7 May, 2013, Lusaka, Zambia – The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Progress Report, 2013 for Zambia brings out significant progress made in achieving the MDGs, and identifies challenges, bottlenecks and recommendations to accelerate the achievement. The Report, which is a joint publication of the Ministry of Finance and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), was launched today by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Chikwanda.

“Zambia’s recent progress on many of the MDG targets has been encouraging, and we are heading in the right direction, although the country is still confronted by challenges that slow the overall pace of implementation. This is why we see the impatience often articulated by national and local leadership and civil society alike, for it is quite clear that this country can get to many more of its goals by the 2015 deadline,” said Kanni Wignaraja, UNDP Resident Representative in Zambia.

Extreme poverty is decreasing but at a very slow pace. It has declined from 58 per cent in 1991 to 42 per cent in 2010. Zambia will need significant reform and investment to meet this MDG goal of 29 per cent by 2015.

 Zambia has made significant progress on a number of MDG targets as seen in the gains made for HIV and TB prevalence, underweight children, access to ARVs, and gender parity in primary school enrolment and young adult literacy. The Report however, underlines the need to addressing growing inequalities across the country. “The top 10 per cent of Zambians share more than half of total national income. The bottom 60 per cent share less than 14 per cent of total income,” states the Report.

 “Growing income, rural-urban and gender inequalities can mask and distort achievements. If it takes special measures such as affirmative action and minimum thresholds to bring more women into economic and political activity, then that is what it takes,” added Wignaraja during the launch of the Report.

 The 2013 Report includes provincial data, and analysis using the current census and Living Condition Minimum Survay (LCMS), together with global data sets, and refers policy and institutional practices that have supported MDGs acceleration.

 Although declining, child and maternal mortality rates are still high in Zambia. It is estimated that 38 mothers die each month due to complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth in Zambia. Better educated mothers, more trained mid wives, early childhood immunisations and basic nutrition, and the proper use of treated bed nets and family planning – these are not rocket science, they do not empty the bank, and yet, they save and improve lives.

 The proportion of the population without improved sanitation worsened from 26 per cent in 1991 to 67.3 per cent in 2010, and land covered by forests in Zambia reduced from 59.8 per cent in 1990 to 49.9 per cent in 2010. Attaining a cleaner, greener sustainable development is based on a dedication to long-term environmental management that has at its very core the sense of purpose and direction that you can indeed improve livelihoods and incomes while protecting and regenerating your environment at the same time.

 With an increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and trade in the last decade, Zambia has graduated from a low-income to a lower middle-income country. Zambia has also removed trade barriers and actively embraced the multilateral trading system. Public debt has also fallen from 179 per cent of GDP in 2002 to less than 10 per cent of GDP in 2007 largely due to debt relief.

“We would, as would the government and peoples of Zambia, like to see accelerated progress. Achievement of the MDGs takes a social contract between government, civil society, private sector and the international community. We all signed on, and we must stand and be counted to make it happen. It is, at the end of the day, a global public good that will benefit us all,” said the UNDP Resident Representative further.

3 May, 2013, Lusaka, Zambia – Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a cornerstone of good governance, sustainable development, and lasting peace and security.

 Yet, every day around the world, journalists and media workers are frequent targets of violence. They face intimidation, threats and violence from governments, corporations, criminals or other forces that wish to silence or censor. From traditional media platforms such as radio, print and television, to newer and more and more popular social media, blogs and citizen-led reporting, journalists are increasingly at risk.

 “Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and provides conditions for protecting and promoting all human rights. To exercise this right, we must all help create and protect a safe environment for dialogue, where all can speak freely and openly even if ideas and ideologies differ, without fear of reprisal,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Zambia, Kanni Wignaraja.

 The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media”, highlights the need for action to upholding the right of journalists to carry out their vital work. “Today, twentieth anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to renew our commitments. Let us pledge to do our utmost to enable all journalists in all media to do their jobs. When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits.” said the UN Secretary General in a message.

 Globally, the UN system has established a Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. The plan aims to raise awareness and to support practical steps to create a free and safe working environment for journalists.

 Over the past decade, more than 600 journalists have been killed – at least 120 in the past year alone. Hundreds more have been detained. The dangers are not only physical: from cyber-attacks to bullying, the powerful are deploying numerous tools to try to stop the media from shedding light on misrule and misdeeds. These are individual tragedies; collectively, they are an assault on the right of all people to the truth. The UN is especially concerned that so many of the perpetrators escape any form of punishment.

 The UN in Zambia congratulates the Government of Republic of Zambia (GRZ) for assuming the role of the Chair of the UN Committee on Information for the next two years. Zambia will also represent all African countries in the committee. We look forward to the active promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression and ensuring all people feel “Safe to Speak” across the country and in the region.

25 April, 2013, Lusaka, Zambia – The 2013 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report for Zambia, which will be launched on 7 May, brings out significant progress made, as well as needed areas for acceleration of gains. One of these critical issues is malaria. Three children die of Malaria in Zambia every day. These are preventable deaths.

 Since the world leaders adopted the MDGs in 2000, increase in preventive interventions and expanded access to diagnostic testing and life-saving medicines have averted more than a million deaths from malaria globally. Zambia is among those countries, which has made a significant progress in reducing malaria prevalence under 5 children from 16.1 per cent in 2010 to 14.3 per cent in 2012, according to the preliminary results of the National Malaria Indicator Survey 2012. Over 4.7 million cases of malaria were treated at health facilities and 6.1 million Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDTs) kits were distributed to health facilities in 2012 alone.

 The percentage of pregnant women and children under the age of five sleeping under the treated mosquito net have also increased from 45 per cent and 50 per cent in 2010 to about 60 per cent and 57 period in 2012 respectively. Zambia was awarded with the African leaders Malaria Alliance Award by the United Nations in recognition of the Country’s achievements in reducing malaria infection rate.

 On average, each Zambian household had two mosquito nets, and 68 per cent of households had at least one mosquito net. The average rural household have at least three mosquito nets while the urban household has two nets. At least 74 per cent have nets sprayed with long lasting insecticide whilst this coverage is 63 per cent amongst the wealthiest quintile. It is commendable to note that the mosquito net coverage is higher among rural households, the poor, women and children under 5. Despite this progress, half of women population (49 per cent) and over half of men (53 per cent) do not sleep under the treated nets in Zambia.

 To improve this and to sustain the gains made in malaria control and prevention by Zambia, there is a need to scale up and accelerate malaria prevention efforts to focus on the most vulnerable populations affected in high malarial areas. This is mostly in rural areas, with little access to health clinics. So community management of prevention and care is an investment that must happen. This is in line with this year’s theme on World Malaria Campaign – “Invest in the Future.”

 Controlling malaria does more than improve human health. It boosts a country’s economic and human development. The UN urges the regional and national leadership to maintain their commitment to provide universal access to malaria interventions and end disability and deaths caused by this preventable and treatable disease.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Zambia has today officially handed over assorted goods to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary workers.

During the hand-over, UNHCR Representative Ms Joyce Mends-Cole, accompanied by a number of staff, described the work of mortuary workers as critical for everyone, whether deceased or those left to mourn. She spoke of UNHCR’s recent loss of two staff members within a short space of time and recognized the role that mortuary workers had played at the time.  She called on society to respect and value their contribution to the health delivery system.

“I was listening to a BBC programme about the stigma and ostracism suffered by mortuary workers in Zambia and elsewhere. So we are here today to appreciate your commitment to the dignity of the dead, sacrifice in the face of stigma and the risk contracting of diseases. As UNHCR staff, and on behalf of the refugees in Zambia who have benefited from UTH services in general and the mortuary in particular, we thought of giving these items to make your work easier and safer,” said Ms. Mends-Cole.

The UNHCR Representative expressed her gratitude to the people of Zambia in general for their hospitality to refugees and UTH in particular for taking care of refugees who are referred to the Hospital from the designated refugee settlements of Mayukwayukwa and Meheba.

“We thought it important to contribute to this institution – UTH - which provides medical services to both the host community and the refugees. We would like to thank the UTH management for their continued co-operation with my office and the refugees. We realize that mortuary workers play a very important role but are not recognised, so we chose to make this humble donation to the UTH Mortuary workers to put a smile on their faces" said the UNHCR Representative   Refugees are regularly referred from the Ministry of Health run clinics within the refugee settlements and are admitted to UTH, where they are provided with the same health care as any other patient,” said Ms. Mends-Cole.

Some of the items donated include gum-boots, postmortem gowns, face masks, laboratory coats, percussion hammers, scalpel handles and a mortuary trolley.

The hand-over ceremony was witnessed by several UNHCR and UTH staff

Sub-Saharan Africa cannot sustain its presene economic resurgence unless it eliminates the   hunger that affects nearly a quarter of its people, UNDP argues in the newly released Africa Human Development Report 2012: Towards a Food Secure Future.
The report, the first of its kind for Africa, was officially launched on 15 May 2012, by the UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki in Nairobi and at the same time in Lusaka by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Emmanuel T. Chenda, MP, and the UNDP Country Director for Zambia, Ms Viola Morgan.
“Impressive GDP growth rates in Africa have not translated into the elimination of hunger and malnutrition. Inclusive growth and people-centred approaches to food security are needed,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

A high-level policy dialogue — co-sponsored by the Government of Zambia, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — discussed the reforms needed to lay the basis for sustained, broad-based and employment-intensive growth. The event, held from 20-22 May, was attended by the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour, the Governor of Bank of Zambia and leaders from trade unions, business, youth, academia and civil society, as well as the International Trade Union Confederation. The two-day meeting was opened by Dr. Guy Scott, Vice President of Zambia.

LIVINGSTONE, 26 February –  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has concluded his three-day state visit to Zambia with an emphasis on the priority areas that he will address during his second term as leader of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General said he will address sustainable development in a comprehensive and integrated manner by addressing climate change, food crisis, energy shortages, gender empowerment and global health, including HIV and AIDS and malaria. He said that the UN will continue to assist in peace-keeping operations to ensure a peaceful world where human rights are protected.

Mr. Ban noted the dramatic changes that had occurred in the Middle East and North Africa in 2010 where citizens demanded human rights, democracy and better living conditions. He said that as a result the UN would assist countries in transition to promote human rights and dignity.

“We will address sustainable development in an integrated and coordinated manner  to ensure that all these sectors I have mentioned are addressed. I am happy with the manner the UN is addressing these matters, especially here in Zambia,” Mr. Ban said.

Mr. Ban said that the UN attaches importance to issues affecting Africa and called on countries on the continent to utilize donor aid prudently through good governance and without corruption, underscoring that the observance of human rights, especially minority rights, should be respected. He said that the UN would condemn any policy which discriminates anyone, including regarding sexual orientation.

The Secretary-General emphasized the need for the UN to make society equitable by ensuring that women and youths have equal  opportunities to education and employment, so that they reach their full potential and become future and responsible leaders.

He applauded Zambia for showing a clear path of how a democratic system can work and urged other countries to emulate this record. He expressed optimism that following discussions with His Excellency President Michael Sata, the Government of the Republic of Zambia will continue to work with the UN in addressing the five priority areas.

Zambia is to co-host of the World Tourism General Assembly here in 2013. The Secretary-General expressed his happiness that Zambia and Zimbabwe will next year co-host the UNWTO General Assembly, saying tourism was an important economic sector

Mr. Ban ended his visit to Africa’s highest copper producing country by visiting the tourist town of Livingstone, where, among other activities he met human rights clubs from secondary schools, opened a One-Stop-Tourism Licensing Centre and toured the famous Victoria Falls. He addressed an airport press conference before departure for Angola, the next stop on his tour.


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IOC President Jacques Rogge and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make a joint visit to the Olympic Youth Development Centre and other community sports projects this upcoming weekend in Lusaka, Zambia.

The visit will include a tour of the Centre and meeting athletes and officials on site. Also scheduled are a presentation of awards to deserving individuals and partners, and a donation of sports equipment to deprived communities.

The Olympic Youth Development Centre, which was inaugurated two years ago, has already helped enhance sports development in Zambia by providing sports competitions, training facilities and community development services covering civic education and health services.

The Lusaka pilot project is part of the IOC’s “Sport for Hope” programme, which aims to build multi-functional sports centres in developing countries.

The delegation will also visit the Fountain of Hope centre where UNICEF is running a project focusing on the rehabilitation of street children and out-of-school children and young people through sport. This project is part of the “International Inspiration” programme, the official legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The visit follows an invitation extended publicly by Secretary-General Ban to President Rogge in his keynote address at the 2nd International Forum on Sport, Peace and Development in Geneva on 11 May 2011.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon was welcomed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport yesterday by the Republican Vice President, Dr. Guy Scott, other senior Government officials including Foreign Minister Given Lubinda, MP, the UN Resident Coordinator, Kanni Wignaraja and other dignitaries. The visit marks the first time a UN Secretary-General has made an official visit to the Southern African nation, which recently held highly lauded elections that concluded with a peaceful and orderly transfer of power to long-time opposition leader, His Excellency President Michael Sata. The Secretary-General held high level talks with President Sata today, as well as courtesy call with Zambia’s First Republican President, His Excellency Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda.

The Secretary-General was honoured with an invitation to address the National Assembly, which he delivered to a full legislative chamber less than an hour after arriving in the country. In his well-received speech, Mr. Ban applauded the Zambian Government and people for their dedication to democracy. He said the smooth and dignified transition of power during the September 2011 presidential and general elections “deepened democracy and set a high bar for the continent, and indeed the world.”

The Secretary-General commended the strides that Zambia had made in achieving pillars of the Millennium Development Goals in education and reducing the country’s HIV prevelancy rate. Mr. Ban commended Zambia’s fight against corruption, pledging the support of the United Nation in this national priority.

“Corruption is a cancer. Unchecked, it strikes at the very heart of democracy – and the very ability to deliver to those in need. In this fight, there can be no sacred cows. There can be no parallel systems of justice – one for the poor and weak, another for the powerful and protected,” said the Secretary-General.

He further expressed hope that the on-going constitutional review process will result in a constitution that upholds the highest standards of human rights and protection of freedoms regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. Mr. Ban urged that similar efforts were needed to address challenges such as climate change and gender-based violence and gender inequality. He praised the efforts of Zambia’s parliament for passing a sweeping Gender Based Violence Act last year and President Sata for recently appointing the country’s first female Inspector General of Police, Stella Libongani.

Mr. Ban bemoaned the low state of women’s representation in parliament, stating that Zambia lagged behind some of its bordering countries. “Today in Zambia, women’s representation in parliament stands at 11%, an all time low. Many of your neighbours are setting the trend not only for the continent, but the world.”

The Secretary-General argued for the integration of women and youth in national development stating that Zambia’s potential will only be realised when its women and youth can realize theirs.

Mr. Ban received thunderous cheers from lawmakers when he opened his remarks by congratulating the national men’s football team, the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) Boys, for their upset victory in this month’s African Cup of Nations.

“I have come bearing a two-word message to Zambia from the world:  Congratulations, Chipolopolo! What a victory! Africa and the world saw more than the success of a football team.  We saw the spirit of Zambia in Africa Cup of Nations football win. All who believe in miracles; all who root for unsung heroes; all who honour those who came before, we know -- Zambia’s victory was indeed written in the sky. I believe our partnership is made of that same great spirit. 

“It started from day one. The United Nations and Zambia share the same founding day – October 24,” said the Secretary-General.

In his meeting with Dr. Kaunda this morning, Zambia’s founding father praised the Secretary-General’s address to parliament as “formidable” and in an editorial The Times of Zambia called the oration “inspiring.”

During his three-day visit, Mr. Ban will also visit the Olympic Youth Centre Development Centre and the NGO Fountain of Hope with International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and the Victoria Falls National Park in Livingstone, a World Heritage Site.

For further information, please contact Patrick Slavin, Chair, United Nations Communications Group, +260/211.374200 x2020, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Youths from the Chiawa Game Management Area accepted a contribution of US$ 50,000 from the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge, on the occasion of the United Nations Secretary-General’s visit to Zambia. The contribution will raise awareness amongst the youth on conserving biodiversity in the Chiawa Game Management Area, using the medium and playing field of sport.  Together with UNDP, the IOC will help the community in Chiawa to rehabilitate their football field and changing room. The changing room will have  a hall  that will  serve  as  an information centre to engage and educate the community on the importance of biodiversity conservation and forest management in Zambia.

The Chiawa Game Management Area (GMA) is part of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) project on Reclassification and Effective Management of Protected Areas in Zambia. The aim of the project is to encourage the communities to protect and manage their own natural resources in a sustainable way. As 60 percent of the community living in the Chiawa GMA are youths, the project directly engages youths in conservation activities including football.

“These young people are the future. They must lead by example to show how communities can manage and protect their own natural resources while making a decent living. A more sustainable path to development does not mean compromising on livelihoods – both must work hand-in-hand to lift people out of poverty. This contribution from the IOC demonstrates what a powerful motivator ‘sports for development’ can be, especially among the youth” Ms Kanni Wignaraja, the UN Resident Coordinator in Zambia said.

“This project is a wonderful example of how sport can help raise awareness of environmental protection among young people”, said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “The IOC has been supporting a number of UNDP-inspired projects in Africa and we are pleased to see that today’s contribution will support the efforts deployed by the local communities in the Chiawa region in Zambia. Protecting natural resources and striving for a sustainable development is a vital duty that we, as responsible global citizens, should all embrace”, he added.

United Nations Resident Coordinator, Kanni Wignaraja, participated in a high-level advocacy meeting on HIV and AIDS on 10 December, alongside five cabinet ministers, the US and Danish Ambassadors, and leadership of the National AIDS Council.
Attending the Cabinet Ministers Committee on HIV and AIDS, Wignaraja said that Zambia faces a ¡§national security issue¡¨ since more than 80 per cent of the funding of Zambia¡¦s costs to pur-chase anti-retroviral drugs is provided by external donors. She said this was not sustainable and called on Government to act.
Minister of Health Hon. Joseph Kasonde MP said Government is committed to fighting corruption because of its adverse effects on development. Dr Kasonde, who is also chairperson for the Cabinet Ministers Committee on HIV and AIDS, said corruption will not help the country curb the AIDS pandemic.

He further assured the cooperating partners that resources will be put to good use by addressing issues which will ensure value for money.
¡§We need the support from our cooperating partners, and as Government we will put in place an AIDS fund which will help reduce our dependency on donors,¡¨ Dr Kasonde said.
The one-day meeting was also attended by the Ministers of Information, Broadcasting, and Tourism; Education; Agriculture; and Local Government.
The Committee asked for a presentation on Brothers for Life and UNICEF Zambia Representative Dr. Iyorlumun J. Uhaa briefed on the programme, joined by Brothers for Life Ambassadors Chibamba Kanyama and Kangwa Chileshe

The United Nations family has been urged to work together in Zambia to protect and ensure the rights of women. She said the UN are working on ensuring equal access to education to improve the human capital and prospects of women; "we are drawing women into the economic mainstream through  training programmes and projects concerning MSMEs and private sector development; through our governance programme we have already commenced preparations for increased participation of women in future elections; and we must continue on this path andcontinue to advocate for others to support us in these endeavours, said Khanni.

Speaking during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (Nov 25 – Dec 10), Khanni said it is critical that we take the  activism to the root causes of Gender Based Violence - entrenched inequality and an unfair and unjust social, traditional, economic and political fabric that has been not only suffocating the basic rights of more than half of the population but detracting sustainable economic and human development.
Here in Zambia, gender inequality is of major concern. Women are in a worse position than men in terms of health, literacy, labour force participation and remuneration and political decision-making. The latest Human Development Report revealed that the Gender Inequality Index (GII), which reflects gender-based inequalities in three dimensions – reproductive health, empowerment and economic activity – stands at 0.62. The ideal index for the GII is zero.Change is needed to bring an end to Gender Based Violence – change in cultures and traditions, change in the law and the manner it is interpreted and implemented, change in our core institutions and change in our education system and understanding of gender. This change will take more than sixteen days and will take the entire nation, working together.
We must identify now the change agents – leaders in state, in business, in schools and in communities – and use them as effective advocates. We must educate and broaden the minds of young people. We must do more than remember and reflect. We must take a stand and unite against Gender Based Violence.