12-year-old girl battles for her life after being 'set on fire' by mom

By ANN ZULU

A 12 year old girl (name withheld) is battling for her life at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after her she was burnt by her mother for allegedly stealing K40.

According to witnesses, the victim’s mother identified as Prudence Phiri of Lusaka’s old Kanyama Compound poured Kerosene on her daughter’s body and set her alight because she allegedly stole her money.

The victim’s grandmother, only identified as Bana-kulu Blessing who is also the mother to the suspect said she is devastated by her daughter’s act.

She told this reporter in an interview yesterday, that she did not really know what transpired, as she was not present when the incident occurred.

She said she was just informed by neighbors that her granddaughter had been burnt by her mother for allegedly stealing K40.

“I am very confused right now. I don’t really know why my daughter did that to her own child because I have not sat down with her since the incident happened to find out what went wrong. I was just called on Thursday by some people who took my granddaughter to the hospital that she has been burnt for stealing money.

Bana-kulu Blessings lamented that her granddaughter was in pain and that she only pray for God’s intervention.

“I can’t help seeing her condition. She is in pain, confused and she doesn’t know what is happening around her, I only pray to God that He heals her. The wounds are too much,” she said.

And Police Spokesperson Esther Mwata Katongo confirmed that the suspect has been arrested.

Ms Katongo said the suspect has not yet been charged, as police are still investigating the matter.

She however, disclosed that the suspect is likely to be charged with either assault occasioning actual bodily harm or assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Meanwhile, the Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) Chairperson Beauty Katebe has described the incident as criminal.

Ms Katebe charged that it was horrendously barbaric of Prudence, the mother to the victim, to set on fire her own daughter even if she did stole the money.

She has since called for justice to prevail regardless of the relationship between the victim and the suspect. 

“If she is found guilty, then she must be jailed. It doesn’t matter whether she is the mother to the child, what she did is totally unacceptable and barbaric. Even if the child stole that money, she shouldn’t have gone to that extent.

“Such a person does not deserve to live with people in society, jail is a place for such people, because if is she can do that to her own child, what about other children and people who are not related to her? This shows that she can do worse than that,” She said.

Ms Katebe further counselled women to use appropriate methods when disciplining children.

“Torturing a child is not the solution, it does not change the child nor bring about appropriate behaviour. There are correct methods of disciplining a child, you don’t have to be brutal or use an object. You can correct a child, just by talking to them and they will listen,” Ms Katebe said.

And Media Network on Children’s Rights and Development (MNCRD) director Henry Kabwe has called on government and stakeholders to scale up their efforts in ensuring Child protection in Zambia.

Mr Kabwe said the growing trend of children being abused and tortured in the country was worrisome and needed to be addressed urgency.

“The increasing number of cases of Children being abused and tortured especially by people close to them should be a wakeup call to us as a country, the fact that this incidents have continued to occur shows that we have not done enough,” Mr Kabwe said.

Women access to Digital Financial Services made easier

By ANN ZULU

WHEN it comes to financial inclusion in Zambia, women are financially excluded across both formal and informal services.

Compared to their male counterparts, women in Zambia are at a disadvantage in accessing financial services.

Although women make up 51 percent of the Zambian population, only 58 percent of women have access to formal or informal financial services (this includes banks, mobile money, savings groups combined) as opposed to 61% of men who have access to these same services.

To help address the situation, the United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) , which is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries has launched the Mobile Money for the Poor Programme (MM4P) in Zambia and recently held a workshop.

The UNCDF creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital and the MM4P is a programme launched by agency in partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation.

MM4P provides support to Digital Financial Services (DFS) in a select group of least developed countries (LDCs) to demonstrate how the correct mix of financial, technical and policy support can build a robust DFS ecosystem that reaches low income people in LDCs.

One of the key objectives of the programme in Zambia is to support DFS providers in the country to adopt a method of service delivery that suits women’s needs and wants.

At the workshop, UNCDF and representatives from various financial organizations including Airtel Money, FINCA Zambia, MTN Mobile Money, Zanaco and Zoona met to discuss one innovative approach, human centric design and iterative testing, that is changing how DFS providers approach product/service design and implementation to improve access of women to their products.

According to UNCDF Zambia Knowledge Management Specialist Uloma Ogba, for financial services, specifically DFS to be accessible and useful to women, they must be designed taking into account the needs, wants and aspirations of women, including low-income and rural women.

“At UNCDF, we believe that by adopting a human centric design approach which elevates the women to the “queen” status, we can promote increased financial inclusion for Zambian women.” said Ms Ogba.

And Airtel Zambia Sales Manager Alfred Phiri emphasised the need for increase in the uptake of digital financial services by women in the country.

Mr Phiri notes that with the support of UNCDF, Airtel Mobile Money has conducted product tests to address issues such as liquidity management and is taking steps to implement the results of these tests in its operations.

During the workshop it was also learnt that other corporations in financial services performed similar tests and research where the prevalent finding was that the process of understanding the customer mostly women was often neglected.

The UNCDF’s programme will not only improve women’s access to financial services, but will also promote financial inclusion for women and bring human-centred design to DFS which will improve the provider’s ability to provide services according the needs and wants of women. 

Condom use now more open

By ANN ZULU

THE use of condoms was in the past considered as immoral among Zambians because it promoted sexual promiscuity.

However, the perception has changed due to publicity and sensitisation by stakeholders that mostly focuses on the safety that condoms provide to users.

Condoms are now sold everywhere unlike in the past when it was difficult to find one.

A survey by the Daily Nation uncovered different brands of condoms, including, Rough Rider, Durex, Gold, Love, Be Safe, Maximum, Icon and Kiss among others.

The prices of condoms on the market ranges from K5 to K30 per pack at most of the shops visited.

Ms Karen Mwewa, who owns a drug store in Lusaka noted that due to high publicity and sensitisation in the past years on the use of condoms for safe sex and protection, customers boldly come to buy the product.

She said the price of the condoms was based on the quality, texture and brand names, adding that the purchases were based on customer’s financial situation, satisfaction and other personal experiences.

Ms Mwewa appealed to pharmacists to educate customers on the proper use of condoms to reduce unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

She also disclosed the demand for condoms goes up during Valentine, Christmas and public holidays.

“My customers mostly buy Maximum because of the publicity and affordability, condoms are highly patronised by both the young and the old. People walk in to buy irrespective of who is at the counter.

“At times some women even walk in to buy, every day is a market day for the sale of condoms, but weekends are special,” she said

Ms Mwewa however, noted that there were a few who still feel shy when they come to the store to buy condoms.

“Some customers feel shy so they write the name or type of condoms they want to buy on a paper and send children to buy for them. All the same the condom business is doing well,” she said.

The Daily Nation survey also revealed that the female condoms were not in the market due to lack of sensitisation.

Mr Kelvin Kalumba, a Pharmacist, observed that most people preferred the male condoms to the female ones.

“Pharmacies have stopped selling the female condoms because people don’t buy them and it is very difficult to get on the market these days.

“Even ladies who occasionally go to stores to buy male condoms don’t buy female condoms,” Mr Kalumba said.

Councillor Chinyanta’s ideal world for women…

By ANN ZULU

A WORLD where women are empowered to improve themselves, their families and the society as a whole, is a kind of world that Patriotic Front (PF) Matero ward 23 in Matero Constituency Councillor Annie Chinyata envisions.

Councillor Chinyanta handing over a bag of mealie meal

Ms Chinyanta, who is also the only female councillor in the constituency has sacrificed her monthly salary towards women empowerment in her ward.

Matero ward 23 has a population of about 60,000 and majority of the population are women.

Most of the women in area are widows and single mothers, who struggle every day to sustain themselves and their families.

Earlier this year, Government raised councillors’ allowances from K700 to K3, 000 to enable them discharge their civic duties efficiently and effectively.

But Ms Chinyata told this reporter that she thought extending this good gesture to her community and to women in particular who were in need more than she was, was the best thing to do.

She said she had decided to use her monthly salary to buy rice from Kasama and distribute it to women in her ward to sell as a way of empowering them.

“I have seen how women are suffering in my ward, most of them are widows, single mothers and for some who are married, their husbands are not doing anything.

“So when Government decided to start giving us salaries, I thought as a Civic leader it was my responsibility to try and do something for the women in my ward that would help them in improving themselves, their families and the country at large.

“I recently discovered that we have very good rice growing in Kasama, so I thought of bringing it on the market and distribute it to women to sell,” Ms Chinyanta said.

She said so far 30 women had benefitted from the project and intends to extend the number.

Ms Chinyanta also wishes to partner with the corporate world in the project, as she believes that the corporate world plays a vital role in uplifting the livelihood of the people.

“I have started with 30 women, but the number will increase as we go on with the programme. I am also looking forward to engaging the corporate world but I thought I should first lead by example by sacrificing my salary,” she said.

Ms Chinyanta noted that lot of women in her ward were uneducated due to lack of finances to access education.

She said the project would also help the women to take themselves to school.

“As I go round interacting with women in my community, I found that some of them have the zeal to go back to school but they have no means of financial support. So I thought by empowering them they would also take themselves to school,” she said.

She further urged people in her community not to be too reliant on Government, but instead find ways of empowering themselves.

“A word to my community is that Government will not do everything for us, and as much as government is creating jobs, it cannot cater for everyone.

“So I feel as community, we should be hardworking and we should stand up on our two feet’s and see what we can do to sustain ourselves and develop our community together,” she said.

And one of the beneficiaries Alice Tembo, who had been looking after her two grandchildren since her daughter died, thanked the councillor for initiating the empowerment project.

She said even though the project looked small, it would help her to provide for her grandchildren.

“The councillor has really come to my rescue by introducing this programme, because since I lost my daughter in 2014, I have been struggling with my grandchildren. I have pay for their school feels and provide food and clothes for them, so for me this will go a long way,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Mr Mary Sampa implored other civic leaders in the country to emulate Ms Chinyanta.

She noted that a lot of women in Zambia were suffering and needed empowerment.

Truly, there is no doubt that if all women in Zambia were empowered, a lot of can be achieved because they are agents of change.

Extension officers essential in the development of agriculture

By ANN ZULU

THE issue of extension service has continued to be a challenge to most farmers in Zambia, because of the huge gap between the number of Agricultural Extension Officers (AEO) and the number of farmers needing their services.

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, show a ratio of one extension officer on average assigned to about 1, 500 farmers, a situation that makes it difficult for small-scale farmers who need their services most to access extension services.

However, Chief Chipepo of the Tonga people of Southern Province observes that an average of one extension officer offers extension services to 3,000 farmers in some parts of Southern Province.

In an interview, Chief Chipepo stressed the need for Government to address the shortage of extension officers in the country as soon as possible, if the diversification of the economy to agriculture was to become reality.

“Government needs to be strong if we actually see the agricultural sector as an area to prioritise and then try to recruit more extension staff.

“This is because we have extension staff in the system who are trained by the government’s resources and afterwards end up being employed by individuals and private organisations that are into Agric, because Government is not employing them,” Chief Chipepo said.

Who are Extension Officers?

Extension officers serves as advisers, technicians and middlemen operating between agricultural research institutions and the farming communities. They also help farmers increase the productivity of their farms and improve their living standards.

They are change agents, consultants and advocate helping farmers to identify their problems and find their own solution. The work for the creation of community harmony essential for group projects.

In most developing countries such as Zambia, subsistence agriculture dominates the economy and for national progress to occur, change in agriculture is essential.

The Role of Extension Service

Agricultural extension service falls under the Ministry of Agriculture and it’s responsible for promoting the adoption and utilisation of new scientific farming practices through educational procedures.

Extension service role include acting as an intermediary between agricultural development institutions and target groups such as the farmer, women groups and youths; linking the farmer with sources of farming inputs and credit facilities; and providing timely information on new innovations and practices.

Importance of Extension Service

The importance of agricultural extension service in influencing productivity in the farming business cannot be underestimated.

According to agricultural expert John Bwalya, extension services should be considered a strategic investment, saying that even if land, water, seeds, production inputs and capital were made available but smallholder farmers remained uninformed, they would not be able to efficiently and productively use them.

“For Zambia’s agriculture to improve, farmers have no alternative but to learn and adopt recommended scientific farming techniques.  And for them to respond positively to new ideas they must be properly educated on how best to apply the new ideas or practices to their farming activities as the new ideas are often complex and technical,” he said.

Impact of absence of Extension Services on Agriculture Sector

Mr Bwalya noted that some farmers do not see the need to use improved seeds because they think it will require using more fertiliser and the produce may go bad early.

 “If we are not able to get the right information to farmers they won’t apply appropriate methods of farming so at the end they will still be getting lower yields which will end up impacting the total contribution of the agricultural sector to all of us,” Mr Bwalya said.

He added that the absence of extension services made it difficult for the Ministry of Agriculture itself to execute its own programmes as it tried to modernise the agriculture sector by coming out with new products, equipment and programmes including the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Mr Bwalya said since there were some areas where farmers did not have information on all of these programmes, it would be difficult to implement them in the absence of Extenstionj Officers.

Way forward

Government is aware of the shortage of extension officers’ situation in the country.

This is why as part of efforts to increase information access among farmers, earlier this year Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya approached Cabinet on the issue.

Ms Siliya noted that engaging additional officers would mitigate the shortage facing her ministry.

She said extension officers should be increased to acceptable standards to effectively address and communicate to government the challenges being faced by farmers.

“It is very difficult for the farmer to quickly send information to the extension officers who should then bring it to the attention of Government because this one officer has so many farmers to attend to,” Ms Siliya said.

However, the good news is that the issue of Extension Services might be lessen as Government is recruiting 472 more officers to boost its agriculture extension services.

Making the announcement last week, Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa said improving inadequate Extension Officers in various districts would expand agricultural extension services and help drive diversified growth.

“Staffing levels are poor, with one camp officer attending to 1 000 farmers,” Mr Shawa said.

He also said plans were underway to buy motorbikes and build houses in various districts for Extension Officers.

Mr Shawa observed that the officers lacked adequate accommodation and transport, making it hard for them to do their jobs.

 “Some officers walk 30 kilometres to get to camps,” he said.

It is impossible for Government alone to address the challenge of Extension Services in the country, there is need for non-governmental organisations who were working with farmers and private institutions who could support to try and recruit extension staff to complement government’s efforts.