Mukupa Writes

By Linda Mupemo   It is common practice for farmers in Zambia to start tilling their crop fields towards the end of summer (October) in preparation for the planting season.   2021 was not an exception, by the first week of November, most farmers had prepared their fields. Zambia experiences the   rainy season from November to April the following year. However, the disruption in the rainfall pattern for the 2021/2022 farming season sent shockwaves into the agriculture sector. By mid-December, most parts of the country were receiving below average rainfall.  Farmers  who planted their seeds after the first rains had dry, stunted crops towards the end of the year. Suffice to say a good number of farmers in the rural parts of the country solely depend on agriculture to sustain themselves. Therefore, any disturbance in their agricultural activities, natural or man-made, leads to the destabilisation of their livelihoods. Justine Musangu, a beneficiary of the Farmer Input Support Pr

  By Linda Mupemo Zambian Bank Notes - Picture by Getty Images   Public Service Workers in Milenge District have raised concern over the lack of banking services in the area.    Kapalala Combined School Head Teacher Misheck Chirwa revealed that teachers are given two days off in a month to go to Mansa to draw their salaries.    Mr. Chirwa said the situation reduces the contact hours between learners and teachers.    He said this when  Milenge Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Saka Chonde called on  School Managers in Milenge.    "We cover over two hundred kilometres to go to Mansa to access banking services. This is hindering service delivery in the education sector. We are calling on you our Member of Parliament to address this issue," he said.    And Milenge Constituency MP Saka Chonde promised to look into the matter.      Mr. Chonde noted that farmers in the area are equally making losses as they have to travel to Samfya to get their pay

 By Linda Mupemo Chief Sokontwe    Chief Sokontwe of the Ushi speaking people in Milenge district of Luapula province has called on organisations engaged in fighting early marriages to consider sponsoring early marriage survivors to school. Chief Sokontwe noted that some girls are forced into early marriages due to lack of financial resources to meet their school  needs. Chief Sokontwe stated that if the potential of the girl child is to be fully realised, there is need to include a component of educational support in interventions targeted at eradicating early marriages.   "Some girls are intelligent and have the desire to get educated. However, some parents force them into early marriages for economic reasons, hoping their husbands can take care of them," he said.      The Traditional Leader added that he has been working with  a number of stakeholders in the fight against early marriages in his chiefdom.    He observed that most of the programmes aim

 By Linda Mupemo Frank Mutubila - Picture Courtesy of Pelum Zambia Veteran Journalist Frank Mutubila has called on media training institutions to modify their curricula to suit current trends in the sector.    Mr. Mutubila observed that the evolution of the media industry calls for the enhancement of teaching material to ensure Journalism graduates meet the industry needs.    Mr. Mutubila said this in Lusaka yesterday during a media engagement organised by Pelum Zambia.   He added that it is essential for Media Lecturers to undergo practice before they venture into academia.    "Journalism institutions should re-look the caliber of lecturers imparting knowledge in Journalists. You cannot have a coach who has never played in the field. This is an anomaly which should be corrected immediately," he said.      The Veteran Broadcaster noted that Journalists should be equipped with knowledge on packaging media products which do not only benefit local communiti