from the oak Park LeavesBy BRIDGET KENNEDY bkennedy@pioneerlocal.comWhile looking out into a crowd of people in Zambia in November 2005, a disfigured little boy caught the attention of Dr. Lisa Thornton, an Oak Park resident and pediatrician.Gift Benwa was outside playing with friends when a wind storm hit his tiny village. A metal roof flew off the top of a hut and hit Gift, breaking both his arms and shaving off his face.Living with no running water or electricity, Gift's family threw a towel around him and took him to the hospital.Gift was only 5 years old when he was hit.By the time Thornton saw Gift two years later, he had already had a number of surgeries, but Thornton said they were "substandard.""His arms, of course, healed fine, but his face was a bit of a problem," she said....
All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)NEWS20 May 2008Posted to the web 20 May 2008By Edward MulengaNdolaAPRIL 25, 2008 will obviously remain memorable to many Zambians. Livingstone, the tourist capital was honoured with hosting the inaugural World Malaria Day (WMD).The occasion witnessed by notable figures, including Malaria goodwill ambassadors, Princess Astrid of Belgium and famous South African musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, brought together several dignitories whose respective roles, spelt out what can be achieved through collective efforts.The Livingstone community was lifted up with the volume of activities undertaken prior to the day itself, which the residents described as an honour.Anti malaria expedition notable among the events preceding the commemoration was the Zambezi River...
from the Caledon CitizenBy Becca SmithAs an intern working in Lusaka through a partnership with the Victoria International Development Education Association and Women for Change, I see the impact of HIV/AIDS every day in Zambia.While people living with HIV/AIDS make up only an estimated 0.3 per cent of the Canadian population, in Zambia approximately 20 per cent of the country is infected, and every individual is affected by the virus. Zambia only makes up 0.17 per cent of the global population, yet it bears three per cent of the world's HIV/AIDS burden. According to World Bank statistics from November 2007, for every HIV-positive individual in southern Africa that receives anti-retroviral treatment, six others are newly infected. AIDS has insinuated itself into every aspect of Zambian...
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)THE United Kingdom (UK) will provide K660 billion to the Zambian Government for poverty reduction in the country for the next three years.Head of department for International Development (DFID), Joy Hutcheon, said in a statement yesterday that the UK would provide up to K660 billion toward poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) to the Zambian Government's 2008, 2009 and 2010 annual budgets.Ms Hutcheon said K140 billion would be disbursed to the Government this month."We are pleased to confirm that the UK will provide up to K660 billion to directly support the Government's 2008, 2009 and 2010 annual budgets. This is consistent with our long-term commitment to Zambia's development agenda, as outlined in the 10-year partnership arrangement signed...
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)By Doreen NawaNdolaIF Zambia and Africa as a whole is looking for partners in combating hunger and poverty, they need look no further. They can find credible partners in rural women.Research shows that rural women, the majority of them farmers, are crucial partners in the fight against hunger and poverty.Indeed, there have been various commitments and agreements, to enhance the status of rural women and promote gender equality in agriculture and rural development.The millennium development goals (MDGs) on reducing hunger and poverty by 2015 recognises that in rural areas, where 70 per cent of the poor live, women's equitable access to resources is key to national development.As the world celebrates this year's International Women's Day, one...
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)ZAMBIA has made tremendous economic strides especially in boosting its construction industry and improving health care delivery, a Boston University African Presidential Archives and Research Centre (APARC) official has said.Launching the African Leaders State of Africa report 2007 in Lusaka yesterday, APARC director, Charles Stith said Zambia was on the right economic path and was poised to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).The report highlights the vision and strategies of contemporary African Heads of State from countries with a demonstrated commitment to democracy and free market reforms.For Zambia, it features President Levy Mwanawasa's speech to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September.Mr...
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)By Bob SianjalikaNdolaTHE presence of HIV and AIDS has posed big challenges to all countries including Zambia, and the call for universal support is just inevitable.As the year 2015 draws near, every country is striving to meet most, if not all, of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in line with the United Nations set targets.For Zambia, it has particularly made tremendous strides in getting to the universal access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) through various initiatives both from the Government and partner stakeholders.Some ART became available in the private sector in Zambia as early as 1996, which was soon after they became accessible in the West.The number of patients on ART in Zambia by 2003 was estimated at just over 1,000 but...
from All AfricaThe East African (Nairobi)By Zachary OchiengViolence against Zambian women is hindering them from accessing and adhering to HIV treatment, claims a new report by an international human rights group.According to the report, Hidden in the Mealie Meal: Gender-Based Abuses and Women’s HIV Treatment in Zambia, by Human Rights Watch, HIV programmes, activists and policy makers recognise that discrimination and violence against women must be addressed if the world is to combat the Aids pandemic.But treatment policies and programmes still tend to ignore the connection between domestic violence or women’s insecure property rights and their ability to seek, access, and adhere to HIV treatment. Although the Zambian government has taken some steps to address violence and...
The Zambian government is failing to address the life-threatening obstacles facing Zambian women living with HIV who experience domestic and gender-based violence, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Gender-based violence and insecure property rights are preventing Zambian women from accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment....
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)THE European Commission (EC) has pledged U.S.$160 million towards the Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) to Zambia in the 2008 national Budget.Head of operations at the EC, Rafael Aguirre said in Lusaka yesterday that his organisation had committed to provide $160 million (approximately K610 billion) towards the 2008 Budget for poverty reduction.Mr Aguirre said transferring resources directly to the Budget allowed the Government to determine how best to tackle poverty in line with its Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP).He commended the Government for its broad commitment to poverty reduction, macro economic stability, sound public financial management and good governance.Mr Aguirre, however, said there were areas of concern especially in...
Investigative journalist Greg Palast reports on one company that has won the right to collect $20 million from the government of Zambia after buying its debt for $4 million. In his recent State of the Union address, President Bush declared the United States was taking on the challenges of global hunger, poverty and disease, and urged support for debt relief, which he called the best hope for eliminating...
Asylum from Trafficking: A Failure of Protection, Immigration Briefings (July 2007, posted by DocuTicker, Sept. 2007) [text]
Country of Return Information (CRI) Project, Country Sheets (Aug. 2007) [access]
- See the Project web site for more info.
Documents from the 19-20 September 2007 Standing Committee Meeting (UNHCR, Sept. 2007) [access]
Dynamics of Conflict and Displacement in Papua,...
In
Publications,
Indonesia,
children,
conflict,
educational programmes,
human trafficking,
refugees,
UNHCR EXCOM,
peace efforts,
reintegration,
returnees,
immigrants,
Zambia
Gaining from Migration: Towards a New Mobility System (OECD, Sept. 2007) [text]Information Services for Refugee Communities in Zambia, Paper presented at 73rd IFLA General Conference (15 Aug. 2007) [text]Library Services for Displaced People: Activities in Burmese Refugee Camps, Paper presented at 73rd IFLA General Conference (15 Aug. 2007) [text]The long road home: Opportunities and obstacles...
In
Sudan,
evaluation,
Somalia,
internally displaced persons,
information services,
Burmese,
international migration,
Publications,
refugees,
reintegration,
Zambia
from the Voice of AmericaBy Danstan KaundaLusaka, ZambiaA project called the Zambian Initiative Development is alleviating poverty among refugees and communities near refugee camps. It has helped over 600 thousand people, some of them asylum seekers. VOA English to Africa’s Danstan Kaunda reports from Lusaka that Zambia is home to more than 120 thousand refugees from Angola, Rwanda, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of these refugees fled their countries because of conflict.The Zambia Initiative is funded by Denmark, Japan, Sweden and the United States. It’s designed to help not only refugees, but also the communities near the refugee camps.The community benefits through rural infrastructure development, such as rehabilitation and construction of schools, health...
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)NEWS12 July 2007Posted to the web 12 July 2007GOVERNMENT is addressing issues of poverty through the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), President Mwanawasa has said.Mr Mwanawasa said the Government was determined to ensure economic development in the country through increased economic activities.He was speaking when he laid a Foundation stone at the SOS Children's Village of Zambia in Livingstone yesterday.He said that corruption and selfishness were reducing the effectiveness of the Government's efforts to develop the country."I would, however, like to state that anybody found engaging in corrupt and selfish activities will account for their actions or misdeeds," Mr Mwanawasa said.He said he...
from All AfricaThe Times of Zambia (Ndola)LusakaTHE Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) has signed a partnership agreement with the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) aimed at reducing poverty among small-scale farmers in Zambia.The agreement, which was signed in Lusaka on Thursday, would also improve Government's implementation of grain marketing and supply of inputs to more than 1.3 million small-scale farmers.Speaking at the signing ceremony, ZCF managing director, Argent Chuula, said the agreement was an important milestone towards improving the welfare of the small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs.He said the institution was convinced that the partnership with SNV would help it to effectively contribute to the well-being of poor people in the country."The signing of this...
from Yahoo News via AFPZambia has set itself a six percent growth target for 2007 and pledged to make major inroads into poverty levels in a country where two-thirds of the population survive on less than a dollar a day.Treasury Secretary Evans Chibiliti also said Thursday the government aimed to further reduce the inflation rate to five percent as well as stabilising exchange rates within the course of the coming year."Government will focus on accelerating pro-poor growth by emphasising the implementation of appropriate policies," said Chibiliti in a 2007 budget projection.A major reduction in its levels of foreign debt would free up more funds for public spending and to finance poverty-reduction programmes, he said."From the savings arising from debt cancellation, government intends to...
If you are intesrested in supporting the Thembinkosi Foundation's projects in Zambia then please visit our shop http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Thembinkosi-Foundation_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm where you can buy excellent quality Enamel Red Ribbon badges to wear on Worlds Aids Day (or even everyday as I do myself.)The Thembinkosi Foundation promotes the interests of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa....
The natural beauty of Zambia is incredible. This picture was taken from a boat upon the mighty river. The boats in the distance are full of tourists admiring one of the world's most beautiful sunsets.The Thembinkosi Foundation promotes the interests of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa....
ZAW has a proud record of being involved in the on going task of advocacy for women's rights as human rights, gender sensitisation and in raising awareness in Zambia of CEDAW (The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.) Mrs Lubinda Tafira of ZAW addressed the World Summit for Sustainable Development speaking on the theme of Partnerships with the Rural Poor. Despite struggling for funding ZAW did receive the gift of a bus during its early years. The bus was donated the University Teaching Hospital's Maternity Ward in Lusaka to provide transport for discharged mothers. The vehicle served UHT for over 10 years!ZAW has done much work in improving the educational chances of young rural Zambians. Pre-Schools in Chongwe, Chibombo and Suziman have been...
Levy Mwanawasa has won the Zambian Presidential election - Thank God!I'm actually not an MMD supporter. I feel that it's about time the party was rebranded. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy may have been an appropriate name when fighting to end Kaunda's one party state but it is dated now and demonstrates a lack of an underlying political philosophy. Having said that the Patriot Front and the UDA have no more of a political philosophy than the MMD.In fact both of Mwanawasa's rivals (I know there were 5 candidates but only three of them hada cats chance in hell of winning!) have serious weaknesses. Hakainda Hichilema, of the UDA, is potentially Zambia's next President and that may well be a blessing. He has cut his teeth in the political scene and has made a huge impact in his...
ZAW is a well respected and prominent NGO in Zambia. It's mission is to empower women. By empowering women ZAW also empowers the children of Zambia.ZAW operates a number of projects that promote sustainable development. One such project has recently been undertaken in Choma in Southern Province. Representatives of ZAW visited a small village a few kilometres from Choma. They brought with them a few bags of seed and their own knowledge and expertise. Through a series of workshops the village women were taught how to cultivate the seeds to ensure a bountiful harvest. Each woman was then given seeds to plant at her own plot.A year later the ZAW represntatives returned to the village to see the results of their labour. They found fields awash with Maize. In return for their help and support...
Zambia has a population of about 11 million people. More than one million of Zambians are living with HIV. Estimates put the prevelance rate at around 20%. 290 000 Zambians are in need of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and this is the official figure that only takes account of those who know their status. As at March 2006, an estimated 76000 people were on ART in Zambia.That 76000 Zambians are currently on ARV treatment as of now is not a mean achievement at all one when considers the circumstances. In fact it is quite a phenomenal feat. Especially when we consider that less than three years ago in 2003, during the pilot phase of ART in the Zambian public health sector, there were only 2,000 people on treatment in two centres at Lusaka’s UTH and Ndola Central Hospital. In the second phase...
The Zambian health deputy minister Chilufya Kazenene has raised alarm about HIV/AIDS in rural areas reaching alarming levels in the next few years if the current interventions are not scaled up as a matter of urgency.It will be very sad if some rural areas in Zambia which currently have relatively low prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS start to experience an upward swing in the spread of this virus because very little is being done to ensure that things do not get worse in the rural areas. Zambia has areas like Northern Province with 8.3 per cent infection rate and North-Western Province with 9.2 per cent but very little is being done to help these provinces push down these rates. Obviously areas like Lusaka with 22 per cent infection rates and Copperbelt with 19.9 per cent will definitely...
Here I am at the Falls! The picture is taken in August so the Falls are relatively dry! In the rainy season November-April the water fills to such an extent that needs to where a rain coat to avoid leaving the area soaked to skin.From our vantage pointon the Zambian side of the Falls we could see a handful of tourists on the Zimbabwean side. When I first visited the Falls in 2002 the Zimbabwean side was packed and relatively few people viewed the Falls from Zambia. Times have changed. Livingstone has now firmly placed itself on the tourist map. This is fantastic for Zambia as tourism can bring much needed Forex in the country. (Whether the ordinary Zambian benefits from this is an argument for another day!) Livingstone has changed so much in the five years I have known her. The town is...
28th September is a big date for Zambians. It is the date of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections that will shape Zambian politics for the next for the foreseeable future. The issue of HIV/AIDS is one that many NGO's are fighting to put on the agenda."All election candidates should make clear their personal commitment to tackling HIV and AIDS because we want Zambian politicians to take a leading role in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We want them to tell us what they will do about the pandemic if we elect them to office, because they should recognise that HIV is as much an election issue as a better economy or improved education," said Felix Mwanza, project manager of Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC), a civic organisation.About one in five sexually active Zambian...
I had the honour of meeting Fr Peter Henriot whilst in Zambia this summer. He was staffing the stall of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) at the annual Agricultural and Industry Show in Lusaka. He is a a wonderfully humble man but he and his institute do phenomenal work in Zambia.One of the most prominent pieces of work produced by the centre is its Basket for Basic Needs. The centre publishes its work on a monthly basis in the form of a itemised list of the basic needs a Zambian family has to survive. It costs of the essentials of everyday life and measures them against the incomes of the average person in Zambia.The Basket demonstrates every month that even Zambians in the comparatively well paid professionals such as teachers and nurses cannot afford to live much...
The natural beauty of Zambia is incredible. This picture was taken from a boat upon the mighty river. The boats in the distance are full of tourists admiring one of the world's most beautiful sunsets.The Thembinkosi Foundation promotes the interests of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa....
ZAW has a proud record of being involved in the on going task of advocacy for women's rights as human rights, gender sensitisation and in raising awareness in Zambia of CEDAW (The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.) Mrs Lubinda Tafira of ZAW addressed the World Summit for Sustainable Development speaking on the theme of Partnerships with the Rural Poor. Despite struggling for funding ZAW did receive the gift of a bus during its early years. The bus was donated the University Teaching Hospital's Maternity Ward in Lusaka to provide transport for discharged mothers. The vehicle served UHT for over 10 years!ZAW has done much work in improving the educational chances of young rural Zambians. Pre-Schools in Chongwe, Chibombo and Suziman have been...
Levy Mwanawasa has won the Zambian Presidential election - Thank God!I'm actually not an MMD supporter. I feel that it's about time the party was rebranded. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy may have been an appropriate name when fighting to end Kaunda's one party state but it is dated now and demonstrates a lack of an underlying political philosophy. Having said that the Patriot Front and the UDA have no more of a political philosophy than the MMD.In fact both of Mwanawasa's rivals (I know there were 5 candidates but only three of them hada cats chance in hell of winning!) have serious weaknesses. Hakainda Hichilema, of the UDA, is potentially Zambia's next President and that may well be a blessing. He has cut his teeth in the political scene and has made a huge impact in his...