Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima has challenged local authorities on the Coppperbelt to come up with a mechanism that would compel members of the public to comply with the health standards in their various towns.
Mr Mbulakulima said there was need for councils to embark on vigorous health
inspection campaigns to bring sanity to the cities on the Copperbelt.
The minister said this in Kitwe today when he officially launched the Copperbelt
‘Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy’ campaign at Chisokone market.
He said there was need for residents on the Copperbelt to appreciate the dangers of
illegal constructions which were the major cause of unplanned settlements that were
currently mushrooming in the cities.
Mr Mbulakulima said most of such settlements were devoid of basic social services
such as safe drinking water and sanitation because they were unplanned.
He said the absence of these services contributed to perennial outbreaks of cholera
and other water borne diseases.
And speaking at the same function, Copperbelt permanent secretary Jennifer Musonda
said called on the people in the province to keep their surroundings clean if the
country was to prevent diseases.
Ms Musonda diseases in the communities lead to low productivity and under development.
The permanent secretary also disclosed that her office will soon be paint the office
of the Copperbelt provincial administration to kick start the programme.
She said the provincial and District committee’s have been constituted to monitor
the implementation of the Keep Zambia Clean programme on the Copperbelt.
The launch was attended by Copperbelt District Commissioners, Town Clerks, Mayors
and several government heads of department and stakeholders.
What a brilliant idea!!- inspections..and lo! in the same breath he mentions the lack of basic services such a safe drinking water. Shouldn’t he be more concerned about lack of the same services that the govt and council are supposed to be providing instead of introducing another worthless scheme? Sort out the basics and then we can talk about maintenance. Provision of clean water should be a key part of this ‘keep zambia clean’ campaign and not ‘keep the surroundings clean’ while the drinking water is still polluted. Set your priorities right or is this just some political rhetoric we have come to expect from our politicians?