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are all affected by AIDS pandemicLocal News Up-Date, April 12, 2008
MoE to Scrap G7 Exams
By Clara Mwamulela
The Ministry of Education has embarked on a continuous assessment programme that will enable grade seven final examinations to be scrapped off.
Monze district education board secretary, (DEBS) Josephine Shamputa disclosed this on Saturday when Southern province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe visited the DEBS stand at the Monze agriculture and commercial show.
Mrs. Shamputa said the programme which is being conducted on a pilot basis in five districts across the country will be spread to all the schools once the programme is evaluated.
She explained that the pupils will be assessed every term and that at the end of the term their total marks will be forwarded to the ministry of education so as to have a true reflection on the performance of the pupils.
Mrs. Shamputa said that there will be two sections at the ministry one that will handle the continuous assessment and the other the final examinations.
She added that the ministry of education came up with this programme as it is realized that Grade seven examination results did not show the real reflection on the performance of the pupils
Mrs. Shamputa also said that the Ministry has a localized curriculum that promotes the training of life skills in schools.
She said that the skills raining programmed was aimed at giving skills to pupils so that even when they are out there in the society they can become effective, productive and generate some income for themselves.
Land will not be taken away-chief Mwanachingwala assures his subjects
By Robert Hara
Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka district in the southern province has assured his subjects that land will not be taken away from them.
Speaking when he toured the area, chief Mwanachingwala explained that land will not be taken from them because of the proposed sugar plantation that an Indian investor wants to put up in the area.
The chief was accompanied by Mazabuka mayor, Edmond Cheelo and Mazabuka Town Clerk. Ekan Chingangu further said that the villagers will continue living on that land and grow sugar cane just as they grow their maize.
The Chief disclosed that the Indian investor will pump in K200 billion on the project adding that a Sugar Cane processing factory will also be set up in the area.
Chief Mwanachingwala said that once the sugar processing factory is operational it will create employment for about 6000 people.
Magoye Flood Victims Lauds Chief Mwanachingwala
By Robert Hara
Flood victims in Magoye area in Mazabuka District of the Southern Province have commended Chief Mwanachingwala for allocating land during the floods that displaced thousands of people in the area.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Chikuni, Chairperson for the displaced people Mpundu Mumba said the traditional ruler played a cardinal role in the allocation of land for the displaced people to settle during the floods which left many people homeless.
Mr. Mumba said people would have encountered many problems had it not been for the chief”s prompt action to find a place for their safety.
He however, called on the Government to continue helping the people with various essential requirements to mitigate the effects of the floods which people are still undergoing in the area.
Meanwhile, a civic leader in Chief Hanjalika’s area of Mazabuka District has commended Government for giving K82m to rehabilitate Munjile Basic School.
Enock Hachiwa who is Munjile Ward Councilor said the money would help to improve infrastructure at the school.
Mr. Hachiwa said the school has been in a dilapidated state and that once the money is put to good use it would help to encourage pupils to go back to school.
He said it is the first time since the 1950’s that the Government has come to the aid of the school.
Mr. Hachiwa called on the traditional leaders and the community to work hard towards the completion the project in order to benefit the local people.
Foot and mouth disease persists in Mumbwa
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has continued to ravage and killing cattle in some parts of Mumbwa's Mwembeshi Constituency.
Kalundu Ward Councillor, Lennox Haamaimbo revealed that the disease has, in the past two weeks, claimed more cattle in a number of villages in the area.
Mr. Haamaimbo said the most affected villages were Chikoloma, Shanzala and Chonga villages.
He said that although the veterinary department had been informed about the development and even assured the people that the animals would be attended to promptly, the situation was causing grave concern amongst livestock owners in the ward.
District Agriculture Coordinating Officer (DACO), Joseph Banda, said the veterinary department was already working hard to contain the disease.
Mr. Banda said officers from the department were conducting extensive vaccination of cattle in the entire district, as one the measures to curb the spread of the disease.
He urged cattle owners to listen to the advice of the veterinary department to have their animals vaccinated.
