The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says the country should collectively find a lasting solution to the continued road carnage.

UPND Vice President Dr. Canisius Banda says there is need to seriously observe and enhance road safety measures in the country to make them in line with the World Health Organization [WHO] guidelines and recommendation.

Dr. Banda said it is imperative that the nation acts collectively in making road safety a priority so as to cut down on the road accident which is one of the main cause of death among youths in the country.

Dr. Banda further bemoaned the lack of appropriate lifesaving capacity for the required medical responses for Accidents and Emergency [A and E].

“This further highlights the nation’s need to seriously observe and enhance road safety measures in our country in line with the World Health Organization [WHO] guidelines and recommendation.

“Having been Zambia’s focal point person on road safety at one time, I find this tragedy and many similar others that continue to maim and kill citizens on our roads most calamitous, sad and touching.

“Note that road traffic accidents are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Zambia among youths ahead of malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS. Our nation must urgently, firmly and collectively respond to this brutal road use challenge.”

The opposition leader also condemned government’s lack of priorities.

“Yet it is a national priority above the unplanned creation of districts, bloating of cabinet and inducement of by-elections. Zambia lacks appropriate lifesaving capacity for the required medical responses for Accidents and Emergency [A and E] is very sad and annoying indeed.”

And Dr. Banda has expressed happiness that President Sata’s son Kazimu Sata has evacuated to South Africa for treatment.

The opposition leader however says there need to investigate claims that others who were also critically injured in the same accident have not been evacuated for treatment in South Africa as no life is more important than the other.

“However, we are happy to learn that President Sata’s son has been evacuated abroad for the safety of his life. We also pray and hope that this was purely a medical necessity and not a political decision.

“That family members of the others who were also critically injured in the same accident but have not been evacuated are complaining and feel neglected by the State makes us wonder. Their complaints require investigating, a thorough medical audit given that if their relative’s conditions are not better than that of Kazimu Sata, they also need to be evacuated immediately in order to save their lives.

“We in the UPND consider the lives of all citizens important, sacred and they all matter equally. But perhaps the bigger lesson to learn from this unfortunate incident, is that much as we have had high profile persons in this country that have had to be medically evacuated, we have still not made any attempt at investing in our health system.

This is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed by the PF so that those that are not privileged can equally access medical care of international acclaim.”

This is contained in a press statement released to the media by released by the party secretariate.

Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications, Panji Kaunda, says the road infrastructural development requires appropriate interventions by ensuring that quality and durable road marking are installed for road users’ safety in the country.

Col Kaunda said poor road markings on most of the nation’s roads have contributed to many serious road accidents which have contributed to loss of people’s lives.

The Deputy Minister said this today when he officially opened a workshop on road marking and road furniture at Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka today.

He said poor road markings in Zambia should be a thing of the past especially that some international companies, specialised in road construction, have modern techniques and skills for the job.

And speaking at the same event, ZAMLEGEND Road Marking Limited Director, Solly Sebola, said his company has modern equipment, skills and technology to assist the Zambian government develop the road sector to acceptable standards.

Mr Sebola said his South African construction Limited company will exhibit a good workmanship to the satisfaction of road users and the people of Zambia.

He stated that the road sector needs to have durable road markings to ensure safety of road users.

PRESIDENT Sata’s son Kazimu has been evacuated to Johannesburg, South Africa, for specialist treatment for injuries suffered in a road traffic accident.

Kazimu was on Tuesday involved in a road traffic accident on the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriageway.

The accident happened around 17:30 hours near Kitwe’s Moba Hotel when the vehicle on which he was travelling overturned.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary David Chikamata confirmed in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata, who was earlier admitted at Kitwe’s Wusakile Mine Hospital, was evacuated to South Africa on Wednesday evening.

However, by press time, Dr Chikamata was yet to be availed with the details of the hospital that Kazimu has been admitted to.

“Yes, he [Kazimu] was evacuated last evening [Wednesday] and he has arrived in South Africa. I am, however, yet to get details from the Zambian mission on the hospital he has been admitted to,” Dr Chikamata said.

The Law Association of Zambia has challenged Government to come out clean on the whereabouts of President Michael Sata.

LAZ President George Chisanga said rising concerns over the whereabouts of President Sata are justified as President Sata is the number citizen of the nation.

Mr Chisanga said Government should not try to downplay the people’s concerns over President Sata because such concerns are justified.

“I don’t think there is any legal justification I can give for the absence of the President in the constitution but the general expectation is that a person holding the highest office in the land must be visible and if he is not available then convincing and justified reasons must be given to the public,” Mr Chisanga told Journalists in Lusaka.

He added, “You see, this is a public servant number one and people would like to know what is happening to the highest office in the country and if we leave it to speculations then people are going to raise all manner of suggestions as to where he is and what is going on.”

Mr Chisanga said the ball is in the court of the Government to come out openly on the matter.

“They should come out and tell the Zambian people where the President is, if he is resting then they should say, if he is unwell they should say it. Like what others have said, the President is just as human like everyone else, if you are well, people will pray for you.

President Sata has not been seen or heard in public for over three weeks.

The Zambia Police Service says it will not relent in the fight against criminal elements in the country.

Police Spokesperson Charity Chanda has warned that Gerald Musalale alias Seven Spirits that place will crack down on him and any other criminals terrorizing the people.

In a statement, Ms Chanda said the advocacy that Seven Spirits is spreading of trading in drugs will land him in trouble with the law.

“The police will not sit back and watch people promoting the commission of crimes. We want to warn all those criminal elements that the police has the ability to repeat the crackdown of May, 29th as long as it may take to get rid of illicit drugs and criminal elements in Chibolya,” Ms Chanda said.

Chibolya resident Gerald Musalale alias Seven Spirits has dared the police to arrest him saying marijuana had become part of the lifestyle of the youths in Chibolya.

Seven Spirits said in the absence of jobs, schools and recreational facilities in the compound, the youths would continue trading in drugs.

He said the Drug Enforcement Commission was not formed to send people to prison but rehabilitate them, pointing out that he had been to a rehabilitation institution before.

Seven Spirits said marijuana was still available in the compound and being sold openly despite the crackdown, adding that the trend would continue.

Government has urged Zambians to be patriotic and sacrifice their services for the economic development of the country.

Southern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Douglas Ngimbu says citizens need to emulate the work culture of cooperating partners such as China among others who send their staff to Zambia for their expertise aimed at uplifting the living standards of Zambians.

“No one will come from heaven or other countries to develop the country for us. But I would urge you to emulate the work culture of staff sent by our cooperating partners to uplift our living standards,” he said.

He said Zambians especially those in the medical profession were held in high esteem in other countries due to their good work culture but wondered why they did not exhibit the same work attitude in Zambia.

ZANIS reports that the Acting Permanent Secretary said this when he officially opened the 2015 to 2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Provincial Planning Launch for the Ministry of Health at Livingstone Lodge, today.

The Acting Permanent Secretary also stressed the importance of public relations in the health sector, adding that its absence affected treatment of patients.

“Public Relations is very important in the health sector. Bad attitude by health personnel should be avoided as it affects the effectiveness of treatment and puts patients off,” he said.

Mr Ngimbu urged Ministry of Health personnel and its stakeholders to work towards offering efficient services that will compete favourably with those in neighbouring countries.

He said he was aware of challenges facing the Ministry of Health but stressed that resources would never be enough and as such, the institution had to operate within its budgetary allocation.

Earlier, Southern Province Medical Officer Jelita Chinyonga said the launch was historic as it was being done in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health and was taking place in the Independence Golden Jubilee year.

Dr Chinyonga said planning was an important component of the health sector as contents of the National Health Development Plan were derived from action plans and national health strategic plans respectively.

She however, bemoaned the inadequate and erratic funding in her ministry as it made frontline health personnel work under difficult circumstances.

“Frontline health workers are the ones providing the services to the communities under very difficult circumstances sometimes due to inadequate and erratic funding. Others don’t even have accommodation.

“ But I want to thank them for their good service delivery under challenging circumstances,” she said.