THE EDITORIAL NEWS

WOMEN ENVIRONS OPTIMISTIC SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE WILL TRIGGER INCREASED PROTECTION ,PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS SEEDS By Alfonso Kasongo   Women Environs in Zambia coordinator Susan Chilala says  indigenous seed growing and preservation should be  included in the sustainable Agriculture initiative under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment so as to increase the protection of such seeds.  Ms Chilala adds that indigenous seed varieties bleeding is key in promoting sustainable agriculture hence emphasizing on the need for documentation which will support the growth of the local seed Sector. Zambia is one of the African counties with escalated use of hybrid seeds and which have continued threatening the survival of indigenous seeds varieties.  She disclosed that her organisation has continued to support women growing local seed banks, the initiative which should also be supported by the Ministry of Green economy and Environment.  Ms Chilala notes that matters relating to t

NEW EMERGING SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INNOVATIONS KEY FOR AFRICA’S SELF-SUFFICIENT- HERBALIST  By Alfonso Kasongo  An Association for the herbalists in Zambia has welcomed the support the African Union Development Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD)  is providing to create awareness on new emerging agricultural technologies such as genome-editing that aim at making Africa self-sufficient.  The Traditional Healers Association of Zambia (THAPAZ) president Rodwell Vongo observes that Zambia and other African countries have the challenges in understanding and adaptating to the new emerging technologies. And Dr. Vongo says the new emerging technologies and innovations especially genome-editing, are key in enhancing Africa's food security and reduced disease burden.  In an interview, Dr. Vongo said that the AUDA-NEPAD support to Zambia and other five countries to develop gene editing communication strategies has come at the right time when the continent is

SOME COOPERATIVES TO MISS FISP THIS YEAR,CHILANGA DC SAYS By Alfonso Kasongo  LUSAKA ,  Chilanga District Commissioner David Sheleni has disclosed that it is not possible for all the 450 cooperatives in his district to benefit from 2022-2023 Farmers Inputs Support Programme-FISP. Mr. Sheleni told The Editorial News that the district recently added more cooperatives hence emphasizing that it is not possible for all the groups to receive the farming inputs under the 2022-2023 FISP. Meanwhile Mr. Sheleni underscored the importance of the FISP but encouraged beneficiaries to understand that the programmes only aims to encourage small farmers to develop into commercial and that they must be ready to be removed when time comes. The DC further added that this also applies to the food security packs urging beneficiaries to as well be ready for the removal after graduation.

GIRL WITH LEUKAEMIA HELPED BY GENE-EDITING TREATMENT  By Alfonso Kasongo  Experimental Genome Editing therapy called CRISPR technique has promised against aggressive leukaemia in which a girl with the condition is responding positively to treatment.  A 13-year-old girl whose leukaemia had not responded to other treatments now has no detectable cancer cells after receiving a dose of immune cells that were genetically edited to attack the cancer at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London After receiving a dose ,a teenager with aggressive leukaemia now has no detectable cancer cells ,now becoming the first person to receive a treatment for the condition that involves a new kind of genome editing, CRISPR called base editing. Robert Chiesa, one of the doctors treating Alyssa, in a statement released by Great Ormond Street Hospital in London says ,"this is quite remarkable, although it is still a preliminary result, which needs to be monitored and confirmed over the next few months.&

  ZAMBIA'S STI COMMUNICATION ADVOCATE VERONICA MWABA PARTICIPATES AT THE AUDA-NEPAD SUPPORTED MEETING ON THE USE,ADOPTION OF GENOME EDITING TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA  By Alfonso Kasongo  Zambia's non-governmental organisation championing science technology and innovation, Dziwa Science and Technology Trust (DSaT) founder Veronica Mwaba is among the delegates attending stakeholders consultative meeting in Lagos to develop Nigeria's Genome Editing Communication Strategy.  The meeting supported by the African Union Development Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) discusses the importance of the application and adoption of genome editing technologies in enhancing agriculture.  The meeting aims to develop the genome editing national communication strategy for that country.  Ms Mwaba, whose organisation is championing science communication on new emerging scientific innovations joins the science experts to witness the development of the strategy at the

FIND MITIGATION MEASURES TO AVERT DEATHS RELATED TO SMOKING, WHO URGES ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT  By Alfonso Kasongo  The World Health Organization (WHO) has challenged the Zambian government to develop measures that should mitigate the loss of lives due to tobacco related illinesses. World Health Organization country Representative Dr Nathan Barkyaita  notes that non communicable Diseases im the country account for 23 percent of the total death hence advocating for the need to  find mitigation measures to the impact of tobacco consumption. According to ministry of health,Zambia records over 7,000 tobacco related deaths annually. Speaking during the Tobacco control data Zambia Dashboard Launch Dr Barkyaita pledged his organization's commitment to support government in Implementing  the Tobacco Free farm project which is  which is set to commence next year. He said this in a speech read on his behalf by National Professional Officer for Tobacco Control WHO Zambia Agatha Shula. And speaking

INCREASED WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE KEY IN ADDRESSING THEIR PLIGHT-ZaWARD  By Alfonso Kasongo  A Zambian network of Women with a common goal of making critical advances and innovations in Agricultural Research and Development has implored women and girls to take interest in science so that new technologies that are emerging address some of the challenges that adversely affect them. The Zambian Women in Agricultural Research and Development (ZaWARD) Chairperson Matibo Chijikwa says there is need for women to embrace science as it offers opportunities for development. Ms. Chijikwa stressed that women needs to increase their voice in science so that new emerging scientific technologies meet their needs

ZAMBIA BEGINS THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENE-EDITING COMMUNICATION STRATEGY   By Alfonso Kasongo  Zambia has joined the other five African countries to develop and draft the Genome Editing (GEd ) Communication Strategy with the help of the Science, Technology and Innovation Centre of Excellence of the African Union Development Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD). The communication strategy aims at creating awareness on the importance of the Genome Editing technology and other emerging technological innovations in the country's agriculture sector.  Genome Editing also called Gene Editing is the utilisation of pecision technologies to get the best genetic material of the same plant or animal to develop traits which enhance productivity.  The strategy was developed during a five-day consultative meeting with stakeholders drawn from government line departments, research and higher learning  institutions, the media, faith-based organisations, traditional healers

  ZGF TO CONDUCT 2ND COHORT TRAINING FOR CSOs FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF DIGITAL SPACE By Alfonso Kasongo   The Zambia GovernanceFoundation (ZGF) in collaboration with Techsoup Africa and Meta will in the next four days,from today Monday, December 5 conduct series of online training seminars on digital marketing for local Zambian civil society and non-profit organisations. This second cohort training is designed to connect CSOs and non profit entities with content that relates to the changing digital marketing dynamics to suit non-profit organizations looking to create an impact in the digital space through social media including among others Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. The training provides an opportunity for participants to learn from the industry's best as they will be sharing skills and knowledge. It also helps participants to be in charge of their organisation's performance in the digital world.  https://us06web.zoom.us/w/ 81379194032?tk= ecNfJY20OWuatrw22cqSUoPaz7ZQO7 rEZ