Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary- Technical Services Jobbicks Kalumba has commended the Lusaka Provincial Education Officer for ensuring that schools in Lusaka implement the Production Unit Program.

Speaking when he officiated at the Fish harvesting ceremony at Lusaka Girls and Kabulonga Boys Secondary School in Lusaka, Dr. Kalumba stated that the government is delighted that the provincial administration has taken seriously the directive by the government for schools to reintroduce production units in order to be self-reliant.

And Dr Kalumba has urged schools in the country to use their production units to produce more fish to supply to the ready market.

The General Education Permanent Secretary also expressed delight that despite the outbreak of coronavirus, the implementation of the production unit programs in schools has not been affected.

“This is what is needed to be seen in leadership at all levels of Education, once a policy direction is given then our men and women on the ground must be seen to ran with the vision and implement what government has put in place,” Dr. Kalumba added.

Dr. Kalumba also commended the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for working with the schools’ management in ensuring that the implementation of the production unit program in schools yields positive results.

And Lusaka Provincial Educational Officer Christopher Sinkamba also commended teachers for working hard in ensuring the success of the Production unit in Schools.

“What we have seen today is as a result of your effort to make sure that products unit succeeds in schools,” Mr. Sinkamba stated.

Mr. Sinkamba also stated that the implementation of the production units will also cushion the burden that schools face following the reduction of school fees in secondary schools.

He further urged parents to complement this by paying the reduced fees so that they can work together to provide a good environment for pupils as they educate them.

Following the Coronavirus outbreak, that has affected the day to day life of citizens, the electoral Commission of Zambia has announced it is reviewing the Roadmap for Elections, and will soon advise Stakeholders and the general public the commencement date for all the electoral processes leading up to the 2021 General Elections.

The Commission says it is monitoring events closely as the pandemic unfolds and is, therefore, re-aligning its Elections Calendar.

Commission Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse says as a consequence, the Voter Registration Exercise that was scheduled to commence in May will commence on a date to be advised.

Mrs Chimanse, however, said that despite the outbreak of COVID-19 the Commission will still conduct the Polls for three Local Government By-elections in Nakato and Imalyo Wards of Mongu Town Council in Western Province, and Bulilo Ward of Chilubi Town Council in Northern Province.

She said unlike the Voter Registration Exercise which has been postponed, the three ward by-elections shall be conducted as prescribed by Article 57 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, which provides that “where a vacancy occurs in the office of a Member of Parliament, Mayor, Council Chairperson or Councilor, a by-election shall be held within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy..

Mrs Chimanse said in view of this, the Commission will institute administrative measures to guide the conduct of all by-elections to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.

She said measures put in place among others to comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines include adherence to the Public Health Statutory Instrument No. 22 of 2020 which outlines the guidelines and procedures on how to prevent, control and manage the COVID-19.

Mrs Chimanse said other measures include the observance of all Public health procedures and allowing Health Personnel into their buildings such as meeting venues, Nomination Centres, Polling Stations and Totaling Centre, provision of sanitary materials such as hand sanitizers, gloves, masks, soap and water to all polling staff and other officers at polling stations and implementing speedy and efficient voting procedures to enable voters’ walk-in and leave the Polling Stations without delay.

She added that the ECZ will further ensure provision of additional Officers/Ushers, including Health Personnel at meeting venues, Nomination Centres, Polling Stations and Totaling Centre to ensure that people are sanitized and observe hygiene standards in a public place or gathering. This is in addition to ensuring adherence to social distancing guidelines of keeping at least one-meter spacing on the queues for voting on Poll day.

Further, Mrs Chimanse said the Commission is encouraging Voters to leave their Children/babies at home and avoiding carrying them to the meeting venues, Nomination Centre, Polling Stations and Totaling Centre and restricting the number of people attending ECZ Stakeholder-meetings as well as the frequency of the meetings to be held in the District with the By-election.

On other stakeholders, Mrs Chimanse said political Parties for instance are discouraged from holding public rallies to avoid the contraction of COVID-19 but are encouraged to use appropriate campaign strategies such as mobile Public Address System, distribution of flyers and other political party materials with minimal or no contact with a crowd.

She said parties should desist from ferrying cadres from one district/ward to the other for campaigns in Districts where by- elections are taking place and are encouraged to observe all the Health guidelines and procedures outlined by the Ministry of Health.

Mrs Chimanse has reiterated that the Commission will work very closely with the Ministry of Health during the by-elections and all Stakeholders participating in the Polls should abide by the Ministry of Health guidelines on the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19.

Lusaka City Council says it had received 268 applications for public gatherings as at Thursday morning.

Out the 268 applications, 240 are from churches, 23 are for weddings, two from golf clubs and three are for funeral gatherings.

So far 24 churches, golf clubs and funerals have been cleared.

Public Health Inspectors are currently in the field checking the suitability of the remaining 216 churches and 23 wedding venues.

The number of applications is likely to increase.

However, LCC Spokesman George Sichimba says Public Health Inspectors are doing everything possible and by the end of the day on Friday, all applicants will have received their results.

“Applicants should note that a mere application does not mean that they have been cleared instead they should wait for results of whether or not they have been cleared. Despite Friday being a holiday, Public Health Inspectors and other essential workers will be working through out the long weekend,” Mr Sichimba said.

A combined team of Public Health, Zambia Police and Council Police will going round to monitor compliance.

“Churches applying for overnight prayers and those who congregate in classrooms will not be granted permission. Churches will also not be allowed to conduct more than one service because its disinfect objects such as chairs and tables is not easy to do between services,” he said.

“For overnight prayers, it is difficult to monitor compliance with public health guidelines while classrooms are too small for observance of social distancing of at least one metre apart.”

Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa has disclosed that a 13 years lease agreement for Kabwata Market Car Park has been approved.

The land is earmarked for development into a public Car Park for Kabwata Retail Centre.

In January, 2020, Time Projects Property applied to LCC to consider leasing to the company part of Kabwata Market Land for the development of a public car park.

The proposed piece of land measures 55m along Burma Road and 35m into the market affecting a total number of 93 traders.

Mr Sampa said the facility is earmarked for re-development under the Develop-Finance-Build -Operate.

Mr. Sampa says the lease agreement which will also be developed under the Transfer Public Private Partnership model and will only be executed once the market traders have been compensated.

Mr Sampa said the developer Times Square Projects will be written a Letter of Consent to compensate the traders as per agreed amounts which were done in liaison with the Kabwata Market Management Committee.

He said LCC made the decision at its 4th Ordinary Meeting held on 24th March this year and the resolutions have been communicated to Times Square Projects awaiting its response.

Mr Sampa said while the Council supports the modern developments taking place at Kabwata market, the interest of market traders is also at the heart of the local authority.

He says the Council has since written to the Ministry of Local Government and is awaiting for their formal green light to proceed with the offer letter and Lease agreement.

Inspector-General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has directed traffic police officers to resume foot and motorised patrols and ensure that there is sanity on the road.

The officers will, however, for the time being, not enforce the provisions of the law relating to Road Tax and Road Service Licences.

Mr Kanganja has also directed all traffic Police officers to observe all measures that have been spelt out by authorities as a response to COVID-19.

He has further directed them to enforce the regulation of mandatory wearing of masks on public transport motor vehicles in line with Statutory Instrument number 21 and 22 of 2020.

Mr Kanganja said any public transport motor vehicle where a passenger or passengers will be found without wearing a mask shall be impounded by law enforcement officers and will only be released once unmasked occupants mask up.

He has appealed to all road users to cooperate with the law enforcement officers.

This is contained in a statement issued by Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo