‘Climate change worsening violence against women, girls’

 By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

CLIMATE change is increasing the risk of gender-based violence and undermining the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Zambia, particularly in drought- and flood-affected communities, IPAS Southern Africa has warned.

IPAS Southern Africa Policy and Advocacy Manager Timothy Banda said recurring climate shocks were leaving vulnerable communities with little time to recover, exposing women and girls to greater risks of exploitation, abuse and early marriage.

He said the effects were most pronounced in drought-prone areas such as Southern and Eastern provinces, where food and water shortages force women and girls to travel long distances in search of basic necessities.

“In a drought crisis, we can find that sexual and reproductive rights are compromised for women and girls. If, for example, there is a shortage of food, women and girls have to walk long distances to look for water and food,” Mr Banda said. By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) says the construction of the Mono Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) fertiliser plant in Chilanga is progressing on schedule, with civil works now 30 percent complete, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to promote investment and value addition in Zambia.

The project, being developed by Sino Great Chemical Company Limited, is expected to commence trial production by August 2027.

ZCCM-IH Board Chairperson Phesto Musonda said the progress made at the project demonstrates the company’s commitment to fostering trade and investment through strategic partnerships that create long-term value for the country.

“Thirty percent completion at Chilanga, with trial production targeted for August 2027, is a clear demonstration of ZCCM-IH’s strategy of fostering trade and investment through active partnerships that unlock value for Zambia,” Mr Musonda said during a tour of the construction site in Lusaka West.

The tour was led by Mr Musonda and ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Kakenenwa Muyangwa.

Mr Muyangwa described the project as transformational, noting that it will be the first facility of its kind in Southern Africa with the capacity to produce nearly 300,000 tonnes of mono ammonium phosphate annually.

He said the steady progress in construction and procurement was encouraging and would position Zambia to benefit from local value addition once the plant is fully optimised by December 2027.

Mr Muyangwa added that the investment is expected to generate returns for ZCCM-IH and its shareholders through dividends and the recovery of the company’s loan contribution within about five years.

According to ZCCM-IH, major milestones already completed at the Chilanga site include the air compressor station, phosphogypsum water washing system, vacuum pump circulating water station, product tank farm and reaction tank foundations, perimeter wall, amination reaction foundation, and the sulphur melting and filtration foundation.

ZCCM-IH upbeat as MAP fertiliser plant reaches 30pc completion

He said such journeys often expose them to harassment, sexual violence and exploitation, with some individuals using access to food as a bargaining tool.

Mr Banda added that worsening food insecurity was also contributing to early marriages, as some families marry off their daughters to men with access to food and other resources.

He said girls are also withdrawn from school to help their families search for food and water, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and intergenerational sexual relationships that can result in unintended pregnancies.

“Those are some of the dynamics involved in climate change and the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls,” he said.

Mr Banda said floods present similar dangers, particularly when families are displaced and women and girls are forced to live in unfamiliar environments with limited protection and support.

While noting the government’s response to disasters through food relief and other essential services, he said gaps remain, particularly in ensuring affected communities receive timely information about available assistance.

“Government has always been on top of things... but that is not the end of it because there are always some gaps,” Mr Banda said.

He called for climate adaptation and disaster response strategies to incorporate measures that protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.