Zambia Situation Update: 31 Oct 2003

Highlights
People in some districts of Southern and Western Provinces are still facing water and food problems

From 29th September to 4th October 2003, OCHA and UNDP conducted a rapid assessment of the humanitarian situation in Monze, Choma, Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Livingstone and Kazungula districts (Southern province) ; Sesheke, Shangombo, Senanga, Mongu and Kaoma districts (Western province).

Amongst those surveyed districts, Sinazongwe, Gwembe, Kazungula, Monze, Sesheke, Shangombo and the valley of Choma district are still facing water and food problems. Majority of affected households (HH) have engaged on petty trade, piece work, fishing and poaching. They have resorted to reducing the number of meals per day, selling their livestock, consuming wild foods and/or seed stocks, prostitution etc... The crisis is fuelled by chronic poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Short-term actions recommended by local authorities, representatives of NGOs and community leaders include the followings:

• Continuation of relief food distribution to vulnerable HH in Monze, Gwembe, Choma, Sinazongwe, Kazungula, Sesheke and Shangombo districts
• Implementation or continuation of the school feeding programme in the same districts
• Drilling of more boreholes and maintenance of the existing ones to provide safe, not salty water; and ensure watering of animals
• Agriculture input distribution, agriculture diversification and soil fertility conservation.
• Livestock vaccination and promotion
• Replenishment of staff in health, agriculture and education sectors in Gwembe, Monze, Choma, Sinazongwe and Kazungula districts.

In a longer term, a multi-sectoral approach has been recommended, which will:

• Provide perennial water resources
• Connect districts to one another so that people can take initiatives and engage into food redistribution and income-generating activities
• Build and improve the degraded infrastructure (roads, communications, schools and health centres).

The full report is available on www.sahims.net/zambiarelief

WFP also recently conducted a field visit to Kalabo District, Western Province while FEWSNET assessed Sesheke, Sinazongwe, and Choma districts. They came out with similar conclusions.

Situation Update

Onset of rains

The FEWSNET monthly report of October 2003 indicated that northern parts of Zambia had received planting rains by third dekad of October. Southern parts will require close monitoring during the first part of the season as there is a chance of rainfall being below normal; however normal rainfall is expected for the second half of the season.

Celebrating National Day and UN day

Zambia celebrated its 39th Independence anniversary on 24 October 2003. The theme this year was "Unity for Peace and National Development". Among the 37 recipients of various honors was the former UNDP Resident Representative/UN resident Coordinator in Zambia, Ms Olubanke King-Akerele, who received from President Mwanawasa, the Order of Distinguished Service, Second Division, in recognition of her efforts to Zambia development during her tour of duty.

The same day was celebrated as the UN Day around the World under the theme "HIV/AIDS, Discrimination and Stigma". In Zambia, the 58th UN Day was commemorated on Monday 27 October 2003. Government Officials, Diplomatic Missions, Representatives of Civil Society and the private sector participated in ceremonies in Lusaka. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, Hon. Dr Brian Chituwo, MP, Minister of Health, paid tribute to the UN Country Team and all UN staff for their tremendous efforts in assisting Zambia meet this target of reducing HIV/AIDS pandemic, attaining peace and prosperity. He also appealed to the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to ease modalities for accessing funds to enable Zambia procure anti-retroviral drugs. On behalf of the UN Country team in Zambia, Mr. Aeneas Chuma, UN Resident Coordinator, presented awards to eight UN staff including three work teams.

The national indaba was held on 17 to 20 October 2003

President Mwanawasa had called a national indaba to discuss the various problems Zambia is facing with a view to chart a way forward. National indaba brought together 647 delegates in Lusaka from 17 to 20 October 2003, and was chaired by Mr. Siteke Mwale, former Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, key opposition parties, civic society groups and churches boycotted the event.

Key recommendations include the need of a constituent assembly to adopt the new constitution; the electoral reform to ensure that an elected president receives more than 50% of votes cast ; the reduction in the size of the cabinet ; the increase in the number of women in Government ; the

Professionalisation of District Administrator position; the revision of the Zambia Investment Act and incorporation of Zambians into the capital of foreign companies coming to invest in Zambia.

President Mwanawasa pledged that his government would implement the recommendations of the national conference.

Government is confident in its ability to control the budget

Earlier this year, Zambia projected a budget overrun of about K500 billion for 2003. That led to the erosion of donor confidence in the budget management process and credit suspension. In an effort to gain International Monetary Fund (IMF) approval for its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and regain donor confidence, the government proposed an interim staff monitoring system (SMS). SMS was implemented in July. It does not fundamentally differ from the PRGF, except that the IMF now measures and assesses economic performance each month. "So far there have been two assessments and the feedback has been promising," Director of Planning and Economic Management in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, James Mulungushi, told IRIN on 16 October, 2003.

An IMF delegation will be meeting with Zambia Officials at the end of October to assess the measures taken by Government in addressing the projected budget overrun.

Program Developments

1. Food Security

Agriculture

Preparations for the next planting season are well under way. FEWSNET's visit to Sesheke, Sinazongwe and Choma districts on October, confirmed that land preparation has started and agriculture inputs from Government Emergency Drought Recovery Project and NGOs are being delivered. FEWSNET recommends that all inputs being supplied through different programmes be delivered by end of October to improve food security this season (FEWSNET, October 22, 2003)

Mapping exercise of existing Agriculture Recovery/Development Programs by C-Safe, WFP and FAO has been finalized. Funds currently available from the emergency/recovery input distribution programme will cover 218,623 households (HH) in 40 vulnerable districts of Zambia; plus 95,271 HH from ongoing development programmes (FAO, 2003-04 Input Distribution Programme).

Speaking of the FAO Conservation Farming programme, FAO Resident Representative in Zambia, Dong Quing Song told IRIN on 28 October that "CF has become more popular with farmers who can see their yields, in some cases, increase five times over". The FAO 2002/03 CF assistance programme had resulted in the production of approximately 28,000 MT of maize, valued at US$7 million, while the total cost of the programme was US$4.2 milllion. Under the CF assistance programme, last year some 60,000 farmers across Southern Zambia were supplied with input packages of seeds, fertilizers, lime and tools. Using CF techniques will considerably reduce the need for expensive chemical fertilizers.

Maize supply still good and mealie meal prices remain stable

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has reported that maize is still in abundant supply to mills (FRA, Weekly Market Highlights, 3rd to 9th October 2003). The small scale farming sector has continued to be the major supply source and to lower the prices of maize in an attempt to finish their stocks before the rain starts. Into mill prices at a number of mills are lower than the K30,000/50 kg offered by the Government supported FRA purchase programme.

Retail prices of mealie meal at major public markets in Lusaka have remained stable. The average prices on 4th October 2003 were K28,143/25 kg-bag breakfast meal; and K21,607/25 kg-bag roller meal.

The FRA Purchase Programme, Stocks and Sales

Maize purchases by FRA reached 28,113 MT on 9th October 2003 -- out of the 205,700 MT target. Significant quantities are still being delivered by small scale suppliers. A number of buying locations have already run out of purchase funds.

The FRA had at 9th October 2003, 68,118 MT of maize in stock -- 40,000 MT of government import of last year and some 28,000 MT from current local purchases. It has sold 4,182 MT to the WFP. FRA has also in excess 60 MT of dried cassava chips.

2. Food Assistance

From 30th September to 27th October 2003, WFP dispatched 4,806 tons of food under all programmes (Urban intervention for OVCs, FFA and School Feeding).

The School Feeding program, initiated on July 2003, is now reaching 19,045 beneficiaries in 50 schools in 5 districts in Southern and Eastern provinces (Siavonga, Sinazongwe, Gwembe, Livingstone, and Chadiza).

A school feeding baseline survey is currently being conducted in all 5 districts.

3. Health

Mid-term review of the National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP)

The joint MTR by Ministry of Health and cooperating partners started on 6 October up to 23 October 2003. The objectives were the followings: i) Assessing mid-term progress with regard to the implementation of the NHSP (2001-05) ii) Making recommendations on the proposed next steps i.e. for remainder of the plan (2004-05).

WHO Country Office budget is being discussed

WHO CO has completed and submitted the programme budget draft for 2004-05. It is currently being discussed in the Regional Office, Brazzaville.

The Maternal Neonatal Tetanus Elimination Campaign

It will take place from 1st to 7th November 2003 in 8 districts of Zambia. The Campaign is targeting about 220,000 women aged 15 to 49 years, in Chama, Chipata and Mambwe districts in Eastern province; Chilubi, Mpulungu and Mungwi in Northern province ; Kawambwa in Luapula and Itezhi Tezhi in Southern provinces.

Supply of laboratory kits and sexually transmitted infection drugs

UNICEF has assisted CBOH for the procurement of 1,358 RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test kits and 2 types of STI drugs -- 1300 box/50 of Gentamycin injection and 3,200 packets/500 of Sulfameth/Trimeth tablets. The RPR test kits are already in the country for distribution to District Health Management Boards and Health Centres. It is expected that 135,000 pregnant women will benefit from the RPR test kits.

4. HIV/AIDS

The "3 by 5" Mission on HIV/AIDS has visited Zambia

WHO's "3 by 5" plan targets 3 million of estimated 5 million AIDS sufferers to be on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) by 2005. WHO emergency response teams are working with treatment implementers in countries, "where the treatment gap is most evident", to assess any barriers in reaching the target. The mission from Geneva completed their assignment in Zambia.

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT): Counseling job aids/ community dialogue tool

UNICEF has participated in pre-testing of a community dialogue tool in Bwafano Home-Based Care Centre in Lusaka. The tool is meant to enhance community participation process in issues related to PMTCT. The job aids (for ante-natal care/PMTCT, and Infant Feeding and HIV) are yet to be tested among the counselors. In addition, these are meant to stimulate dialogue on issues of stigma, infant feeding, orphans, care and support and male involvement or other topics that seem relevant to community engagement in PMTCT-Plus programme in the country context.

STD/HIV/AIDS workshop

UNICEF supported the Central Board of Health (CBOH) conduct a five-day workshop on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS for 49 health workers from all parts of the country. Participants included staff members working in Youth Friendly Health Services and Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centres.

Print materials comprising 50,000 of each of the following 5 types of brochures with information on STI/HIV/AIDS were produced:

• Know about STIs
• Know about HIV/AIDS
• What is HIV/AIDS?
• How do I know if I have HIV/AIDS?
• Positive Living with HIV/AIDS

WFP Nutrition Programme for vulnerable groups

The Protracted Relief & Recovery Operations (PRRO) Appraisal Mission has visited Zambia from October 20-26, 2003. The aim of the visit was to look at three segments of WFP activities: HIV/AIDS, Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Agricultural Recovery. The Mission holds a series of meetings on schedule management and visited a FFA site in Siavonga, Southern Province.

WFP is supporting the pre-test of Nutrition Programmed for Vulnerable Groups formats in health facilities in Lusaka District. The formats will be piloted in these health facilities in December 2003-February 2004.

5. Water and Sanitation

Construction of boreholes and latrines

During the month of October, UNICEF has had contracts for the construction of 116 boreholes equipped with standard India Mark II hand pumps in Lusaka, Eastern and Southern provinces. So far, 77 boreholes, which are serving 19,250 people, have been completed as follows: 15 in Choma, 8 in Kalomo, 8 in Sinazongwe, 10 in Monze, 5 each in Mazabuka, Namwala, Petauke, Nyimba, Chipata and Katete. The assistance include 12 boreholes for community schools under the WFP/Project Concern International (PCI) School Feeding Programme in Lusaka, Kafue and Chongwe districts, and 4 boreholes to supply water to 100 families (about 600 people) at the Kenneth Kaunda Works Project site in Lusaka.

UNICEF is also assisting the construction of family latrines for 20 families at the Kenneth Kaunda site by providing 60 roofing sheets and 100 pockets of cement.

ZAMSED/Water Point Inventory Training

UNICEF has conducted a training workshop from 20-23 October 2003 for District GRZ counterpart ministries from Eastern Province. The main objective of this workshop is for participants to clearly understand the district databases, collection and management, which will greatly assist them in their district planning. The participants will be oriented on how to import, save graphs, maps and tables into any Microsoft program from the Zambia Socio-Economic Database (ZAMSED). They will be able to analyze databases and produce histograms, summations and logical comparisons. They will be oriented on how to use the GPS (Geographical Positioning System) to be able to collect and analyze GPS readings.

6. Education

UNICEF has supported Sports in Action, a Lusaka based NGO, conduct workshops for 59 teachers in Sinazongwe, Gwembe and Siavonga districts of Southern Province. Sporting activities were used as a multi-purpose channel for various messages ranging from HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, child abuse, bad traditional practices to civic awareness.

UNICEF has also purchased at least one recreation kit for each of the focus schools as well as each District Office to enhance sporting activities among pupils. Furthermore, grades 1 to 3 HIV/AIDS and Life skills Education Readers of the Ministry of Education are ready for printing. They were adapted from the South African versions by MOE with technical and financial assistance from UNICEF and NORAD.

7. Child Protection

The simplified version of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has been completed and is ready for printing. A total of 10,000 copies will be printed.

8. Refugees

Voluntary Repatriation of Angolan refugees

Some 17,000 refugees have so far been repatriated to Angola under the assisted voluntary repatriation programme that started in July 2003 from Meheba, Northern Province and on October, extended to Mayukwayukwa in Western Province.

UNHCR offices in Angola, DRC and Zambia are assessing the feasibility of continuing the repatriation during the rainy season.

Mine Risk Education (MRE)

UNHCR in conjunction with UNICEF is running a MRE campaign in Nangweshi Refugee Camp (Western province), targeting at least 80% of the total population of 26,573. This is in preparation for the repatriation of Angolan refugees. The exercise started in October 2003 and will run for 40 days. The exercise is being carried out by 9 officers from the Zambia Mine Action Centre (ZMAC) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

9. Income from the 2003 UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal (CAP)

So far, contributions and pledges amount US$2,276,540 and will go to FAO and UNICEF projects. WFP will also receive funds from the regional appeal. That represents only 7.6% of the US$29,801,806 required.

Shortfall in funding will result in shifting funds from regular development programs to address emergency and/or scaling down programs as to target beneficiaries and geographical areas. Some programs might just not be implemented.

Farewell Address to Mr. Kinge Namanga

Mr. Kinge Namanga left Zambia on 23 October 2003 after a five months assignment as OCHA Advisor to the UN Country Team.

The UNCT has benefited of his assistance in the 2003 UN Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) thanks to the generosity of the UK Department for International Development (DFID). Using his strong communication skills, Mr. Namanga has contributed to building a coordination network by sector and at national level, bringing together donors, government institutions, NGOs and UN agencies.

All friends and UN staff in Zambia send their appreciation to him for his dedication to humanitarian issues.

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