The Zambia Council for Social Development is disappointed with the poor turnout of Non-governmental Organisations at the consultative meeting on the repeal and replacement of the NGO Act of 2009 held in Lusaka recently.

ZCSD Executive Director Nicholas Bwalya says the poor turnout of Lusaka based NGOs is worrying because the process of repealing and replacing the disputed NGO Act of 2009 is an opportunity that NGOs should not miss.

Mr Bwalya says as an organisation that coordinates NGOs, ZCSD believes that government has extended an olive branch by accepting to repeal and replace the NGO Act of 2009 and NGOs should take advantage of the process by inputting in the new NGO Bill to ensure that important freedoms such as freedom of association, assembly, and speech are enshrined.

He said the mere fact that key stakeholders in the process are shunning the meetings should sound a caution bell to the Government and other stakeholders involved in the process.

Mr Bwalya said it is not in dispute that the consultative process for repealing and replacing the NGO Act offers a chance for NGOs to make adjustments to the NGO Act so that the work of NGOs are not stifled but promoted.

“We need an NGO law that conforms to the Republican constitution and the African Charter on People’s Rights guidelines. But if stakeholders are staying away could it be because they feel left out or are suspicious of the process? Our expectations as ZCSD is that this process will result into an NGO Bill that forges stronger partnership between the government and non-governmental organisations, something that is currently not obtaining”, he added.

Mr Bwalya has since appealed to NGOs that did not attend the first two-day consultative meeting in Lusaka to ensure that they do not shun the next consultation forum because this process is not an exercise in futility.

“According to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) Registrar of NGOs records, Lusaka has about 670 registered NGOs”, he added.

Mr Bwalya has further thanked cooperating partners such as European Union, GIZ, SIDA and Action Aid Zambia who have funded the repeal and replacement process besides NGOs registered under the other pieces of legislation such as PACRA and Societies Act.

He said only 35 NGOs attended the two-day consultative meeting, which was last week.

Two people have died while more than 62 passengers have sustained serious injuries after a Lusaka bound passenger Bus overturned in Kapiri Mposhi along the Great North Road.

The accident happened around 15:30 hours today after a Scorpion Bus Registration Number AIC 1321 travelling from Solwezi to Lusaka overturned at Kashikishi area as the driver tried to overtake another vehicle.

Kapiri Mposhi District Police Commanding Officer, Brighson Mwape has confirmed the accident to ZANIS.

Mr Mwape said the driver of the bus lost control and the bus overturned on the nearside and glided on its roof for about 30 meters trapping passengers underneath the wreckage.

A combined team of Health, Fire Brigade and Zambia Police officers had a tough time to evacuate the bodies and survivors from the wreckage to Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital.

Mr Mwape could not identify the deceased and the driver of the vehicle by press time

The Ministry of Health through the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) Medical Waste Project in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands has planted 78 trees at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH).

Speaking during the tree planting exercise UNDP, Medical Waste Management Project officer, Mazuba Mwambazi said the trees have been planted near the incinerator to help absorb the emitted carbon.

“By implementing the project it is hoped that it will reduce waste management chain starting from classification, segregation, storage, transport, treatment and finally disposal,’’ he said.

And Copperbelt Province Principal Forestry Officer, Bwalya Chendauka said the department has planted different types of trees such as ashok, umbrella, lemons avocados and oranges.

And Ndola Teaching Hospital, Acting Public Relations Manager, Majory Phiri thanked UNDP and the Ministry of Lands for planting different types of trees at the institution.

She said the trees will not only help with absorption of polluted air from the incinerator but also provide vitamins to the patients at the institution.

The tree planting project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility through UNDP meant to help reduce unintended Persistent Organic Pollutants and Mercury releases from hospitals.

Traders at Chimba main market in Mungwi District in Northern Province, have appealed to Malole Area Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma to help them construct a shelter at the market.

Traders at the market said they are facing a lot of challenges during the rainy season, adding that they do not have a shelter to protect themselves from the rains.

A trader, Exhildah Mukuka narrated that the market does not have toilets and access to running water, a situation which if not addressed on time, can lead to disease outbreak in the area.

ZANIS reports that Ms Mukuka who spoke on behalf of the other traders, has since asked Mr. Yaluma to help them put up a shelter, in order for them to have a decent and safe trading place.

Meanwhile, Mr Yaluma who is also Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry has assured the traders at the market of his commitment to construct a standard market in the area.

The Member of Parliament said he wants to ensure that marketers in the area trade in a conducive environment.

Mr. Yaluma who was in the area, promised that this would be done in the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, the Choma Municipal Council has engaged a new contractor for the continued construction of inter-city bus station in Choma District, Southern Province.

Public Relations Officer Adams Sinyama says construction works have since resumed at Choma modern inter-city bus station following the council’s engagement of a new contractor, Royal Kent Construction Company.

The same company built the Mazabuka bus terminus, which was recently opened to the public.

Mr Sinyama in a statement made available to ZANIS today said the three month contract is worth K9.7 million and is under the funding of KFW of Germany through GIZ phase 2 projects.

He explained that construction works at the bus station had stalled for a long period of time which led to the termination of the contract for the previous contractor Namusa Agencies limited on account of under-performance.

He added that once constructed, the bus station will be the first modern intercity bus terminus in Choma district.

Luangwa District Commissioner, Ngoni Moyo has assured residents that security wings will guarantee their safety, following incidents of chemical spraying that have been reported in some parts of the country.

Mr Moyo says police and other security wings are working together to ensure that both residents and visitors in the district and safe from all attacks.

ZANIS reports that Mr Moyo said this during separate sensitization meetings on gassing held in Soweto and Indeco compounds in Luangwa district.

The District Commissioner has also cautioned people to be aware of unconfirmed reports of gassing being circulated on social media, adding that the reports have a potential of causing panic and alarm among residents.

Mr Moyo said people should not react on unconfirmed stories and urged the local community to work with the relevant authorities to safeguard the peace in the district.

And giving an update on the gassings rumors in the district, Luangwa District Police Officer In Charge, Thompson Lungu said the district has not recorded any cases of gassing.

He said all the suspects reported were released due lack of evidence.

The police officer in-charge has echoed the warning to the residents to desist from mob justice but report any suspicious persons to the police or traditional leadership in the district.

Representing the residents, village headmen, Stance Phiri and Ackson Moda, thanked government for ensuring that peace prevails in the district.