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Chief Government Spokesperson, Hon. Dora Siliya, MP
Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has indicated that the Patriotic Front Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili has not been evacuated to South Africa for treatment as the family refused the offer by government to do so.
Ms. Siliya noted that government had last night offered to have Mr. Kambwili evacuated to South Africa for treatment but his family declined the offer.
She explained that government through the Ministry of Health last night engaged with Mr. Kambwili’s managing doctors at CFB Hospital where he is admitted before arriving at the decision of evacuating him to South Africa.
Ms. Siliya said there were some misunderstandings that arose during the process as the family of Mr. Kambwili thought government wanted to interfere without their consent.
The Chief Government Spokesperson, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister has however, noted that it is regrettable that Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa issued a statement early this morning about the evacuation of Mr. Kambwili before the family’s approval and also before the position was clear.
She told journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka today, that there is no point of circulating such information to the public before the position is clear adding that, government has a channel of communication in such matters.
And Ms. Siliya advised that there is no need for the family of Mr. Kambwili’s and his followers to feel suspicious about government’s offer to have him evacuated as it is the responsibility of government to ensure his well-being.
She also cautioned people to stop bringing politics in the matter adding that, all the innuendos and suspicions are not helping the situation.
Ms. Siliya noted that government is responsible to ensure that all Zambians receive quality health care especially those with Mr. Kambwili’s standing in the country but added that, government can only offer one to be evacuated and not force
Outgoing Law Association of Zambia President Linda Kasonde has described the newly introduced Borehole Tax as a completely absurd tax.
Ms. Kasonde who is also a Tax Lawyer and Partner at Mulenga Mundashi Kasonde & Company said is actually quite unconscionable and completely outrageous that Zambians are being taxed for the Council’s failure to provide a service for which they pay rates or taxes for.
In a series of Tweets, Ms. Kasonde observed that the only reason people get boreholes is because they either do not get a regular supply of water from the Council or it does not supply them with water at all. She said if the Council supplied a regular and consistent supply of water to all citizens, they would not be having this conversation.
“The cost of electricity to run a borehole pump is more than it costs to get Council water. Regulating boreholes is not the same as taxing them. You can regulate how many boreholes can be in a given area e.g. per sq km or how deep they should go. But you can’t tax someone for something you’re failing to provide,” Ms. Kasonde stated.
“Next they’ll tax us for using generators and inverters when there’s no power. I’m probably giving them ideas!” she wrote cheekily.
Yesterday, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Dennis Wanchinga, said that the regulation of ground water as a resource has been misunderstood and a lot of wrong information has been put up on social media.
Dr. Wanchinga disclosed that in line with the provisions of the water resource management Act number 21 of 2011, government is implementing the newly issued Statutory Instrument in order to regulate the harvesting of underground water.
Dr. Wanchinga said this when he officiated at this year’s World Water Day held under the theme “Nature for Water”, in Kabwe.
Dr. Wanchinga said unfortunately, the issue has been misunderstood with some people peddling a lot of wrong information through social media intended at misleading the masses.
He said his Ministry will very soon issue very strong and comprehensive clarifications over the matter to protect the people from misinformation.
The Minister said people are being told that anybody with a borehole will have to pay K800 every month which is totally untrue.
Dr. Wanchinga explained that all government is doing is to ensure that every borehole in the country is registered in order to be able to estimate ground water harvesting and keep track of boreholes for sustainable management of the water resource.
He added that people with boreholes will only be required to pay registration fee once in a life time of that respective borehole or household.
Dr. Wanchinga further said government is aware that it has not provided water to every household in all areas and that some people live on farm lands and may need to drill boreholes while some may even have to dig wells depending on their capacities.
He further added that, government position is that people should not use well water for drinking unless they are sure it is safe.
The Minister observed that in heavily populated areas in Lusaka, shallow wells are one of the drivers of the Cholera outbreak.
Dr. Wanchinga warned people promoting wrong information to stop spreading falsehood adding that, government does not intend to over burden people with water taxes apart from registration fee.
He noted with gratitude that government has demonstrated commitment to ensuring that the country accelerate its efforts for the realisation of the national vision 2030 that aims at making the country a middle prosperous income by 2030.
Barrick Gold Corporation says it has not been affected by the tax crackdown that has embroiled fellow Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
On Tuesday, First Quantum revealed that ZRA reassessed its equipment imports over six years, demanding almost $8 billion in interest, penalties, and reassessment charges.
Zambia which is Africa’s second-largest copper producer is planning to audit all mining companies operating in Zambia, which include units of Glencore Plc and Vedanta Resources Plc, as well as Barrick.
Barrick Gold Spokesman Andy Lloyd said by email that the Toronto-based company, which operates the Lumwana mine, hasn’t received any notifications from the tax authority regarding an audit or tax reassessment.
“In Zambia, as in every country where we operate, our focus is on building long-term partnerships with our host governments and communities, based on transparency and mutual respect,” he added.
Queing up for water from shallow wells in Mpatamatu
Residents of Luanshya’s Mpatamatu Township have applied for a permit to hold a peaceful protest over the worsening water crisis in the area.
According to a letter dated 23rd March 2018 to the Officer in Charge at Mpatamatu Main Police Station, the residents say they want to protest peacefully against Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company for its failure to resolve the water problem in Mpatamatu.
They say they are planning to stage a walk in protest on Friday April 6th 2018 to Kafubu Water and Sewerage offices from 07:30 Hours to 14 Hours.
“It is very disgusting to note that for a very long time, our Mpatamatu has nothad een a single drop of water coming from our taps and yet bills are still coming out,” the residents wrote.
In some interviews, the residents said access to clean water is not a privilege but a fundamental basic human right.
“It’s time that we fought for what belongs to us as residents. My major worry is that this is rain season and we still have this water shortage from Kafubu Water and Sewerage company, what more in the coming couple of months because by then all the wells will be dry and i wonder how we shall survive,” one of the residents lamented.
“What i know is that to every problem there must be a solution and if Kafubu Water and Sewerage as our utility company has a challenge, then there must be a solution to that so that people are not taken for granted. Let them give us water bowsers on 24/7 and that type of water must be up to date in terms of quality, not the dirty stuff which was brought some few days last year,” another resident said.
“Our resolution my fellow Mpatamatu residents is that we are going for a peaceful demonstration and we shall march past from Mpatamatu Market with burners and placards up to Kafubu Water and Sewerage offices in town and seek to be addressed by and only the Managing Director to tell us the way forward. At the same time we shall also air our grievances and tell the company how much this has deprived us of our fundamental basic human rights,” he said.
UPND Vice President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has charged that it is foolish for the PF government to plan to move NDC Consultant Chishimba Kambwili from CfB Hospital to UTH or any other Hospital against his will.
Speaking to journalists when he visited Mr. Kambwili at CFB Hospital on Friday evening, Mr. Mwamba says the idea to persecute Mr. Kambwili in that manner is cruel, inhuman and unZambian.
He says all patients have rights and it is expected that everyone including President Edgar Lungu to will respect those rights.
“Kambwili is in ICU and his doctor is there, so we do not expect any sensible person to move him out of there”, Mr. Mwamba said.
He said PF should realise that Leaders come and go, and that President Lungu should know that he will not be in power forever.
“They shall not be there forever…they will run like ba Koswe (rats) when their time comes,” said Mr. Mwamba.
“I don’t want to see Kambwili being persecuted like this, he is my brother, I care, we can differ but we all have life outside politics.”
Mr. Mwamba said what Mr. Kambwili is going through is nothing but mere persecution.
Mr. Kambwili was arrested and slapped with 39 counts.
Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji signing the declaration in Kigali, Rwanda
President Edgar Lungu says Zambia did not sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the country still conducting internal negotiations on some protocols in the agreement.
Writing on his Facebook page, President Lungu said Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji, signed the African Free Trade Area Declaration and not the Agreement because negotiations on some of the protocols of the agreement proposed by Zambia were still on going.
“Zambia had negotiated the protocol on Goods, and Services and the dispute settlement mechanism. The remaining protocols that included Protocol on Trade competition, protocol on Investment and the intellectual property were yet to be negotiated,” President Lungu said.
“You may wish to note that the signing of this declaration shows that Zambia stands with all other African Nations in its quest to improve intra Africa Trade. This agreement will have positive benefits to the Zambian people especially the Youth and Women,” he said.
On Wednesday, 44 African countries signed the agreement to launch the AfCFTA during an extraordinary summit of the AU in Kigali, Rwanda.
And Mr Malanji, said Zambia only signed the African Free Trade Area Declaration and not the agreement.
He however, said the signing of the declaration shows that Zambia stands with all other African countries in the quest to improve intra-Africa trade.
Meanwhile, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Christopher Yaluma, said in the same statement that Zambia would not sign the protocol on the free movement of people as the country was not ready for it.
He said the government would only engage in treaties that had a positive bearing on Zambian people especially the youth and women.
Others who have not signed are South Africa and Nigeria including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Burundi, Eritrea, Benin, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.
The project needed a minimum of 22 countries signing up to get off the ground and Rwanda President Paul Kagame hailed the effort so far.
“What is at stake is the dignity and wellbeing of Africa’s farmers, workers and entrepre-neurs,” he said.
“Some countries have reservations and have not finalised their national consultations. But we shall have another summit in Mauritania in July where we expect countries with reservations to also sign,” Albert Muchanga, the AU commissioner for trade and industry, told AFP.
“They are still doing national-level consultations and so when they finish they will be able to come on board but we shall have another summit in Mauritania in July where we expect countries with reservations to also sign,” he said.
Bloomberg reported that President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, which together with South Africa makes up half of Africa’s gross domestic product, canceled his trip to Kigali, saying his government needs more time for input from local businesses before he can sign the pact.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also called off his travels to neighboring Rwanda, the Nairobi-based East African newspaper reported on Monday, according to Bloomberg.
“It would have been great if the two biggest economies on the continent, Nigeria and SA, had signed, but the most important is that the rest of the continent is sending a right message to these two biggest economies that we are moving ahead without you,” said Michael Kottoh, an analyst at Confidential Strategies in Ghana.
The decision to form the AfCFTA was adopted in January 2012 during the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU while negotiations were launched by the AU in 2015.
The AfCFTA was aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of businesses and investments.
According to the AU, this will pave the way for the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African Customs Union.
The AfCFTA could create an Africa market of over 1.2 billion people with a GDP of 2.5 trillion dollars.
The agreement, after being signed, will be submitted for ratification by state parties before it can enter into force.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya has challenged Journalism Profession Union leaders to urgently come up with ways of regulating Journalists.
Ms. Siliya expressed concern that there are currently too many fake Journalists in the Industry who are tarnishing the image of the profession.
This came to light yesterday, when she held a discussion with leaders of the Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) and the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID) in her office at Government Complex in Lusaka.
She said it is time the Unions rose to the occasion and come up with standards which will bring dignity to the profession noting that government has waited for too long for journalist in the country to regulate themselves.
The Cabinet Minister stated that if Journalists continue to delay to revive the Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ), government will sit and come up with a framework that will regulate Journalists as it is eager to bring sanity in the media profession.
In response, the Unions assured the Minister that they will soon meet to chart the way forward regarding the resuscitation of MECOZ.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS today by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya.
Five Opposition Political Parties and two Civil Society Organisations in the country have resolved to rally behind the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.
New Revolution Party (NRP) President Cosmo Mumba, Zambia Republican Party (ZRP)’s Wright Musoma, Citizens Democratic Party (CDP)’s Robert Mwanza and Peter Chanda of the New Congress Party (NCP) leader have called for political maturity and civility in Zambia.
Network for Young People Against Violence Executive Director Moses Kalonde and Zambia DNA Spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa threw their weight on President Lungu.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, the seven leaders said President Lungu means well for the Zambian people as he has stimulated unprecedented economic and national development.
They condemned the opposition UPND for allegedly perpetuating hate speech, abusing social media by peddling lies on President Lungu and the entire PF leadership that Mr. Lungu has failed to govern yet to the contrary.
They said the Head of State is delivering to the aspirations of the Zambian people and appealed to members of parliament to enact stiffer laws on those bent on hate speech, abuse of social media and fueling violence in the nation.
Meanwhile, New Revolution Party (NRP) leader Cosmo Mumba has appealed to government to consider renaming Soweto Market which was gutted but now being reconstructed after late fifth Republican President Michael Sata.
Dr. Mumba said president Sata pioneered the local government reforms when he was a Councillor, Minister of local Government, Minister without portfolio and Head of State hence, befits to be renamed after his sound works.
Mr Mwamba visiting Mr Kambwili at CfB Hospital in Lusaka
Roan Member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili has said that he is shocked to learn that the the Zambian government is indicating that they want to evacuate him when only yesterday, numerous attempts where made by state operatives and their surrogates to forcefully remove him from his preferred medical facility and take him to an unknown destination against his medical team’s advice.
Posting on his Facebook page this morning, the former Information Minister said that his family has not been consulted and is therefore, not aware of plans to evacuate him, adding that Government should instead spend resources on the evacuation of the poor who have been on the waiting list.
“Let the resources that were meant to be spent on my treatment be channeled to my suffering brothers and sisters that have been waiting to be evacuated to India and South Africa for years on end. As for me, I’m only pleading for state clearance not finance since well wishers have already offered to fund my trip for specialist treatment to South Africa,” read the statement
Below is the full statement
I HAVE NOT BEEN EVACUATED
Goodmorning fellow country men and women!
This morning when I woke up from my hospital bed, my wife drew my attention to a statement which was purportedly issued by the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, where it was claimed that the Zambian Government’s arrangements to evacuate me for specialist medical treatment have reached an advanced stage.
From the onset,I must inform the nation that my family has not been consulted and is therefore, not aware of such plans as they have just learnt about the same through the usual online stories that are taking rounds on the internet.
That said, I must state that in the absence of official government procedures and communication in handling evacuations, I’m restrained to give a comprehensive response regarding the same because from what I know the Ministry of Health or any senior official from the government should have been the first ones to contact my family before any statement is issued especially by the mission in Pretoria.
However, based on what’s being propagated online by our mission in Pretoria, though physically weak and in hospital as you all know, I’m compelled to respond to enable the public appreciate my unfortunate circumstances.
Firstly, it shocks me to see that today, the Zambian government is indicating that they want to evacuate me when only yesterday, numerous attempts where made by state operatives and their surrogates to forcefully remove me from my preferred medical facility and take me to an unknown destination against my medical team’s advice.
Secondly, when I returned from treatment from the same place where they claim they want to take me today, I was unlawfully detained at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport in Ndola despite my numerous pleas that was not in the best of health. I informed the state operatives involved in that specific operation that I was coming from treatment and therefore required some time to recover in order for me to respond to their concerns but they wouldn’t have any of it. They proceeded to execute their plans and that’s how I ended up being detained at Lusaka’s Woodlands Police station the following day, after which my condition deteriorated rapidly resulting in me being where I am today – laying helplessly in a hospital bed.
Against this cruel background, I’m left to wonder and ask myself as to what has changed now? Why is the Zambian government all of a sudden eager to “save” my life which they have recklessly risked so much for the past three days? How can I entrust my medical condition and wellbeing by surrendering myself in the hands of such people who have showed nothing but total disregard and respect for my condition, rights and family insofar as my present circumstance is concerned?
Nonetheless, I’m grateful to my brother, President Edgar Lungu for this gesture as reported by the mission in Pretoria but seeing that there is a long waiting-list of more deserving and poor Zambians that need specialist treatment abroad. I propose that the poor Zambians on the waiting-list be considered first.
My life is just as important as that of the suffering majority on the waiting-list hence my decision to let allow the government to prioritize the poor people and not me. Let the resources that were meant to be spent on my treatment be channeled to my suffering brothers and sisters that have been waiting to be evacuated to India and South Africa for years on end. As for me, I’m only pleading for state clearance not finance since well wishers have already offered to fund my trip for specialist treatment to South Africa.
Lastly, I wish to express my gratitude for the prayers and support my family and I have received from Zambians from all walks of life during this period of pain and anguish. I’m eternally grateful. God bless Zambia!
Issued by the office of Hon. Dr. Chishimba Kambwili MP.
Several high profile political leaders visited hospitalized NDC Political Consultant Chishimba Kambwili. Mr. Kambwili was receiving treatment at Lusaka’s CfB Medical Centre.
Those who visited Mr. Kambwili include opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, Rainbow Party’s Wynter Kabimba and Nevers Mumba from the MMD.
Others were All Peoples Congress leader Mike Mulongoti including Parliamentarians such as Mazabuka lawmaker Garry Nkombo and Bahati’s Harry Kalaba.
The NDC Political Consultant was taken ill on Thursday after arrested and slapped with 39 counts.
Mr Kambwili on oxygen in ICUMr Mwamba visiting Mr Kambwili at CfB Hospital in LusakaHH arriving at CfB Medical Centre to visit Mr KambwiliRainbow Party Secretary General Wynter Kabimba at CfB Medical Centre when he went to visit Mr Kambwili.Rainbow Party Secretary General Wynter Kabimba at CfB Medical Centre when he went to visit Mr Kambwili.Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo at CfB Medical Centre visiting Mr KambwiliADD leader Charles Milup, Mike Mulongoti and Sylvia Masebo at CfB Medical CentreMike Mulongoti leaving CfB Medical CentreDr Mumba arriving at CfB Medical CentreDr Mumba arriving at CfB Medical Centre
National Planning and Development Minister Alexander Chiteme looks unimpressed with the explanation on why developmental projects have stalled in western province.
National Planning and Development Minister Alexander Chiteme said it is devastating that a number of developmental projects in Western Province have failed to take off, years after they were launched.
Mr. Chiteme has since Wednesday afternoon been in Western Province to inspect a number of projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank.
He said he has been left heartbroken with what he has found on the ground saying it is extremely disappointing.
“The works I have found on the ground have left me heartbroken and extremely disappointed. I am deeply ashamed at our work culture and inertia. The lack of ownership and dedication by our people working on these projects is appalling,” Mr. Chiteme said.
He said there is need for Zambians to change the mindset if the country is to develop.
“We first ought to change our mindsets and our attitude towards work. If we have to achieve the goals we have set out for ourselves as a country, business as usual won’t cut it,” he said.
He added, “The National Rural Water and Sanitation project funded by AfDB started in 2015, it is meant to increase access to clean water for our people. 1,231 boreholes are supposed to be sunk across the 16 districts of Western Province. Friends, to this day, not even a single borehole is operational. Devastating!”
“Friends, the government of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is committed to ensuring that our people have access to clean water, little wonder it sourced funds for this project, but those tasked with implementation are failing us. An overhaul is required!”
Mr. Chiteme said he has since instructed his Permanent Secretaries to ensure that a radical restructuring of the implementing units is done.
“We desperately need performance based contracts (PBC) in our civil service. This level of incompetence is sickening and frankly people a crime against our people. Friends, despite us not having PBCs, we have provisions that can allow us to weed out those that are enemies of progress. I have ordered my Permanent Secretaries to act decisively! People shouldn’t continue to draw salaries, yet fail to implement noncomplex things like boreholes,” he said.
Mr. Chiteme said it is also depressing that works on the Cashew Nut Infrastructure Development project have also not progressed as expected.
“Works had stalled and only recently did progress begin to happen, thanks to the recently hired Tanzanian Professor. Honestly friends, should it take a consultant from Tanzania to come and teach us how to grow trees?”
He added, “It’s not the work of our President or his Ministers to implement projects. But it’s increasingly becoming the norm that projects only move only if the Head of State or a Minister visits a project. Quite unfortunate,” he said.
National Planning and Development Minister Alexander Chiteme inspects a cashew unit field looks in western provinceNational Planning and Development Minister Alexander Chiteme inspects a cashew unit field looks in western provinceNational Planning and Development Minister Alexander Chiteme inspecting one of the sites where a borehole was supposed to be sunk but works have stalled
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe
Government through the National Financial Inclusion Strategy has set a target to increase the financial inclusion measure from 59 percent in 2015 to 80 percent by 2022.
Speaking during this year’s commemoration of the financial literacy week, Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe in a speech read for him by the Deputy Permanent Secretary Joyce Nsamba said the financial literacy week is an important element to help increase national financial inclusion.
Mrs. Nsamba said the financial sector regulatory authorities and stakeholders are cognizant of the linkage between financial strength and prosperity at individual level.
She added that government is gratified that since the first financial literacy week in 2013, progress has been recorded in terms of the number of participants in the annual commemoration activities.
ZANIS reports that Mrs. Nsamba said the main aim of the 2018 financial week is to create awareness of the key life events, and begin the process of empowering citizens with knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to meet the financial obligations associated with key life events.
And speaking earlier Bank of Zambia representative Diana Chisulo bemoaned the country’s low financial level inclusion which she said is difficult to attract meaningful development adding that, there is need for financial service providers to collaborate with government in putting up measures aimed at attaining higher levels of inclusion.
Ms. Chisulo said this year’s theme “Save, Invest and Insure to Live a better life” impacts very well on the culture of using the various types of financial products and services available on the market, which she hoped both the young and old could embrace.
Meanwhile, Chairperson for Securities and Exchange Commission, Amos Sikwila noted that the commission is convinced that the younger generation has the capacity to change the future of the country’s financial security if they are taught on how to manage their financial welfare.
Jean kapata, MP, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata says a comprehensive policy framework is critical to effective and efficient land administration and management.
Ms. Kapata said Zambia has not had a comprehensive national land policy since independence.
She explained that it is for this reason that in September 2015, government re-started the land policy making process which had stalled in 2006 on account of the Constitutional Review process whose outcomes were considered critical to guide land policy management.
The Minister said this when she delivered a ministerial statement on the outcome of the National validation meeting for the draft national land policy which was held in January 2018.
She explained that an extensive consultation process was undertaken to ensure wide stakeholder participation in the process.
The Minister said traditional leaders rejected the draft policy because there was no mention of Chiefs in the policy document thereby, implying that the institution of Chieftaincy was being abolished.
She added that, the document implied that chiefs had no role in land administration and management.
The Minister further stated that none of the submissions by the traditional leaders had been taken on board and that they were not consulted throughout the process.
Ms. Kapata stated that she appeared before the House of Chiefs to avail the policy document and receive further comments prior to the National Validation meeting.
She explained that the meeting was also intended to provide an opportunity for chiefs to make observations on how the revised draft had responded to the feedback raised.
Ms. Kapata revealed that the meeting was positive with chiefs indicating that the draft presented was an improvement from the previous draft shared with a promise to write to her ministry with more comments and suggestions.
She further explained that having not received further written comments from the House of Chiefs, her Ministry proceeded to plan for the National Validation meeting.
She disclosed that the reaction by the traditional leaders during the National Validation meeting was saddening as the objective of validating the document with key stakeholders was not achieved.
Ms. Kapata howeve,r noted that despite this set back her Ministry remains committed to finalising the process and will continue to seek opportunities to engage with traditional leaders who are key stakeholders.
She explained that her Ministry will engage in positive dialogue and iron out any misunderstanding that may have occurred in coming up with a national land policy that will stand the test of time.
Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya yesteday officiated at the lunch of the Biomedical Engineering Association of Zambia (BEAZ).
Dr. Chilufya said he is hopeful that the association will reduce the high number of mushrooming businesses who supply substandard equipment to use on local citizens.
Speaking in a speech read for him on his behalf by clinical care specialist, Richard Musankanya, the Health Minister said he expects quality work to be carried out by trained personnel.
Dr. Chitalu said biomedical engineers are significantly important and should not be underestimated by others or themselves as they are responsible for ensuring that vital health equipment are maintained and calibrated.
He said his ministry supports the association whose cause is in line with the transformative agenda that will see the health sector being a force to reckon with.
Dr. Chilufya disclosed that he is delighted that the birth of such an association will entail positive results in regards to ensuring that medical equipment is kept in good functioning conditioning.
He further stated that he recognises the association’s efforts and will endeavor to see to it that human resource in the field is well vested with current trends.
Dr.Chilufya has commended the association pioneers for taking up the mantle to form an organization whose objectives among others are to promote the formation of healthcare technology and facilitate exchange of experiences, ideas and technical information amongst its members.
And BEAZ President Emmanuel Musiwa said biomedical engineers’ vital role in health care technology cannot be over emphasized as without it, service delivery can be compromised.
Mr. Musiwa said the aim of the association is to standardize medical equipment management service, repair documentation in Zambia and develop medical equipment baseline maintenance manuals among others.
He said the association is a professional board for practioners to perfect their drill and provide excellent health service delivery.
Mr. Musiwa said the association will work closely with the Zambia Bureau of Standards to check on some set equipment standards and quality assurance.
President of Zambia His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu
President Edgar Lungu on Friday night authorized the medical evacuation abroad of Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba confirmed the development.
Mr Mwamba disclosed that arrangements have since been made to send an air-ambulance to evacuate Mr Kambwili and ensured that he received specialist medical treatment in South Africa.
He said that arrangements such as authority from Ministry of Health has been granted in the night and the medical team in South Africa was waiting for a medical report, and a copy of Mr Chishimba Kambwili’s passports to activate the emergence evacuation.
Mr. Mwamba stated that life was sacred and that President Edgar Lungu had acted swiftly to ensure that a life was saved and that Mr Kambwili who had suddenly fallen ill received the best treatment.
He also thanked Minister of Health, Dr Chitalu Chilufya and his team that worked deep in the night with their counterparts from South Africa to ensure that the evacuation of Mr Kambwili was done.
He urged the family of Mr Kambwili to immediately cooperate and receive this gesture from President Lungu as a measure to save a life above all considerations.
As at press time, arrangements were advanced to ensure that Mr Kambwili was in South Africa by the end of the day.
This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambia High Commission in Pretoria Naomi Nyawali.
