Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema under fire as UKA women accuse him of failing to end nepotism in govt offices

Published

3 months ago

July 3, 2024

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has come under fire following accusations by the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) Women’s Council that he has failed to eliminate nepotism in government offices.

The National Chairlady of the Council, Faith Muntali, who made the allegations at a press conference in Lusaka on Tuesday, said since 2022, experienced individuals had been losing their jobs due to favoritism towards relatives of government officials.

“This has caused concern in our nation as qualified and experienced people are losing their positions based on tribal lines,” Muntali said.

She further alleged that experienced and qualified citizens were being sidelined, intimidated, and mistreated because they did not belong to the preferred tribes in the country.

“President Hichilema, we call on you to uproot this tree of nepotism,” Muntali said.

She also challenged President Hichilema to review the details of employees in parastatal and public offices, including the names of the employees, date of employment or promotion, and the predecessor in the position.

Click to comment

Metro

Nigeria: President Tinubu identifies ways to address hunger

Published

23 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

President Bola Tinubu believes that the localisation of production processes and cost reduction are critical factors in addressing hunger and high cost of living in Nigeria.

Tinubu, who made the assertion at the 2024 National MSME Conference held in Abuja on Thursday, emphasised that the country’s economic challenges, especially food insecurity, stems from a reliance on imported goods and inefficient local production.

The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, noted that Nigerians experienced hunger because the country has not fully localised production processes that will help in reducing costs effectively.

“I also realise the importance of innovation and digitalisation to this purpose. There is no justice in creating an economy that is not sustainable for the coming generations,” the President said.

“Our constitution frowns upon it, I frown upon it, and morality frowns upon it. As a country, we are still suffering the effects of trying to shift from a crude-based economy which has left us debt-ridden.

“Thus, stating the role of MSMEs, said they were the engines of rural industrialisation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.

He further reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and innovation-driven economy while calling for collective efforts to enhance local production capabilities, stating that by reducing production costs, the government could improve access to essential goods and alleviate hunger.

Metro

Ghana reports ‘unclear variation’ of Mpox case

Published

24 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement, Ghana’s health agency has reported the first incidence of Mpox in the nation this year, however, it did not specify which strain was reported.

Testing is being conducted to ascertain whether the Mpox virus, which is causing alarm worldwide due to its rapid spread and lack of knowledge about its strain, is the clade Ib type.

In Ghana, Mpox cases were previously reported in 2022 and 2023.

The patient was identified as a young man with body aches, a rash, and a fever in the statement. It stated that 25 contacts have been found and are under observation.

After the virus spread to neighbouring countries in August, the World Health Organisation declared a worldwide public health emergency for the second time in two years due to an outbreak of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The clade I variety of Mpox, which is endemic in some regions of West and Central Africa, and the recently emerged clade Ib, which is more contagious through close contact, including sexual contact, are the two strains that are spreading.

Mpox is a virus that can be transmitted from person to person through personal contact, as well as from place to person by objects and surfaces touched by a person infected with mpox.