THE EDITORIAL NEWS

...  "come we discuss so that we do the correct thing" ,correct procedure on the enactment of the biotechnology,biosafety policy will be followed with full consultation,says Mr. Nzovu.  By Alfonso Kasongo  Government has opened up to engage the Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB) on the issues surrounding the validation process and content of the new National Biosafety and Biotechnology draft policy. Minister for Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu disclosed this when he keenly followed the explanation on  matters raised regarding the new draft policy from ZAAB National Cordinator Mutinta Nketani.  Ms. Mutinta Nketani  Featuring on the Environment WhatsApp live interview tonight, Ms. Nketani highlighted the reasons why the Alliance has petitioned Republican President Hakainde Hichilema to halt the process. And in his comments, Mr. Nzovu appealed to Ms. Nketani to meet the minister for further discussions. Mr. Nzovu was delighted ...

...whose agenda?    https://www.ecojesuit.com/gmos-and-zambia/ The article though long, gives an insight who is pushing the agenda.  This article will not address the issue of genetically modified oganisms or GMOs directly. We now have more than 15 years global experience of GMO crops. There is abundant evidence from top scientists across the world that GMO food is harmful. They cause cancers, allergies, infertility, and affect internal organs. GMO crops cross pollinate with non-GMO plants and contaminate the world’s genetic resource base. GMO crops are bad for the environment. There has been an increase in chemical use in agriculture with the introduction of GMO crops. And in general, GMO crops perform less well than non-GMO crops. This article will offer a brief history of the GMO saga in Zambia since 2002, and look at what is presently happening in Africa and in Zambia in particular in the past few years vis-à-vis crop seeds. In 2002, Zambia became prominent on the glo...

  By Alfonso Kasongo  The shutdown of internet to block access to social media during the 2021 general election has earned Zambia a slot among 34 countries worldwide that experienced digital authoritative rule last year. According to a research conducted by Keep It On ,182 internet shutdowns from 34 countries were last year recorded and are documented. Sadly 19 of the 34 countries are African countries, an indication of the return of the digital authoritatism. The report  discloses that the Zambian authorities shutdown the Internet during the the tight 2021 general election to block access to social media platforms which  include among others WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   The report however ,suggests that the country experienced digital authoritative rule which undermined the democracy of the country.    It further notes with pleasure that the shut down was fought swiftly by Chapter One Foundation through the court of law and that the Hi...

By Alfonso Kasongo   Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biosafety (ZAAB) says that there is still great concern about the content of the new draft of the national biotechnology and biosafety policy despite it undergoing validation process. ZAAB National Cordinator Mutinta Nketani discloses that the new national biotechnology and biosafety policy draft is under validation  process at district level and that the Alliance has not been engaged following its cut off from the process in the early stages of the process.  Ms Nketani reiterates that the introduction of live  Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into agriculture given the restrictions imposed by GMO property rights and the contamination of Zambian indigenous seeds remain some of the threatening concerns   Addressing some farmers and traditional leaders during a holistic land management conference in Lusaka Ms Nketani explains that the framing of the draft policy promotes the introduction of GMOs in...

AICCRA ZAMBIA TO PARTNER WITH GOVT, ZARI,UNIVERSITIES FOR ENHANCED CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE  By Alfonso Kasongo A World Bank backed AICCRA Zambia Accelerator seeks to partner with Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) and Universities in the country with the aim to find science based solutions to the challenges faced in scaling up climate smart agriculture. AICCRA Zambia Accelerator through International Water Management Institute (IWMI) discloses that the Zambian Accelerator will soon launch internship partnerships with Zambia’s largest agricultural research entity ,ZARI and other partnerships which include government through the ministry of agriculture and universities that will ensure the farming sector  responds to climate variability.  AICCRA Zambia activities are led by IWMI ,while AICCRA is supported by grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. Speaking in an interview with The Editorial News, IWMI Southern Africa region...

STROKE,DIABETES, HYPERTENSION SURGE AT POST COVID-19 CLINICS IN ZAMBIA    ... as 372 deaths out of 4,242 stroke cases were recorded in 2021 By Alfonso Kasongo  Zambia's Ministry of Health has disclosed that the latest research shows there is an increase risk of stroke among individuals who suffered from COVID-19.  Professor Lloyd Mulenga, Ministry of Health Director Infectious Diseases discloses that the country recorded 372 deaths out of 4,242 cases of stroke in 2021alone attributing the most stroke cases to high blood pressure and diabetes.  And Professor Mulenga announced that stroke,chronic fatigue, chronic lung condition, hypertension and diabetes are among the conditions that are being presented at the post-COVID-19 clinic. The Professor added that the current data further indicates that the affected individual are below the age of 50. Professor Mulenga has since urged the general public especially those with blood pressure conditions to quickly seek...