Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cabinet Approves Contingency plan to fight the Coronavirus pandemic

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Cabinet has approved a Contingency plan, including its budget, in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has said that President Edgar Lungu has also directed that the Council of Ministers to sit and propose other measures that will help protect the lives of the Zambian people against the coronavirus.

Ms Siliya said that the contingency plan is an urgent instrument for action by all stakeholders if the country is to contain the spread of this deadly Covid-19, adding that Cabinet is seriously concerned with the matter and feels it is necessary for Zambia to have the capacity to combat the spread of the virus.

Ms Siliya said that by instituting a multisectoral, coordinated and responsive action by government, cooperating partners, the private sector and society at large in order to protect the lives of Zambians in all the cities, towns and the rural areas.

Ms Siliya, who is also Information and Broadcasting services Minister, said the decisions were made today when President Edgar Lungu called for the Sixth Cabinet Meeting to discuss policy matters aimed at improving the socio-economic environment of the counry.

She said while government is implementing the Contingency Plan, Cabinet has appealed to all the citizens to maintain maximum hygiene and avoid gatherings in public places such as markets, bus stations, churches and bars, as a way of supporting Government inerventions.

Ms Siliya has also called on Zambians to avoid panic as experts are working day and night while monitoring the situation.

She said Government will continue to provide the updates as the situation unfolds, so that everyone is aware of what is happening on the ground with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the World Health Organisation -WHO- records, there are already over 275,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, affecting more than 168 countries with 11,399 deaths recorded since the outbreak, with recoveries among the infected, so far s
anding at about 88,256 worldwide.

In Southern Africa, the closest countries to Zambia affected by COVID-19 include South Africa, Congo DR, Tanzania, Rwanda and Namibia.

Zambia has so far recorded the first three confirmed cases of the COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya said Cabinet has also approved in principle, the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to provide for a legal framework to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of mineral resources in Zambia.

She said among other things, the Bill will provide for the mandatory disclosure of taxes and other payments including mining costs which extractive companies pay to the Government and what the Government receives as revenue from extractive companies.

And Ms. Siliya said the cabinet has also approved the National Transport Master Plan 2020 –2038 and the National Technical Education Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training -TEVET- Policy.

During the meeting, Cabinet also approved the appointment of Non-Executive Board Members of the Veterinary Council of Zambia in order to effectively regulate the veterinary and veterinary paraprofessionals in the country.

35 COMMENTS

  1. Can’t understand that, what exactly is Dora saying? What is in the contingency plan? Only cabinet knows it?

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  2. Please share the details so that we assist each other. We are all in this together, leave no room for opposition rumours. Muba ziba anzatu.

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  3. SENSITIZE PEOPLE IN THE COMPOUNDS MAKA MAKA IMWE…AND PAY AN UPFRONT FEE TO PRIME TV FOR THEM TO DO MORE SENSITIZATION.WHO WATCHES ZNBC ANYWAY!!!

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  4. They have already shared the money for Covid-19. Chitalu has shared the money with his cronies- water in a bucket with holes PF stinking corrupt.

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  5. Even in the photo one can tell that those chaps in there dont use computers…I mean what is there to check?
    Why is this bum Edgar not showing himself to the people who voted for him? You talk of Contingency plan, including its budget…but dont mention any figures yet you want others to run your ads for free.

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  6. Excellent government of actions rather than holding unnecessary press conferences. We leave that for small boys like hh who are presidents on Facebook and snapchat. To the contrary we work and deliver to keep all citizens safe including the opposition members. Kz

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  7. Zambians are in grave danger…….

    The same people who were overseeing the gassing of our people leading up to mass murder in our towns are now incharge of this covid 29 virous response…..

    They might decide a good opportunity has presented itself to finish the job they could not finish with the gassing of our people…..

  8. Hire me to give best ideas. HH give you 16 points, I only agreed with #3.
    – recall retired nurses, clinical officers etc.
    But my first point is:
    – dicongest cabinet ministers. Fire them, remain with just 5. Use salaries to clean that Lusaka.
    – shut-down State house, Ba Lungu has been on self- isolation for years anyway.
    – empty prisons.
    – capture all street kids, take them to rural closed boarding schools.
    – deploy soldiers + ZNS to clean for useless provincial ministers.

  9. Kaizar Zulu this PF govt did very poorly at handling the cholera outbreak so i fear even worse their ill prepared response to COVID-19 .May God save Zambia from these incompetents.

  10. No need for any plans… Cure for covid has been found. And the medicines, chloroquine + Azithromycin are as readily available on our retail market as is panado in govt.

    Lets get the world back in order so our currency can gain some momentum.

    And Mr-mercedez-ambulance-man, for Gods sake can you please not use this as an excuse to pocket more from our already battered economy!

  11. Nostradumas – Are you a Zambian. Let me laugh first kikikikikikikiki- Do you know that most retirees are not paid their dues? How do expect them to agree to come and work for free again,? Only in countries where they respect retirees are able to recall them. You only think about then when you have problems and want to use them. Kikikikomiki

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  12. To those messaging me all night with links to the south African presidents address announcing a lockdown, please note that this is the republic of Zambia and we make our own decisions based on evidence from specialists on the ground. South Africa would have decided based on their current situation that a lockdown is necessary. Zambia is not yet at that point. If you envy a lockdown so much then please make your way to south Africa. You can walk there because no flights are going there .kz

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  13. Problem with our ministers is that they are used to receiving directives from the most intelligent leader Zambia has ever produced. When they speak it is to agree with whatever the leader says, even if they suspected that the directive needed to be scrutinised before it can effected. When they go out there they realise that the directives cannot be implemented….kikikikikiki…what a party this PF!!

  14. …same with Trible UPND…. no difference at all, just a copy cat of PF only wearing red instead of green….. but all dunderheads.

  15. How do I know? Just observe the ministerial language: His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has directed this and directed that. Motive? When things fail they will try to blame the poor president, ati efyo alandile. Especially when government changes and they want to continue as ministers in another government….kikikiki…see? We know them.

  16. COVID 19 IS A LOOMING DISASTER.
    HOW ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IN THE NAME OF THE PLUMMETING KWACHA: NOW AT AROUND 17 TO THE DOLLAR.
    1. BWALYA NGANDU IS A DISASTER AT FINANCE: REMOVE HIM NOW BEFORE THE KWACHA DECLINES TO 20 PER DOLLAR. HE IS CLUELESS. GET MAGANDE, ANY ONE!
    2, LET US URGENTLY DEVELOP A NEW ECONOMIC MODEL. WHATEVER WE ARE DOING IS NOT WORKING. FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE ECONOMY FORGET ABOUT PERIPHERAL ISSUES.
    3. ALL THE DOLLARS WE EARN SHOULD BE USED TO PROP THE KWACHA NOW NOT TOMORROW
    GOD HELP ZAMBIA

  17. IS IT NOT REMARKABLE THAT THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND THE EU CAN JUST AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON JUST PRINT MONEY LIKE MAGIC TO SOLVE THE COVID ISSUES BUT IF WE DID THE SAME THEY WOULD BE SHOUTING FROM MOUNT KILIMANJARO TELLING US HOW BAD WE ARE.
    THAT’S WHY WE NEED A NEW ECONOMIC MODEL. WHERE ARE ALL THOSE PhDs IN ZAMBIA.?

  18. Our British brothers and sisters, you are in our thoughts and prayers. The president will soon issue a communique to his counterpart in the United kingdom to render his support during these difficult times. Please also note that the British high commission in London remains closed until further notice. Kz

  19. There is need to actually state what is in the contingency plan than to merely say it exists. Countries that have not reached the serious stages of the coronavirus that other countries have, need to learn from them and take action sooner.
    For example, some countries that are adversely affected did not realise that groups of their country folk had returned to the country from tourist excursions, cruises etc. and mixed back with their friends and families before any measures
    had been put in place. Hence the exponential figures in a short space of time. Have we monitored project workers that have been going out and coming back into the country freely? When did we start, if at all? It’s not only about
    checking temperatures, by the way, but stopping travel from certain regions.

  20. I fear for Zambian, ichipuba Lungu could easily get us all killed by Coronavirus! He to date remains the only president who has not addressed their nation about Coronavirus. One wonders why he even wants another term as though he has not done enough damage.

  21. These fools will get you all killed by Coronavirus! Honestly, what contingency measures are there to plan for other than imposing an immediate lockdown to curb the spread!

  22. Perhaps the only consolation is that most of this minister are vulnerable to COVID19, you will not be allowed to travel abroad for treatment this time. This virus will wipe the entire cabinet withing 14 days. Wake up imwe!

  23. This virus has the potential to wipe the entire cabinet within 14 days and you will not be allowed to travel for treatment because of the restrictions world wide. Continue to play with fire.

  24. They have no plan, finito. You can not spend time yapping without detailing the plan. This is the way they arrange for loans secretly. The money used to buy those army trucks would have done a better job somewhere else. can you use those trucks to remove rubbish from our compounds

  25. lungu has shown so far some great leadership skills.He allows experts and ministries to make announcement and updates. He is not all over the place. That is why Trump, Magufuli, msaveni have been blundering in trying to speak on this issue instead of Allowing experts and your ministers to do their job..

  26. Redo

    What great leadership skills ?
    Cowering away from a press conference is not leadership skills.

    Expect Zambia and other countries failing quarantine measures to be isolated and cut off when other countries are recovering……they will ban all physical contact with Zambia.

  27. Lungu can never face the press , he might read a written statement , but can not face questions.

    Like all experienced theives and crooks he knows silence is the key….

    He fears being asked about mukula , 42/42 , donner monies stolen , ambulances , PF cader violence , unpaid salaries, his $2.1 million after 18 months in office , PF gassing our people……..

    The list is too long,

  28. Hahahaha……..covid-19 has brought VIPs to the same level as us the common men and women. No flying for specialist treatment abroad. And it is not like cholera that mainly afflicts people in low-class areas. This one even the well-to-do are vulnerable

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