Press Release
Zambia National Commercial Bank wished to advise its customers and the public on the closure of our Kafue Branch with immediate effect until further notice.
We regret to advise that the closure has been necessitated by some of our Kafue Branch members of staff having been in situations that have exposed them to the coronavirus.The UTH patient, who was a former member of staff of Zanaco ,passed away on 8 April 2020( the deceased patient, MHSRIP, retired from Zanaco in April 2017.)The Ministry of Health has confirmed that samples taken from the deceased tested positive to COVID-19.The cause of his illness was not clear until 10 April 2020.
Our Kafue branch staff came into contact with the deceased’s caregiver who went into Kafue branch on Tuesday 8 April 2020. Furthermore, following his death,some of our members of staff from Kafue branch visited the funeral house.
This incidence presents a high-risk exposure to our customers and our employees,especially those at Kafue Branch.In view of the above,the bank has taken precautionary measures to temporarily suspend operations at the branch and our Kafue branch staff are required to be on home quarantine as guided by the Ministry of Health.The Ministry of Health is also keeping in touch with pur emploees,including the security guard and the cleaning staff to guide them on next steps.
Zanaco remains committed to the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zambia and continues to enforce the following:
- Members of staff are constantly engaged on the necessary hygiene precautions they need to take during this time.The Bank provides regular staff updates through a daily COVID Communication Newsletter on various aspects including self care and colleague care
- Sanitiser,gloves and masks have been distributed to all staff to ensure adherence to hygiene best practise
- Regular temperature checks on customers and staff
- Sanitising points have been placed around our premises for use by customers and staff.Sanitising is mandatory for both staff and customers.Anyone declining is prohibited entry into the bank premises.
- Zanaco Xpress Agents have also been equipped with hand sanitiser and masks
- The Bank has continued to be diligent in enforcing social distancing.In this vein,standing points have been placed within the branches to meet WHO requirements of 1.5meters
- The Bank is also implementing remote working.Currently,90% of members of staff are working from home.
We wish to reassure our customers and the public that we are committed to prioritising their health and safety during this time.Zanoaco Management is in constant touch with the Ministry of Health officials regarding this incident and will provide further guidance in due course.
Issued by Mutinta Musokotwane
Head Marketing and Communications
The entire staff including customers at that branch must isolate themselves and get tested. It is the only way to ensure there is no further transmission. Let those that test negative resume work after 2 weeks under observance of the given hygienic measures. Life will go on.
Nice jokes today from him about baby covid 19 in eastern province and shi mumbi quarantine, some people say that they make jokes to cover their fears , these sudden jokes.
There are always 2 sides of the same coin, however the lesson here is that MoH and Chitalu Chilufya must accept that they’re not on top of everything. This calls for the vigilance of everyone. As for the closure, unless all Zanaco clients in Kafue remain where they’re the closure of that branch would force them to seek banking services outside of that jurisdiction thereby taking the virus with them to other places. So the measures that have been put in place so far aren’t enough to contain a virus as ruthless and stubborn as COVID-19. There’s no one who clearly give us a picture of what to expect at the beginning of May 2020. It would even be better to open the churches, especially the Catholic Church so that we’re accorded chance to undergo the ritual of confession of sins. Father…
Chale, the retired guy died. Poor guy is going to be blamed for stolen money at Kafue branch.
Let him rest in peace.
And this is why we are begging you all to social distance as it is only way to prevent further spreading in such circumstances. When my brother lusambo goes after those breaking the directive, he is called names but in actual sense, he is saving lives. Very unfortunate that this man lost his life and we pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends. We ask people to abide by government advice. You will only save lives and yours too. Kz
R.I.P COMRAD, Good move 4 closin the bank zanaco, my appeal to hakaivotela to donate beef 4 the funeral
Ministry of health has a false sense of confidence,-almost like donald Trumps confidence at the beginning of the epidemic in the US. How was this case missed? Where did he contract the disease from? Not enough tests are being done in Zambia to have an air of confidence. Remember there are many more asymptomatic carriers who can silently spread the disease.Its not possible to test the entire population.Thats why random sampling must be done. Lets hope in June when its cold things won’t be worse…hopefully though that our BCG will offer a some protection.
But the deceased was not even working for them at the time of his death and had left two years that’s what I am reading on social media.
And then we have Chilufya stating that he has tested all his contact ….this man is comedian indeed..Chilufya have tested the marketeer where he used to buy vegetables, have you tested the boy in the booth across the road where he bought some bundles?
Even Zanaco know that only a fooooool can trust Dr Chilufya covid-19 case numbers apart from Lazy Lungu of course ….the crook Chilufya is rationing his 5000 test kits as he wants to pocket the funds buying more now is impossible as prices have tripled and his Indian Chemists in Delhi dont have the capacity yet to manufacture cheap ones.
Someone says the ZANACO staff must isolate themselves and get tested…where are they going to get tested? Its not HIV test where you just walk in even the medical personnel in Kafue dont even know covid-19 ….the fact of the matter is Chilufya has run out of test kits as he has never stated how many he has ….countries are testing 10,000 people a day and are worried about test kits …Chilufya is testing 50 a day and he is there saying everything is under control.
@KZ:
How can you do “social distance” of 1.5 metres apart when fellowshipping needs skin to skin and nyama to nyama! The longest men have is only about 7 inches so social distance cant work!! Women are also crying; 1.5 metres is too far apart!