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ZAMBIA: Lower copper prices will hurt the poor

The fall in international copper prices is causing unease in Zambia, one of the world's largest producers, whose impressive economic growth in recent years has been based on copper exports. Frederick Bantubonse, general manager of the Zambia Chamber of Mines, told IRIN: "It's causing a lot of concern; we are selling, well and good, but the pricing is not as profitable as we would like it to be. This is not good for the Zambian economy." Since the beginning of the credit crunch in the US, copper...

ZAMBIA: A successful democratic election

Zambia cemented its democratic credentials on 30 October in an election that observers judged free and fair, even though a defeated opposition leader has disputed the results in what was an exceptionally tight race. "The just-ended elections were credible, peaceful and transparent," said John Kunene, team leader of the electoral observer mission from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). "In the course of observing the elections, we noted best practices that could be emulated...

ZAMBIA: Hoping for a free and fair election

Widespread allegations of pre-poll irregularities has cranked up tensions in Zambia ahead of presidential elections on 30 October to elect a successor to Levy Mwanawasa, who died in office in August following a stroke. "There is a lot of tension in the country at the moment and stakeholders are generally sceptical that the election will be free and fair. All in all, the ECZ [Electoral Commission of Zambia] is to blame," Simon Kabanda, a spokesperson for Citizens' Forum, an NGO advocating good...

President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia dies at age 59 following stroke

Levy Mwanawasa, the President of Zambia died yesterday at age 59. He died in a Paris hospital in France. His death was intially announced by an anonymous family member. It was later confirmed on television by vice president Rupiah Banda. Mwanawase suffered a stroke while in Egypt in June of this year for an African Union summit, whereafter he was flown to France. His condition suddenly deteriorated on Monday. "I also wish to inform the nation that national mourning starts today and will be for...

Mary Muyunda, "The school should be a safe place for all the pupils"

In a landmark ruling on 15 July, the High Court in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, ordered the government to pay about US$13,000 compensation to a 15-year-old school girl raped by her class teacher. Mary Muyunda* brought a civil action against the teacher, the school and the minister of education. The judge also ordered that the Director of Public Prosecutions commence criminal proceedings against the teacher, as the evidence of rape was "overwhelming". The teacher was arrested, but subsequently...

ZAMBIA: Reports of the President's death "erroneous"

TheZambian government insisted today that President Levy Mwanawasa wasalive - denying media reports he had died in a Paris hospital - anddescribed South African President Thabo Mbeki's minute of silence inrespect of his counterpart at a rally in Pretoria as "erroneous". TheSouth African radio station, Radio 702, first reported that Mwanawasahad died, after he had suffered a stroke on the eve of the AfricanUnion summit in Egypt on 29 June and had been taken to the Frenchcapital on 2 July for...

ZAMBIA: Rising levels of resentment towards Zimbabweans

Zimbabweansseeking greener pastures in neighbouring Zambia – and an escape fromthe election violence wracking the country – are becoming increasinglyconcerned at the rising levels of contempt directed against them. "Weare being treated with a lot of indignation. Everywhere we go, we arebeing treated like lesser human beings; it’s like as long as you are aZimbabwean woman in Zambia, then you are a prostitute [sex worker],which is not the case," Patience Ndhlobvu, a Zimbabwean...

ZAMBIA: Ugandan refugees return home

TheUN refugee agency (UNHCR) has begun the voluntary repatriation ofUgandan refugees in Zambia, some of whom have lived in the southernAfrican country for over two decades. The first group of 39Ugandans, out of a total of 200 settled in the country, wererepatriated by commercial flight on 21 May under the terms of atripartite agreement between the governments of Zambia, Uganda andUNHCR. The programme is expected to run until the end of the year andcost US$210,000. "Our target is to...

Japan allocates US$5 million to WFP and UNICEF in Zambia

The Government of Japan has decided to allocate US$5 million to the Republic of Zambia through UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP). The purpose of the fund is to facilitate the implementation of various mitigation activities, including responding to widespread flood damage from the 2007/2008 rainy season, as well as disease control and HIV/AIDS prevention activities. On 6 February, the Government of Japan decided to contribute US$264.5 million for the response to Humanitarian Crisis and...

African nations gather to support a ban on cluster bombs

A 39-nation coalition in Africa passed a declaration on Tuesday to ban cluster bombs in a nearly unanimous vote. The gathering in Lusaka, Zambia was the first meeting of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) in Africa. "Africa is ready for Dublin," summarised Zambian delegate Robert Mtonga, referring to the upcoming May 19-30 meeting in Ireland to discuss a global ban on the weapons. "Too often Africa's voice is pushed to the margins in international decision-making. But in banning cluster...