The Untold

Dr David Squarre Examines a hippo that died of anthrax in the 2011 outbreak of anthrax in Lower Zambezi National Park. Source: David Squarre. Dr David Squarre in the process of safe disposal of a hippo that died of anthrax in the 2011 outbreak in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Source: Davide Squarre. ABIGAIL CHIFUSA AN INVISIBLE menace silently prowls beneath the soil in Zambia.  Anthrax, a pernicious disease affecting animals and humans, has been stealthily causing outbreaks in numerous districts across the country. The discovery of this microbial threat traces back to 1922 when it first appeared in Luambe National Park in Eastern Province. Over the years, there have been a total of 34 recorded outbreaks from 1978 to 2023, with recent surges striking key areas like North Luangwa National Park in 2011, Lower Zambezi National Park in 2012, and multiple others. According to   Department of Veterinary Services  public health acting senior inspectorate and regulation office...

Pineapples from a farm in Mwinilunga District  Mr Mukalanga in a pineapple field in Mwinilunga district. ABIGAIL CHIFUSA GIVEN Zambia’s predominantly farming nature, a substantial portion of the country’s revenue stems from its agricultural sector.  With limited industrial development, the pivotal role of agriculture as the catalyst for economic advancement becomes evident.  According to International Trade Administration, agriculture contributes about 19 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs three quarters of the population. However, agricultural productivity alone holds little significance without comprehensive marketing expertise.  Marketing serves as the conduit that translates physical production into economic value.  Yet, the constraints facing pineapple cultivation in Mwinilunga district of North-Western Province remain pronounced due to persistent marketing challenges, exacerbated by the virtual collapse of the fruit cannery in 1992. Th...