Imagine your life today if a lack of school supplies, shoes or clothes had stopped you from going to school. Without an education, where would you be? In Zambia, many students are facing this dilemma. Many of them are eager to go back to school, but they can't afford the required essentials. - Without basic school supplies, they are forced to drop out, closing the door on the opportunities education provides. Daisy Chirwa, 24, faced similar challenges during her education on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Her parents divorced when she was aged two and remained under the care of her mother. “My parents separated when I was two, from that time, I never heard from my father…

The problems faced by locals in Lusaka's Kanyama Township are compounded by extremes. If it is not floods then it is cholera. Kanyama, which lies on the western side of Soweto Market along Los Angeles Road and borders Chibolya Compound, is a place of major swings of life. - Charity Muyumbana, 45, is a Kanyama resident, who has spent her entire adult life in this sprawling township. She is one of the more than 400,000 inhabitants who have experienced first hand the hardships that come with recurrent flooding. Charity says water and sanitation is bad in this area, which has no proper layout of houses and roads. In fact the area suffers a litany of problems that are emblematic of Zambi…

The 2011 progress report of the Millennium Development Goals shows millions have been lifted out of poverty while more go to school. But the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon cautions: "we still have a long way to go in empowering women and girls, promoting sustainable development, and protecting the most vulnerable." - Women in Law in Southern Africa (WILSA) working in Zambia, believes prevention is important in reducing the number of women who become victims of gender-based violence. Rudo Chingobe Mooba says the media can play an important role in raising awareness of risks and dangers as well as in influencing public opinion and policies that protect the rights of women. …

A young Ghanaian student based in Germany, Mark Amaliya Anyorikeya, has noted Africa will only develop with selfless and committed leaders in the political sphere. He said: "A leader is not the one to enjoy the benefits; a leader is the one who creates the benefits to be enjoyed by all." - In February, media images of a jubilant Tahrir Square in Egypt filled the television screens across the world as news of president Hosni Mubarak’s resignation began to spread. The revolution had been fast, just 18 days of sustained protests. For many, it signaled a sudden shift of perception of the Arab world, but for Mark, it was an indication that Africa is at the “brink of positive…

The 2011 Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum has opened in German with a particular call for journalists to pay particular attention to issues of human rights. Erik Bettermann, Director-General of Germany's international broadcaster, paid tribute to the people in the Arab world who are struggling for their right to freedom and self-determination. - The three-day conference in Bonn, Germany is under the theme “Human Rights in a Globalized World – Challenges for the Media.” Speaking at the official opening ceremony attended by around a thousand participants from the realms of politics, business, academia and the media, Bettermann said, “Human rights are indivisible. …

As disturbances to the weather continue to cause havoc, farmers west of Lusaka in the southern African country of Zambia are adopting new habits to help them overcome future disasters. Farmers are calling upon the expertise of extension officers to help them understand climate change. But extension officers are not of much help either. - “When we talk about climate change, it is a broad word; sometimes it could be too much rains, sometimes you can experience some drought,” says 70-year-old Dickson Shambana, a local senior village headman. Aggrey Chipuluka, the camp extension officer at the nearby Nakachenje Agriculture Camp agrees with the traditional leader. He says more tha…

Addiction to alcohol is a growing problem in the southern African country of Zambia and the addicts have few places to turn to for rehabilitation. Drinking alcohol is woven into the fabric of many societies. Sharing a bottle of wine over a meal, going out for drinks with friends, celebrating special occasions with champagne is normal. - But because alcohol is commonly shared at social gatherings, a lot of people go on binge drinking without giving attention to their limits. Michael Chnada, a youth of Lusaka entered the Catholic seminary with the intention of becoming a priest, but that never materialized. He says heavy drinking almost crushed his life. “In 2005, I was sent out o…

A Catholic Archbishop and Vatican Ambassador to the southern African country of Zambia, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, has advised African leaders to embrace dialogue at all times. In his book "One Hundred Thoughts of Peace," Archbishop Girasoli stressed the need for harmony among Africans. - “Repression must be replaced by dialogue; a true dialogue without prejudices, avoiding useless conversations as an excuse for imposing the opinion of those who are stronger and in power,” Archbishop Girasoli said during the launch of his book at a media breakfast in Lusaka. The UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is the basis for building a culture of dialogue in the country (Zam…

In recent years, the global community has made great strides to protect children and provide access to education. In the southern African country of Zambia, however, significant progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education would not have been a possibility without community schools. - Professor Michael Kelly, a prominent educationist says: “If we didn’t have community schools, we would not have that possibility of reaching MDG 2; Universal Primary Education for All by 2015.” Education minister, Dora Siliya during her visit to Linda Community School pledged government support to the plight of children in community schools. She spoke of her determi…

Some people in rural Zambia are more interested in the education of their children than talk about the failed constitution-making process. 56-year-old John Siamwinde, from Chakanda Village, east of the capital Lusaka, says he has heard almost nothing about the constitution. - “I have heard about the elections coming up later in the year, but I don't know anything about the failed constitution. What we need here are schools and health facilities for our children and ourselves. Look at this school, surely our children deserve better!” he says as he points at a grass thatched shelter which is used as a school for children. Chakanda village is just 100 kilometres from Lusaka…

When Corridors of Hope began empowering local communities with radio communication skills to support behaviour change, nobody knew that people's lives would be transformed. But the radio programmes have given local communities a voice to articulate their problems and find home-grown solutions to the deadly HIV pandemic in Zambia, a country in southern Africa. - 49-year-old Lucy Mukwasa, a resident of Nakonde town situated at the border between Zambia and Tanzania is one of the people who have been changed by the radio programmes. Lucy, a mother of five says she used to brew local beer and used to abuse alcohol. She says the radio programme has changed her life. “The Zewelanji r…

Along with widespread poverty, underdevelopment, HIV/AIDS poses a serious threat to the lives of young people in southern African country of Zambia. Osenia Shimanika, 18, is uncertain about her future and that of her siblings after losing both parents to the deadly AIDS pandemic. - “We used to stay with daddy and mum. Unfortunately, both passed on, so we had no one to look after us; that’s how come we are staying on our own.” Life is hard for many people in Zambia. It is even harder for a child-led family. The collapse of the extended family system has worsened an already difficult situation for children. Osenia says she lost both parents when she was young. She is now t…

While women are the most seriously affected by the deterioration of the environment, Rita Hamusokwe, 62, is showing that women can become effective agents of change for protection and stewardship of the earth if they are provided with knowledge and opportunity. - Studies have shown that “climate change contributes to loss of natural resources and leads to conditions that undermine food and water security. If water and food security intensify as a result of climate change women will bear the brunt of the additional time it will take to acquire drinking water.” Rita, a mother, grandmother, “teacher” – you mention it is a very determined and passionate farmer. R…

Early childhood programmes have been shown to alleviate the effects of social disadvantage and break the cycle of poverty. Yet in Zambia little attention is given to this sector. In Kapiri Mposhi, a town in the Central Province of Zambia, Amundame Early Childhood Care Centre - the school in the market is making a difference. - Ruth Phiri, a supervisor says the centre is a brainchild of Maureen Mwanawasa, the wife to the late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa. “The project takes care of marketeer children that is why we are found right in the market,” says Phiri. The initiative of the school within the market has brought joy to parents. Beatrice Mulwanda a mother who sells dry …

- It is official, Chilanga Hospice is closed. This is due to hard economic times and declining donor support. Dr. Michael Bush, a senior medical advisor and board chairperson at the hospice said that there is no money to pay for workers. “We need about 20,000 US dollars a month for salaries. Now am afraid with the prevailing economic climate, we haven’t got the money,” he said in one of the local newspapers. The hospice management has closed the in-patient department, leaving only the Ant-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre operating. In the current economic climate even sustaining that over the long term will be a challenge. With support from the Global Fund, there are c…

- The national football league may be on recess but the Railway Stadium in Kabwe of Central Province in Zambia returned its position of national importance when it hosted the ordination of the first bishop of the new diocese of Kabwe. Pope Benedict XVI recently appointed Monsignor Clement Mulenga to serve as the first bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kabwe. The soft-spoken bishop does not hide his anxiety of taking such an important office. “I have been living as a priest for thirteen years and as a Salesian for the past twenty one years now. But I have never been a bishop so it will be a new thing,” Bishop Mulenga said. “There is a bit of anxiety as to what is involve…

- A Sierra Leonean scholar has observed that mainstream journalism needs a complete overhaul if it is to survive as a legitimate voice of society. In his new book, Human Rights Journalism: Advances in Reporting Distant Humanitarian Interventions (http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=527755- Check this link for more info), Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, a lecturer at Northumbria University in Newcatsle - England, explores the role of the media in relation to human rights issues. Dr. Shaw’s outlook has been shaped by his own experiences as editor of an award-winning newspaper in Sierra Leone during the mid-1990s. His advocacy for a peaceful resolution between the rebels and the…

- The UN Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC) recognizes that the challenges inherent to the global water crisis can’t be met by governments alone. All key sectors of society have to be engaged and mobilized to collectively address the problem. Dr. Reza Ardakanian says the media can play an important role in mobilizing different players to respond to the water crisis. Dr. Ardakanian, 53, the Founding Director of the UNW-DPC, says when he worked as vice minister in charge of water he used to organize monthly meetings with journalists to help them understand the challenges that Iran was facing in providing this important resource to the people. “I gave them m…

- UNICEF believes investing in early childhood care programmes is the best way to increase the survival rate of children. The education officer at UNICEF says the lack of investment at this level (early childhood) means that Zambia, a southern African country loses more resources to educate children. Munamuzunga Sikaulu says: “our education system has to spend a little more time, more energy and more resources to educate the children because of not having that preparatory time at ECCDE (Early Childhood Care Development and Education). He was speaking in an exclusive interview with AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia. AfricaNews.com: What is UNICEF’s description of ECCDE…

- Imagine being admitted to a hospital for more than five years. This is the reality of life for Peter Lungu, 24. “I came here in 2005. The time I came I was very sick that everyone thought I will die.” Sr. Jeremia Mrowiec, a Sister of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo is in charge of the hospice. She says: “The hospice depends on donations only, so we struggle to look for donors to support us.” She adds that the biggest challenge for the hospice is that the members of staff are not put on government payroll. Mother of Mercy Hospice situated 15 kilometres from Lusaka in Chilanga, operates as a safe place for those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS to receive help. A…

- CARITAS ZAMBIA TO GO AHEAD WITH PARALLEL VOTE TABULATION Caritas Zambia Executive Director says the Parallel Vote Tabulation will be an “integral part” of the organisation’s 2011 election strategy. Mr. Sam Mulafulafu has further said: “monitoring other elements of the electoral process and leaving out the results management process will be a total mockery of electoral transparency.” Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Public Relations Manager, Cris Akufuna was quoted on state television saying the Parallel Vote Tabulation system has a potential to cause anarchy during the elections. He told ZNBC news that those organisations that want to set up vote ta…