public health emergency.

Previously known as monkeypox, mpox is a disease that infects animals and people by intimate personal contact. Symptoms include fever, muscular pains, and characteristic skin lesions.

Alongside the CDC’s work, Abbott Molecular Inc.’s Alinity m MPXV assay, the first mpox diagnostic test, was authorised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last month.

This diagnostic tool provides an additional means of monitoring and managing the virus by identifying mpox from swab samples.

Approximately 1,100 people have died and over 50,000 instances of mpox have been recorded throughout Africa this year, with Central Africa experiencing the highest number of cases and fatalities.

Metro

Mpox immunisation scarcity slows Kinshasa’s epidemic fight

Published

13 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A lack of mpox vaccine doses has prevented the Democratic Republic of the Congo from starting a campaign in the capital, Kinshasa, the response commander has confirmed. However, the number of cases nationwide is still rising, particularly among youngsters.

In mid-August, a new strain of pox started to spread from the Congo to neighbouring countries, prompting the WHO to declare a global health emergency. However, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, donors have been hesitant to turn their pledges into cash and vaccines.

The head of operations for Congo’s mpox control program, Cris Kacita, stated on Tuesday that the country needed more than 162,000 doses of vaccine to start a vaccination campaign in the capital, but that 53,921 doses were still available for use in prisons, where inmates are at greater risk because of unsanitary conditions.

The capital, which is home to about 20 million people, has so far been less impacted than other parts of the nation. In six other provinces, vaccination campaigns are now underway.

Along with additional shipments from Germany and the African Union, France has committed to providing 100,000 doses.

He added the arrival of vaccines was also delayed by the administrative process, which includes sending an official request, manufacturing, creating documentation and gaining import authorisations.

“As long as we don’t have the necessary quantity, it’s going to be complicated to launch (vaccination) in the 14 health zones,” Kacita told Reuters, referring to areas of Kinshasa.

According to a health ministry study, from October 28 to November 2, 1,017 new suspected cases were registered nationwide in Congo, including 45 confirmed cases and 16 fatalities.

Since children are almost four times more likely than adults to die from the new strain of mpox, the charity Save the Children warned on Wednesday that targeted vaccines were necessary to halt the virus from spreading quickly among children.

“Children are especially vulnerable to mpox – they explore by touch and taste, don’t always understand health guidance, and have weaker immune systems than adults,” Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse from Save the Children said.

According to Africa CDC data, there have been over 42,000 suspected cases of Mpox in the continent, with 1,100 deaths reported so far this year.

The Mpox virus can spread from person to person via intimate contact and also from place to person through objects and surfaces that a person infected with Mpox has touched.