Theme: “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow – Women Farmers Leading with Traditional Seed and Food for Good Health”

Date: October 30, 2026

In a few weeks, the rains will come.

And when they do, farmers across this country will walk into their fields and put seed into the ground. Whatever they plant will decide what our children eat, how healthy they grow, and whether Zambia can feed itself when the next drought comes.

So, the most important question in this country this morning is not a question for next year. It is a question for this planting season. Whose seed will go into Zambian soil?

Every season we answer that question wrongly; we lose something we can never get back. A sorghum that survived every drought our grandparents knew. A cowpea that fed a family through the hungry months. A vegetable our grandmothers cooked that our grandchildren will never taste.

It does not happen with headlines. It happens quietly, one season at a time, while we are busy with other things.

Ladies and gentlemen, I did not come here this morning only to open a festival. I came to sound an alarm.

• Our Guest of Honor, Madam Speaker
• Members of parliament present
• Traditional leaders present
• Representatives of Consortium Partner Organizations,
• Civil Society, and Academia,
• Representatives from the Private Sector and Farmer Organizations,
• Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
• And most importantly, our courageous Women Farmers, the true custodians of our land, seed, and heritage:

On behalf of Caritas Zambia and our consortium partners, it is an absolute honor and privilege to welcome you all to the Zambia Traditional Seed and Food Festival 2026.

We gather today not merely to celebrate a festival, but to affirm a conviction: that the future of Zambia’s food security, health, and climate resilience lies right here in our soil, carried in the hands of our local farmers, and preserved through our rich tradition of indigenous seeds.

As we celebrate the 2026 theme, as the Year of honoring Women Farmers, and align ourselves with the global spirit of World Food Day, our theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow – Women Farmers Leading with Traditional Seed and Food for Good Health”, could not be more timely or urgent.

The women who have been holding the line

For generations, women have been the silent pillars of our food systems. They are the primary seed keepers, the researchers in our rural communities, and the guardians of culinary tradition. Long before modern science spoke of biodiversity and agroecology, our mothers and grandmothers were saving and passing down seed varieties that could withstand drought, resist pests, and nourish their families without relying on expensive, imported inputs.

What we are losing

Today, our national food system stands at a critical crossroads. Globalization and rapid urbanization have flooded our markets with highly processed foods. In the process, we have seen a worrying decline in dietary diversity. Nutrient-dense, indigenous grains like sorghum and millet, resilient legumes like cowpeas (Ilanda, Kandolo), traditional vegetables such as Bondwe, Chibwabwa, Kachesha, Kalembula, and Katapa, and wild fruits like Masuku and Infungo are increasingly marginalized, some even facing the threat of extinction.

This shift has not solved our nation’s nutritional challenges. Instead, it has worsened undernutrition while giving rise to diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Hear me clearly. Extinction is final. When a seed is gone, no grant, no project and no laboratory can bring it back. And when the seed goes, the knowledge goes with it: how to grow it, how to store it, how to cook it, and why it mattered. That knowledge lives today in the hands and memories of women in our villages. Many of them are elderly. Every year we wait, fewer of them remain to teach us. We are running out of time to learn from them.

Tradition is not the past

So let me correct a myth. Traditional seed is not backward. Traditional food is not old-fashioned.

To change the narrative, we must reclaim our local food heritage. Traditional seeds and foods are not fragments of the past; they are modern solutions for climate change and health. They are naturally resilient to harsh weather conditions, require fewer chemical inputs, and offer rich nutritional profiles that our bodies desperately need.

However, tradition alone is not enough to secure our future. We must pair indigenous knowledge with appropriate modern innovation.

Our farmers are already innovating, improving farmer-managed seed systems, practicing agroecological farming, and finding creative ways to add value to traditional crops. But they cannot do it alone. Too many of our farmers face steep barriers, such as high costs of small-scale irrigation, lack of affordable processing equipment, weak extension services, and limited access to seed markets.

Every season these barriers stand, more farmers give up their own seed. Every season they give up, we lose more. So, if we are serious about “Innovating Today to Nourish Tomorrow”, the emphasis must fall on the word today. Three things cannot wait:

If we are serious about "Innovating Today to Nourish Tomorrow," we must break down these barriers:

• We must invest in farmer-managed seed enterprises.
• We must make appropriate, affordable technology accessible to rural women.
• And we must create policies that recognize and protect farmers’ rights to save, exchange, and sell their traditional seeds.

A farmer who is not free to save her own seed is not free. And a nation whose farmers are not free cannot call itself food sovereign.

What we are asking of you, starting today

Over the coming days you will see Zambia’s agricultural wealth with your own eyes, in the exhibits, the live knowledge-sharing, the policy dialogues and the conversations in between. But you were not invited here only to look. You were invited here to act.

To our policy makers and government partners: We urge you to ensure that national agricultural strategies actively integrate gender-inclusive, agroecological frameworks that support farmer-led seed systems alongside conventional approaches. Please do not leave this for the next review cycle. The seed will not wait for the next review cycle.

To our private sector academia and research institutions: We invite you to collaborate with women-led cooperatives to develop market pathways and appropriate processing technologies that keep value within local communities. Leave this festival with at least one partnership you did not have when you arrived.

And to our women farmers: We see you, we honor you, and we stand with you. You are not just producers; you are leaders shaping a healthier, more sovereign Zambia. You have carried this alone for too long, and from today you will not carry it alone.

Conclusion

As Caritas Zambia, alongside our consortium partners, we remain deeply committed to promoting food sovereignty, social justice, and environmental stewardship grounded in human dignity.

Let this festival serve as a launching pad for stronger networks, bolder policies, and renewed pride in our local food. May we leave this event inspired to nourish our families, support our local farmers, and build a resilient food system for generations to come.

With these few words, it is my singular honor to welcome you all to the Zambia Traditional Seed and Food Festival 2026.

Thank you, God bless you, and enjoy the festival!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

COMMUNIQUÉ: Inaugural Lobito Corridor Community and Investment Indaba 2026

13th –14th October 2026 | Solwezi, North-Western Province

Theme: “Connecting Critical Minerals, People and Markets – Building a Corridor for All”

Convened by the North-Western Civil Society Forum and Caritas Solwezi

PREAMBLE

In Solwezi, where land is mother, pharmacy, food store and inheritance, we gathered as custodians of North-Western Province with one conviction: there must be no development without the PEOPLE. The Lobito Corridor must benefit people, protect land and empower the communities of North-Western Province.

We, traditional leaders led by Chief Mumena, the Church led by Rt Rev Bishop Charles Kasonde, the Council led by His Worship the Mayor of Solwezi, representatives of communities from Mushindamo, Solwezi, Kalumbila, Ikelenge and Mwinilunga Districts, women, youth, faith leaders, farmers, small businesses and civil society, met with Government, mining companies, the private sector and development partners for two days of conversations and open dialogue. We came with a shared warning and a shared hope.

Our warning is that the Lobito Corridor is being planned, financed and negotiated in high-level meetings, far from the people who live along its route. Memoranda are signed, strategies are validated and investments are announced, while the families whose land, water and livelihoods lie in the corridor’s path are the last to know. Too often our people learn about a project when the pegs are already in the ground.

Our hope is that it is not too late. If the people are brought into the conversation now, before the bulldozers arrive or displacements of people, the corridor can still become what its theme promises: a corridor for all. The world is searching for critical minerals. We must not forget the critical people who live where those minerals are found.

Download the entire copy of the COMMUNIQUÉ On The Inaugural Lobito Corridor Community And Investment Indaba 2026 here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/COMMUNIQUE-On-The-Inaugural-Lobito-Corridor-Community-And-Investment-Indaba-2026.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

CARITAS ZAMBIA COMMENDS CALL FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH, URGES PEOPLE-CENTRED IMPLEMENTATION OF “GROW ZAMBIA” AGENDA

Lusaka | 14th October 2026

Caritas Zambia warmly congratulates His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema on the ambitious plan he set out at the official opening of the First Session of the Fourteenth National Assembly on Friday, 9th October 2026.

Under the theme “Grow Zambia: an agenda for inclusive growth and opportunity for every Zambian,” the President described his vision of “a Zambia in which every citizen has a sense of belonging; a Zambia where every community benefits from national progress.” We warmly welcome this commitment to leaving no one behind. It speaks directly to the values that guide our work: human dignity, solidarity and the preferential option for the poor.

The people of Zambia need hope, and they need solutions. Too many families continue to carry the weight of the cost of living, unemployment and the effects of climate change. It is therefore encouraging to hear the President describe the path ahead as “one of hope, responsibility and shared purpose,” and to see that hope matched with clear targets that are, in his words, “ambitious, but achievable.” Caritas Zambia is glad that the President is providing this leadership.

We particularly welcome the commitments to turn economic stability into “tangible benefits for all citizens, including putting food on the table”; to put 500,000 hectares under irrigation; to establish a skills training centre in every district; to recruit more teachers and health workers; and to expand the Social Cash Transfer.

The true measure of these targets will be whether ordinary families are living better lives: whether growth reaches the household, creates decent jobs for young people, benefits communities living alongside our mineral wealth and protects children and vulnerable citizens.

For this reason, Caritas Zambia expects the 2027 National Budget, which the President said will set out how this agenda is financed, to be people-centred. It must bring relief to households struggling with the cost of living and lift people out of poverty, through adequate funding for social protection, education, health, water and small-scale farmers. In particular, we look to the Budget to show:

Download the entire copy of the statement Caritas Zambia Commends Call For Inclusive Growth, Urges People-Centered Implementation Of “Grow Zambia” Agenda here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/Caritas-Zambia-Commends-Call-For-Inclusive-Growth-Urges-People-Centred-Implementation-Of-Grow-Zambia-Agenda.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

CARITAS ZAMBIA CALLS FOR SOLIDARITY, PROTECTION, AND DIGNITY FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS

LUSAKA | Monday 28, September, 2026

Theme: “Even Just One of These Children”

As the global Church commemorates the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Caritas Zambia stands in firm solidarity with refugees, displaced families, migrants, and children on the move across our nation and the region. Grounded in our Catholic faith, biblical teachings, and Catholic Social Teaching, caring for refugees is a profound moral imperative. We recall that Jesus Himself experienced displacement, fleeing to Egypt with Mary and Joseph to escape persecution (Matthew 2:13–15). Every displaced person bears inherent human dignity that must be protected and upheld.

This year’s theme, “Even Just One of These Children”, reminds us that no child is a mere statistic or forgotten casualty of conflict. Each child is created in the image of God and deserves protection, education, and hope. Our Christian discipleship is measured by the mercy we embody and the justice we pursue in safeguarding forcibly displaced children, youth, and families.

Caritas Zambia remains deeply committed to empowering young refugees through livelihood and vocational skills training, financial inclusion, and vital psychosocial counselling services to support healing from trauma. However, achieving sustainable protection and integration requires collective action, strong partnerships, and aligned national policy frameworks.

While we commend the Government of the Republic of Zambia for its longstanding commitment to refugee protection and the launch of the 2024 National Refugee Policy, significant legal and operational challenges persist. To operationalize these commitments and unlock the economic potential of refugees, Caritas Zambia urges the following concrete actions:

1. Enact Comprehensive Legislation and Harmonize Protections:Formulate and implement an overarching statutory framework dedicated to safeguarding the rights of refugees and migrants. Existing national legislation including the Immigration Control Act No. 3 of 2026 and relevant labour laws must be harmonized with the Refugees Act No. 1 of 2017 and the 2024 Refugee Policy. The alignment of these legal instruments will secure fundamental rights, broaden freedom of movement, facilitate access to formal employment, and strictly uphold the principle of non-refoulement.

2. Enhance Inter-Agency Coordination: Strengthen collaboration across departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security including Immigration, the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, Anti-Human Trafficking, and the Zambia Police Service for efficient, rights-based service delivery.

3. Invest in Refugee Self-Reliance and Integration: Expand support for vocational training, entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion targeting refugee youth and women, transitioning from emergency assistance to long-term community integration.

Let us remember our shared humanity and work together toward a society where every refugee is welcomed, protected, and empowered to thrive. May Our Lady and Saint Joseph watch over all displaced families journeying in uncertainty.

Issued by:

Fr. Dr. Gabriel Mapulanga

Executive Director, Caritas Zambia

Download the entire signed copy of the CARITAS Zambia Statement On Migrants And Refugees here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/CARITAS-Zambia-Statement-On-Migrants-And-Refugees.pdf

A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR FIELD FACILITATORS - MARCH 2023

Caritas Zambia - a Catholic Agency for Justice, Peace and Integral Human Development is a Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) institution and a department of the Catholic Secretariat established under article 36 (7) of the ZCCB Statues, given the Mandate of supporting the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops social ministry to promote integral human development in Zambia. It was established to be at the service of two Commissions, namely the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and the Catholic Commission for Development (CCD). These Commissions are now restated under article 28, of the ZCCB Statutes.

Caritas Zambia through its Programmes ensure that in all its interventions, awareness on issues to deal with all forms of sexual and gender-based violence are fully addressed through all programme interventions by mainstreams gender as a priority focus.

This manual is aimed at significantly increasing focus and impact on gender equality and women’s rights in our development assistance. In implementing livelihoods activities in our communities, we are committed to bringing about a comprehensive and sustained change in how our field facilitators address gender aspects of our projects.

This is a simple Training Manual on sexual gender based violence (SGBV) meant for field facilitators that are working with rural community farmers.

The manual is meant to be a guide for use during community trainings to raise awareness on the effects of sexual and gender based violence, on attaining development at household level.

The training manual also provides a guide on how to respond to issues of SGBV. This manual is intended for use by field facilitators and project staff only (the participants should not have the manual).

Download the entireCARITAS Zambia Sexual And Gender Based Violence Training Manual here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/key_papers/CARITAS-Zambia-Sexual-And-Gender-Based-Violence-Training-Manual.pdf

Full statement by Bishop George Cosmus Zumaire Lungu calling for diologue between government and opposition political players.

Download the entire signed copy of the Pastoral Statement From Bishop Lungu - Chipata Diocese here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/Pastoral-Statement-Bishop-Lungu-Chipata-Diocese.pdf

Watch the video below or watch it on this link here: https://web.facebook.com/reel/1474359391118761

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

CALL FOR DISCLOSURE OF WHEREABOUTS AND DUE PROCESS FOR PERSONS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY STATE SECURITY AGENTS

LUSAKA | 11 August, 2026

As Caritas Zambia, we are extremely concerned by the increasing allegations of arrests and detentions of citizens, particularly those perceived to be politically inclined, by state agents.

What is most distressing is that in many of these cases, the whereabouts of the individuals taken are not known. Families are left in anguish, uncertainty, and fear.

We are especially troubled by the recent case involving Ambassador Martha Lungu Mwitumwa and her colleague, Ms. Hannah Katontoka. To date, the family has not been informed of where they are being held. We further understand that Ambassador Lungu lives with a chronic medical condition and requires regular medication. The lack of information is causing untold distress to her family and loved ones.

Our Position

Zambia is a nation governed by the rule of law and the Constitution. Every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Therefore, we call upon the relevant authorities to:

1. Uphold due process at all times. If a person is suspected of having committed an offence, they should be formally charged and presented before the courts without delay.
2. Inform families of the whereabouts of those detained. Families have a right to know where their loved ones are and to have access to them, especially in cases of medical need.
3. Respect the dignity and rights of all Zambians, regardless of political affiliation.

As we approach the General Elections of 13th August 2026, we remind all institutions that actions perceived as arbitrary or secretive only fuel unnecessary speculation, mistrust, and tension. This can undermine the peace we all desire.

We, therefore, appeal to our security agencies to act professionally, transparently, and in accordance with the law. Let us protect the peace, unity, and democratic values of our country.

We pray for Ambassador Martha Lungu, her family, and all families affected. We also pray for our leaders and security personnel as they carry out their duties..

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” – Matthew 5:6

Issued by:

Fr. Dr. Gabriel Mapulanga

Executive Director, Caritas Zambia

Download the entire signed copy of the CALL FOR DISCLOSURE OF WHEREABOUTS AND DUE PROCESS FOR PERSONS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY STATE SECURITY AGENTS here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/Call-For-Disclosure-Of-Whereabouts-And-Due-Process-For-Persons-Taken-Into-Custody-By-State-Security-Agents.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

LUSAKA | Friday 17th 2026

Caritas Zambia is deeply concerned about recent developments that continue to expose children to heightened risks of abuse, exploitation, and neglect. These incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger family responsibility, community vigilance, and government enforcement of child protection systems and laws. As a faith-based institution, we also believe in raising children as guided by the teaching of Jesus Christ as we reflect on some of the teachings from; Matthew 18:10; ‘‘See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” This is a clear reminder that children are precious before God, and harming them is a grave offense.

As a Church, our perspective on the environment is anchored in the prophetic words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his encyclical, Laudato Si’ - “On Care for Our Common Home”. The Document reminds us that the Earth, our common home, "is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth." He challenges us to recognize that we cannot separate our relationship with nature from our relationship with God and each other.

Therefore, we have observed with concern the few key incidences as follows:

Download the entire signed copy of the CARITAS Zambia Sounds Alarm Over Rising Child Abuse: Criticizes "Modern-Day Parenting" And Political Exploitation Of Children statement here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/Caritas-Statement-on-Child-Abuse.pdf

Caritas Zambia is a Catholic Organisation that is an integral structure of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB).

The Conference of Bishops is a permanent grouping of Bishops of a given nation or territory that jointly exercises certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of their territory. This is done for the sake of effective evangelisation.

To promote the principle of the common good which the Church offers humankind, especially through forms and programmes of the apostolate which are fittingly adapted to the circumstances of the time and place, is the role of Bishops.

Download the entire CARITAS Zambia Programmes here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/Caritas-Zambia-Programmes.pdf

UNFPA/Caritas Zambia PRESS RELEASE | MONGU, ZAMBIA – June 16, 2026

EmpowerED Project: Local Menstrual Hygiene Manufacturing as a Catalyst for Girls' Education and Autonomy

MONGU, ZAMBIA – June 16, 2026 – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in collaboration with Caritas Zambia, has handed over specialized production machinery for reusable sanitary pads to the Catholic Bishop’s Office at the Mongu Diocese. Funded by the Government of Canada through the EmpowerED Programme, this initiative aims to promote menstrual hygiene by providing accessible, reusable sanitary wear to girls across targeted Catholic schools in the Western Province.

The support will enhance a sustainable, community-led model for local reusable sanitary wear production. By removing a major barrier to education, this model enables adolescent girls to attend school regularly and comfortably, ultimately improving classroom retention and health outcomes.

Globally, over 620 million children lack basic sanitation services at school, which directly cuts short a girl's education the moment she reaches puberty. In sub-Saharan Africa, an average of 31% of adolescent girls miss school entirely during their periods due to a lack of affordable sanitary materials and private spaces. National baseline data shows that poverty and early school dropout are major structural drivers of early marriage and health vulnerabilities among adolescent girls aged 15 - 19.

Menstrual hygiene challenges are a critical but often overlooked entry point into the “Triangle of Harm”, the intersectional risk of adolescent pregnancy, HIV/STIs, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that continues to affect young people. Limited access to affordable menstrual products forces many adolescent girls to miss school or drop out entirely, increasing their exposure to early marriage, transactional sex, and unsafe environments directly associated with these heightened risks.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony, Mr. Leonard Zulu, UNFPA Youth Development Analyst, noted that, “By providing sustainable ways of producing reusable sanitary wear, the EmpowerED program is allowing young people to stay in school even when their periods have started.”

Caritas Zambia is “proud to partner with UNFPA under the EmpowerED framework, a collaboration that reaffirms the progressive role religious networks play in social development, significantly boosting school retention and overall health outcomes," added Ms. Joy Katayi, Assistant Program Officer for Child Protection at Caritas Zambia.

The Rev. Dr. Fr. Wilfred Houari, Diocesan Education Secretary at the Catholic Bishop’s Office in the Mongu Diocese, reaffirmed the Church's commitment: “The Catholic Church is here to serve its community. With over 500 schools across the country and 17 in Mongu, the Catholic Diocese will make good use of the sewing machines and ensure they serve and empower girls.”

Faith-based organizations manage 15% to 25% of the infrastructure that delivers essential education and healthcare across Zambia, particularly within hard-to-reach rural communities. The EmpowerED Programme utilizes this profound reach, leveraging safeguarding policies and age-appropriate Life Skills and Health Education (LSHE) within faith-based learning institutions.

True development happens when we move beyond short-term handouts toward industrial self-reliance. Localizing pad manufacturing inside the diocese creates a sustainable cycle of care that directly addresses school dropout rates, honors the social teachings of the Church, and upholds the inherent human dignity of our girls.

UNFPA and Caritas Zambia will continue to accelerate system-strengthening activities, monitor institutionalized child safeguarding, and provide local communities with disaggregated data to ensure zero gaps in service delivery.

About UNFPA: UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

About Caritas Zambia: Caritas Zambia is the social development wing of the Catholic Church in Zambia, dedicated to fostering human dignity, justice, peace and community empowerment through its robust local diocesan and educational networks.

Media Contacts:

UNFPA

Name: Christabel Chengo Chabwela

Title: Communications Analyst

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Caritas Zambia

Name: Chibesa Ngulube Ngwira

Title: Knowledge Management Specialist

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download the entire copy of the EmpowerED Project: Local Menstrual Hygiene Manufacturing as a Catalyst for Girls' Education and Autonomy Press Release here: https://caritaszambia.org/phocadownload/general/UNFPA-Caritas-Press-Release-km.pdf