Mpika Town Council Senior Health Inspector Francis Kapila says the local authority has commenced conducting restaurant compliance inspection on the hygiene practice around Mpika town.
Mr. Kapika said that the local authority was inspecting all food handlers across the district in order to prevent the outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases during the rainy season.
He was speaking when he visited the restaurants located at Mpika bus station.
Mr Kapila stated that the restaurants that were not adhering with hygiene practice will cease operations.
He said that during the rainy season the local authority intensifies inspections compared to their daily routine inspections.
‘’As health inspectors we collaborate with the council police in order to carry out these activities around the entire district, as this activity is not only meant for the Central Business District,” he said.
Mr Kapila stated that out of the 20 restaurants inspected at least 7 were closed down for non-compliance with required hygiene practices.
‘’We are not only looking at the surroundings but also if their restaurants have adequate water, hand washing liquid and also personal hygiene is vital in their area of work as they are dealing with so many customers,’’ he said.
He further disclosed that in 2025 the local authority organised a food handler training which was successful adding that most of the trained restaurant owners complied.
And Emma Chali one of the restaurant owner said keeping the surroundings clean was very vital as it helped prevent diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid and dysentery.
Ms. Chali said that restaurant workers must always cover their heads with hair nets and also dress appropriately during working hours as a way to protect their customers from consuming dirty food.
‘’We should also dispose off our bins so that we avoid flies and maggots wash our aprons and provide our customers with hand wash to keep a clean environment,” she said.
And another restaurant owner Flevia Mutale said that food handlers must handle food with a lot of care as customers may fall sick due to dirty environment.
Ms. Mutale appealed to her counterparts to always keep their surroundings tidy at all times.
Meanwhile, Mpika District Commissioner David Siame commended the local authority for the on-going health inspection in the district.
Mr. Siame said the objective of the inspection was to make sure that public health standards were maintained adding that the act was in accordance with the public health act.
He said that food handlers must adhere to public health regulations as a way to avoid the outbreak of different diarrhea diseases.
‘’This is not only for restaurant owners but also butcheries and other food handlers because we do not want a situation where hospitals are packed with sick people,’’ he said.
He further said that especially that Mpika was one of fastest growing population, the local authority must conduct the inspections regularly adding that Mpika residents must also keep their homes clean at all times.
