Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cholera outbreak may lead to economic catastrophe-Chibamba Kanyama

Share

Chibamba Kanyama
Chibamba Kanyama

Economic analyst Chibamba Kanyama has warned that the cholera outbreak should be treated as a real crisis that may result in an economic catastrophe

Mr Kanyama said Cholera is no longer just a disease associated with high density communities of large cities but has also spread to the suburbs.

“For the first time since cases of cholera affected the country in past decades, there are now mentions of actual sources of the problem of which ‘upmarket’ takeaway food outlets such as Wimpy and Hungry Lion have contributed,” Mr Kanyama said.

He said Soweto Market, Zambia’s leading Farm-produce distribution center has been shut, with the Zambia National Farmers Union already lamenting about the huge losses that the farmers are incurring.

“Very soon, the limiting of public gatherings will be extended to supermarkets whose daily sales are in hundreds of millions of Kwacha. Should this happen, the impact on VAT collections by Zambia Revenue Authority will be lowest this month of January,” he warned.

Mr Kanyama said this is the time Government has to divert financial resources from other planned projects to contain cholera.

“This is certainly not a small matter that has in the past been about statistics of how many new cases and deaths. It is affecting the country, including the once safe and unaffected Upmarket Communities, kuma Yadi! It is a matter that requires urgent, effective, collective and vigorous national response and it’s a cause some of us are willing to contribute to,” he said.

“Even a K1 makes a difference because it is our problem and not for taxpayers in America. We can talk about the US $285,000 ambulances later; not now!”

25 COMMENTS

  1. Mr Fake Kanyama.

    Before we speak of “economy” we should put people first. There will be no economy without people. The economy does not make people but people make economy.

    I always wonder why below average people respect Kanyama with his fake accent and fake economic analyse.

    For me, Kanyama is hopeless. In fact, the economy of zambia does not depend on those big shops. Majority of Zambians knows nothing about Lusaka economy.

    Cholera is mostly in Lusaka and I see now reason why that could affect the economy of the country.

    The point is Kanyama u are jealous of what Lungu and PF are doing because u are UPND.

    This is the 1st time we have sèen this good response from the government in dealing with cholera.

    Kanyama u are worried because your dirty kantemba shop…

    • Mr Kanyama should explain why he failed to perform at the IMF short stint and asked to come back home…People who talk too much are not performers…

    • The levels of ignorance you have exhibited in the comment are alarming .You need to be delivered from your ignorance my brother ..

    • Ba DJ7 you are very limited in your thinking. City market is the biggest market for farm produce. Farmers from many parts of Zambia come to sell their goods at city market.The people you are referring to, should have access to distribution channels. Even ECL does not respect your kind of illiteracy and carder behavior.

    • Zakeyo, lets be intelligent the way we blog. You wrote; Mr Kanyama should explain why he failed to perform at the IMF short stint and asked to come back home…People who talk too much are not performers…
      So you are suggesting, he should no longer apply his analytical skills and proactive staunt to national issues such as cholera which require us all to put our heads together. Come on you can do better. We should be ashamed that countries like Rwandan which has had instability are ranked among the cleanest in the world. Watch Zimbabwe as well in the next two years if they apply the right fundamentals it could be the quickest turn around, mind you they have alway disapproved of our levels of hygiene. With 52 years on our sleeves we should do better.

    • Zakeyo, this is part of what Chibamba was referring to;
      “Deal with your cholera first” Magufuli tells Zambians. Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli has asked the Tanzanian Immigration Officers operating at Nakonde-Tunduma border post to close entry to anyone from Zambia as a way of preventing cholera from entering the East Africa’s Second Biggest Economy.

    • Y2k
      U don’t surely deserve space in zambia. I’m most educated than Kanyama and definitely u Y2k.

      Education should help you know when and how to say things. At the moment, all educated people in zambia are focusing on how to overcome the problem and not to talk about economy.

      There is time to make money and there is time to spend it.

      Mr Kanyama if he is not fake but because he is a fake economist , he has no ethics in his profession because he is a thief who has no shame like u Y2k. Honesty is my number one virtue

    • Kanyama is correct the nation must prioritise on organising resources and sorting the problems that cause this Cholera. The nation is at risk of losing hundreds of lives as happened in the mid 90s during Kafupi’s regime. Why do these councils buy luxury SUVs and yet they always fail to clear drainages and collect garbage on time??? Why?? Short solutions of picking rubbish will not solve anything, we need to tackle the problem at its core which is local govt has failed to keep sanitation in market places, townships and central business areas of town.

    • Boss while we thumbs up the effort by goverment we must take note of the implications ,and the more reason we should fight this because our country’s economy is not run by big multi- national companies but SME’s and small scale farmers but get it small scale or big it boils down to the economy,small or great it affects our economic discourse. This is not about PF and UPND or jealous awe naimwe.

    • DJ7

      Boss while we thumbs up the effort by goverment we must take note of the implications ,and the more reason we should fight this because our country’s economy is not run by big multi- national companies but SME’s and small scale farmers but get it small scale or big it boils down to the economy,small or great it affects our economic discourse. This is not about PF and UPND or jealous awe naimwe.

  2. The freaks come out night. The doomsayers are here to spew the negativity and depress people. Try solutions not alarms, Kanyama.

    • I was waiting for the solution. But such an important issue ends with a mockery! We can talk about ambulances later and not now!. What are you implying? You are literally saying the Government corruptly spent huge chunks of money on useless matters and forgot Cholera. That is true. But now lets get the solutions going. I like what HH has said: This is not time for politics on Cholera. I thought Chibamba had the same ideas. Oh Opposition is waiting for their chance.

  3. Just been from kalulushi, and past through chibuluma road.Near a Market called St Anthony Commonly known as Kazent i saw a Sewer which blocked and spilling contaminated water with faecal waste and on the other side the Markteers are busy roasting and selling roasted maize to the general public.
    You may wounder if people are alert or are just ignoring the serious threat of the out break of cholera thats currently claiming lives in other towns. May Kitwe City council or Nkana water and sewerage co attend to at that area and sentitise those marketers i believe some of whom treck from lufwanyama and not aware.

  4. Ba Kanyama
    There is an opportunity cost in saving the lives, obviously the government has to sacrifice economical advantages for a limited time. It is expected, Cholera is a disaster. Sometimes let’s commend the government for efforts: PF found this perennial occurence of Cholera since UNIP erra. President Lungu is a man here for taking tough decision of economical impact. Lets support President Lungu in his efforts to install lasting solutions against cholera. The problem is his ministers are nonworking but have big and flabby mouths just talking and bootlicking.

  5. No one needs to be an economist to know that Cholera has economic implications, even the affected street vendors know that. Can you please tell us something new…..

  6. We surely should have seen this coming. It is not rocket science, it is basic logic. I’m sure we are all aware that most new housing developments in Lusaka and other towns are all being developed on soakaway sewage systems with a very high risk of contaminating underground water, which is a source of borehole water. Give it another 15 to 20 years, if we do not develop better sewage systems or better water supply systems, the nation will have cholera of tsunami proportions. Don’t say you were not told!

  7. Well said Ck I like most the part where you say “it is a cause some of us are willing to contribute”. CK don’t only be willing but also do something, don’t wait until the situation is out of hand. This is patriotism which is loyalty to the country unlike our colleagues in the tribal grouping with loyalty to their tribe and the party. it is true if this situation is left unchecked it will impact negatively on businesses and government coffers. However, we happy that the presidential intervention seems to have brought the situation under control. I personally give the president a pat on the back for this gesture which must be supported by all well meaning and patriotic Zambians.

  8. The issue of cholera should not be politicized . When you loose 42 people from a diseases that can easily be contained it becomes very sad. Personal hygiene cannot be government issue. what saddens me is for us to heap all our responsibility on the so called until boma iyangenepo Zambian let’s change this is a big lessons. Zambian men let’s stay home help our women first to keep the sorrounding clean . Let’s not create dumping places within our yards. Make sure your maids wash your vegetables with clean water , boil water and let your children wash their hands before eating anything. let us support the government of the day to support ourselves. Boma it’s us.

  9. Chibamba is spot on! Not until people start seeing sky rocketing prices and whinning about the high cost of living will you appreciate what the man is saying! Government must not make off the cuff decision and drag its feet in disinfecting the affected areas! They are quick to start implementing American vaccines which may just render our men eunuchs! Have they really been tested or Lusaka us now a sample population of guinea pigs? Tizanverako mitengo!

  10. Cholera is a national catastrophe , we need to be united as Zambians and fight this that has befallen us. Ba Dj7 stop been a cadre for once so that yo shorted sighted both left eyes can see wat is at stack here. You don’t need to be an economic to feel the Gravity this has on an economical point of view.thumbs up to all those who are contributing positively

  11. By the way pliz note that chibamba did not go to IMF as an economist but as a communication advisor to IMF pliz let’s fight this cholara pamo and support each others achievement.

  12. Dear Government of EL
    Please note that certain things happen for a purpose. The resignation of Kalaba though may look bad now, may be a blessing in disguise. Cholera outbreak in Lusaka may look bad but look what it has done to clean up the city center? The city center could never have been cleaned otherwise. Noone will forgive the PF government if they will let the street vendors back in town and cholera back. I can assure you that will make PF lose alot of face. UPND and NDC and Kalaba will go to town. Find the vendors alternative selling places in compounds (decentralized). This is a no brainer now. The situation in the city center was not a normal one with street vendors everywhere. The Cholera outbreak in town was waiting to happen. The situation can never be bought to normal even…

  13. That briefcase of money that the top “corridors of power” use for entertainment should be used for the cholera. Millions of US dollars unaccounted for…plus the mukula tree earning? Come on we can do this…

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading