Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga has directed all school managers in Lusaka to send away teachers who do not mask up as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 among institutions of learning.

Mr Kamanga says failure by teachers to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols is a sign of indiscipline which he said will not be tolerated in the Province.

Mr Kamanga who today, sent away a teacher who was found unmasked in the staffroom at Bayuni School when he inspected schools in Chilanga district, said teachers should set an example to learners by adhering to health guidelines to curtail the spread of the disease whose second wave has seen increased new cases and deaths.

“I will not tolerate such indiscipline as it puts the lives of other teachers and the learners at risk of contracting the disease,” he said.

Mr Kamanga said disciplinary measures should be taken against teachers who defy the regulations.

He also cautioned the pupils to adhere to the set rules even when away from the school premises to avoid the risk of infection.

“You can get infected outside the school premises and spread the disease to your colleagues and teachers here, so you have to take the guidelines seriously,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary observed that the classrooms were crowded and advised the head teacher to split the classes to ensure a one meter physical distance among the learners.

“It will be better to reduce the learning hours to ensure that all the set guidelines are observed and that the pupils are not at risk,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary observed that there are lower compliance levels to the protocols among government and community schools in the district.

He stated that Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) is donating masks among schools and urged school managers to distribute them to vulnerable pupils.

“They may not be adequate for all the pupils but the head teachers should ensure that only those that are vulnerable are given the masks,” he said.

Mr Kamanga maintained that schools that will be found defying the health protocols will be closed.

And District Education Board Secretary Fr. Benjamin Chisulo noted that some government and community schools require logistical support to enhance adherence to the set guidelines.

Fr. Chisulo stated that the schools are also depending on well-wishers who are providing the pre-requisites through his office.

Bayuni School head teacher Kenneth Nkhoma made an assurance the school which is currently operating in sessions will split the classes as directed.

Mr Nkhoma noted that the school has put up handwashing facilities and a full body sanitizer to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He noted that sensitization on the COVID-19 protocols has been included on the daily programming of the learning institution.

And Islamic school chaplain Ikram Sanaullah explained that all entrances to the school have been placed with handwashing facilities and that only those that are masked up are allowed into the institution.

The countrywide marking of Grade Nine exams under the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) has been completed and will be announced soon, Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary, Technical Service Jobbicks Kalumba has disclosed.

Dr. Kalumba however said marking of grades 12 and 7 exam papers were still ongoing as it was a critically involving exercise as opposed to false reports on social media that ECZ completed processing results three weeks ago.

“I want to set the record straight as opposed to the speculation on social media, the marking of ECZ exams is going on well as planned and so far, grade 9 exams have been completed but grades 7 and twelve were still underway and almost completed,” he disclosed.

Speaking in Luanshya today, Dr. Kalumba said examination where an assessment tool and needed to be handled with the attention required.

He said once the examination was ready, government will make a public announcement to the public and all candidates will be able to access their results through the right channels.

Dr. Kalumba is on the Copperbelt province to inspect ECZ examination marking centers for grade 12 and also check the compliance of schools to Covid-19 Measures following the reopening of all schools on February 1, 2021.

Dr. Kalumba however expressed concern with reports that Luanshya Trust School had not reopened and was asking for an extended 2 weeks to prepare the school for pupils.

“I want to appeal to all schools to open as by directive by President Edgar Lungu, learners had closed school for over 5 months last year and it is not acceptable for schools to buy time when they were already given a two-week period from January 18 to February 1,2021 to prepare”.

He appealed to both public and private schools across the country to reopen schools to assist learners to catch up on work as pupils were subjected to one examination body with the same exams.

Dr. Kalumba noted that delaying in opening school was disadvantaging pupils and affecting the education process of the country, thereby putting the future of education at a risk.

Mr. Kalumba also took time to check compliance of COVID-19 guidelines in schools and conducted an English lesson with grade 12 pupils at Luanshya Girls Secondary School of excellence.

He also spearheaded prayers for learners and teachers, seeking Godly intervention in their health and further seeking protection of teachers and learners from COVID-19 throughout the school term.

Earlier, Luanshya District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe informed the PS that the district had successfully disinfected all schools both private and public before 1st February 2021, however, Luanshya Trust School had requested an extension of two weeks to put other things in place.

Mr. Maipambe further observed that parents had complained to his office that they had already paid school fees and wondered where their children in examination classes should be further delayed.

He added that Luanshya Trust School Head teacher informed his office of the failure to opening the school on the anticipated date because one teacher had tested positive to COVID-19.

President Edgar Lungu has endorsed the nomination of outgoing African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat who went unopposed for the position of AU Commission Chairperson for the next four-year-term.

The President notes that Mr. Mahamat has shown exemplary leadership and has served the African Union Commission with great pride.

“I strongly believe that with the support from all member states we will achieve the objective of promoting Africa’s growth and economic development by championing citizen inclusion and increased cooperation and integration of African states.”

President Lungu further noted that during his tenure Mr. Mahamat managed to achieve significant progress in the African Union Institutional Reform process.

“The progress includes the restructuring and the accountability mechanisms of the Commission, governance and policy coherence between the different organs, the division of labour between the Commission and the Regional Economic Communities, the issue of partnerships and the implementation of the new financing system of the Union.”

The President is happy that the historic African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement was launched fulfilling one of the great dreams of the Organisation’s founding fathers and that it is at the heart of Africa’s aspirations for economic integration.

“The outgoing AU Commission Chair played an instrumental role in attaining this important continental milestone.”

And President Lungu looks forward to the upcoming elections at the African Union Commission to fill the vacant positions there.

Mr. Mahamat went unopposed in September last year and his candidature for the position of African Union Commission Chairperson awaits formal endorsement of the AU Summit through a two-thirds majority vote in his favour.

The African Union Summit is slated this month February, 2021 during which elections will be held.

The President expressed satisfaction at the ongoing campaign for the re-election of Zambia’s candidate Ambassador Albert Muchanga who is vying for the position of Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining.

This is contained in a press statement issued to the media by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe in Lusaka today.

A heavy downpour in Luanshya district has left a trail of destruction leaving over 30 households homeless in Misaka ward one, in Roan constituency.

A spot check by ZANIS in Luanshya district revealed that some houses had completely collapsed, others partially collapsed while others sustained huge cracks and were on the verge of collapse due to continued rainfall for three days.

The affected families have appealed to government to come to their aid and assist them with shelter and rebuilding their houses.

Charity Chanda, 56, who takes care of over 8 orphaned grandchildren said her house partially gave in to the heavy downpour at about 02:00 hours while her family was asleep.

“I was awakened by a loud noise from the cracking bricks around 02:00 hours, that was when I awakened the children as I attempted to unlock the door when the walls fell to the outside and were left in the cold, I managed to seek shelter from the remaining room which we used as a living room but is now our dwelling place,” she narrated.

Another victim Racheal Mwenya, 27, said her house collapsed yesterday morning and she was spending nights with her neighbours.

Mwenya appealed to government to help rebuild their house as they are spending nights at the neighbour’s house.

And Misaka Ward one councillor Simon Kombe said the area has had a consistent pour of heavy rains this year.

“We have had heavy rains continuously for the past three days and this has resulted in most structures that had already been weakened by the heavy rains experienced this year to collapse. This settlement has extended to dumbo areas and the houses here are built from mud bricks therefore they could not withstand the pressure of heavy rainfall”, he explained.

And Luanshya District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe visited the area to appreciate the extent of damage and advised families occupying partially collapsed houses to vacate their areas to avoid loss of life.

“the situation is sad and hazardous, am now appealing to these affected families to vacate the partially collapsed houses because they can give in any time and might result in calamity, I also want to ask friends and families to the affected areas to shelter the victims as we are planning the way forward”, he urged.

The District Commissioner said his office would inform the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit DMMU of the situation and will wait for a report from the experts.

Mr Maipambe however observed that most of the affected houses were built in a Dumbo and urged the residents of Misaka to desist from building in hazardous areas to avoid the repeat of what had befallen the community.

He further appealed to the area councillors and the local authority to sensitise people close to streams to avoid building houses in unsafe zones.