Metro

Zambia’s Socialist Party cautions President Hichilema against making divisive tribal utterances

Published

11 months ago

January 5, 2024

Zambia’s opposition Socialist Party (SP) has cautioned President Hakainde Hichilema against making what it described as divisive tribal utterances.

Leader of the SP, Fred M’membe, who made the call on Thursday, said President Hichilema felt threatened politically and had resorted to tribalism to hold on to his position.

M’membe, who addressed a press conference in Lusaka,
alleged that Hichilema made some tribal remarks during the end of year media briefing at Mulungushi International Conference Center and at the new year rally held in Choma, Southern Province.

M’membe, therefore, advised the president to desist from deploying tribal tactics that tended to divide the citizens based on where they come from, but rather work to unite Zambians.

He added that those that liberated Zambia united its people under the mantra of “One Zambia, One Nation”, but noted that what was obtainableh today was a situation where Zambians were being divided more and more by the current government.

“Even when Hichilema feels threatened, we urge him to refrain from retreating to tribal utterances,” M’membe advised.

SP leader also said that Zambians had told Hichilema’s administration what needed to be done to address the challenges the country was facing, but that all had fallen on deaf ears.

“The executive is in shambles. It has become very tribalistic and very regional. The governance system has been weakened,” M’membe alleged, while also accusing the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of lacking respect for the laws of the country and had allegedly destroyed Parliament including the judiciary.

“For us in the political arena, we closed the year on a very sad note. The liberties that our forefathers fought for were eroded,” the SP leader lamented.

M’membe further alleged that the freedoms of assembly, association and expression were being denied opposition political parties under the guise of security exigency.

He added that insecurity had gone on for two and a half years of the UPND government and that the rule of law required that every decision and action of the government should be backed by a law.

“There is no law that states that if those in government feel insecure, the rights of citizens are suspended,” M’membe stated.

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

8 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.