Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has said that it is not a crime for a political party to use its regalia to make face masks as long as it is intended to save the lives of people.
Ms. Siliya said all political parties, religious groups, and ethnic groups should unite to fight the pandemic, adding that the time for politicking is not now as the country is struggling to eliminate the disease which has affected everyone regardless of their political affiliation.
Ms. Siliya further explained that the move by political parties and religious groups to donate towards the fight against COVID-19 is encouraging and that it should continue.
Ms Siliya also has appealed to public transport owners to adhere to the directive of operating at 50 per cent capacity in line with the social distancing measure.
Ms. Siliya, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, stated that the government spared public transportation business from suspension because it was deemed as an essential business hence the need for the operators to follow the health guideline.
Meanwhile, Zambia has in the last 24 hours recorded four new laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 to bring the total number of cases to 52.
This is the second time Zambia has recorded four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in one day from the time the disease broke out in the country last month.
Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said during an update in Lusaka today that of the four cases, one is linked to the Makeni family who tested positive to the virus recently while another is from Kafue where a mass screening is currently going on.
Dr. Chitalu said another new case involves a 10-year-old girl of Kabwe, whose family hosted Lusaka based visitors from Marapodi compound where the virus is suspected to have emanated from.
He said the fourth case is a 19-year-old female of Bauleni compound who was admitted to Chilenje clinic and tested positive thereafter.
The minister explained that all four new cases have since been isolated in the facilities.
The total number of active cases under care in isolations centres is now 20 with 16 of them being stable.
He said all the contacts to the new cases are being tracked by the health personnel in the field so that they can be investigated and screened for the virus.
“Our teams are currently in the field to investigate contacts to the 19-year-old female of Bauleni and the 10-year-old of Kabwe and the family that visited them. We will screen all the contacts that include neighbors and all those who came in contact with them. Please, cooperate with our teams in the field,” Dr. Chilufya emphasized.
He observed that the move to start testing all patients who present symptoms of COVID-19 in health facilities in Lusaka is bearing fruits as the new cases have been picked up using the new formula.
He said government will continue to encourage all public health facilities to test anyone who presents symptoms such as fever and flu.
The Minister said early detection of the virus could help disrupt the spread of the pandemic.
Dr. Chilufya reiterated that the possibilities of people contracting the disease on public transport are high especially if the passengers do not mask-up.
Tell them mama dora. I am tired of explaining to these stiff necked chaps in opposition and diaspora. In fact the pf have started a clever trend. If all parties decide to make such masks then we won’t struggle with supply of masks. We encourage all parties to go ahead and make such masks. The more the better and cheaper for government as taxpayers money will be saved. Good riddance. Kz
If the PF desire, they can even put Edgar’s portrait on the bank notes but it won’t change our perspective of who he is. Even across the boarder Peter Mutharika has put his portrait on hand sanitizer. We know what PF and Edgar are no amount of campaigns will change that, ask RB & MMD. The anxiety of the eminent loss of power is making the PF insane
Its not a crime but it is IMMORAL!
Yeah its not a crime so start making syringes for doctors with the PF logo on them. Donate aprons for the Nurses with the PF logo on them, You can even donate coffins with the PF logo on them.
Donations must be done behind closed doors. Ministry of Health must just be announcing that they received donated items worth so and so without mentioning the ones behind the donations.
The Bible encourages us not to announce the good things we do for others. SO BRANDING OF FACE MASKS IS WRONG.
Look at these stupid people with masks even putting under their chins…they think its a fashion parade. How are is a conductor in a small Toyota Haice going to adhere to social distancing he will have to carry 4-5 people maximum. This pandemic is truly exposing these clowns for what they are…. fooooooooooools. Its a crime to give people textile cut outs as protection when it can not protect you against a virus. He is now talking about early detection when he was testing 20 people a day last week.
Lazi – The Bible also condones slavery, sexism,genocide …etc so dont bring that rubbish novel in here
question these people blindly supporting this move is have you seen any of these people in pf leadership wearing A chitenge mask?they have high grade medically certified masks and yet people want to defend them at whose expense? let us wise up and take care of our families we know best ourselves.
Dora Siliya, it is immoral to politicize this corona virus pandemic and kindly tell your boyfriend Edgar Chagwa Lungu. We are not stupid to tell you the bitter truth! You can use them as period pads since no one will see your PF masks.
Tarino who is foolish between a country like Zambia where deaths are only 2 and your adopted country where deaths are thousand chakutu uko. Haha you are a mad angry boy probably suffering from mental health. Lockdown is getting to you. Plus we know that there they segregate weirdos like you. So I am not surprised at your anger. Why not take your energy and question your British government which has lambentably failed? Uyopa bazungu? It’s easier to pick on your fellow black African tefyo? Pathetic insignificant excuse of a human being. You better remain there and itse good you moved away from my beautiful country. We don’t need negative evil sadists like yourself. Continue doing menial jobs there until you get grey hairs
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You need surgical masks, who needs your PF chitenge material regalia as masks.
Which money was used to make those lungu and PF masks ???
If it was PF money , than fine…..but using tax payers money to push PF regalia is corruption
Then allow HH to do the same.
The inmates are running the asylum.
Its Friday. Time to open a bottle of 40 year old whisky while relaxing at home. I will now read the comments from the haters in diaspora. Kz
This is the beginning of the terrible effect of corona virus spreading in the compounds like bauleni, surely this is regrettable. All the blame is heaped on Edgar Chagwa Lungu! He failed to act on time, fleights from overseas must have been grounded by now. We are advised him to lock down the country a month ago but our advice fell on the deaf ears of the President Lungu. To him its booze as usual at state house. Anyway good luck country men and women, this is the beginning of the terrible situation.
PF are full empty tins for sure , it’s even embarrassing…..
Everything is to brand ? …… that’s how they even branded toilet paper with lungus face on it some years back……
too excited these mangwams
Of course, ethics don’t matter in the PF. Not surprised by the ” it’s not a crime” comment. It’s a perfect fit wth everything they hv done.
Coronavirus must be laughing its head off watching vizende va PF laying a fertile ground for it to fester! Never ever should we allow stupid *****s like Lungu, Dora, Kainyo Zulu, Nkandu Lunyo lwa aBisa etc from coming anywhere near our corridors of power. They pose an existential threat to us all.
The shameless pathetic tendencies of the PF to use such endeavours to protect the general public against the virus, for their own primitive political ends. Typical sewer politics. No morality, no values and no thinking faculties. Critically speaking, the reduction of transmission measures have been piecemeal, especially that this has come at a time when we have a regime that has no vision and direction in every aspect of human endeavour.
I am only hoping that my hypothesis about how the coronavirus is affecting some African countries is what will save us from losing many people. I) We have a larger younger population. Around 40% of some deaths in countries like Italy, Spain and the UK have been amongst the elderly population (very high life expectancy but more underlying health…
… issues) 2) Hopefully, also, our experience with Malaria may provide some kind of immunity against coronavirus. This is being looked at.
I feel sorry for Dora Silly as Govt spokeswoman she is MMD and is caught between a rock and a hard place so she has to give a diplomatic response…on one side she has SG Mwila recently received his G12 results who is very sensitive and on the other its not clear who is there but its a big fish maybe backed by Lazy himself…its total confusion and these morons are showing how thirsty these hyenas are to loot public resources even when there is pandemic…shame on you, shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dora Siliya is a person much capable of being better than this. But she’s happy with the status quo so doesn’t care about being better than it. Look Dora, you are capable of being better than this. So go ahead and be a star.
“Dora Siliya has said that it is not a crime for a political party to use its regalia to make face masks as long as it is intended to save the lives of people. Ms. Siliya said all political parties, religious groups, and ethnic groups should unite to fight the pandemic, adding that the time for politicking is not now”
Is it just me or there is self-contradiction in the same breath here!! Why can’t we just rise above politics for once. KZ is even advocating that other parties make their own! In this politically charged environment where intolerance runs rife. PLEASE!!! Eish!!
I am now on my third glass of whiskey, kaya imwe uko ku diaspora how you are doing? Are you still bubbing away like a sacrificial hippo, and yet you have no clue about governance. You can spend all night typing rubbish here but at end of day it’s us in government who make the decisions and have been entrusted to govern. Your little views are only just that. You don’t even vote so how can you be taken seriously? Cheers to you all .kz
Third glass of whisky. Just like your boss you are a chakolwa. Unfit to enter State House
I give up. Let the heart of stone remember tears, and the soul of fire remember love. Cry my beloved country, Cry!!!
So ba Kaizar, this is what u have been reduced to? Blogging and being the first to comment on articles, on this pf aligned media. By the way, how is Chris zumani Zulu?
A mask is a mask as long as it saves your life.
Other parties can also make their branded masks.
Let’s concentrate on fighting covid-19 whatever our Political leanings. Come on people.
Voetsek
Positioning is very important in this competitive world………the more we have the branded regalia the merrier for the locals. Even Chinese shops are now taking advantage of them.
So lets have these branded masks from all those that would manage and stop politicizing this matter.
Busy justifying masks in PF colors instead of telling us when the second worst performing currency in the world the kwacha will move from the insane state they have put it in to normalcy, the price of mealie meal is up there. Reserves are gone. Inflation is not even talking to them, it is underperforming and just following what they are doing. Mopani CEO is stopped from leaving the country in an arbitrary manner, without any court order, despite the dispute the man still must enjoy his liberties including to go and see his family in Europe and return , even mis using the word fleeing, who said he was going for good. No matter how sensitive or hot the issue may be, lets still remain civil please. Ndiye kukangiwa proper uku. What is our new status, junk? Vichili vikwiza…..
KZ insulting well meaning citizens will not insulate you as public enemy of Zambia. You or impostor, Zambians will not forget that you have harassed, beaten, maimed, humiliated, kidnapped, fired guns and shot Zambians and dehumanise Zambians. Zambians deserve justice and time is coming to get it. Cleansing yourself on this site will not wash up, records, living witnesses exist and testimonies will be in your face.
Sorry, “Hon” Silly, I mean Siliya…
Using K25,000 of PUBLIC money to pay for masks branded with YOUR party’s regalia sure sounds like crime to me. Do you mean to say there is no other fabric in Zambia? Oh, they had all this chitenge lying around? I see… OK, so why weren’t the masks donated as a good gesture like you say? Ah… they needed an income? OK… so now try this:
Is your PF government ready to use the Presidential Empowerment Initiative to buy K25,000 of face masks branded with UPND regalia?
If not, it sure sounds like PUBLIC HEALTH is you excuse and NOT the main concern! Face it, anyway you slice it this it was a clumsy move… on the day face masks are made mandatory no less. Shame!
WELL SAID !! IF ANYTHING THE MASKS SHOULD HAVE HAD OUR NATIOANL FLAG ON IT NOT THE PF !!!! THIS IS A CRIME DORA !
More loadshedding, more lies about water levels, more misuse of public funds for political mileage? Is there a president in the country or is the country in free mode such that whoever wants to utter nonsense can do so without hesitation.
But ba upnd sure ,you’re suprised over a face mask, come 2021, we will rebrand mealmeal,cookin, and other basic material with a pf symbo to see if you will refuse to collect imwe ma talented loosers.
@Kaizar Zulu rigging is not governance, just enjoy your fake whiskey while voters suffer.
@kaizar…watcha and learn fake Kaizar. First, you do not even know what a 40 years old bottle of whiskey tastes like but more importantly making fun of Britain is the stupidest thing you can do. Just wait know for Zambia. Last cases were all transmitted within and what is even more frightening in the compounds. Bottom line, Moh has already lost the fight. Second, why have they lost. Because “your” government or as you say “us” messed up big times especially since this drunkard came into power. He and most of his crooks have no idea how to govern and run a country. Only thing they know is getting rich and signing loan agreements (by the way against the law coz didn’t ask parliament) for overprized contracts with low quality. Coz of this mismanagement and corruption they kept the…
When this covid started the first to cry “LET’S NOT POLITISE COVID” was pf , what has changed? Everyone knows how pf cadres don’t like divergent views, I don’t think they can allow people from other political parties to put on their party regalia, this can just create another problem on top of the corona virus.
While its not a crime to make face masks out of PF regalia, surely its extremely inappropriate to do such a thing. Why not use plain white material instead ?! Using the COvid 19 crisis to advertise a political party is just not on !
Why is the government Spokesperson defending a political party’s actions. Why doesn’t she leave that to the concerned political party’s Spokesperson?
@KAKE KAIZAR, YOU ARE A FOOOOOOL…….
Roy mudenda you are just a silly joker who has no substance. What can you tell me you eh! Apart from just insulting me here. You think those insults will win your party the next election? You are dreaming. You are losing and this time by a huge margin. To the other joker above saying i have been reduced to blogging, if being given a post of director within OP is being reduced then you are right I have been reduced. Haha your hating will just give you BP
Only in a visionless govt like yours can give a cruelless cadre like you a position in op. Op technocrats can not be on social media commenting useless things. You are op at pf Secretariat
Cant wait for 2021 when this useless woman will be thrown in the political dustbin once and for all. She is too silver tongued!
What a statement! And Lungu your boss remains silent on such dirty reasoning! Dora must be taken to a school in maturity. For something to be condemned it does not have to be a crime. People insult each other in parliament and it’s not a crime. Remember how you Dora raised your middle finger at your fellow mps? Adultery is not a crime but it’s condemned. What the PF was doing by taking advantage of an illness to advertise themselves is lowdown immoral and must be condemned. No right thinking politician would defend that
Can somebody please hire KZ, the guy is jobless n blogging on LST nilly willy. Whoever hires him please make it a mast that he works on Saturday also so that the whiskey bottle last a bit longer. Thanks
@Kaizar Zulu
You are too late my brother…we had Mushota from England, Saulosi and Katondo boys from USA, Engineer from Australia and of course Nine Chale from Germany, Nubian Princess and Meimatungu from USA and also Mwanawakwithu…..Kaizar you are just a joker compared to these bloggers….I forgot to mention the ever drunk Nostradmus
Yes its not a crime …but its very unethical ,improper and lacking human decency to use a deathly disease as a political billboard to advertise party.
If Kaizar Zulu can help make Zambia as good like here ku diaspora then he can lecture us. But for now he should shut his domo and get to work instead of blogging here 24/7 coz its rotten there.
PF are childish and silly. They behave like kids fighting for lollipops.
Dr. Chitalu stated that there was another new case involved a 10-year-old girl of Kabwe, whose family hosted Lusaka based visitors from Marapodi compound where the virus is suspected to have emanated from. In this regard am of the suggestion there is neeed to be testing every person boarding a bus from Lusaka if resources are available.
On observation that the move to start testing all patients who present symptoms of COVID-19 in health facilities in Lusaka is bearing fruits as the new cases have been picked up using the new formula. This should extended to all districts if not possible atleast districts along major especially those along the line of rail.
Out it on toilet paper too,
What else do you expect to hear from shameless Jezebel Silly?
Savior Chishimba would call this Ubuwelewele number One!
But I don’t sympathize with Zambians with the leadership mess they find themselves in. It’s purely self-inflicted! Enjoy the Fruits of “wako Ni wako” blind voting!
It may not be a crime but it’s wreck less and dumb to waste money on lowest priorities. Why is she not putting on the same masks if they are suiting health guidelines?
Whose money was used to even make or buy the masks? Donated or tax payer’s money?
She says we should unite and fight the pandemic and stop politics isn’t the act of making masks in party”s image a political move?
I advise all those making donations to start donating health materials instead of cash otherwise these people will continue misppropriating these cash donations.
Public transportation has been spared that it is essential. In which capacity is it essential tax payment or putting lives at risks? Is it possible to maintain the one meter apart social distance in a bus? Does it not amount to unhealthy gathering when people from different places are packed next to each other on these buses? A bus is an arrangement where people move in and out and as they do so what is the probability of touching surfaces and infecting others?
Contracts of new cases are being tracked. When are we going to start being ahead of time instead of chasing after time in our actions? One minister admits that public transport is a high risk the other says it is essential. 10 year girl of kabwe hosted people from lsk. How did the people get there? Did they travel by wind? Is it hard to see that Lusaka is now a source of the disease to other districts through public transportation? I get it we are afraid the economy will colapse if we close down businesses that pay tax daily. But between life and economy which one must we put first. Can we bring back life? No. Can we bring back economy? Yes please we are not dogs we are humans. You have money to protect yourselves feel pity for those poor ones who can’t afford these protection gears…
DUR4ING RB EVEN TREES HAD A MMD REGALIA. WHETHER U DO ANY TRICKS NOTHING WILL WORK FOR U. ZAMBIANS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF PF WITH VISIONLESS *****S LIKE KZ,RED LIP,LUSAMBO ETC.MY HUMBLE WARNING TO KZ HE SHOULD BE MIND FULL WITH WHAT HE WRITE. CHIKOPOSANA KWANTI LUSAMBO,RED LIP.THESE ARE LOUD TINS. COVID-19 DOES NOT ONLY ATTACK PF BUT IT IS A DISEASE FOR EVERYONE. MAYO SILIYA JUST CONTINUE UKUSUNDA PA BENDI. CHISHA TOLD US THE NATION OF ZAMBIA. AND REMEMBER,THAT YOUR PAYBACK TIME IS COMING.TANKO IYO IT WILL BE FINISHED WITH CASE AFTER CASE. SATA SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED TILL U WENT IN JAIL.
Its not a crime but it is in extremely bad taste.
Look above at how angry the evil diasporans are. Why are you so upset? Zambia is no longer your country and I am confident you are no longer zambians because no zambian I have come across hates their country as much as you hate zambia. We know you have been programmed to hate your roots and to bring distraction to Africa by your colonial masters. But let me warn you that you won’t manage. You will die there as minority with nothing to show for it apart from grey hair and wrinkles. Kz
Ati Director at OP. Heheheeee. No wonder. Grow up young man your jnrs are seeing your dullness in what u posting. have brains u are not kid.
But @KZ walipena and avery bitter Gumu Gumu (Blue Head ) especially to people in diaspora. Just continue enjoying stolen money with your clueless president but remember that you will one day be made to account for all your wrong deeds whilst in office.Mwaice ,icibemba citila, Insansa shinyo bulanda .You won’t drink the whisky you are mentioning as you will be in Chimbokaila together with your PF leaders towards end of 2021.Mark my words mambala this will happen soon after the elections .Kolokombwa .Kolokombwa iwee
A K Zulu why have you reduced yourself to such levels if you really a Director of OP?
Mind your postings they are going to haunt you.