PICTURE OF THE DAY: Kazungula Bridge Project

The Governments of Zambia and Botswana in 2014 embarked on a joint project of the construction of the US$ 161,961, 304.84 Kazungula Bridge whose contractor is South Korea's Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company Limited.

The Bridge as you can see in this picture is taking shape and is expected to be completed by March 2020. - PICTURE: NDANGWA MWITTAH

Government to establish timber processing plant in Kazungula

SOUTHERN province minister Edify Hamukale has disclosed Government’s plans of setting up a timber processing plant in Kazungula district to address the shortage of desks in schools in the region.

Dr Hamukale has also proposed that schools in the region request for teachers with a background in industrial arts to help with skills training.

Speaking when he addressed school management at Saala Community School in Kazungula recently, Dr Hamukale said the proposed timber processing factory will be getting the materials from Sesheke, Sioma, Kaoma and Kazungula.

He said it is not right for a school situated in the middle of a forest not to have desks.

“This school Saala is in the middle of a forest. To produce desks and other timber products, we require trees and so for an area like this one, we expect you to request for a timber skills centre so that we can produce desks locally. We have long term plans to put up a timber processing factory here in Kazungula,” he said.

He advised that in the meantime, the school management, working in collaboration with the area councillor, Member of Parliament and also the traditional leadership can write and request for a skills training centre or carpentry workshop.

“We can’t have pupils sitting on the floor in a forest that produces timber for furniture for the rest of the world. Your timber is being used elsewhere, so why should pupils sit on the floor?

“Zambia is looking to this place so not having desks here is not the best thing to do because you own the forests, you have the raw materials for what you are asking for and begin to derive benefits from the natural resources around you,” he said.

Earlier Bombwe Zonal head Edward Nyambe commended Government for facilitating the construction of a 1x2 classroom block at the school.

Mr Nyambe also called on Government to consider sending more teachers, especially trained female teachers to motivate the girls in the community.

“Otherwise, we are grateful that the feeding programme in schools has improved learner attendance in schools but we still need assistance with boreholes,” he said.

Minor Hotels to ban use of all plastics at The Royal Livingstone and Avani Victoria Resort

MINOR Hotels Zambia general manager Laurie Burr says the use of all forms of plastic at The Royal Livingstone Hotel and Avani Victoria Falls Resort will be banned in five months’ time.

Mr Burr said this is in order to conform to Government's aspirations of saving the environment and the planet.

He made the pronouncement on Saturday night during the observation of the WWF organised Earth Hour at Avani Victoria Falls Resort that was graced by Southern province minister Edify Hamukale.

Earth Hour is an annual event, usually held on the last Saturday evening in March, when people worldwide turn off lights and shut down most electrical appliances to celebrate sustainability and show their support for strategies that will help solve the problem of global warming.

“We will remain committed to taking part in environmental protection activities and we are pledging to reduce our plastic and in four to five months from now, my goal with my leadership team at our properties we will ban the use of plastics, plastic bottles or water bottles in both our hotels,” he said.

Mr Burr said Minor Hotels Zambia has this year committed to reduce its water and electricity consumption.

And Dr Hamukale said Government has done its part to address the issues surrounding environmental protection and called for more people to come on board and supplement it.

“You are perfectly aware that we, in the SADC region, not only in Southern province in 2018/2019 season was heavily affected by poor rainfall and a larger explanation of this is irresponsible behaviour by mankind,” he said.

Dr Hamukale said mankind desperately need nature hence the need for it to be protected.

“Nature does not need mankind. If we were not here, probably there was going to be more Zebras, more Impalas, Buffalos, trees and more of what was created in the beginning than what we have today and it’s all because of man’s demand for products of nature or derivatives of nature,” he said.

He said mankind is the biggest reason why the world is facing ecological challenges including cyclones that have claimed many lives.

“This has come at the back of the nuisance in the management of nature,” he said.

Speaking earlier, WWF country director Nachilala Nkombo said the Earth Hour is a reminder for people to take care of their natural resources and conserve them.

“The acceleration of loss of nature needs action now. Here in Zambia, 90 per cent of electricity is from water and for us to continue having access to power, we need to keep our rivers flowing,” she said.

She also emphasised on the need to replenish the forests which have been depleted due to charcoal burning.