At least five people including children have died in Lusaka’s Bauleni compound following heavy rains that swept through the area yesterday.
The dead include children, men and women leaving some injured after the rains swept through the compound late afternoon.
The heavy rains also caused damage to several houses belonging to ZNBC staff at Twin-palm transmitters’ compound, ZESCO transmission lines and other infrastructure.
with residents predicting that the poor weather will continue to cause more damage to mankind, private and public property.
President Edgar Lungu this morning inspected the damage caused by the rains and also visited the funeral houses for two bereaved families and Bauleni Clinic.
President Lungu who was accompanied by Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Lawrence Sichalwe, State House Deputy Minister Mulenga Sata, Lusaka Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta, former republican Vice President and PF Lusaka Central Member of Parliament Guy Scott and other senior government officials, regretted the incident.
Mr. Lungu said the havoc was a wakeup call and challenged the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) including Zambians to be proactive and prepare adequately in addressing natural calamities.
Mr. Lungu warned against politicking on the Bauleni calamity and called for concerted efforts in addressing such calamities.
“It’s really sad but it’s a wakeup call for us. I don’t expect people politicking over this sad situation,” he said.
The Head of State directed Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Lawrence Sichalwe to submit a comprehensive report to him this week.
Mr. Lungu observed that periodic maintenance was lacking by house owners, authorities of private and public institutions as well as DMMU officials.
Mr. Lungu also visited Bauleni Clinic to see victims including Bauleni Community Police Post where over 365 cases were reported.
Bauleni Clinic Medical Officer In-charge Esnati Banda informed the Head of State that the health institution has continued to receive victims of the rainstorm.
Ms. Banda said that the ablution block had its roof blown off by the heavy rains and appealed for assistance from government.
And in related development, heavy rains have extensively damaged Chikupi Catholic church in Kafue district.
PF Kafue MP and Lusaka Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta confirmed the development to ZANIS in a separate interview.
The Minister narrated that a big tree fell on the church consequently damaging its infrastructure.
IT’S SO GOOD TO SEE LUNGU AND SCOTT IN HUMBLED STATES, TOGETHER. LUNGU, PLEASE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS HAPPENING AND APOLOGISE TO SCOTT AND RE-MAKE FRIENDS, AGAIN. WE LOVE GUY SCOTT, AND WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
Guy Scott for Veep again.
Is that a president so much down to earth?
HH we need do something extra ordinary, the humble people are regrouping.
Where are the city planners, they need to ensure people construct weather proof homes on solid ground not imasakuta iyo!
I am sure ka HH and his thugs will also head to Bauleni tomorrow .
i appreciate when a leader shows concern – whoever it is whether i support him or not but the mere fact that ECL has gone out his way to go and meet these affected families is really appreciated. at first i thought it was an old picture – its been a while since i saw Guy in the same picture with our president. We can have different affiliations
ANY PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE VISITED THE AFFECTED FAMILIES. IF HE MEANS WHAT HE HAS SAID, PRESIDENT LUNGU SHOULD NOT REFUSE OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS TO VISIT THE AFFECTED FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO ZAMBIANS. THEIR VISIT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS POLITICAL IF THAT IS WHAT HE MEANS. IN TIMES OF CALAMITY LIKE THIS WE SHOULD UNITE. EVERY ONE SHOULD BE FREE TO SHOW SYMPATHY. IT SHOULD NOT BE ONLY FOR THOSE IN GOVERNMENT TO SHOW SYMPATHY. PF PARTY CADRES SHOULD BE EDUCATED ON THIS MATTER ACCORDINGLY.
What we want is genuine compassion, exhibited by our humble republican President, not the fake one,which is full of blaming EL just because some one want to win next year`s
elections.
That’s his job. He’s not going out of his way. Mwe maZambian kanshi bukaca lilali? Bushe incito ya kwa president ninshi? Every time he does wha should be expected of him you fall on your bellies and worship the guy. What were you expecting him to do?
This is the President of Zambia,humble man ,humility belong to God and pride to the devil. Let 2016 come.
Ba Muzo. You are entitled to your own opinion under freedom of speech and association. But do not speak for the masses because you are eating alone under PF. Remember, you only hold one voter’s card, so do not be so confident about PF winning in 2016!
THE APOLOGY I AM TALKING ABOUT IS FOR WASHING YOUR DIRTY LINEN IN SOUTH AFRICA ABOUT OUR SCOTT. YOU REALLY EMBARRASSED THE NATION- ZAMBIA. BUT, WE ZAMBIANS (INCLUDING SCOTT) FORGAVE AND FORGOT. THE BALL IS STILL IN YOUR COURT TO APOLOGISE AND MOVE ON.
Very sad for all those two families who have lost family members as a result of heavy rains, we mourn with you.
MTSRIP.
ECL is right concerning periodic maintenance of houses by private and public owners. People are busy building and some never prioritise repairs once these houses are built.
GOOD GESTURE PRESIDENT LUNGU. I CAN CALL YOU MY PRESIDENT IF YOU BEGIN TO BEHAVE SUCH HUMANLY. ONE AGAIN I SAY THIS IS GOOD.
United we stand, divided we fall. Take it further Mr Lungu and Mr Scott…..that’s what we call spirit of 1Zambia 1nation.
The PF and President Lungu are desperate to retain power next year. How many people who have lost their lives in accidents has Lungu and his group of criminals (Guy Scott excluded) visited this year within or outside Lusaka?
Instead of visiting the miners ho have lost their jobs, Lungu chooses to seize an opportunity and visit the compund he has neglected since he became president.
I challenge Edgar Lungu and Amos Chanda to visit the victims of PF brutality who are admitted at UTH and on the Copperbelt.
2016, Lunu will be out of State House wether he uses force to grab power or not. He is just a spent force.
Ba Hildah the miners are still alive and can look for employment somewhere else but this is a death issue. Lets think outside the box, this issue of totally dependent on copper has created a lot of laziness in many Zambians. Diversification should start at individual level then we will move forward. We have plenty of land and water but the problem is we want the Government to do everything for us.
chi peter ichisungu naufwilamo ne nsoni.
Ba Hilda ,
Mineni amate ,we no how desperate you are to go to state house ba UPND. Let it rain load shedding will be over,World market copper will be normal very soon . Will see what lies are you going to tell us. Mind you it will be very difficult for UPND to be in power.
YOUR PF GOVERNMENT HAS JUST BROKEN THE SAD NEWS THAT IT WILL TAKE THREE YEARS FOR THE LOAD SHEDDING TO END. THEREFORE IT IS NOT FOR NOW AS YOU CLAIM. THE CYCLE OF THE COPPER PRICE MAY TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS FOR PRICES TO START GOING UP. HAD IT BEEN FOR A SHORT TIME CYCLE, THE MINING COMPANIES WOULD NOT HAVE LAID OFF THE WORKERS JUST TO RE-EMPLOY THEM SHORTLY AFTER. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT LAYING OFF WORKERS AND STOPPING AND RESUMING MINING OPERATIONS IS A VERY COSTLY EXERCISE. IF THE WORLD PRICES WERE GOING TO PICK UP SOON AS PER YOUR EMPTY CLAIM, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER TO KEEP THE WORKERS IN EMPLOYMENT AND LET THE MINES CONTINUE RUNNING.
May the Almighty God continue showing you wisdom and guidance and as you build and unite this great nation Mr. President Lungu. The Bible tells us that God works in so many ways and one such way is this one, forget the past, embrace Dr. Scott, lets move as one great focused force to uplift the lives of our people now and beyond 2016. Continue on this path of identifying yourself with poor, wow this great Mr. President Lungu.
President Lungu, your personality is so humbling that I can assure you come 2016, us the poor will vote for you en mass. Its good to see Dr. Guy Scott again with his allie President Lungu. I can safely say that no one will ever take away this humility from you no one and we know it comes deep down from your heart.
I thank God for allowing EL to be our President: this man deserves ten years but he will just rule for six years because of our constitution. UFO for sure us the poor will vote for EL
early in the morning of that D day.
Ba UFO naba Wisdom, take Lungu’s humility and use it to light your homes and cooking to beat loadshedding; take Lungu’s humility and serve it as dinner for your family to eat tonight; take Lungu’s humility and use it to improve the economy, particularly the value of the kwacha to the dollar; indeed take Lungu’s humility and turn it into jobs for the youths and the miners in the copperbelt ….. Then, only after that can you come and sign your praises here! Otherwise, mulepolomya fye apa, fwayeni ichibusu!
EL is a simple and humble Presido. I just like this guy.
Kwana fibena Africa.Do we eat so called humbleness when infact the chap says abaiche Kubabala no ku baponona,I will crash them like a brick. Which humble he is just ashamed of his performance as a lawyer he was caught stealing striped of his practicing licence and he has failed to run an economy. Don’t you know that even hung over makes people look humble? lol Zambians lets be real. Sympathizing is good but helping the need is even better, i hope Lungu will help the victims as well. So when HH takes iron sheets and blankets don’t say he has copied. Action speaks louder than words.
Simple that he hires a whole aircraft to fly to UN conference in NY for $500,000 including parking in there for week where he did absolutely nothing drinking whisky at party fundraising dinner!
HALO around the sun on the national prayer day was a sign of storms (or as a sign of disaster) in the coming rain season although some people called it a rainbow A SIGN OF PEACE .They even called it a sign of God answering national prayer. As for me I knew from that day that Zambia will experience storms with disaster in the rain season. When man disobey God , God in turn uses nature to control him and shame him.
This is not a maintenance issue. What the president should have emphasised is the need for strong structures. In the shanty locations of zambia people put up structures as they wish without subjecting them to any inspections of building experts. Consequently most areas have ended up with very weak buildings. I wonder what the president will do with the “comprehensive” report that he directed his minister to write. Sometimes authorities must be firm to stop the mushrooming of weak structures. I now understand why President Mugabe embarked on the Operation Drive out Dirt when authorities went on rampage demolishing illegal structures. It takes a strong man to do that.
#Cuito Cuanavale you have a great point but I think it is misplaced on this forum. These ‘shanty’ compounds are already existing and when a catastrophy occurs like in this case, the president president and Mr. Guy Scot have a moral duty to go out there and sympathize with bereaving families and offer support in whichever form. That is humanity! Then he can look back and ask serious questions to the local authority for allowing such structures to mushroom.
@Mr X, I am not against the President and the area MP visiting the bereaved families in a bid to assuage the pain of the loss of loved ones. That is perfectly in order and it is as it should be. My concern is that local authoritie are allowing the erecting of weak structures in most of those areas. May be you are right, this could be a topic for another day.
Great to see EL n Scott.We need unity in PF otherwise UPND will make us suffer in 2016.The party is full of pipo who love fighting and hate against other tribesPlease work with Scott and Miles Sampa.Forgiveness is very essential for a leader.We happy with the development but jst make sure ka Kwacha doesn’t fall.Pipo will vote for PF as long as the kwacha is below K10 per $1.
Very touching to see my president going all the way to see for himself the damage caused by the rain. No pretense at all. very humble. Zambia needs true leaders like him.
As a good a gesture as this may appear, the devil is in the details. lets face it, and this is not about politicking. Mr. Lungu cares more about his future than anyone else’s. surely he knows that most of these structures in these compounds are sub-standard, he himself would not probably live in them, why is anyone surprised that they get destroyed with heavy rains and you call it a calamity. Zambians need to understand that, it is possible for every Zambian to have a decent living situation and this absolutely does not need to be a mansion. but the very people that going to mourn with people affected, minus Scott, are pocketing huge amounts of money at the expense of the people. not only is tis nauseating but also patronizing. MY OPINION!!!
It is time to advocate for strong structures that can withstand adverse weather. The debris from the bricks in the picture tell you how weak the bricks are. Government should insist on strong durable building materials and building inspectors to do their fair share. Wake up call indeed. This is the beginning of the rain season.
And why is Amos Chanda wearing a neck tie in a disaster area?
GRZ Workers must always be smart during working hours.
What can we expect from those structures built from trees and mud? Now govt should take this advantage to start planning on providing people with decent accommodation. With the increasing population it is pity that only a certain class has decent accommodation while the majority citizens languish in ramshackle. May those who past on rest in eternal peace.
Be proactive?
Gee, that’s a good idea Mr. President. Who would have thought of it?
@ Eagle’s eye
Grow up my friend & be logical on how u comment on social media. Whats wrong with Amon Chanda wearing a neck-tie? Its common and normal for anybody to smartly dressed at a funeral house. The eyes of a real eagle sees what is important than to see how people are dressed. Better to sympathise with the affected families, than toking about Amos Chanda.
SO YOU ARE AMON CHANDA?
@ Eagle’s eye
Grow up my friend & be logical on how u comment on social media. Whats wrong with Amon Chanda wearing a neck-tie? Its common and normal for anybody to smartly b dressed at a funeral house. The eyes of a real eagle sees what is important than to see how people are dressed. Better to sympathise with the affected families, than toking about Amos Chanda.
I have always advised the former presidents, the currently president and the DMMU team that unless our government prioritize the needs of the citizens through right policies poor people will always be at the centre of disasters. A disaster=Hazard+Vulnerable person
Good policies will help people not to settle in places prone to natural hazards. In addition, the councils are no longer in charge of ensuring that houses are built to withstand shocks instead, councilors no more where there is tiny land to be sold for the to make money drive ranger rovers and have a train of young ladies
Guy scot is more zambian than some people here, however the sad truth is that ECL sidelined him. Heart felt condolences for the people of Bauleni especially the families who have lost the loved ones
Guy scott and lungu togather??? These images will crush fred mmembe. He’s worked so hard to prove to us that scott does not approve of ecl. This is a direct slap on freds face by scottt. He’s suppose to be with team rainbow party making utteramces inthe post.
This is mediocrity at it best instead of him talking of building planning and stricter regulation…rain harvesting and drainage he is talking about disaster management.
Sorry for loss of life but pic #5 you can see at least 4 people laughing
…the so called God really loves us mwandi….imagine if the hurricane or the torrential rains swept thru these places were just a heave downpour can cause havoc and devastating damage like that….what sort of structures are they…they would all crumble down with barely a magnitude of 2.3 earth quake …this may just be a warning shot….the worse is yet to come…. I may expect such disasters to occur in typical villages not in urban areas……..
That’s my PRESIDENT SO HUMBLE not these to ma small president how likes yapping yapping 2016 u have my vote.
My President ECL, God gives grace to the humble,
Wow thats awesome, Great with Scott.
May God bless you,guide and give you wisdom how run the affairs of the nation. One Love
You have my vote.
Viva pf, Viva ECL.
People please concentrate on issues at hand.
Government should spear head the development of sustainable structures and housing. These do not have to cost the earth. Let us learn from other countries like India or Nigeria that experience adverse weather condition how they have managed to build houses that have lasted hundreds of years.
I would encourage communities to be proactive in finding solutions to safeguard themselves against disasters and mobilising responses instead of waiting for outside help which is slow and always not adequate.
Lastly, RIP to those that have passed on.
One zambia, one nation.