YMCA PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG YOUTHS

By LILLIAN BANDA –

UNEMPLOYMENT remains one of the major challenges of our contemporary times. It is no wonder conversations and debates are often around issues of employment, more so among the younger generation.
But for many, formal employment remains a pipe dream if not a nightmare given the fact that only a limited number of people can be absorbed by the formal sector.
And reports by experts suggest that the hardest hit by the unemployment trend are young people most whom have ambitions of securing jobs in the formal sector.
“I have been looking to getting a job in the civil service for the past three years but to no avail. I have a diploma in marketing. I have also tried the private sector but it has also proved difficult to penetrate,” Explains Mwila Mwaba, 25, a resident of Lusaka’s Emmasdale area. Asked if she has any other plans to enable her earn a living and contribute to her family’s breadbasket, Mwila explains; “I had started a hairdressing business but the premises were too expensive
forcing me to close down.”
Mwila Mwaba’s story is one of the experiences many young people can relate to. This is because they have been conditioned to a certain kind of thinking that places more emphasis on a white collar job.

But what can be done to help change the mindsets of people particularly the youth from focusing on getting traditional jobs and opportunities to being creative and open to new ideas?
The Young Men Christian Association of Zambia (Zambia YMCA) is currently implementing the Economic Renaissance (ER) Programme, which is a job readiness and entrepreneurship intervention for the youth.
The programme is being supported by the organisation’s 2012 to 2015 Strategic Plan and also the Government of the Republic of Zambia’s Vision 2030 Country’s Agenda of promoting wealth creation among young people.
The goal of the project is to economically empower and equip 1,000 young with mental and cognitive capacities that would ensure successful set up and running of their enterprises.
The programme, which is in four phases, started in September this year, and runs till December 2015, is being implemented in Lusaka, Kabwe and Kitwe.
“At the core of the Economic Renaissance is the believe that for the youth to be economically empowered, they need to be equipped with not
only finances, but mental and cognitive capacities for successful set up and running of their enterprises.
“The phases therefore, take youth through a process of self-awareness; business opportunity identification, analysis and business plan development, linkages to finances and mentoring post access to finance,” explains organizations Rev Josephat Mwale, acting programmes director at Zambia YMCA.
This is aimed at ensuring successful application and management of the finance for enterprise growth.” He adds that many young people have the potential to contribute significantly to the economic development of the country but lack adequate support.
“The training was very insightful and timely. I am now able to come up with sound business plan and write bankable business proposals,” explains 19-year-old Vanessa Mwenya one of the beneficiaries of the ER programme.
“The knowledge and skills I have acquired are priceless.”
She has since commended Zambia YMCA for according her and her peers the opportunity to participate in the programme.
According to a 2014 report by YouthMap, only 10 percent of jobs in Zambia are in the formal sector. The report also suggests that entrepreneurship would be a key livelihood avenue for youth to pursue, as the formal labor market cannot absorb those currently seeking work, or the more than 130,000 new entrants each year.
The report also indicates that self-employed youth most enjoyed the work they are doing (57 percent compared to 34 per cent of full-time salaried youth). This was, especially true for those running registered businesses.
The majority of youth interviewed by YouthMap, particularly in rural areas, reported that they would like to start their own businesses, but explained that it was difficult for them to raise money and they felt they lacked basic skills to operate a business.
There are currently a number of policies and strategies that aim at addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in Zambia.
Key interventions aimed at improving access to business funds for young people are the National Youth Development Fund and the Citizen’s Economic and Empowerment Fund.
However, only a limited number of young people access these funds due to a lack of understanding of the application procedures among other things Government is expected to release a National Action Plan on Youth Employment developed with the support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), soon. It is hoped that the aforementioned policy will help in reducing the high numbers of unemployed youths.
Almost 202 million people were unemployed in 2013 around the world, an increase of almost 5 million compared with the year before; reflecting the fact that employment is not expanding sufficiently fast to keep up with the growing labour force.
The bulk of the increase in global unemployment is in the East and
South Asia regions, which together represent more than 45 per cent of additional jobseekers, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.
This is according to a 2014 Global Employment Trends of 2014 report, an initiative of the Intern ILO.
The report also suggests that if current trends continue, global unemployment is set to worsen further, albeit gradually, reaching more than 215 million jobseekers by 2018.
The youth-to-adult unemployment ratio has reached a historical peak, the report further says. It is estimated that 74.5 million young people aged 15–24 were
unemployed in 2013; that is almost one million more than in the year before.
The global youth unemployment rate has reached 13.1 percent, which is almost three times as high as the adult unemployment rate.
Youth unemployment is said to be a potential trigger for social instability the world over, more in developing nations.
Bank of Zambia governor Michael Gondwe recently admitted that access to jobs by the young people is one of the biggest challenges of the modern world.
“Africa has the fastest growing and the most youthful population in the world,” Dr Gondwe said. “Access to secure jobs continues to be challenge for many young people.
“The creation of viable jobs for the youth is a precondition for Africa’s poverty eradication, sustainable development and peace.”
He added that although several measures have been put in place to address youth unemployment, there remains a lot to be done. Addressing the challenge of youth unemployment requires sustainable solutions. The Government should provide an enabling environment for local businesses to flourish particularly those run the youth.
Incentives should be given to youths to help them start and manage their enterprises. Government and indeed other stakeholders could, for instance start by providing a ready market for goods and services produced by the youth as a way of encouraging them to be more enterprising.

Article was first published in the Times of Zambia-December 20, 2014 

Child Neglect still a menace

Times of Zambia, April 11 2014

By LILLIAN BANDA

MARY Mwale (not real name) is a sad
woman. The father of her three-year-old
son deserted her when he discovered
she was pregnant. After five years of being in what Mary
considered a stable relationship with this
man, she fell pregnant. That was around June 2009. The man was very furious when she told
him about her condition. He complained that a child would be a
distraction for him as he was busy with
studies at the time. That was the beginning of the end of their
relationship. The man gave her K400 and asked her to
terminate the pregnancy but she did not
and instead used the money to buy
clothes for the baby. He has never offered any form of support
since despite having a well paying job
now. Mary works as a volunteer at an
institution for abandoned children. She
claims that the allowance she gets is too
little to sustain herself and the child. “I cannot afford a descent life for my
son,” she laments. Willful neglect of children is one of the
major social problems today. Though
common in most communities, cases of
child neglect are rife in low-income
environments. However, the Local courts are never
short of child maintenance or child
support cases. A visit to Matero and Chawama local
courts revealed that child maintenance
cases are among the prominent cases
brought up. And a report by Zambia Civic Education
Association (ZCEA) also reveals that cases most prevalently dealt
with at the organisation’s child friendly
desks are child maintenance after
dissolution of marriage or union but more
especially for children born out of
wedlock. Various reports suggest the main culprits
are men who father children but do not
render any support for their upkeep. This leaves women with the sole
responsibility of raising these children. The Affiliation and Maintenance of
Children’s Act CAP 64 of the laws of
Zambia and Section 169 of the Penal
Code are pieces of legislation that are
used to compel defaulters to render child
support, with the former being applied mostly in cases involving the
maintenance of children born out of
wedlock. But what exactly is child neglect? “It ranges from denying a child basic
needs like shelter, food and clothing to
dumping of a child. Under Section 169 of the Penal Code
CAP 87 of the laws of Zambia, willful
child neglect is a criminal offence,
punishable by imprisonment or a fine or
both. “Any parent, guardian, or any other
person who is in charge of a child
commits an offence when they willfully
fail to provide for that child,” explains
Child Protection Unit (CPU) National
Coordinator Joseph Simuchembu. Mr Simuchembu explains that extent of
the obligation of child maintenance is
based on the standard of living, income
and means of the persons or persons
obliged to render child support. He points out those most common forms
of child neglect cases are ones that
involve divorced parents. “The obligation to support a child does
not rest solely on the father but on both
parents. Most women are economically
disadvantaged and men seem to be
doing better. Cases were both parents are absolutely
not able to support their children are
referred to the social welfare
department,” Mr Simuchembe says Mr Simuchembu also revealed that child
neglect is one of the major social issues
that the Unit is working to address. He adds that child neglect has
contributed to the escalating numbers of
street children, juvenile delinquency, and
school dropouts. He says most people in low-income
environments and in rural areas have
little or no knowledge as to what
constitutes child neglect hence the need
for stakeholders to scale sensitisation
efforts in these areas. Mr Simuchembu says CPU, which is a
section of the Zambia Police Service
stands ready to work with communities in
an effort to enhance the promotion and
protection of children’s rights. He also stressed the need for
communities to come up with initiatives
that provide durable solutions to issues
of child abuse in general and child
neglect in particular. And a snap survey conducted in
Lusaka’s Misisi compound revealed that
child neglect is one of the main
challenges the community is facing. Some parents are allegedly encouraging
their children to go and beg on the
streets so as to supplement family
incomes. “Some of these parents are capable of
providing for their children but chose not
too. They instead spend money on
alcohol and indulge in illicit activities.
Parents are failing these childen. That is why boys begin pick pocketing at
an early. They eventually become
members of little gangs that terrorise the
community, while young girls are forced
into early marriages,” laments Dorothy
Mwanza a resident of Misisi compound. She was, however, quick to commend
officers from CPU for conducting monthly
talks on children’s rights in the
community, which she says are yielding
positive results as evidenced by increase
in the number of people taking interest in reporting incidences of child neglect. The CPU conducts monthly sensitisation
talks on children’s rights in selected
compounds. This is done with the support of Child
Protection Groups comprising community
members. According to a 2013 national gender
crime statistics report by the Victim
Support Unit (VSU) of the Zambia Police
Service, there were 2701 reported cases
of ’neglecting to provide’ under which
category willful child neglect falls.

Adult Literacy Key to Women Empowerment

Times of Zambia, March 28, 2014
By LILLIAN BANDA

“I USED to feel embarrassed and
ashamed whenever one of my children
asked me to help them with their home
work. I would quickly come up with an
excuse. Little did they know that I was unable to read or write?
Now I am able to write my own name and
do a bit of mathematical calculations,”
explains, a mother of six, Eunice Zulu of
Kagunda village in Chipata, Eastern
Province. It has been a little more than three years
since Ms Zulu started attending adult
literacy classes organised by the
community in collaboration with People’s
Action Forum (PAF).
It is one of the 80 adult learning groups supported by PAF in Eastern, Southern
and Central provinces of Zambia and
across seven districts.
Ignorance is costly. It is no wonder they
say “If you think education is expensive,
try ignorance”. It is also said that an ignorant individual
is a burden to society.
An educated individual is better placed to
take care of their welfare along with that
of those around them.
That is why countries around the world are investing more in the education
sector.
Investing in education generally has a
multiplier effect. It is also one sure way
of countering poverty and disease.
This is true in the case of primary health care given that the majority of diseases
prevalent in developing countries are to a
large extent preventable.
Simple preventive measures such as
boiling drinking water or sleeping under a
mosquito net can help reduce the disease burden and increase
productivity.
But one needs to have some form of
education for them to appreciate the
importance of living in a healthy
environment along with other benefits. Despite the numerous benefits of even
just a basic education, a considerable
number of people in developing countries
remain illiterate; to the detriment of both
an individual and society.
“About a third of Zambia’s population is illiterate. The majority are women. This is
affecting the economic growth of the
country. That is why we need to work
towards ensuring that literacy levels
increase substantially.
“It is a good thing that the rate of enrollment has increased. But beyond
that we still have substantial numbers of
children dropping out of school. On one
end we have adults that are not able to
read or write, on the other, we have
young people who are dropping out of school,” explains PAF executive director,
Gina Chiwela.
Ms Chilewela explains that it is
importance to ensure that adults are
provided with education facilities given
the important role they play in the well- being of their families and communities.
She says educated adults ensure that
their children develop a keen interest in
learning and take full advantage of
education programmes.
“Even institutions such as the World Bank have realised that no programme of
compulsory universal education can bear
fruit without the active support and co-
operation of adults.
Literacy of mothers, particularly, is a big
factor in getting children into school. Adult education is now among the main
topics in conversations around the post
2015 Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). It is hoped that a lot more
investment will be put in this area,” she
says. Zambia is still working towards coming
up with an adult education policy. The
process of has been going on for about a
decade now.
PAF is of the view that the education
policy currently in place does not address the specific needs of adult
literacy, as it is too general.
The organisation also observes that while
there have been initiatives such as night
schools; not all schools offer these
programmes thereby disadvantaging persons that may want to start or further
their studies.
“There is a draft adult education policy in
place which has been handed over to
government. We are hopeful that the
country will have a policy in place soon. This will help in providing the necessary
guidelines for effective implementation of
adult literacy programmes in the
country,” explains Ms Chiwela.
Adult education includes all activities
with an educational purpose, carried on by people to enable them be intellectually
and socially aware. It is usually designed
to cater for adolescents and older
people’s educational needs.
Adult Literacy and continuation education
are two major components of adult education. Adult literacy is education for
those who never had schooling before;
mainly persons that desire to read and
write.
Continuation education is for those who
have had some schooling before but seek to advance their education.
In rural settings adult literacy
programmes are structured in a way that
addresses the needs of participants or
learners. Informal educational settings
like forums, study circles, group discussions serve as platforms for adult

Artiste Empowers Street Kids

By Lillian Banda

THEY spend their nights on roadside sewers, abandoned buildings; and in corridors. They smoke and sniff harmful substances to keep warm and to distract themselves from the harsh realities of everyday life. To earn a living, some hire themselves out as garbage collectors in trading areas while others are forced to be pick-pockets by gang leaders. Their lives are often short and extremely rough. They are vulnerable to all forms of exploitation and abuse. Strangely enough, street children are invisible in most societies. Their plight is seemingly ignored and their needs are often neglected. Extreme poverty and high mortality rates associated with the AIDS pandemic have often been cited as the major cause of the escalating numbers of children living and or working on the street; more so in the sub- Sahara region. Those working with street children assert that they remain excluded from policy priorities and programming. They also assert that many policies and interventions fail to take into account street children’s own views, and therefore, fail to address the holistic context in which street children live and experience their vulnerability. It is against this realisation that a local artiste, who is also a street children rights activist, decided to come
up with a way of entertaining or engaging street children in advocacy works. “Street children hold very important knowledge around their experiences. This makes them great agents of change and also best resource in understanding the street child phenomenon,” notes James Banda. Banda, popularly known as Red Linso, said measures that do not seek to engage street children in coming up with lasting and practical solutions to the street child phenomenon have too often been used. This has led to those working address issues around this challenge with little or no results to write home about. “We should be mindful of the fact that for any significant change to occur, it has to be harnessed by those facing the harsh realities of that particular challenge. This is why former street children and those still living on the streets ought to be part of the process of coming up with workable solutions to the challenge,” asserts Banda. He further reveals that he is currently working on an album that will have songs featuring street children some of whom he has been mentoring to become young advocates. He was quick to point out that they make great change makers once they understand their great role in advocacy. He further reveals that he had worked with Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) of Zambia and Fountain of Hope (FOP), among others. Earlier in the year, street children from Zambia YMCA Street Kids Project recited poems written by Banda. This was during this year’s International Day for Street Children, commemorated on the April 12 and during the Day of the African Child which fell one June 26. Mr Banda’s idea of engaging street children in arts, particularly the singing aspect is reminiscent of the Africa Umoja, originally conceived in 1983 as an out-reach programme that took displaced and impoverished South African children off the streets. Twala and co-founder Thembi Nyandeni retired from dancing professionally and came up with the project. It is reported that it began as a course teaching children how to sing and dance in traditional ways. The children later became the show’s original cast As of September last year, about I3,500 children were on the Zambian streets countrywide. Minister of Gender and Child Development, Inonge Wina, told Parliament that 11,475 of the street children were male while 2026 children were female. Ms Wina also revealed that of this number, 193 who were below the age of 18 were integrated with their families as of June 2012, while 1,095 children between the ages of 15 and 18 received skills training at the Zambia National Service (ZNS). She reiterated Government’s commitment to reintegrate street children with their families as a first priority. She said only those found to have no relatives are placed in institutions of care. Ms Wina said the high number of children living on the streets could be attributed to several factors such as divorce, the AIDS pandemic and poverty among others. She said her ministry helps former street children that obtain skills training to find employment as a way of preventing them from going back on the streets. Ms Wina urged Members of Parliament to invest part of the Constituency Development Fund towards
providing care and support towards street children.

Article was first published in the Times of Zambia

Artiste Empowers Street Kuds

THEY spend their nights on roadside sewers, abandoned buildings; and in corridors. They smoke and sniff harmful substances to keep warm and to distract themselves from the harsh realities of everyday life. To earn a living, some hire themselves out as garbage collectors in trading areas while others are forced to be pick-pockets by gang leaders. Their lives are often short and extremely rough. They are vulnerable to all forms of exploitation and abuse. Strangely enough, street children are invisible in most societies. Their plight is seemingly ignored and their needs are often neglected. Extreme poverty and high mortality rates associated with the AIDS pandemic have often been cited as the major cause of the escalating numbers of children living and or working on the street; more so in the sub- Sahara region. Those working with street children assert that they remain excluded from policy priorities and programming. They also assert that many policies and interventions fail to take into account street children’s own views, and therefore, fail to address the holistic context in which street children live and experience their vulnerability. It is against this realisation that a local artiste, who is also a street children rights activist, decided to come
up with a way of entertaining or engaging street children in advocacy works. “Street children hold very important knowledge around their experiences. This makes them great agents of change and also best resource in understanding the street child phenomenon,” notes James Banda. Banda, popularly known as Red Linso, said measures that do not seek to engage street children in coming up with lasting and practical solutions to the street child phenomenon have too often been used. This has led to those working address issues around this challenge with little or no results to write home about. “We should be mindful of the fact that for any significant change to occur, it has to be harnessed by those facing the harsh realities of that particular challenge. This is why former street children and those still living on the streets ought to be part of the process of coming up with workable solutions to the challenge,” asserts Banda. He further reveals that he is currently working on an album that will have songs featuring street children some of whom he has been mentoring to become young advocates. He was quick to point out that they make great change makers once they understand their great role in advocacy. He further reveals that he had worked with Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) of Zambia and Fountain of Hope (FOP), among others. Earlier in the year, street children from Zambia YMCA Street Kids Project recited poems written by Banda. This was during this year’s International Day for Street Children, commemorated on the April 12 and during the Day of the African Child which fell one June 26. Mr Banda’s idea of engaging street children in arts, particularly the singing aspect is reminiscent of the Africa Umoja, originally conceived in 1983 as an out-reach programme that took displaced and impoverished South African children off the streets. Twala and co-founder Thembi Nyandeni retired from dancing professionally and came up with the project. It is reported that it began as a course teaching children how to sing and dance in traditional ways. The children later became the show’s original cast As of September last year, about I3,500 children were on the Zambian streets countrywide. Minister of Gender and Child Development, Inonge Wina, told Parliament that 11,475 of the street children were male while 2026 children were female. Ms Wina also revealed that of this number, 193 who were below the age of 18 were integrated with their families as of June 2012, while 1,095 children between the ages of 15 and 18 received skills training at the Zambia National Service (ZNS). She reiterated Government’s commitment to reintegrate street children with their families as a first priority. She said only those found to have no relatives are placed in institutions of care. Ms Wina said the high number of children living on the streets could be attributed to several factors such as divorce, the AIDS pandemic and poverty among others. She said her ministry helps former street children that obtain skills training to find employment as a way of preventing them from going back on the streets. Ms Wina urged Members of Parliament to invest part of the Constituency Development Fund towards
providing care and support towards street children.

Artiste Empowers Street Kids

THEY spend their nights on roadside sewers, abandoned buildings; and in corridors. They smoke and sniff harmful substances to keep warm and to distract themselves from the harsh realities of everyday life. To earn a living, some hire themselves out as garbage collectors in trading areas while others are forced to be pick-pockets by gang leaders. Their lives are often short and extremely rough. They are vulnerable to all forms of exploitation and abuse. Strangely enough, street children are invisible in most societies. Their plight is seemingly ignored and their needs are often neglected. Extreme poverty and high mortality rates associated with the AIDS pandemic have often been cited as the major cause of the escalating numbers of children living and or working on the street; more so in the sub- Sahara region. Those working with street children assert that they remain excluded from policy priorities and programming. They also assert that many policies and interventions fail to take into account street children’s own views, and therefore, fail to address the holistic context in which street children live and experience their vulnerability. It is against this realisation that a local artiste, who is also a street children rights activist, decided to come
up with a way of entertaining or engaging street children in advocacy works. “Street children hold very important knowledge around their experiences. This makes them great agents of change and also best resource in understanding the street child phenomenon,” notes James Banda. Banda, popularly known as Red Linso, said measures that do not seek to engage street children in coming up with lasting and practical solutions to the street child phenomenon have too often been used. This has led to those working address issues around this challenge with little or no results to write home about. “We should be mindful of the fact that for any significant change to occur, it has to be harnessed by those facing the harsh realities of that particular challenge. This is why former street children and those still living on the streets ought to be part of the process of coming up with workable solutions to the challenge,” asserts Banda. He further reveals that he is currently working on an album that will have songs featuring street children some of whom he has been mentoring to become young advocates. He was quick to point out that they make great change makers once they understand their great role in advocacy. He further reveals that he had worked with Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) of Zambia and Fountain of Hope (FOP), among others. Earlier in the year, street children from Zambia YMCA Street Kids Project recited poems written by Banda. This was during this year’s International Day for Street Children, commemorated on the April 12 and during the Day of the African Child which fell one June 26. Mr Banda’s idea of engaging street children in arts, particularly the singing aspect is reminiscent of the Africa Umoja, originally conceived in 1983 as an out-reach programme that took displaced and impoverished South African children off the streets. Twala and co-founder Thembi Nyandeni retired from dancing professionally and came up with the project. It is reported that it began as a course teaching children how to sing and dance in traditional ways. The children later became the show’s original cast As of September last year, about I3,500 children were on the Zambian streets countrywide. Minister of Gender and Child Development, Inonge Wina, told Parliament that 11,475 of the street children were male while 2026 children were female. Ms Wina also revealed that of this number, 193 who were below the age of 18 were integrated with their families as of June 2012, while 1,095 children between the ages of 15 and 18 received skills training at the Zambia National Service (ZNS). She reiterated Government’s commitment to reintegrate street children with their families as a first priority. She said only those found to have no relatives are placed in institutions of care. Ms Wina said the high number of children living on the streets could be attributed to several factors such as divorce, the AIDS pandemic and poverty among others. She said her ministry helps former street children that obtain skills training to find employment as a way of preventing them from going back on the streets. Ms Wina urged Members of Parliament to invest part of the Constituency Development Fund towards
providing care and support towards street children.

Financial Literacy

LILLIAN BANDA

“The daily cash contributions have enabled me to extend my business premises to accommodate more customers. I did all this with monies realised from Chilimba savings,” says Margarete Moyo 33, a restaurant owner at Soweto Market in Lusaka. It is not known exactly how and when the informal savings and credit scheme (Chilimba) started but a 2002 Journal of Social Development in Africa report suggests the idea was conceived by mine workers on the Copperbelt Province during the pre-independence
era. The aim was to alleviate suffering during times of distress. Chilimba groups are now common among small-scale traders. Homemakers and some people in formal employment also have their own kind of arrangements. Group membership ranges from four to 25 members. Some groups have as many as 30 members. Members agree on a fixed, regular cash contribution that is given in turn to each member in a specified order. Market groups tend to be larger with members making daily but minimal contributions, while smaller groups tend to make larger, but less frequent contributions. Defaulting is rare as the system itself gives rise to an atmosphere of social pressure within the group where the cost of social embarrassment is enough reason for one to meet their obligation. New members are usually added at the end of the rotation. Savings realised from Chilimba are largely used to expand businesses, buying household items such as fridges and cookers as well as for paying school fees among others. “If not for the Chilimba, I would be struggling to save monies for school fees for my three children. I have also managed to purchase new equipment for my hair salon,” says Mary Mutale, 29, of Matero Township in Lusaka. A snap survey conducted in Soweto, Matero and Chawama markets revealed that about 90 per cent of traders are involved in some form of Chilimba with women accounting for more than 80 per cent of individuals involved in the scheme. Contributions vary from daily to weekly payments; with the former being the most common among groups. Members of Chilimba groups are very commitment to their groups as well as their businesses. “Our group requires that a member makes a contribution of K25 everyday, except on Sundays. Each member gets a K750 in a month,” explains Moyo. She claims that it is practically impossible for a small-scale trader to save money without being part of a Chilimba group. “Not belonging to any group makes one vulnerable to financial mismanagement as they tend to lack discipline. Joining a Chilimba group makes one stay focused on what they want to achieve,” asserts Moyo. But why is this informal savings and credit scheme preferred to conventional banking systems? “It has none of the bureaucratic procedures that characterise the formal banking system. There is little or no paper work involved, which is good for a number of market traders with little formal education. A treasurer or secretary of a Chilimba group does all the paper work, which is not so tasking. Trust is an essential element in these groups,” explains Mary Mutale, a vegetable trader at Chawama Market. She was, however, quick to point out that despite having a humble educational background, most small- scale traders were good at numeracy. They also know how to write basic personal details. She maintains that it would be tasking for her to go to the bank everyday just to deposit a small amount of money, hence her preference for the Chilimba over formal banking systems. She also notes that unlike formal financial institutions, Chilimba groups offer both moral and financial support to members in times of distress. “These groups are also very helpful. A member can even get an advance payment when they have a pressing need. It is for this reason that most members strive to meet their obligations to the group,” explains Mutale. Lately, there have been calls to formalise this savings and credit scheme. It has, however, been noted that the formalisation of the ChiIimba scheme may lead to its collapse. The success of the scheme has continued to depend on it being run by direct beneficiaries without outside interference. Although the Chilimba is useful, it does not constitute a real social security scheme. It is also not a remedy for reducing overall poverty and is appropriate only for people with some regular source of income. Furthermore, it and does not serve as a safety net in emergencies and long-term loans are not possible. However, it has been observed that it could achieve more if the resource base was improved and women’s financial management skills enhanced through formal training. Entrepreneurs Finance Centre (EFC) notes that financial literacy is key to registering significant financial growth as well as reducing poverty. “An informal savings and credit scheme such as the Chilimba is a clear demonstration of individuals’ desire to have some savings. However, it should be noted that formal financial institutions offer opportunities and knowledge necessary for people to competently manage their financial resources and expand their businesses to levels that significantly impact on communities. That is why it is important for people to familiarise themselves with financial institutions so that they can benefit from the various services offered. At EFC, we make a point to educate our clients about financial literacy, which is key to business growth and development,” explains EFC chief operations officer Chembe Chipungu. He notes that while informal savings and credit schemes might seem convenient, they do not offer long- term financial education for most women wishing to expand their businesses and make long-term investments. He further outlined some of the benefits of having an account with EFC particularly for entrepreneurs. “With as little as K20, one is able to open a savings account with EFC where they could gain some interest from their savings, which is not the case with the Chilimba system. Along with providing long banking hours to accommodate our busy clients, we offer financial literacy to enable them manage their finances and businesses better,” he adds. He explained that women entrepreneurs, who are clients of EFC, demonstrated unmatched financial discipline prompting the institution to come up with loan packages that do not require collateral in the form of a house, land or vehicle. This is in a bid to encourage more women entrepreneurs to realise their dreams. He also revealed that the EFC had earlier this year conducted a three-day financial management boot camp for women aimed at empowering participants with knowledge and skills to advance their businesses. “The response was impressive. We plan to have such initiatives regularly so as to reach out to more entrepreneurs particularly women because they play a huge role in developing communities. Women also make great financial managers,” asserts Mr Chipungu. He further revealed that EFC has also registered an increase in the number of women clients over the past
three years. Currently, about 40 per cent of EFC clients are women.

Times of Zambia, Nov 1, 2013

Zambian Government Vows to Eliminate Early Marriage

(WNN) Lusaka, ZAMBIA, AFRICA: The Zambian Government has vowed to eliminate early marriages and violence against children. Ministry of Gender and Child Development Permanent Secretary Anne Sinyangwe told the Third Committee of the United Nations, which was discussing the ‘Promotion and protection of the rights of children” on Friday October 18 2013, in New York, that Zambia like many other countries has high prevalence of early and child marriages.
Conveying that the Government of Zambia must begin to recognize child and early marriages as an obstacle for children and young women in obtaining full productivity as adults, Sinyangwe outlined the government’s level of commitment to solve the problems facing girls in Zambian society.
“As the Government of Zambia promotes rights of children, including advancing the well-being of girl child, it has vowed to stem out the scourge of child and early marriages,” she said. “Zambia looks forward to having the component of children’s rights in all spheres of sustainable development with a strengthened position within the post 2015 development agenda.”
“I call for greater international cooperation and partnerships for the promotion and protection of the rights of children,” Sinyangwe continued.
According to Permanent Secretary Sinyangwe, bringing the issues surrounding disability to the mainstream in policy and programmes is cardinal and integral to children’s rights.
The Government of Zambia has also recently enacted new legislation to ensure that all children with disabilities receive their human rights and other fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, outlined Ms. Chibaula D. Silwamba, First Secretary for Press and Public Relations for the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.
Introducing a number of interventions to ensure the elimination of early or forced marriages in the country Zambia’s government has put in place the Re-entry Policy which seeks to give a second chance to girls that become pregnant so they can get back to school after they go through childbirth.
This program hopes to encourage girls to start and stay in school until they complete their secondary education, which according to development experts is vital in reducing high poverty levels. The Re-entry Policy was introduced through Zambia’s Ministry of Education in 1997, but is now receiving a added push on all levels.
Improved re-entry rates back to school for girls who experienced early marriage and pregnancy did see a steady improvement from 2007 to 2010 from 17.6 percent in 2007 to 31.7 percent in 2010, according to the Zambian National Education Coalition .
Recognizing the importance of traditional leaders in the country who support education for the girl child, the Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA) fully supports the newly revived focus on health and education for girls. The organization has also commended the Forum For African Women Educationists in Zambia (FAWEZA), for financially supporting vulnerable children, particularly girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their education.
“Without such support, many girls would have not attained higher levels of education,” asserts the chairperson for ZAMWA Ms. Felistus Chipako.
Working with other civil society organizations FAWEZA was an integral champion who brought the the Re-entry Policy into reality .
Today early or child marriages contribute to high numbers of maternal mortality statistics. Child marriage also increases poverty levels and perpetuates inequality, says global and local experts.
According to the United Nations (UN) reports, complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death for girls aged 15-19 years in developing countries. Out of 16 million adolescent girls who give birth every year, about 90 percent are already married.
UNICEF estimates some 50,000 girls die, almost all in low-to-middle income countries. Still births and newborn deaths are 50 percent higher among mothers who are under the age of 20 than in women who get pregnant in their 20s.
It should also be noted that ending child and early marriage is also crucial to meeting the upcoming Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that are due to hit their date for completion in 2014. Millennium Development Goals numbers 3, 4 and 5 work to promote gender equality, reduce child mortality and to improve maternal health.

Dealing with Zambia’s growing burden of NCDs

By Lillian Banda

The increase in the number of fatalities resulting from Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) is something
that can no longer be ignored. More so because these ailments, as experts point out, are highly
preventable. Cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and strokes), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes
are the most common NDCs in the world today. These NCDs account for about 80 per cent of all NCD
deaths. As the term suggests, NCDs are non-infectious. They are sometimes referred to as lifestyle diseases. Earlier this year, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Olusegun Babaniyi said Zambia
was facing a growing burden of NCDs such as diabetes and cancer which he said were responsible for
about 27 per cent of deaths in the country with 46.7 per cent occurring in people aged below 60 years. In order to better coordinate efforts aimed at addressing NCDs in the country, those working to counter the
challenge are calling for the establishment of a consolidated structure that will help to address the issue in
a more comprehensive way. “As establishments addressing issues pertaining to NCDs in the country, we need to harness our efforts in
order to effectively deal with the situation. There is need for increased collaboration between those working on disease control and the ones
concerned with treatment aspects. A coalition or an alliance would help the country to come up with a
comprehensive national strategy on NDCs among other things. It is therefore important for us to have a coalition, as it is the case with other countries. Currently, there is
only so much we can do because working in isolation,” says Dr Fastone Goma, Zambia Tobacco Control
Campaign team leader. Dr Goma also observes that countries that have alliances concerned with tackling NCDs are making
headways in addressing the challenge. “Our colleagues have an NDC Alliance, which is proving to be very
helpful,” he adds. And Zambian Cancer Society (ZCS) asserts that the formation of an NCD alliance would be of great help to
the country as it is currently resource constrained. “Through such an alliance we can pool our expertise and resources and have a greater impact in creating a
healthier Zambia,” say Udie Soko, ZCS Executive director. The United Nations (UN) considers NCDs as a development challenge of epidemic proportions. A 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) report indicates that NCDs are by far the leading cause of
mortality in the world, representing over 60 per cent of all deaths. The report also indicates that over 36 million people die each year from NCDs. Nearly 80 per cent of all
NCD deaths occur in low and middle income countries. They (NCDs), are the leading causes of deaths in all regions except Africa, but current projections indicate
that by 2020 the largest increase in NCD deaths will occur in Africa. Most of these deaths are linked to risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet, and
lack of physical activity. Other factors associated with NCDs are Social determinants of health. It is estimated that by 2020, seven (7) out of every 10 deaths in developing countries will be as a result of
NCDs, killing 52 million people annually worldwide by 2030, if present growth trends are maintained.

Times of Zambia, September 18, 2014