"The GOAT Media Centre"

.....Bowa accuse Ukraine war for the spiking fuel prices   By Francis Maingaila Lusaka -(30-06-22-Zambia24) - The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has effected an upward adjustment of Petrol, Desiel and Kerosine effective midnight tonight. ERB board chairperson who announced the adjustment at a media briefing told journalists that the pump prices of petroleum products is K1.80/litre for Petrol, K2.37/litre for Diesel and K2.51/litre for Kerosene.    He explained that the adjustment in the pump prices is due to the unprecedented increase in the price of petroleum products on the international market. Bowa auggested that the marginal appreciation of the Kwacha of the local currency has made against the major world currency uas little or no effects on the fuel prices. He market pump prices far outweighed the rise in international oil prices The said the other contribution factor to the fuel hike us the conflict in Ukraine which has continued to push the finished fuel produ...

...As Power announces a $30 million trade and investment programme By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka - (30-06-22 - Zambia24) - Finance Stumbeko Musokotwane held a closed door meeting with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator Samantha Power at a Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development where they discussed matters of mutual interest.  USAID Administrator Powers told journalists when she called on Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane that the USA government will continue to support Zambia's political and economic reforms that will help the country enhance its political stability, economic progressive, job creation and food security. Ms. Powers said the US administration under President Joe Biden will support Zambia to improve the lives of citizens.m She said the agency will launch a new $30 million trade and investment programme that is designed to bring expertise to Zambian agricultural enterprises to help them boost their producti...

....As Dr. Clement Sakala ask the government to remove alcohol from the streets The Southern Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) executive director Moloka  Evalyn has expressed concern about the increased level of alcohol abuse among young people in the region. Moloka told journalists at a media briefing this morning that SAAPA is somehow consoled by the assurance by President Hakaimde Hichilema who promised that his administration is considering constructing the rehabilitation centers for alcohol addicts. Mrs. Moloka asked the government to consider providing an alternative means of livelihood for people especially impoverished  elderly women that brew illicit alcohol being abused by young people, especially in high-density slums. She equally proposed to extend the campaign against the indiscriminate use of beer among young people in the productive age by alchohol  producers. She said the policymakers should respect the principles of conflicts of interest when dealing...

.... Nkoma advice to adopt and utilize the traditional crops supported by diversity as a means of achieving resilience to the negative effects of climate change By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka - (27 - 06 - 2022- Zambia24) - Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) has observed that climate change easily is tackled by adopting and utilizing the traditional crops supported by diversity as a means of achieving resilience to negative effects of climate change. CTDT country director Charles Nkoma told journalists at a breakfast meeting that traditional crops and legumes, including vegetables, are not only easily adaptable to climate change but also provide immediate food and nutrition. Nkoma explained that agrobiodiversity and farmer-managed seem can easily be used as a means of adaptation to climate change. According to Nkoma, creating awareness among the farmers on the importance of having healthy soil and women's participation in the against climate change is one of the possible me...

  … Magande urges State to take precautionary principles when faced with uncertainty over health and environmental safety By Francis Maingaila Lusaka (20-06-2022 - Zambia24) - Former Minister of Finance Peter Ngandu Magande has opposed the New National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy to allow not only the use but also manufacturing of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) food in Zambia. Dr. Magande told Zambia24 in an exclusive telephone interview that government needs to take precautionary measures not to proceed where there is no certainty for the safety of health and the environment. Magande observed that there is a critical division among scientists that investigated to establish the safety of the GMOs administered to humans. There is knowledge of what could happen humans two or three years after taking the GMOs. Magande was of the view that giving people genetically modified food with full knowledge of the serious harmful nature it has on their health is as bad a...

  ….For avoidance of doubt PELUM advises government to back this pronouncement with a policy and legal framework to protect indigenous seed for clean and health food By Francis Maingaila Lusaka – 25 -05- 2022 - ( Zambia24 ) - President Hakainde Hichilema has recommended the practice of sustainable and smart climate agriculture as a way of mitigating the impact of climate change on food and nutrition security in the country. Speaking on Tuesday night when he addressed the nation on the eve of African Freedom Day, President Hichilema said food security is vital for the country and promised that his government will endeavor to always provide not only clean but also healthy food to citizens. He said food security is not only a vital component of a peaceful and prosperous nation but also empowers citizens with long-term health and wellbeing. And Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), a network of Civil Society Organizations working with small-scale farmers ...

  Erosion in seed diversity and seed sovereignty will have an adverse effect not only on food and nutrition supplies but also on the environment By Francis Maingaila Lusaka – (9-06-2022 – Zambia24) - A consortium of renowned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) formed not only to advocate for the food and seed sovereignty but also climate justice in Zambia have traced the food crisis to changes in the seed supply system, erosion of seed diversity and seed sovereignty. The organizations including Partici patory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Zambia Alliance for Agro Biodiversity (ZAAB), Caritas-Zambia, and FIAN International - Zambia spoken to either severely, collectively, and individually agreed that restricting farmers does not only affect access to quality and affordable seeds but also the right to select, save and share choice seeds that are not patented, genetically modified, owned or controlled by seed giants, will kill the dream of attaining food sovereignty....

....For providing mentorship training to SME in in various business skills that will help grow the country's business sector By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka (09-06-22 - Zambia24) - Taxila American University in conjunction with the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) today held a second successful mentorship training for Small Medium Entrepreneurs (SME) whose theme is unlocking digitization for SMEs in financing. SME minister Elias Mubanga commended the Taxilla  American University and the ZACCI for coming up with a mentorship program where SMEs are trained in various skills that will help grow the country's business. Mubanga told SME mentorship trainee when he graced the event that the government recognize the role SMEs play in the development of the national economy. Mubanga said the improved SME will help the country to break the bridge and get the business to another level. He said the mentorship program being conducted by Taxilla American University will unlock t...