The Nation’s leading road safety NGO, the Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST), is deeply saddened by the loss of five innocent lives this morning in the bus accident.

According to the Police, five people died in a road traffic accident that happened in Kabwe this morning involving a Nakonde-bound Likili Motorways Bus which was coming from Lusaka. Another 13 people from the same bus sustained serious injuries while 42 sustained minor injuries.

In the meantime, the ZRST extends sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones today. We pray that they will find the strength to get through this extremely difficult time. We also extend our sympathies to those who have family members that were injured in the accident.

ZRST calls upon the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the Police for a thorough investigation into the cause of this accident and a full evaluation is made of this stretch of road, which has already claimed far too many lives.

In order to reduce the high number of fatalities, RTSA and other agencies like RDA need to ensure that our roads are properly maintained and that visible law enforcement takes place.

Commercial farmers in Mpongwe District on the Copperbelt have mobilized resources for the re-gravelling and rehabilitation of the Mpongwe Machiya road.

This follows an engagement made to the farmers by district commissioner Keith Maila for the road to be worked on pending government’s upgrade of the stretch to bituminous standard.

Mr Maila said the road was a vital economic factor to the district housing various commercial farms which are vital to the national gross domestic product (GDP).

He stated that the farming community was engaged to work on the road using their own resources awaiting governments tarring of the stretch.

“You know this road is earmarked for tarring but government is constrained at the moment with this Covid 19, so we thought of engaging the commercial farmers to work on the road as we await government to tar this road.” He said.

Among the commercial farmers engaged to tar the road are Zataka, Zamhatch, Novatek and Somahwe estates.

Meanwhile, motorists have expressed happiness with the gesture by the commercial farmers.

Government is soon expected to tar the Mpongwe Machiya road upon completion of all contractual procedures.

KPPM, a South African based company has been engaged to tar the stretch once due diligence is completed with the ministry of finance.

Government has pledged to support any initiatives aimed at assisting small-scale farmers to improve their agricultural activities.

Central province permanent Secretary Bernard Chomba says this is because government is alive to the fact that any support towards small-scale farmers is vital in enhancing food security at household level.

Mr. Chomba added that to this effect there is need for small-scale farmers to take farming seriously and contribute to the country’s food security.

“Farming is our main stay for this country, it is for this reason that any support to the agriculture sector through small scale farmers is important and as the government we will support it because of the potential it has in improving food security at household level,” he said.

Mr. Chomba was speaking in a speech delivered for him by Assistant Secretary Mwape Kasanda in Kabwe today, when the Buy- Zed campaign in collaboration with Zambezi Seed Company donated an assortment of seeds and fertilizer to small farmers in Kabwe.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the cost of buying improved and certified seed varieties in the country has been escalating resulting in some vulnerable farmers facing challenges to access them, a situation he said had affected agricultural production in the country.

He said this is why the government is ready to collaborate with stakeholders that are willing to supplement its efforts through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and provide relief to vulnerable small-scale farmers.

“As you know very well, seed has proven to be more expensive than any other farming input, this has made our farmers who can’t afford to buy these improved seed varieties to face challenges and relay on FISP, but if we have stakeholders like you who willing to work with government in helping these farmers we appreciate your gesture,” he explained.

]Meanwhile, Buy Zed campaign founder and Zambezi seed company representative Evans Ngoma explained that the two institutions want to work with government in enhancing support to the agricultural sector.

Mr. Ngoma noted that this is because of the important role that the sector plays in reducing poverty levels in the country.

He said Zambezi Seed Company is committed to working with government through the provision of sustainable empowerment programmes aimed at helping small-scale farmers increase their production at reduced costs, adding that this is why the company has come up with a seed variety that can be recycled.

“As Zambezi Seed Company we want to work with the government to ensure that our agricultural sector is supported as a way of reducing poverty in the country, we realise that this can be achieved if our small scale farmers are provided with solutions to increase their food production at a lower cost,” he stated.

And the Central Province Agriculture Coordinator, Adreen Nansungwe has praised Zambezi Seed Company for coming up with an open pollinated seed variety that can be recycled and is resilient to the effects of climate change.

Dr. Nansungwe explained that the seed will help in reducing the cost of buying seed among the small-scale farmers thereby increasing their agricultural production which is key in uplifting their living standards.

HEAVY rainstorm have destroyed more than One Hundred (100) Hectors of maize fields in Linda and Musungu villages of Mpika District in Muchinga Province.

ZANIS reports Mpika District Commissioner Sampa Muswema confirmed in an interview today adding that as a result more than One Hundred (100) families have been affected.

Mr. Muswema said that the area experienced a hail storm for over two hours yesterday afternoon adding that fields maize, cassava, sorghum and Millet crops among others have been lost.

Residents of Lunga and Musungu Villages are the most hit by the storm hence the need for urgent attention to help them mitigate the impact of the disaster.

“The storm has also damaged the infrastructure for United Church of Zambia (UCZ) and Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) as well as killed some domestic animals in the area,” said Mr. Muswema.

The District Commissioner has since appealed to the affected families to be patient as Government is looking for a measures to help mitigate the impact of the disaster.

And Musungu Village Headman Emmy Musungu has thanked Mpika District Disaster Management and Mitigation Unity (DMMU) Committee for the quick response to ascertain the extent of the damage.

“We are hopeful that Government through Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit will soon come in and help the affected families with some inputs and relief food,” said Mr. Musungu.

And speaking earlier, one of the affected families, Belita Mutale appealed to the Government to quickly consider giving them fertilizer and some seed so that they can immediately try to replant some crops.

According to the metrological department ,in the next seven (7) days, rainfall activities are expected to continue across the country. Given the saturated soil moisture in most parts of Zambia there is a high likelihood of flash floods, flooding, mudslides and damage to infrastructure.

From 30th December, 2020 to 2nd January, 2021, a deep low pressure system over the Indian Ocean is projected to traverse from coastal Mozambique up to northern Zimbabwe.

This system may enhance rainfall resulting into flash floods and flooding during this period especially over Eastern, Central, Lusaka, Southern and Western Provinces.

In view of the anticipated weather conditions, the department advises the general public to Keep the drainages and surroundings clear and clean; not to drive during heavy rains to avoid accidents due to poor visibility and avoid flooded roads.

The same department also advises the public not to seek refuge under trees when it’s raining to avoid lightning strike as well as boil and chlorinate drinking water especially from wells to avoid diarrhea diseases.

Government has directed the local authorities in the country to prioritise service delivery using locally generated resources.

Local Government Permanent Secretary, Eddie Chomba says councils should devise innovative methods to generate resources locally and focus on the implementation of projects targeted at economic growth in their respective domains in order to sustain service provision.

“ Government is committed to restoring revenue avenues for councils in the country to increase their revenue base to effectively fund service provision, “ said Bishop Chomba.

He said this when he commissioned an office annex that Kapiri Mposhi Town Council , yesterday.

The infrastructure has been constructed at the total cost of K 470, 000 and a refuse collection Tractor purchased at the total cost K 428, 000 using locally generated resources and 20 percent of the Local Government Equalisation Fund ( LGEF).

He said his ministry has already signed a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for councils to start collecting revenue on its behalf on commission basis to improve the revenue base for local authorities in the country.

“This government recognises the role of the local government as an engine of delivering of services and wants to bring back the glory of the local government,” Bishop Chomba said.

And the Permanent Secretary used the event to commend Kapiri Mposhi Town Council for utilising locally generated resources to implement various projects for the benefit of the public.

He expressed delight that Kapiri Mposhi Town Council was up-to-date with salary payments and was utilising fees for approval and applications for development on service delivery.

“Kapiri Mposhi Town Council has managed to showcase that through hard times certain initiatives can be accomplished through prioritisation of resources… the construction of this office annex is the testimony of prudent use of resources by the council,” Bishop Chomba said.

And Kapiri Mposhi Town Council Chairman Obby Kabasa says the council embarked on the construction of a new office annex to carter for the increase in staffing levels following government’s the granting of the council the planning authority status.

Mr. Kabasa has commended government for granting his council with a planning authority status noting that the development has improved the revenue base for the local authority.

“The conferring of Kapiri Mposhi Town Council with planning authority status saw the deployment of more officers. This led to the challenge of a shortage of office accommodation which prompted the local authority to construct this office block using local resources,” Mr Kabasa said.

Mr. Kabasa has further appealed to government to grant his council with a Municipal status to have the necessary planning authority in view of the increased inflow of investors willing to invest in the district.