Some Mtendere residents in Lusaka have complained against people erecting chickens runs in the residential area.

One of the victim, Charity Nyendwa said it is becoming un bearable because some people rearing chickens in compounds which are producing unpleasant smell.

Ms Nyendwa, of House Number B524 /F Mtendere township told ZANIS in a walk in interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Lusaka City Council should come to the rescue of the people of Mtendere by correcting the situation.

She explained that her house B211/G is heavily affected due to the bad smell emanating from the chicken runs which has been erected just behind her backyard.

Ms Nyendwa said her tenants are now running away from her house due to the un bearable smell.

And Joseph Kalubwe of house Number C 521, said the un planned construction of chicken runs is a matter of concern by many residents in same area.

Ms Kalubwe called on the relevant authority to stiffen the law regarding the vice in order to prevent people from in hailing bad air as a result of un necessary chicken runs.

He said the situation need urgent attention adding that failure to regulate the matter, many residents will start getting diseases because of un caring people.

Meanwhile, effort to get a comment from Lusaka City Council Public relations Manager Mulunda Habeenzu proved futile by press time.

Losing Siavonga Constituency Patriotic Front (PF) candidate during the 2011 elections, Lavmore Kanyama , has warned the PF top leadership to be careful with United Party for National Development (UPND) members joining ruling party.

Mr Kanyama says some opposition UPND members are currently joining the ruling party for the sake of getting jobs and that they do not mean well and sincere in their hearts.

He said this in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today.

He added that that such opposition members will ditch the ruling party before 2016 general elections.

Mr Kanyama said some of the members are even busy spreading information that although they have joined the PF, they are not genuine members of the ruling party.

He said the top leadership of the ruling PF should be careful with some of the people joining the ruling party because they are just job seekers.

And Mr Kanyama has warned Civil Servants in Siavonga who are in a habit of demeaning traditional leaders in the area.

Mr Kanyama said Traditional leaders are important people who deserves respect from all the people.

He said those government workers in a habit of insulting traditional leaders should stop forth with.

GOVERNMENT will construct an accident museum for educational purposes with the hope of inculcating responsibility in drivers and passengers.

Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) chief executive officer Zindaba Soko said in an interview that the organisation and Government are looking for a scrap yard where vehicles involved in accidents from way back could be displayed.

Mr Soko said the museum will be constructed systematically to be used for educating the public and motorists on the negative impact that accidents have on society.
“We are hoping this could be a way of inculcating responsibility among drivers and passengers. The accidents recorded in the first quarter of 2015 that resulted in death and fatal injuries are many and all possible ways of avoiding them further should be done now,” he said.

Mr Soko said the accident museum will also display causes of specific accidents and how these could have been prevented.

And Mr Soko has implored the private sector to have a basic transport safety policy in their places of work for employees.

He said his organisation is working on a policy to be formulated to ensure that it collaborates in ensuring that work places have basic transport safety.

Mr Soko said organisations lose a lot once an employee is involved in an accident both in production and various operations.

And the three towing trucks to help move broken-down motor vehicles off roads have arrived in the country.

Mr Soko said RTSA received the trucks on Monday and training for the users has already taken place.

He said the three trucks will be dispatched to Eastern, Copperbelt and Northern provinces.

Mr Soko said the tow truck for the Copperbelt will also service North-Western Province while the tow truck for Northern Province will be stationed in Mpika to service the Kapiri Mposhi-Nakonde route.

The agency now has five tow trucks.

GOVERNMENT has directed local authorities to add impetus to the Make Zambia Clean and Healthy campaign.

And Government says the 151 vehicles bought for constituencies for the campaign should be utilised for the intended purposes across the country.

Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said in an interview yesterday that the campaign has not been shelved but that the programme is being strengthened by stakeholders.

Mr Kambwili, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said Government is committed to keeping the surroundings clean through improved garbage collection by councils.

He said councils should monitor and improve garbage collection to keep the surroundings clean.

“A clean environment reduces outbreak of diseases resulting in reduced health costs. Government will not spend a lot of money on health matters when the environment is clean,” he said.

Mr Kambwili said monitoring of the exercise is cardinal for the councils if they are to achieve the intended goal.

“We have observed that in rural areas the vehicles are being utilised for the intended purposes as compared to the urban areas where the vehicles are being used for other purposes,” he said.

The minister has since directed the councils in urban regions to release the vehicles to be used for cleaning and health programmes.

Meanwhile, Mr Kambwili has commended the local authorities, especially those on the Copperbelt, that have employed people to sweep the streets.

He particularly commended Luanshya, Kitwe and Chingola municipalies for sweeping the streets in the central business districts.

“We are happy with what the Copperbelt-based local authorities have done by engaging workers to work on the streets,” he said.

Mr Kambwili has urged the private sector to help in cleaning towns through their respective corporate social responsibility programmes.

Police on Friday raided part of Galunia Farms in Mutumbi area of Lusaka, where suspected political cadres were illegally allocating land.

Lusaka Police commanding officer Charity Katanga said police, who are on the ground patrolling the area, have so far arrested 23 people, among them 18 males.
She said the arrested will be screened and those found wanting will be charged for criminal trespass.

Police surrounded the area blocking out cadres, who have also illegally occupied the land.

Wheelbarrows, axes and bull dozers were also confisticated by the police.

An eye-witness said police fought running battles with the cadres, who were overpowered and forced to scamper and desert the place.

An on-the-spot check yesterday found police officers in riot gear patrolling the area while others were staked out at an illegally built house which has been constructed up to roof level.

An officer said some illegal land owners ran amok after the place was raided.

“The people have gone into hiding in Kamanga area,” he said.

But this action has not been taken lightly by the Patriotic Front party secretary general Davies Chama who talked tough condemning the rise in illegal land allocation around the country.

Mr Chama observed that a lot of people who have been allocating land illegally in Mutumbi and other surrounding areas have been masquerading as PF cadres.
In an interview Mr Chama said his party is aware of unscrupulous people who are using the party’s name to tarnish its image.

Mr Chama said illegal allocation of land will not be tolerated, and warned that anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law.

“It is unfortunate to see people masquerading as PF officials in this scam. No cadre will be spared once found wanting,” he said.