NEWSLETTER
July - September 2015
How can we
help make Zambia
a malaria free nation?
Editor’s Note
Dear All,
This quarter has been one of the busiest for JCP! We’ve
had various activities ranging from signing of new
agreements with new donors, the finalisation of the new
Country Strategy for the period 2016 to 2020 to our
participation in an ambitious Climate Justice Campaign
called “We Have Faith–Act Now For Climate Justice.”
Therefore we are pleased to present to you this third edition
of JCP newsletter where we will share with you in detail
the many activities that have taken place this quarter.
Much more importantly, we also share the various change
stories that together with our partners, we have been able
to gather from the various communities we work with.
At the beginning of the quarter, JCP and our partner, the
Zambia Anglican Council (ZAC), undertook a joint monitoring
visit of the Isdell:Flowers Foundation and JCP (Christian
Aid) supported project, the Cross Border Malaria Initiative
(CBMI). The visit which saw the team visit some of the
remotest areas in Zambia such as Sikongo District at the
Border with Angola revealed the relevant significance of
our interventions among Rights Holders.
Contents
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For instance, due to the project’s various interventions, and that of Government
and other stakeholders, malaria no longer appears on the top 10 list of
diseases reported at all the health centres visited. It was also great to see
how the local communities are willing to participate in various activities meant
to eradicate the malaria epidemic in Zambia. However, the visit also revealed
the high levels of poverty in the target communities and the need for more
stakeholders to get on board and help with economic empowerment, and in
some cases direct food aid.
Another story which will probably catch your attention is that of a project
that we support called Enhancing Sustainable Livelihoods for the Poor and
Marginalised Households through Land Tenure Security (SULTS); where the
introduction of Land Holder Certificates in targeted communities has helped
empower rights holders, especially women with access to land.
Finally, as usual we encourage you to ask questions, give comments or
suggestions on both the content and design of the newsletter. If you’re in
any of our target communities and know a change story that you think ought
to be shared, please get in touch with the editor on [email protected]
Bellah Zulu
Editor
JCP receives financial assistance from EU
3
Malaria cases drastically reduce in Southern and Western Provinces
4
CCC sees benefits of merger, approves JCP’s new Country Strategy
6
Zambia re-affirms importance of Climate Justice
7
JCP signs Cooperation Agreement with DECCB
8
New models of securing customary land piloted in Zambia
9
JCP hosts Danish volunteers
10
JCP appoints new Advisory Board
11
ABOUT JCP
Joint Country Programme (JCP) Zambia
In 2011, Christian Aid (CA), Dan Church Aid (DCA) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) merged to form a Joint
Country Programme (JCP) in Zambia. The JCP is implemented in partnership with local faith based and other
professional Civil Society Organisations and focuses on two strategic priority themes, Gender Justice and
Economic Justice.
Our Vision in Zambia
The experiences and knowledge of the three sister organizations (NCA, DCA and CA) has been deepened and
broadened by the merger to form JCP in Zambia. The overall goal of the JCP is “To contribute to creating
an enabling environment that promotes Zambian citizens and especially the poor men and women,
to own and actively participate in shaping the national development agenda for their benefit.” Within
this context, mobilization of citizens and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills is important
for sustainable development.
JCP is committed to working with partners whose key focus is on challenging the churches, CSOs and other
actors to institute key legal and policy reforms with regard to good governance, gender equality, and
effectiveness. In the Zambian context churches and faith actors command a considerable amount of respect
from both duty bearers and rights holders. Therefore churches and FBOs wield unique and comparative
advantages and are key social institutions in influencing social change among its constituents, as well as
influencing the national agenda towards transparency and accountability of the state to its citizens. NCA, DCA
and CA through the formation of JCP have developed consented competence and effective methods in
strengthening the church based organizations for increased effectiveness and efficiency, organizational
development and enhanced capacity to articulate key issues in areas of focus, as well as in implementation
of sustainable programmes.
2 JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015
JCP receives financial assistance
from EU
JCP participates in information market
with 10th EDF launch, Lusaka, JCP 2015
A photo session at the 10th EDF launch, Lusaka, JCP 2015
The Joint Country Programme (JCP) in
partnership with Women and Law in
Research and Education Trust (WLSA)
Zambia has received financial assistance
of over 390,000 Euros from the Delegation
of the European Union (EU) through the
10th European Development Fund (EDF)
to promote access to justice in cases of
Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zambia.
At the opening launch of the10th EDF Civil Society Support project, hosted by
the Zambian Governance Foundation
(ZGF) on September, 30, 2015, JCP joined
seven other organisations (Grant Partners)
that will be co-funded by the EU to
implement their proposed Civil Society
Support projects either in the Access to
Justice or Media area.
European Union Delegation Charge
d’Affaires, Mr. Rune Skinnebach,
congratulated the eight CSOs for their
“strong proposals which demonstrated
innovative and diverse ideas.” He said,
“Support to Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs) remain essential to the European
Union because we believe that an
empowered Civil Society is a crucial
component of any democratic system.”
He added: “CSOs embody the growing
demand for transparency and
accountability and are significant in their
capacity to reach out to the vulnerable
and socially excluded groups in society
and also contribute to improving the living
conditions of a huge section of the
Zambian people.”
Mr. Skinnebach also explained the
importance of a properly and openly
informed citizenry to the development of
any country. “It is for this reason that
one of the projects is supporting the
development of a number of community
radio stations which in Zambia play a
crucial role in providing news, information
and education to the population,” said
the Charge d’Affaires.
The Permanent Secretary in charge of
Administration at the Ministry of Justice
Mr. Joseph Akafumba delivered the
keynote address on behalf of the Zambian
Government. “Our vision is to transform
Zambia into a prosperous middle income
country by 2030 by embodying values of
social economic justice such as gender
responsiveness, sustainable development,
democracy and respect for human rights,”
he said.
“It’s not surprising that the projects that
are being launched today are in line with
the national policies and it’s expected
that they will contribute to the attainment
of the national vision and objectives of
promoting good governance and social
justice for the people of Zambia,” he sad.
ZGF has an important monitoring as well
as demand-driven capacity development
support role to all eight Grant Partners
for the life time of the project period with
the EU. ZGF Board Chairperson, Mrs.
Beatrice Grillo explained the role that the
organisation will play during the
implementation of the eight projects.
“As ZGF we host funds from International
organisations and administer them to
various partners and are very proud to
be of service to the people of Zambia,”
she said. “Today we are here to give
grants to eight members including
Norwegian Church Aid, Barefeet Theatre,
Free Press Unlimited, Women in Law and
Development in Africa, Women for
Change, Plan International, Avocats Sans
Frontieres and Voluntary Services
Overseas (VSO).”
JCP and its partner and co-applicant,
Women and Law in Southern Africa
(WLSA) will use the funds to contribute
to increased access to justice for survivors
and victims of GBV in Eastern and Western
provinces of Zambia which will directly
improve the lives of women, survivors
and victims of GBV by influencing formal
and informal, legal and influence policy
reforms for the creation of an environment
of gender equality where women’s right
to a life free of violence is respected,
upheld and protected.
The projects will directly benefit a total
of 6,500 women and 500 men in Petauke,
Sesheke and Mwandi districts in the next
three years, but will also indirectly benefit
all women, survivors and victims of GBV
in Zambia.
The project will work with existing
structures at community and national
levels to influence legal and policy reforms
and build capacity of various stakeholders
and beneficiaries which culminate in
victims and survivors of GBV enjoying
increased access to justice through the
statutory or customary justice system.
During the event all eight Grant Partners
used the occasion to showcase their work
and best practices. It was also an
opportunity and platform for organisations
to explain who they are and what they
stand for as an organisation. They were
also entertained by Barefeet Theatre who
demonstrated their skill and talents in
sensitising the empowering communities
through Theatre for Development.
JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015 3
Malaria cases drastically reduce in
Southern and Western Provinces
over fifty (50) of malaria cases per
month especially during peak
periods,” said the facility’s
Environmental Health Technician and
Health Centre Malaria Focal Point
Person, Ms. Kahembi Carol Luyako.
“But for these gains to be maintained,
there is need to scale up the current
interventions in order for us to cover
many people.”
The CBMI Coordinator for Sikongo
District and surrounding areas
highlighted another big impact of the
project. “Before the project, many
people didn’t even know what an ITN
was and how to use it, but after we
sensitised them people took the nets
from their suitcases and actually hung
them,” she said.
A family shows off their ITNs, Sesheke, JCP, 2015
The prevalence rates of malaria cases
in Southern and Western Provinces
have drastically reduced over the
past few years, thanks in part to the
Cross Border Malaria Initiative (CBMI)
Project being implemented by the
Zambia Anglican Council (ZAC) and
supported by Isdell:Flowers
Foundation and the Joint Country
Programme (JCP).
“One of the greatest successes of this
project is the training of volunteers
from target communities to
administer first line malaria treatment,
in response to a positive rapid
diagnostic test, within their own
communities,” said the Programmes
Manager for CBMI, Southern and
Western Provinces, Mrs. Nora Mayaka.
“Most people in rural communities
live very far away from health facilities
with some of them having to walk
for days before reaching a facility.”
In September this year, JCP and ZAC
conducted a joint monitoring visit to
the majority of the project sites in
Southern and Western Provinces. The
visit revealed a tremendous reduction
in malaria incidence rates in all project
sites visited, with malaria no longer
appearing among the top ten diseases
as reported at local clinics.
The reduction in malaria cases was
mainly attributed to increased and
correct use of Insecticide Treated
Nets (ITNs) among target
communities and the presence of the
Malaria Controls Agents (MCAs), who
are community volunteers trained by
the project to test and administer
first line malaria treatment in their
communities as well as sensitizing
them about malaria prevention
methods.
Malaria headed for elimination in
target areas
An MCA conducts malaria tests in a
village, Livingstone, JCP 2015
There is nothing as disheartening as
losing a child or any other family
member to a curable disease such
as malaria. However since the
intervention of the project, fewer and
fewer people are getting infected and
dying from malaria.
At a local health facility in Livingstone
called Libuyu Health Centre attending
to a population of about 18,000
people, malaria has not appeared
among the top ten diseases for all
reported cases between the periods
2012 to 2014 partly because of the
CBMI project’s intervention.
“Before the project, we used to record
4 JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015
Malaria Control Agents make a
difference in their communities
In many instances, MCAs have been
an accepted extension of the
Government health facilities with
many medical officers admitting that
the project has helped reduce the
number of malaria cases reaching
the health centre and hence lowering
the pressure on the understaffed
health staff and limited health
facilities.
“My daughter and I recently fell sick
because of malaria and I thought we
would die but an MCA from my
community helped us by quickly
testing and treating us,” said Grenda
Simunji who lives on the outskirts of
Livingstone. “I am grateful to the
project because now I can access
health services within my village and
don’t have to pay a lot of money to
get to the clinic.”
George Sishengo, an MCA from Chaba
Zone in Livingstone, explained the
difference he has made in his area.
“Before I got trained as an MCA,
some malaria patients used to die on
the way because of long distances,”
he said. “But now that is no more
because am able to catch and treat
uncomplicated cases of malaria in
my village.”
But much more than working for the
communities, most MCAs have also
found a sense of purpose and
direction in their lives. A lot have
gained respect and appreciation
within their own communities. “I
never knew I could do anything good
in my community but now the project
has given me unique opportunity to
sensitize and treat people,” said an
excited MCA from Nkotuli Zone, Vera
Likando. “I can now even confidently
administer medication so I think this
is my calling.”
Government appreciates the
initiative
Eliminating malaria is also one of the
Zambian Government’s top priorities
as seen from the various interventions
they have also put in place including
the distributing of ITNs and the
making available of malaria drugs.
But even with their efforts there is
still a huge gap between what they’re
able to supply and actual needs across
the country, and this is the gap which
the CBMI Project seeks to narrow
down.
“We appreciate the partnership with
CBMI and other players in trying to
eradicate malaria and will do whatever
it takes to support the project,” said
Mr. Kufuka Kufuka, the District
Commissioner for Sikongo District
close to the border with Angola.
He added: “Being a border town we
have a lot of people from Angola
coming to seek treatment from our
health facilities and since this is
something we cannot avoid, there is
need to increase the ITNs allocated
to our district if we’re are make real
impact.”
The District Commissioner also
bemoaned the high levels of poverty
in his district and called for help. “We
have a bigger challenge of hunger
due to poor rains in the previous
season and over 95 percent of people
in my area are in need of food
support; such poor economic
scenarios can negatively impact the
project.”
Project helps dispel myths about
malaria
One of biggest hindrances in
addressing the malaria challenge are
the traditional cultural practices and
myths surrounding the causes of
malaria and how it can be treated.
Some people still believe that malaria
is caused by drinking dirty water while
others attribute it to witchcraft.
One of the MCAs from Zambezi site
in Sesheke District in Western
Zambia, Mr. Sangoma Ndibi, comes
from a family of witchdoctors and
almost died from malaria after his
MCAs play an important role in the fight against malaria, Sesheke JCP, 2015
family thought it had been caused by
witchcraft. “I come from a family of
witchdoctors and we never believed
in malaria,” he confessed.
“When I fell sick from malaria, we
actually thought I had been struck
by a magic gun and my family gave
me different kinds of herbs and even
called on another powerful
witchdoctor to come and treat me,”
he explained.
He added: “It took an MCA from my
area many days of negotiating with
my family before they allowed him
to take me to the hospital and get
tested and treated for malaria. It was
after being successfully treated that
I also decided to become an MCA so
that I can also help others who believe
in such myths and find themselves
in similar situations.”
Need for economic empowerment
for MCAs and target communities
Poverty continues to be a big
challenge for many people in the
target communities and for the
Malaria Control Agents (MCAs) who
work on voluntary basis, there is need
for economic empowerment support.
Mr. Sangoma Ndibi is helping fight
malaria myths, Sesheke, JCP, 2015
negative. Some community members
think that our test kits are not
functional”.
Betty Masedza is the Nurse In-Charge
at Mambova Rural Health Centre in
Western Province. She spoke of the
high poverty levels in the area and
how it’s affecting malaria treatment.
“This is a fishing community with
very high poverty levels and there
have been some instances where
people have used their ITNs for
fishing,” she said.
“The MCAs also need additional
support in terms of gumboots, rain
coats, bags, bicycles and some
training and support in income
generating activities,” she added.
“At times we get demotivated because
this work demands a lot of our time
and so it would be good if we are
given additional support especially
that we do it for free,” said an MCA
from Mukusi site in Sesheke, Mr.
Mutakela Pumulo.
The CBMI project has effectively
contributed to the on-going
Government initiatives of the National
Malaria Control Policy which focuses
on scaling up ITN coverage and
prompt and effective treatment. It
also feeds into Government plans to
work across borders to accelerate
the elimination of the disease.
He added: “There is also need for
refresher courses because even
malaria itself is changing every day.
For instance there are times when a
person shows all the malaria
symptoms and yet the tests return
The Project is currently being
implemented in seven districts of
Mongu, Senanga, Sesheke,
Shangombo and Sikongo in Western
Province, and Kazungula and
Livingstone in Southern Province.
JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015 5
CCC sees benefits of merger,
approves JCP’s new country
strategy
The Cooperation Coordination Committee (CCC), which recently
met at the Joint Country Programme (JCP) offices in Lusaka
Zambia, has approved the new 2016-2020 JCP strategy, further
endorsing the relevance and focus of the programme in Zambia.
The CCC meeting, which is held annually, brings together various
representatives from the JCP’s three agencies; DanChurchAid
(DCA), Christian Aid (CA) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) as
well as new partner, the Czech Diaconia, to discuss the future
strategic direction, budgets, cost-effectiveness and meeting
the members of JCP’s new Policy Advisory Board.
“This year’s CCC meeting was very important in consolidating
the Joint Zambia Programme at a time where all donor agencies
are feeling the pressure of decreasing overseas development
aid from their governments,” said the Global Coordinator for
Dan Church Aid, Uffe Gjerding.
He added: “JCP has over the five years of its existence proven
to be an increasingly robust model of cooperation that has
overcome some of its initial problems and as such must be
seen as a good example for similar inter-agency cooperation
in other countries, providing good interaction and synergy with
and ownership from local partners and reaching a point where
the cooperation is leading to more efficiency and savings for
the participating agencies.”
“Mergers take a long time to stabilise and now after five years
of JCP existence, we’re now starting to see the benefits and
also the potential for the programme to expand and grow,”
said the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Area Team Leader for
Eastern and Southern Africa, who is also Outgoing Chairperson
for the CCC, Kari Oyen. The Chairpersonship of the new 20162020 strategy has been handed over to DanChurch Aid.
“We’re pioneers for mergers within the ACT family and have
paved a way for others to follow. It has not always been smooth
because while we have experienced a lot of successes, we have
also overcome a lot of challenges,” she added. “JCP has been
positive in trying to accommodate all the agencies and ultimately
we were all able to find a common way of working.”
New CCC Member from Christian Aid, John Ward was also
positive about the merger and the trust that has been established
between three organisations. “Before 2011, all the agencies
had their own agendas but now the organisations are working
as one and there is more trust between them,” he said.
He added: “What’s really exciting is that now we’re focussing
more by putting more effort in our core strategic partners for
greater impact as indicated by the new strategy which is well
thought out and reflective of the situation on the ground.”
One of the major issues and milestone of the meeting was the
drafting of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
the three agencies that make up JCP for a five year period
covering 2016-2020, and the inclusion of Diaconia Evangelical
Church of Czech Brethren (DECCB) from the Czech Republic as
a financial contributor.
“I am convinced there is a willingness to continue with the
merger and hence positive about the signing of the new MoU
between the three agencies before the end of the year,” said
Kari
The JCP’s new Country Strategy for 2016-2020 is more focussed
with only three thematic areas: Economic Empowerment, Gender
Justice-Free of Gender Based Violence and Resource Governance.
Gender, organisational development and capacity building of
partners are cross cutting issues while Emergency Preparedness
and Response is a country specific programme.
The geographic reach of the programme has also been narrowed
down to only five from the initial ten provinces in Zambia. The
new strategy is more innovative and more responsive to the
changing context in the country.
Deliberations during the
meeting, Lusaka, JCP 2015
6 JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015
Zambia re-affirms importance of
Climate Justice
subsequently affecting the power
generation capacity of the hydro power
stations resulting in the current energy
deficit the country is facing,” she added.
Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ)
General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Suzanne
Matale, explained the roles that human
beings play in Climate Change. “Climate
change is driven by human activities and
behaviour and we must find human
solutions to halt climate change,” she
advised.
“Let us not forget the urgency to Act Now
for Climate Justice because there is no
way out of climate change without a will
to change. This requires the will to give
up social and economic practices that
negatively impact our environment and
climate,” she explained.
The march past, Lusaka, JCP 2015
The Joint Country Programme today
joined the rest of the country to re-affirm
the importance of climate justice issues
to Zambia and the world at large by
participating in the “We Have Faith Climate
Campaign” march past and Church service
at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in
Lusaka today.
The march past which was a sign of
solidarity and commitment towards
Climate Justice in Zambia saw scores of
people from the Civil Society,
Government, Church communities,
schools and the general public,
coordinated by the ACT Alliance, march
from the country’s Main Post Office to
the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Lusaka.
But much more importantly the occasion
was graced by the participation of young
people tasked with the responsibility to
‘Act Now’ for their future. Young cyclists
who are part of the caravan cycling across
Southern, Central and East Africa, for
Climate Justice also took part in the march
past.
global cooperation and political will by
world leaders.”
He added: “We need to deal with climate
change from both an adaptation and
mitigation perspective in order for us to
have a win-win situation and increased
financing towards climate change
adaptation, is our cry as Africa.”
The Government of the Republic of Zambia
also emphasised the importance of
addressing climate issues as a nation.
“Climate change has emerged as one of
the most pressing issues in Zambia
affecting socio-economic development,”
said the Minister of Lands, Natural
Resources and Environmental Protection,
Hon Christabel Ngimbu, in a speech read
on her behalf by the Ministry’s Acting
Permanent Secretary Mr. Lennox Kalonde.
“Issues such as drought have impacted
negatively on the water levels of the
major water bodies in Zambia and
Faith groups and activists in Africa, united
by the desire to prevent catastrophic
climate change, are calling on the
Governments of Africa and the world to
stand with vulnerable communities on
the frontiers of the climate crisis.
An approximately 6,500 kilometer Pan
African Cycling Caravan from Maputo to
Nairobi was launched on August 29 in
the Mozambican capital, Maputo, and is
currently in Zambia after passing through
various African countries including South
Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. It will
proceed to Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda
before finally arriving in Kenya between
November 8-14 this year.
The caravan also expects to raise one
million signatures aimed at putting
pressure on global and national leaders
to act urgently and sustainably on the
impact of Climate Change on the world
and in Africa in particular.
Climate Justice campaign launch, Lusaka, JCP 2015
“Everyone needs to care about the
environment because cutting down of
trees negatively affects our rainfall
patterns and the levels of water in our
rivers and lakes,” said Zambia’s key
Cyclist Allen Namukamba, who comes
from a rural town of Siavonga which has
felt the negative effects of climate change.
“Therefore Zambia needs to put in place
measures to control the levels of charcoal
burning currently taking place in our
country,” he added.
JCP Zambia Country Representative, Mr.
Steffen Erik Mey Rasmussen, was present
during the Church service and echoed
the need to nurture the environment. He
said: “Climate change issues are serious
issues worldwide and need concerted
JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015 7
Pavel Cedivoda meets ZEC staff, Lusaka, JCP 2015
JCP signs Cooperation Agreement
with DECCB
The Joint Country Programme (JCP) has signed a
Cooperation Agreement with Diaconia Evangelical Church
of Czech Brethren (DECCB) which will ensure yearly
financial support of about US$ 55,000 towards the
Women in Governance Programme of JCP partner, the
Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC).
The signing ceremony, which took place at the JCP
offices in Lusaka on September 21, 2015 marks the
beginning of a new partnership between JCP and DECCB
and is expected to continue for an initial three-year
period.
"This is exciting for JCP because we are having a new
donor who also happens to share similar values with
us," said JCP Country Representative Mr. Steffen Erik
Mey Rasmussen, soon after the signing ceremony. “We
value partnerships because it’s only when we put our
hands togethers that we are able to make meaningful
impact especially in the lives of the vulnerable in our
communities.”
DECCB Coordinator of International Programmes Mr.
Pavel Cedivoda represented his organization at the
launch. “The partnership with JCP is very important
because of their long experience with development work
in Zambia and their good knowledge of the local
environment and local partners,” he said.
He added: “Issues of women empowerment are important
not only for the Czech Republic and Zambia, but for the
rest of the world. If women are not empowered and
involved in decision making politically, it means that
Zambia would not be using its full potential since women
make up about 50 percent of the population.”
Secretary General of the Zambia Episcopal Conference
(ZEC) was happy to sign the agreement for the new
partnership. He said: “We’re really grateful to have
DECCB as a new partner and promise to do our best in
implementing the programmes as agreed.”
8 JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015
JCP Country Rep Steffen Erik Mey Rasmussen shakes
hands with DECCB's, Pavel Cedivoda, Lusaka, JCP 2015.
The National Pastoral Coordinator for ZEC, the Rev. Fr.
Justin Matepa, emphasised the importance of gender in
the church. “The issue of gender is important even in
the church as it is a process of conversion for everyone
including the priests,” he said. “Some of our priests have
even changed their perception of women because of the
Women in Governance programme which we in run five
of our eleven dioceses.”
ZEC’s Women in Governance Assistant Programme
Officer, Ms. Catherine Chabinga, explained part of the
impact the programme has had among target groups.
“A lot of women have learnt to read and write following
the implementation of the literacy component of the
programme,” she said. “Even ZEC now requires an equal
composition of men and women in all church governance
structures.”
The Programme Officer for the JCP’s Women in
Governance Programme, Jacqueline Muthee Kabalo,
summarized the importance of empowering women when
she said: “Contributing to the broadened opportunities,
choices and increased active participation of women in
their own development is not just an issue of fairness,
but a prerequisite for human rights.”
New models of securing customary
land piloted in Zambia
A DanChurch Aid (DCA) partner, Zambia Land Alliance (ZLA),
is piloting new ways of securing land rights and ownership for
the majority of Zambia’s poor rural households through a
project encouraging traditional chiefs to issue Customary Land
Holding Certificates.
This came to light during a recent joint monitoring visit done
by the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Republic of
Zambia, Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA),
Joint Country Programme (JCP) and Zambia Land Alliance (ZLA)
to Gwembe district in the Southern Province of Zambia.
The project called “Enhancing Sustainable Livelihoods for the
Poor and Marginalised Households through Land Tenure Security
(SULTS),” is aimed at empowering the poor and marginalised
communities to hold local leaders accountable in administration
of customary land.
Co-financed by the European Union (EU) and Dan Church Aid
(DCA), and implemented by ZLA in collaboration with associate
partners, Gwembe District Land Alliance (GDLA) and Monze
District Land Alliance (MDLA), the project, targeted over 4,000
households in the Districts of Gwembe, Monze and Solwezi.
A local chief leads by example in his area
Chief Munyumbwe, a local traditional leader of the ‘Tonga’
ethnic group of Gwembe district in the Southern Province of
Zambia, has since issued twenty Customary Land Holding
Certificates (CLHC) to ten women and ten men in his Chiefdom
in the past six months.
“I am very happy with this initiative of trying to empower our
people,” said the Chief’s Representative and heir to the throne,
Mr. Harrison Milambo, when the monitoring team paid a courtesy
call at his residence. “It is really contributing to reduced
boundary disputes among villagers in our area.”
Mr. Milambo explained that the certificates will strengthen the
holders’ claim to customary land and support their demand for
compensation in cases where customary tenure was converted
to statutory tenure for purposes of development by the
Government or investors.
Chief Munyumbwe is the first traditional leader to issue certificates
under the project. He is also the first to allow use of village
registers that capture land ownership information such as land
size and location.
Certificates strengthen local people’s land rights
Ms. Sarah Moonga, a widow and mother of four, was one of
the ten recipients of the certificates. She believes that the
certificate has secured her rights to a piece of agricultural land
for which it has been issued.
“This piece of land will help me a lot in my farming activities
and I can work with a free mind knowing that my piece of land
is secured,” she said.
Another single mother of three, Ms. Iden Misozi, said she was
once a victim of a land grabbing by her former husband. She
explained that her knowledge of land rights motivated her to
fight hard to get her land back.
“My ex-husband borrowed some money from some people and
used my land as collateral and when he failed to pay back, he
handed over my land to them. Luckily, I had a Customary Land
Holding Certificate which helped as evidence in my case and
I got my land back through our local court,” she said in the
local Tonga language.
Women display their certificates during a meeting, Gweembe,
JCP 2015
She added: “I urge my fellow women to try and acquire land
in their own right and make sure they have documentation for
it. I also appeal to our Chiefs to protect us and make sure that
women are not victimised.”
Over thirty community members who were met by the monitoring
team, including one senior headman, five headmen and members
of a local group called Community Land Advocacy Committee
(CLAC), were positive that the certificate is strengthening their
land rights, protects them from displacement and will also
strengthen their case for compensation in case of displacement.
Challenges of the Customary Land Tenure system
Zambia has a dual land tenure system which includes the
Statutory Tenure and Customary Tenure. Though it is equally
enshrined in the national Constitution, the Customary Tenure
is subordinate to Statutory Tenure and is not legally documented.
It is administered by traditional leaders based on local customs
that are passed on from generation to generation and this
makes its administration susceptible to corruption with the
most vulnerable members of the community such as widows
and orphans suffering high levels of displacement.
Before the SULTS project many villagers in the target areas
did not have any hope of having their land rights documented.
ZLA has been advocating for development of national legislation
on administration of customary land for several years and their
efforts contributed to the development of a draft bill on
Customary Land Administration by Government in the period
2013/2014.
Since contents of the bill have not yet been made public and
the bill is yet to be presented to Parliament for enactment into
law the ZLA has focused on piloting new models of securing
customary land such as the Customary Land Holding Certificates
and village registers.
High demand for land certificates in targeted areas
More than 100 community members in a local community of
Makuyu are registered in the village registers and there is
overwhelming demand among these to receive certificates.
The SULTS project is targeting to distribute 500 certificates
altogether in the three target districts of Gwembe, Monze and
Solwezi by the end of the year.
The certificates are issued to villagers who are registered in
the village register whose piece of land has been mapped using
Global Positioning System (GPS). The Chief’s council and the
community members were heavily involved in defining the
features on the certificates.
JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015 9
JCP hosts Danish volunteers
Two volunteers from Denmark are currently being hosted
by JCP Zambia, with a core purpose of designing a
Volunteer Programme for Danish youths which will focus
on “mutual exchange of lifestyle, culture and values
between the young people of Zambia and Denmark.”
Lise Lindø and Sanne Sørensen are not new to Zambia
because back in 2011, they got hosted by Zambian
families in the rural parts of Southern Province. “I think
I fell in love with the people of Zambia back then because
I have never experienced a nation so generous and
welcoming everywhere I went,” said Lise.
build bridges. Experiencing a culture different from your
own makes you look at things differently and turns the
world upside down, but at some point all the differences
make sense and become similarities.”
The volunteers say they are happy to be back in Zambia
and that despite the few changes that have taken place
over the past few years: “The people are still the same
- hospitable, very friendly and with a good sense of
humour.”
“When the chance of opening a volunteer programme
with JCP showed itself, I had no doubt that it was just
the challenge I was looking for and thought it would be
a good opportunity of sharing the same experience with
more Danish youths,” she added.
In the few weeks that the volunteers have been in the
country they have been able to participate in other
activities including the “We Have Faith Global Climate
Campaign” which is mobilising African Governments
and leaders to be more aware and responsive to issues
of climate change, as they go to annual world leaders’
climate conference called COP21 in France this year.
Sanne narrated her experiences during their recent visit
to the Zambia town of Chipata to help mobilise for the
Climate Justice Campaign. “It has been really fun and
inspiring! The people we have met are very dedicated
and even though it has been held in a cheerful manner,
these people mean serious business,” she said. “I haven't
experienced similar dedication in Denmark about climate
change and I think it is because here, climate change
is real.”
Lise explained why she thinks inter-cultural understanding
is necessary in this day and age: “I think cultural
exchange is important everywhere today and it is
especially vital in the current global situation with a lot
of immigrants world-wide and the creation of intercultural
societies.”
Her colleague Sanne summed it up well when she said:
“Volunteering and cultural exchange in particular can
As active participants in the campaign at NCA Regional
Office, Lusaka, JCP 2015
10 JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015
Lise participates in
Climate Justice campaign,
Lusaka, JCP 2015
Sanne takes a ride with one of the cyclists in Chipata,
JCP 2015
JCP appoints new Advisory Board
The Joint Country Programme (JCP) has successfully
instituted a new Policy Advisory Board (PAB) to offer
oversight policies, advocacy and the organisation’s
strategic frameworks.
Three of the Board were appointed from Faith Based
The Advisory Board which comprises six appointed Board
Members will also ensure JCP’s compliance with the
national laws and regulations as well as help improve
coordination with national partners. The Board has
brought in individuals with diverse skills and experiences
in areas such as business, law and development, and is
consistent with the Laws of Zambia.
Management avoid conflicts of interest.
“The Advisory Board is a proactive effort at making
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and JCP as a whole more
democratic,” said JCP’s Country Representative and
Board Member, Steffen Erik Mey Rasmussen. “Advisory
Boards are now more of a legal requirement in many
countries around the world and help with checks and
balances as well as rights and duties.”
it,” said Mr. Rasmussen.
Photo
Focus
Organisations (FBOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
and from the legal fraternity based on their competences
so as to help with second opinion and help JCP
NCA in Oslo will have direct contact with the Board to
get their opinions on how the organisation is doing. “This
is a tremendous step forward in our governance structure
but we need to do all that it takes in order to enforce
The Advisory Board was hailed as a good pilot by JCP’s
highest governing body, the Cooperation Coordination
Committee (CCC) and there are plans to replicate it in
other parts of the world.
Theophilus Minyoi is
the nurse at Sikongo
Health Centre,
JCP 2015
JCP staff participate in Climate Justice campaign at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Lusaka, JCP 2015
JCP NEWSLETTER July - September 2015 11
Climate Justice and Adaptation Partner Platform meetings remain important for JCP, JCP 2015
JCP Country Rep with WLSA Executive Director
Maureen Samulela Tresha, Lusaka, JCP 2015
JCP Staff participate in a fun food fare day, JCP 2015
For more details contact us at:
Plot # C/13/488a
Leopards Hill Road, Kabulonga
P.O. Box 30703
Lusaka, Zambia.
Tel: +260 211 260704 / 260976
Fax: +260 211 260 974
www.nca.no
www.danchurchaid.org www.christianaid.org
6 JCP NEWSLETTER January - April 2014