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Pan-African media platform Zambia Monitor wins $10,000 Advothon prize for media freedom

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Popular pan-African online multimedia newspaper, Zambia Monitor, has emerged winner of a $10,000 prize for an Advothon Project that seeks to “increase the ability of human rights defenders and media associations to carry out advocacy that demands digital rights, freedom of expression and media freedom in Zambia.”

The Advothon Project, which is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Open Spaces Zambia (OSZ) platform, selected Zambia Monitor as a winner after months of a rigorous defence of its pitch titled, “Project Aliyense”.

While making the announcement in a letter notifying the media platform of its win, Internews, working with a local coordinating agency, MISA, acknowledged the project idea as “outstanding and able to strengthen the democratic foundations of freedom of speech and assembly, as envisioned by the donors.”

“The project aims to build independent and new media, safeguard a space for activists, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and contending voices to protect the democratic space in Zambia,” the organizers noted in the letter.

“This is a multimedia digital advocacy project that seeks to advance the cause of media freedom, freedom of expression and digital rights in Zambia through the broad inclusion of diverse voices from across the country.

“We believe every voice counts and every voice should be amplified to advocate for media freedom in the country,” the letter stated.

According to the Managing Editor of Zambia Monitor, Maimbolwa Mulikelela, the project execution would see Zambia Monitor accommodate voices from across the country, ranging from students in secondary schools and higher institutions, to toiling artisans in the shadows and respected opinion leaders, raising a chorus of voices to inspire change for nation building.

“Project Aliyense would take the form of audio-visual street interviews, articles and social media campaigns, and through its One Voice a Day initiative, would amplify media freedom issues, bridging law, access to information, resistance to legitimate enquiry, and the underlying universal principle of freedom of expression,” she said.

“It would also incorporate cartoons, videos, pictures, infographics, audio, and text, all of which would be neatly interwoven to drive the message, broadening access and empowering stakeholders to be the key drivers of the advocacy.”

Mulikelela added that the “Project Aliyense speaks to the news organization’s editorial stance which notes that opinions are free, but that facts are sacred”.

“The award represents a major milestone for the young news platform, as it was won in its first year of existence,” an elated Mulikelela said.

Metro

Chinese mining giant CNMC set for $1.6 billion investment in Zambia

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A Chinese mining giant, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC), has announced the investment of over $1.6 billion in Zambia, following successful discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House on Tuesday.

CNMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Gang, who held the discussions with Hichilema along with the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Han Jing, confirmed the company’s commitment to furthering Zambia’s economic development.

“We are actively investing in critical sectors of Zambia’s economy,” Gang said after the meeting.

He noted that CNMC was currently pumping water from Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mine, where 29.9 million cubic liters have been cleared as part of intensified dewatering efforts, adding that the company plans to inject an additional $200 million to develop a greenfield mine on the Copperbelt.

President Hichilema who welcomed CNMC’s commitment, highlighted the potential economic impact of the firm’s investment which will include job opportunities for Zambians.

“This $1.6billion investment, alongside advanced technology and expansion, will extend operations and create more jobs and opportunities for Zambians, especially in mining contracting and supply,” the President said.

He also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their shared commitment to fostering growth and cooperation between the two countries.

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Mpox immunisation scarcity slows Kinshasa’s epidemic fight

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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.

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