President Edgar Lungu is not impressed with the building inspectorate of the Lusaka City Council .
Mr. Lungu has wondered what has happened to the practice of issuing certificates to building plans at every stage of construction.
This was after discovering that the brick wall that collapsed and claimed lives during heavy storms do not meet required standards.
Speaking after the tour of woodlands stadium and a brick wall of Lamasat along Kafue road where three people died, Mr. LUNGU says the situation is a clear act of corruption.
He says it is sad that companies like Lamasat which are reported to be wealthy can construct a wall fence without following proper building procedure.
The President says the company should be prosecuted for constructing a brick wall not meeting the required standards.
Mr. Lungu however says the tragedy should be a wakeup call for the councils to begin valuing lives of people who ushered the PF into office.
The President also visited two houses of mourning one in chilenje where a 14 year old boy died after the brick wall at Woodlands stadium collapsed on him and three of his friends who got injured and another in John Laing compound where two children from the
same family, aged 12 and 9 died when the brick wall belonging to Lamasat collapsed on them.
Mr. Lungu consoled the families appealing to them to put everything in the hands of GOD noting that the development is sad.
He says while government will help the families with funeral expenses, no amount of money or help can bring back the deceased.
Mr. Lungu also checked on Down Town shopping mall where the roof was also blown off during rain storm.
Mall Assistant Manager Emmanuel Bwembya says goods worth millions of kwacha got damaged in the rains but that no life was lost.
Meanwhile 13 out the 14 people admitted to UTH following the rain storm have been discharged.
UTH Spokesperson Mwenya Mulenga confirmed in a telephone interview that the condition of Benedetti ZULU who is still admitted is stable.
Meanwhile government through the disaster management and mitigation unit has taken over the funeral expenses for the people who died in Lusaka when the wall fence collapsed on them following the hailstorm.
A check by ZNBC news found a team of Government officials identifying the affected homes. The team was lead by Lusaka district commissioner, Captain Davies Mulenga.
And father of the deceased, Kennedy Sikota, who commended President Lungu for taking time to mourn with his family, said James was an aspiring footballer whose dream was to play for the national team.
“He was a brilliant boy whose wish was to play for the national team. We are broken as a family over his untimely passing but support from Government will go a long way in easing this burden,” he said.
And Fred Ngoma, one of the survivors who was with James at Woodlands Stadium, said they took shelter by the wall fence when the storm started.
“While we were standing, lightning struck and the wall fence fell on us. James fell on me but I managed to crawl out to a nearby carwash after which I realised that James had remained. We tried to ask the people at the car wash to go back and search but they told us to wait until the rain was over,” a swollen Fred said.
Wincing in pain, Fred said it was then that they discovered that James had been seriously injured from the impact.
In John Laing, father of the two siblings who died at the Lamasat wall fence, Allan Kazemeka, thought his children would routinely come back home only to be told that they had been involved in a accident.
“I rushed to the scene where the wall fence had collapsed on my children. There, I was told that they had been rushed to the hospital, where I learnt they had both died,” the grief-stricken Mr Kazemeka said.
He described his children as industrious, adding that they helped provide for the family with proceeds from the vending business.
“I am, however, grateful to God for sparing the life of my youngest daughter, who crawled under the vegetable table at the time of the accident. She survived because the wall fence fell on the table while her sisters, who were against the wall, were crushed by the blocks,” he said.
Upon seeing the President and his entourage, Mr Kazemeka and his wife Dainess wept uncontrollably, humbled at the presence of the Head of State.
The President consoled Mr Kazemeka and encouraged him to be strong for the sake of his family. President Lungu also counselled the mourners, urging them to take a leaf from the patriarchal Job from the Bible, who drew strength from God when he lost everything he had.
One of the girls’ friends, Anna Phiri, said Florence and Helen, who were jovial, got along very well with her. She said she was shocked at their death and would greatly miss them.
Scores of John Laing and Woodlands residents gathered to get a glimpse of President Lungu and his entourage as he made his way to the funeral houses.
He was accompanied by his special assistant for press and public relations, Amos Chanda, senior government and Patriotic Front party officials.
Mr president I agree with you that it is a clear act of corruption that you unconditionally and irrevocably continue to support to this day. You are just good at paying lip service
That’s a president. Not HH who is so consumed with bitternes. I am sure he will blame Lungu for the collapse of the wall
Saying you are shocked is not good enough we the people are the ones to say that. You Mr President must ensure that through the paper trail authorities establish who signed off the structure as being to standard, if no one did why not, then prosecute the owners of the building. Otherwise this will go on with the results we saw today. Next might be Simoson building how many complaints have been lodged? We are now seeing earthquakes you need to act now sort out the whole buildings inspectorate department.
Meanwhile Mr President (for now till 11 August this year), you yourself are not wearing a safety helmet on a construction site. Those shoes are not proper for a construction site as well.
If a nail gets through that shoe, our tax payer money will have to fly you to Brasil for amputation.
Prevention is better, thanks
When a president says the company must be prosecuted, the cops are going to scour the bottom of the barrel to find reasons to commence legal action. A reasoning president should have just said this must must stop. Then go instruct the minister in charge of issuing and conducting building inspections to swing into action. Mwa cinsinsi.
The executive’s duty is not to criticize but to ensure that policies that advance the nation are implemented and monitored for performance. It is good to visit the damaged sites however the actions should go beyond and involve implementation and monitoring of progressive policies.
This man is ever drunk, just look at his eyes and month! It’s difficult to believe that he means what he says,,,,, or it beer talking
I have a shirt just like that Edgar who thinks he is still minister of inspection is wearing.
What were these people doing by the wall? Where they passersby or taking shelter against the wall? If it’s raining and there’s is a storm you’re not supposed to be anywhere near a wall, you’re supposed inside a building. The tragedy that happened can only be possible if people were permanently stationed against the wall, maybe in a Kantemba of some sort. Bottom line is – don’t build illegal shelters against other peoples property because it’s illegal. That wall which collapsed may not have been designed to take extra loads from Tuntemba structures.
Killed Lives. Lets sticks to Bemba, Tonga, Lozi and any home lingo. You cant Kill a life but take one. Trying to much to speak english
This utter LAZY BUM EDGAR talks as if he came to State House from Mars last week…clearly clueless..its really laughable of him sighting corrupting when he is indeed a seed of the selfsame cancer….just give us a dance Edgar or declare a holiday!!
Ichisungu F
Clear act of corruption that has been in practice in Zambia buildings for years.
Clear act of corruption that has been in practice in Zambia buildings for years.
building inspectorate is too corrupt. The President is right on this one. They can’t focus on what they were employed for except engaging in dubious deals with would be developers. ACC is also a sleeping giant.
Everyone knows that but why haven’t they carried out reforms? Dont fall for this lip services by Lungu building inspectorate in Zambia has been in none existent since when have seen a council building inspector and are they even there, last time I heard they was one for the whole city.
LCC is rotten to the bone. They only collect rates to pay themselves, period. That is thier jobs, to collect rates and sell off council land so they continue paying them selves.
And there is supposed to be a mayor for lusaka….
Criticism is not enough. What action is going to be taken to avoid repetition?
Jay Jay, your dope is running you crazy.
The whole construction system in Zambia is full of corruption. From house building to Road constructions. Very shoddy works are not checked properly. Check on most Copperbelt roads and drainage that are even “younger” than fours are collapsing already.
Lusaka City Council is a PF run council. That tell you who is corrupt
*That tells you who is corrupt….. and EL is the Head of the same party that runs this Council
Hey Mr. president, I think that we all know that it is illegal to build a walled fence higher than 1 meter. The statutes are in force but not followed. If people are sued and criminally prosecuted then the situation would change. Corruption will not allow this.
Agreed. Prosecutions due. This must stop. A chance for the President to show his might.
Ediga can’t show no might, he is hostage to corruption and mediocre work…he was the one commissioning drainages in chawama that are not lined a few weeks ago. When he was MP for chawama he done the same turning roadsides into mosquito ponds….
1m is about waist high or did you mean 2m high. In all my life I have never seen a boundary wall 1m high.
President Lungu is good. His ministers though leave much to be desired. Please someone sue the city council of Lusaka and Shangombo. My relatives there are suffering.
If these councils have failed to curb illegal Land occupation and construction of illegal structures how can one expect them to inspect construction standards.Mr President you should know that our councils are useless!Besides dont behave like you dont know.
@jay jay or @ h h proper cud be the same demon affecting u anti christ
You should have seen his smiling & Mulenga Sata’s nodding as they talked about corruption at their LCC. By the way when is he visiting Masaiti to check on how maize fields are being scorched by the sun. This is a looming disaster. DMMU start arrangements to import yellow maize as hunger is here. Most streams are dry, drinking water is becoming a serious challenge to people.
First and foremost, CONDOLENCES, to all the families and friends of the deceased who tragically lost their lives through institutional negligence. This loss of life was uncalled for. A few years ago, Her HON. NKANDU LUO had visited London where she had held a meeting to address the diaspora Zambians and other nationalities on the housing situation in Zambia and how anyone or a group of people could help solve the housing problem in Zambia. It was at this meeting when I complained to the minister about the situation of wall fences in Zambia. Wall fences in Zambia are perceived to be a form of security, dignity, posh and a sign of being rich or wealthy. I tended to differ and therefore highlighted to the minister the real security, economic and social implications of wall fences. As far as…
I tended to differ and therefore highlighted to the minister the real security, economic and social implications of wall fences. As far as I can remember, I think I started by begging/urging the minister to encourage the legislating of a LAW against WALL FENCES in Zambia. And my arguments for this was that: Wall Fences are economically a drain on peoples money as the amount of blocks on one wall fence can build you at least one and half houses. 2 Wall fences are anti-social. They look very ugly, hide the beauty of the house of which one can only see it’s corrugated roofing, they make houses look like prisons and are in practice, prisons. Wall fences have no positive effect on the beauty of the house and collectively, a town- in actual fact towns look old ghettos. 3 Zambians by nature are…
@runaway……
…where did you get a 1metre standard…???
…if ECL mentioned of prosecution of Lamasat in the same breath he should have talked of someone to be fired at LCC
3 Zambians by nature are highly sociable people withe extended families. But wall fences are alienating families and friends. 4 Most dangerously, wall fences support thugs, house breakers and robbers as they tend to cover and hide the robbers activities enclosed by the wall fence. This means that robbers are able to come with a removal van, hold you up and start packing all your furniture and other things without your two neighbours noticing the robbery and leave freely. Or even harm you before they leave. OUR minister pretended she had head and confessed that, “I never thought about it that way”. So, she promised that she was definitely going to do something about it- until, now when innocent lives have been lost due to institutional negligence.
In the UK you don’t have the crime rate you have in Lusaka, walls are built for a reason.
What were these people doing by the wall? Where they passersby or taking shelter against the wall? If it’s raining and there’s is a storm you’re not supposed to be anywhere near a wall, you’re supposed to be inside a building. The tragedy that happened can only be possible if people were permanently stationed against the wall, maybe in a Kantemba of some sort. Bottom line is – don’t build illegal shelters against other peoples property because it’s illegal. That wall which collapsed may not have been designed to take extra loads from Tuntemba structures.
@Peter….
….you are very right in all your assertions, but I beg you to differentiate third world and the developed were you live….I guess next time you will recommend to legislate against installation of burglar bars….next time you are in Zed just take a walk in any of the police camp…you will see burglar bars on most of the houses…that will tell you the kind of a society we are….I guess you never saw any cars parked on the street overnight….as is the case where you live…wall fence in Zed is 90% for security purpose….its just a question of who can afford….councils are also notified and approve a site plan of any wall fence to be erected….
@21 Scrut fimofimo, I don’t think you have read whole my article. Never have I said we abolish wall fences. In my contribution I have suggested laws that make sure the wall fences are of an acceptable level/height, re-enforcement, standard, security, etc. The walls which we build in Zambia- you don’t need to be an architectural engineer to know that just simple wind can bring it down. In fact, more often than not this incidents have happened. Only, people have been lucky in most cases. In any case, laws make business. Formulated laws will see a number of businesses opening up to increase job opportunities. I repeat- I did not say stop building wf, but standardise them with laws.
….the negatives you have mentioned are far less to the positives…..Prof. Luo may have just pretended to agree with you and threw your suggestion in the next nearest bin as she was leaving the building…that’s why nothing has been considered or implemented….next time you are in Zed Peter, visit Prof. Luo’s both private and official homes…you will be greeted with the same blurry wall fences….
@peters…
…Mr Peter sure, are you suffering from dementia…??…you write three paragraphs by the time you finish writing you forget what you wrote in the first paragraph….!!!!….let me refer you to your posting number 17 fourth line and I quote…’encourage to legislate LAW against WALL FENCES..’ end of quote…what did you mean by that..?…what do you mean when you say the wall fences hide the beauty of the house/flowers, they hide thugs, neighbours cannot see when you are being robbed….
Standards are already in place otherwise how will they proceed prosecuting Lamasat..??…its only that the standards have been overridden by laziness and corrupt practices…compounded with engaging unqualified labour to maximise profit
Scrutinezerer, here is how the government can get rid of these “prison,” walls.
1. Buy more patrol cars for the cops, so they can patrol the neighborhoods effectively.
2. Create an emergency response system, where cops can show up in five minutes time
or less once called upon.
3. Home owners can install security cameras, or have a security monitoring company
monitor your home remotely.
4. Home owners can still install burglar bars, but at least they are better than walls.
5. Citizens who want can buy guns for protection, after a strict criminal background
check.
Mr President, now that there is even loses of young innocent lives and other casualties, PLEASE, let this be the turning point for the end of these ugly Zambian domestic prisons in the name of wall fences. Let’s table a motion in parliament that will discuss exhaustively good practices of erecting standardised fences which are REAL SECURITY and show the beauty of the houses, plants and flowers without compromising the economic, social and security implications. Our tall wall fences do not even encourage tourists who wish to see the beauty of towns of a given country. Tourists will all be ending up in Botswana, Namibia< Zimbabwe and South Africa where they see beauty. It is a few years now when Hon Nkandu Luo promised to do something about wall fences at Zambia House, London but lives…
at Zambia House, London but lives have been lost and we should act, now.
Mr. Lungu however says the tragedy should be a wake up call for the councils to begin valuing lives of people WHO USHERED THE PF into office.”
As though the lives of the people who didn’t vote for them are not valuable.
Most likely he meant: The council should make sure that they follow the strict guidelines in issuing certificates to construction companies, so we can prevent the needless deaths of our citizens, as these are the people we are working for.
And prosecution should not just be the construction company, but the corrupt councilors should be prosecuted too. Also Lamasat should be made to pay for those funerals, instead of using taxpayer’s money.
As a planner, I find it very unfortunate that everything bad is blamed on us as effects of corruption. Please dear readers, I beg of you to understand that planning in Zambia is overruled by cadrerism, underfunded by powers that be and mismanaged by the employers. Political cadres ( colorless cadres ) are untouchable as they flout planning rules ; the inspectorate unit has no transport to carry out inspections, and of course the constant transfers of staff in local authorities is seriously affecting their performance. While we might admit some level of corruption, most blame must be heaped on system failure. As long as we do not address the issue of the system, we will be dealing with effects rather than causes.
The dangers of street vending when these people were supposed to be in markets and when plots are given by cadres.More accididents are coming and God is not happy with Zambia since when did we see such accidents in Lusaka from road accidents to rain accidents.PF regime has been a national disaster
PF government – always elections on their minds.
Good to see Lungu visiting the bereaved and to see the collapsed war. But he and his PF are partly to blame for the tragedies. The two kids from the same family would not have died if Lungu and PF had banned street vending.the love for votes has robbed Zambia of the deceased who had potential of helping to develop this nation. #Peter, yes we need a ban on prison walls. We need some acceptable steel wars and invest in our police force to to respond to calls for help from homes that are being attacked by criminals. We also need to encourage the neibhounrhood watch in our towns and cities
Tragic deaths, my heart goes out to the families of the victims.
First of all, let’s be realistic: it would be almost impossible for the council to inspect and monitor every private building being constructed in Lusaka or the country. They simply don’t have enough resources to do that. However what you need is to have licensed and approved building companies that adhere to strict building standards. Regularly the govt inspectors can do sample inspections and penalise those companies found to be doing shoddy construction works – penalties could include fines, suspension and even criminal prosecution. Part of the laws should ensure every construction company has its own internal inspectors, and have some checklists that building owners can tick off. And every builder should be…
continued…
And every builder should be licensed, and / or registered with an approved/licensed company
That way you will have a self regulating industry, that meets standards and are scared of flouting the laws. It will also make the process more efficient. I know this may push the cost of building activities but it’s the price you have to pay to save lives. As things are at the moment, every Jim and Jack can claim to be a builder and practice without a licence. The situation is worse in shanty towns like Ng’ombe. We are just luck in Zambia that we don’t wild weather conditions, otherwise we would be seeing this everyday.
As for corruption, well every institution and govt department is corrupt in Zambia… These are wild allegations but unfortunately they aren’t far…
continued…
As for corruption, well every institution and govt department is corrupt in Zambia… These are wild allegations but unfortunately they aren’t far from reality. So no surprises there. It’s very unfortunate that we only get reminded after a tragedy.
It is true that most councils are corrupt! What is the way forward since we all know that most councils are corrupt?
It was a good tour but unfortunately used to gain political mileage. My DSTV was off, struggling to pay because of PF. Had no such issues during Rupiahs time. so unfortunately i found myself watching the government broadcaster ZNBC. It was campaigning no doubt about that. You can tour without parading grieving relatives on government tv.
where is the minister of lands and local govts does it mean that the president has now taken over these minstries as well. even the vice president who is the head of dmmu is nowhere to be seen. is it autocratic now. boss you should leave the ministers to do their work and give you a report. next we shall see you inspecting schools in chipata.
It is really a tragic loss of life. Such sub-standard structures are the order of the day. There is no effective regulation of the same. I am sure similar accidents are more common than we know. Is Lungu going to be up and about every where that this happens? Has he set a precedent? And where are all the responsible ministers, councillors et.c. in all this?
truelly speaking ECL is winning this years elections believe me guys.
Corruption is a cancer in Zambian society. We have accepted it and people are not embarrassed by it. The bigger the fish the bigger the bribe. ECL has mentioned it but really he knows some Zambians are against it. It is a campaign strategy! Nothing will be done about it. It is. Easier to talk about it the deal with it!