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THE Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has advised President Sata to call for a tripartite meeting regarding the Barotseland Agreement controversy to avoid a recurrence of loss of lives and bloodshed in Western Province.
FODEP executive director MacDonald Chipenzi said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday the Barotseland Agreement issue should be resolved through a tripartite meeting because it was signed under a meeting of three different parties.
Commenting on President Sata’s revelations that a group of people in Western Province is attempting to form its own State, Mr Chipenzi said the head of State should call for a meeting involving the Litunga, former President Kaunda and himself.
“We do not want to see a recurrence of killing innocent people and shedding of blood like what happened during the MMD rule.
“What we need is serious dialogue and this should involve the President, the Litunga and former President Kaunda, who was part of the people who signed the Barotseland Agreement,” he said.
Mr Chipenzi said it is unfortunate that people are still talking about the Barotseland Agreement and creation of a state within a State when Zambia is one.
He said the Barotseland Agreement should be resolved through dialogue because it was signed by former President Kaunda, the Litunga and a representative of Queen Elizabeth, a process which involved dialogue.
Mr Chipenzi said now that the Barotseland Agreement has resurfaced even under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, there is need to have a tripartite meeting to resolve the matter conclusively.
Mr Chipenzi said if it will mean including the Barotseland Agreement in the constitution-making process, this should be done so that the matter is resolved.
He said sending police officers to Western Province will not help to solve the matter but will aggravate the situation, which might lead to loss of lives.
On Friday, President Sata disclosed in Kabwe during the commissioning parade of 164 Zambia Army officer cadets that a group of people in Western Province is attempting to form its own State and has already appointed a Prime Minister.
The President described the situation as serious and castigated the police and ministers of Defence and Home Affairs for failing to deal with the matter.
THE Government is closing in on more high-profile personalities in the ongoing investigations against corruption to eradicate the vice in a more steadfast fashion.
Vice-President, Guy Scott said the Government had remained focused on investigations against former Government officials and other individuals, indicating that more would be “visited” soon.
Investigative wings, he said, would not be distracted despite accusations that the probe was selective and meant to persecute some people.
Dr Scott said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Patriotic Front (PF) had categorically stated before assuming power that it would pursue people who could have stolen or acquired property corruptly.
The vice-president said investigative wings would vigorously follow former officials who served in Government institutions and that the corruption fight was one of the aspects the PF pledged to eradicate without any vengeance.
He said it was folly for some former leaders to cry foul instead of seizing the opportunity to defend themselves.
Investigative wings had continued to collect more valuable leads in the ongoing probe.
The vice-president assured that innocent people would be protected and that those who would be found to have acquired money or property genuinely would be cleared.
He said investigative wings would soon pounce on some more high profile personalities.
Last week, former Finance minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane complained that the PF Government had maliciously targeted to persecute some people under the guise of fighting corruption and that it had failed to meet most of its pledges in 90 days.
Another former Foreign Affairs minister in the MMD government, Kabinga Pande, who is eyeing the top position in the former ruling party, accused the Government of embarking on a “witch-hunt.”
But Dr Scott said statements by the two former ministers were inaccurate and meant to divert the citizens’ attention from the steady progress the Government was making.
Investigative wings have seized about 1,000 bicycles from Dr Musokotwane and other MMD leaders and also impounded trucks from the former ruling party.
Former Mines minister, Maxwell Mwale is already appearing in court over some bicycles bought from funds suspected to have been stolen, and so is former Labour minister, Austin Liato on whose premises more than K2 billion cash was alleged to have been dug out.
Meanwhile, the vice-president said the Government had met most benchmarks in the 90 days it had been in power.
He said his Government had started a comprehensive policy reform on which to implement development programmes aimed at turning around the economy of the country.
He said Zambian workers would start earning higher salaries from April next year when the K2 million exempt tax threshold on pay-as-you-earn takes effect.
Dr Scott said the mineral royalty tax had been revised from three to six per cent, which the MMD government never did when it was in power.
He said Zambians should expect more benefits as the PF Government starts implementing the national Budget, which was approved last week on Friday.
Dr Scott said the Government had allowed the public media to cover all political parties and promote divergent views because it valued a free media and enhanced democracy.
The vice-president said the media was polarised under MMD while corruption was high.
He said Zambians were able to see the landmark achievements such as reduced fuel prices and base lending rates.
FORMER president, Rupiah Banda has said it is not fair for the Government to discontinue paying him his emoluments, insisting that he is not involved in active politics.
Mr Banda said he had retired from active politics and that he was merely holding the position of MMD president to facilitate a smooth transition while the former ruling party prepares to hold its extra-ordinary convention in April next year.
He was responding to a Press query through his administrative assistant, Mikatazo Wakumelo in Lusaka yesterday.
He said he was not supporting any of the MMD presidential candidates because he had decided to retire from active politics.
Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka, former Zambian high commissioner to Canada, Nevers Mumba, MMD chairperson for commerce Felix Mutati, national vice-chairperson Kabinga Pande, and former Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane have applied to contest the party presidency.
On Sunday last week, Chief Government spokesperson Given Lubinda announced that the Government was suspending the disbursement of entitlements to the former Republican President.
This was after the MMD national executive committee resolved that Mr Banda would continue holding the position of party president until April next year when the party would hold elections at an extra-ordinary convention.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda said he would allow investigations into the Mpundu Trust account, which allegedly holds up to US$1 million (K5 billion) to conclude and would not engage in public debate over the matter.
The former president said he was not willing to defend himself in the public on allegations of impropriety, but would allow investigators to do their work.
He said there was no way he could start explaining details of the Mpundu Trust account and villas in Lusaka when there had been an announcement that they should be probed.
President Michael Sata recently directed investigative wings to probe Mpundu Trust that holds about K5 billion and how the construction of the villas was financed.
Former Energy and water Development Minister Kenneth Konga
Former minister of energy Kenneth Konga has been summoned by the Zambia police at the former Task Force offices. Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela who confirmed the development to QFM said Mr. Konga was summoned at 15 hours today.
However,Ms. Kanjela could not give the reasons why the former minister in the MMD government has been summoned saying she was on her way to the former Task Force offices were Konga was being questioned by broadcast time.
And Inspector general of Police Martin Malama has pledged to ensure that Zambia is free from corruption. Dr. Malama says that he would like to see a public and private sector that is devoid of corruption.
He said that corruption has continued to affect Zambia’s development efforts stating that there is need to ensure that the country fights hard.
He has however stated that the fight against corruption should not be left to the police alone, but the responsibility of all Zambians.
He said that every Zambian should ensure that efforts are taken to fight the high levels of corruption.
Speaking last evening on MUVI TVs the assignment programme, Dr. Malama expressed happiness that the police are on the right cause in fighting corruption.
He has stated that the Zambia Police will ensure that no one is protected in the quest to fight corruption.
The technical committee on the drafting of the new constitution says concerns raised by international constitutional lawyers require action on them.
Two Zambian constitutional lawyers based outside the country have observed that the current constitution-making process is deeply flawed and unlikely to produce good results.
Law Professor Muna Ndulo and Dr Chaloka Beyan are among the people that were last week included in the Committee of Exerts drafting the constitution but just as consultants.
Committee spokesperson Simon Kabanda has explained to QFM radio that the committee is happy that the constitutional lawyers have raised a number of points in coming up with the new constitutions.
He says that it is a known fact that previously, Zambia failed to get a new constitution because of lack proper consultation.
Mr. Kabanda added that the committee will ensure that it takes the points raised by Prof. Ndulo and Dr. Beyani into consideration.
Prof. Ndulo and Dr. Beyani observed that the current constitution-making process was deeply flawed and may not produce good results.
In a joint statement, Professor Muna Ndulo and his UK-based counterpart Dr Chaloka Beyani stated that the option taken by the government was not ensure transparency.
The duo stated that the process had numerous flaws that made it difficult to come up with a people’s constitution.
“It is our considered view that the current constitution making process is deeply flawed and is unlikely to deliver a constitution that is legitimate and provides a framework for the democratic governance of Zambia. The primary flaws in the process are the following: (1) the process itself is inherently unrepresentative and suffers from a crisis of legitimacy; (2) it is ill designed to build consensus and produce a constitution the country can be proud of,” the two lawyers stated on Thursday.
File:Zambia National team in Training at Nkoloma Stadium
16 players on Tuesday fly out from Lusaka for Johannesburg for final Zambia training camp ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup.
The team will departure for Johannesburg at 13:00 hour on South African Airways from KK international Airport in Lusaka.
Tuesday’s travelling party will include Jonas Sakuwaha who missed the first two weeks of training camp due to injury.
Sakuwaha confirmed that he was fit and would travel with the team to South Africa.
Swiss-based striker Emmanuel Mayuka of Young Boys also joins the team when it regroups today in Golf View Hotel in Lusaka today ahead of departure tomorrow.
Zambia will be based at the garden Court Milpark and will be training from the Wits University grounds.
Goalkeeper: Kalililo Kakonje (Unattached)
Defenders: Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, South Africa), Hichani Himonde, Francis Kasonde (Both TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United),Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades)
Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Felix Katongo, Nathan Sinkala (Both Green Buffaloes), Jonas Sakuwaha (El Merreikh, Sudan), Kampamba Chintu (Bidwest Wits,South Africa)
Zesco’s Winston Kalengo (left) is involved in a tussle with Green Buffaloes defender Dennis Banda in the rescheduled Week 10 match which was played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka
Wedson Nyirenda has been confirmed as new Zesco United coach.
Nyirenda has signed a three year deal that starts on January 1, 2012 after beating two other candidates for the job as coach of the three-time Faz Super Division Champions.
“The decision came about after wide consultations and we agreed unanimously that Wedson be coach,” Zesco secrtary Justin Mumba said.
Mumba said Nyirenda will be free to choose his own assistants including which players he will keep for the 2012 season.
Nyirenda, who quit as Zanaco coach last month, returns to Zesco two seasons after resigning to join the former.
During his first stint with Zesco, Nyirenda who two league titles in 2007 and 2008 that included back-to-back Barclays Cup triumphs in both season.
He also won a treble in 2007 when Zesco lifted the Coca Cola Cup.
At Zanaco, he won the 2009 league title in his first season in charge and guided Sunset side to their first-ever group stage appearance in 2010 Caf Confederation Cup.
Whether you are working out at home or the gym , you have to make sure you are getting the best out of your work outs and reaching your particular goals .Here are of the best tips you should consider;
Optimise your reps
Do 2-4 sets per exercise, with 8-15 reps, to boost your testosterone and growth hormones for bigger muscles and more fat-burning.
Boost your grip strength
Your pinching power is equal to approximately 20% of your maximum strength, so practice pinch lifts. Hold two barbell plates( if you are at home you can use a container of water) together and lift them to knee height, pause for around 3 seconds, then return to the start position. Do 3 sets of 10-12 reps.
Combine exercises
Perform lunges and bicep curls simultaneously and combine shoulder presses with cardio exercises. You’ll work all of the major muscle groups in your body in one session and build more muscle in less time.
Lower your weights
Put your heavy load down and continue an exercise with a lower weight once muscle fatigue sets in. You’re aiming for muscle failure so that during rest, maximum repair will be required – which will give maximum results. It’s a great plateau-busting option.
Always test your strength
In order to grow and gain size, your body needs to become increasingly comfortable with heavier sets. Load a bar with about 40% more weight than you could normally lift (make sure you have a spotter) and bust out a few hard-core lifts at the end of each session to prepare your body for what’s coming.
Go back to basics
Training with free weights is better than using machines as they engage your core stability muscles while you train.
Embrace variety
Instead of always doing 3 sets of 8-10 reps, for example, occasionally reduce the weight and attempt 4 sets of 15 reps. People who vary their rep counts increase their bench strength by 28% and their leg-press strength by 43% in two months. The upshot of this is a greater month-on-month muscle gain.
Schedule your recovery
It takes up to 7 days for muscles to recover and add size. Training a muscle group prior to this is likely to do more harm than good. You have fully recovered 48 hours after any soreness has gone. You can train other muscle groups while one group recovers, but should always leave at least 5 days between training the same muscle or muscle group.
Work out in the evening
Training after 18hrs earns you bigger muscle gains than if you train before 10am.
Barotseland Freedom Movement National Secretary Mulasikwanda Chazele has refuted the announcement on Friday by President Michael Sata that there is a group of people trying to form a government in Western and that so far a Prime Minister has been appointed.
Speaking during a Press Statement in Mongu on Christmas eve, Mr. Chazele said he has learnt with deep concern the statement issued by Republican President Sata that there was such developments in the Province.
Mr. Chazele said as far as the people of Western Province know there is no prime minister in the land adding that currently the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) does not even have an acting Prime Minister (Ngambela) since the resignation of the late Maxwell Mututwa.
“ I would like to state very clearly that as far as we the people of Barotseland very well know is that there is no prime minister in Barotseland. Not even an acting prime minister (NGAMBELA) the last time we had a Ngambela is when late Mr. Maxwell Mututwa Mututwa held this high post in Barotseland.” He said since then, we had no confirmed Prime Minister (Ngambela) apart from one acting Ngambela Mr. Walubita who also passed on this year,” Chazele added.
He said people in the province are currently patiently waiting to hear the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mongu fracas that characterized on January 14 this year.
Mr. Chazele further appealed to President Sata and the national at large to remain calm as people in Western Province are solidly behind the Patriotic Front government’s leadership.
AND Western Province Youth Dialogue Forum says the youths in the province have distanced themselves from people who are reportedly forming a state within the country.
Forum Vice Chairperson Enock Ntoka stated that young people in Barotseland are not part and parcel of efforts and claims made by selfish and hungry individuals to create anarchy in the province.
Mr. Ntoka told a media briefing in Mongu that those trying to create a state within Western Province are targeted on frustrating the PF government efforts is making to resolve the situation in the province.
“ We wish to appeal to our fellow youths in Western Province to remain united and engage in productive activities and reject selfish and scrupulous motives to divert the attention of government of building peace and development in Zambia, such errands are unfounded, unconstitutional, illegal, unconstructive, and against the laws of Zambia ” He stated
He said the young people in Western Province were not consulted hence they will not subscribe to such intentions or actions.
Earlier, Adolescents Reproductive Health Activists (ARHA) Director Brian Kayongo appealed to young people in the province not to entertain people who want to use them as tools of distraction.
Mr. Kayongo said the youths of Western Province have learnt better ways in which they can resolve their challenges hence they will not participate in any programmes that are not of help to their well being.
President Michael Sata announced that he was disappointed with Inspector General of Police Martin Malama for not taking action against people who are reported to have formed a state in Western Province.
The President also said that so far the purported state has already appointed its Prime Minister adding that there are currently looking for offices in which to operate from.
Former Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
FORMER Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane’s company, ZamBuild Investments Limited, supplied blocks for the construction of the Pepsi plant in Lusaka, it has been learnt.
Dr Musokotwane, who is also embroiled in the authorisation of a K10 billion tax deferment to Varun Beverages Zambia Limited, the producers of Pepsi Cola, provided all the blocks for the construction of the Pepsi Cola plant on Mungwi Road in the industrial area.
Varun Beverages also got an exemption on paying tax for bringing equipment into the country.
Varun Beverages Zambia Limited holds the franchise for Pepsi Cola in Zambia.
But Dr Musokotwane yesterday said he is only a shareholder in ZamBuild, adding that the company could have supplied blocks to Varun Beverages for a small fraction of the construction of the plant.
He said his company gets a lot of business from different people and industries because it has one of the best technologies in block-making in the country.
“I never at any time went there to solicit for business. I am above board and cannot do such a thing,” said Dr Musokotwane, adding that he is not in the management team of ZamBuild.
“It’s like people who buy Mercedes Benz, they go for those cars because of the good quality and that is what the people who buy blocks from us are looking for,” he said.
Varun Beverages Limited chief executive officer Krishnan Shankar could not be reached for comment but the company financial accountant, a Mr Arun, said he is not aware of the companies that supplied construction materials during the construction of the plant. He said he was not with the company at the time.
THE shortage of staff at Zambia’s flagship healthcare institution, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), has deteriorated to a level where three to four midwives are being forced to deliver 90 babies in a single day, the public relations wing has confirmed.
Officials have partly blamed expecting mothers who have been rushing to the referral hospital leaving clinics in their communities, which have operational maternity wings.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka, UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta said midwives at the maternity ward are overwhelmed with the patient burden resulting in compromised service delivery.
“This situation is compounded by self-referrals. Pregnant mothers come to deliver at the University Teaching Hospital instead of their local clinics because they say here, they are guaranteed of being attended to by a doctor,” she said.
She said the women, who prefer to deliver at the main hospital, compound work for the midwives who should only be attending to complicated cases.
Ms Mbangweta said the country’s largest hospital has suffered a brain drain since the ‘90s when nurses began seeking greener pastures abroad.
She said to manage the workload; the hospital has engaged the services of trained part-time retired nurses.
Ms Mbangweta said she is happy that from January next year, general nurses will also train in midwifery to help alleviate the crisis at the institution.
She was speaking in the wake of an uproar sparked by confusion surrounding a baby born to Priscilla Nyondo, and who later died but the body was found with two different name tags.
Ms Nyondo refused to bury the baby insisting on a DNA test to ascertain its true parentage.
Ms Mbangweta said one tag on the baby’s forehead bore its correct names while the wristband bore the surname of the doctor who attended to it.
She said the names were recorded by a nurse who she believes was fatigued as a result of being overworked.
Ms Mbangweta urged mothers to deliver at the nearest clinics to ease the burden on the few midwives at UTH.
Meanwhile UTH recorded has 15 christmas babies. Misozi Mwanza’s baby was the first Christmas baby delivered at 00:05 hours at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. UTH public relation manager Pauline Mbangweta said the hospital had recorded 15 Christmas babies, nine of them males. Ms Mwanza’s baby is one of the six females.
And Livingstone has recorded three Christmas babies, two girls and a boy. Ms Precious Muayanda’s baby boy, weighing 4.2 kilogrammes, was born at 01:25 at Maramba Clinic, while Ms Lydia Mulilo’s baby girl was born at 06.25 hours.
Ms Louisa Malambo’s baby girl was born at 06:30 at Livingstone General Hospital. Hospital officials said both mothers and babies are in good condition and will be discharged soon.
The Livingstone City Council donated Christmas hampers to the babies.
Speaking shortly after the donation, Livingstone mayor Aggrey Njekwa said, “It is always wonderful to receive new borns on Christmas in the city.” He said the council appreciates the work the health workers are doing in the city.“We appreciate the services that are being rendered to the health sector in the city,” Mr Njekwa said.
And Livingstone district health principal nursing officer Mutinta Chika said the health sector appreciates its partnership with the council. “Among the gifts are baby hampers, baby bathing dishes, baby towels, nappies, just to mention a few,” Ms Chika said.
And Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde yesterday visited Christmas babies at the UTH and said safe motherhood is one of Government’s priorities. Dr Kasonde said anyone with ideas on how to enhance safe motherhood should forward them to the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, Ms Mbangweta has said UTH recorded a total of 57 casualties during Christmas, 17 road accidents, 26 assault cases and 14 other injuries.
And Zambia Army Commander Paul Mihova has urged army officers to be professional and remain steadfast in 2012 as they serve the country.
Lieutenant-General Mihova said when he presented Christmas gifts to seven patients at Arakan Barracks Camp Hospital in Lusaka yesterday that army officers should focus on serving the country.
“I want to wish officers, men and women in uniform and their families a happy Christmas and prosperous 2012 but I also want to urge the officers not to be partisan. We must be professional because we are a professional army,” Gen Mihova said.
He said officers should ensure that the country’s security is maintained.
Gen Mihova said Zambians count on the efforts of the army and other defence wings to maintain peace. He said peace is an important aspect of Zambia and the army should ensure that the country’s peace is safeguarded.
The army commander urged army officers to remain loyal to the government of the day. Gen Mihova also said the army has a planned programme for officers who passed out last week. They will be deployed to various stations where they will continue with their training and preparations for national duties.
THE Lusaka High Court has ordered Lusaka businessman Carl Frieslaar to pay over K16 million to his wife, Karen Van Boxtel, a British consular officer, for rentals and monthly up-keep for the children.
This is in a case in which Ms Van Boxtel had petitioned the High Court to ask her husband to provide maintenance for rentals and daily provisions for his children and the wife, pending the suit.
Ms Van Boxtel wanted the court to order her husband to pay monthly maintenance of K120 million, while the couple was on separation.
Deputy director of High Court operations Chilombo Phiri said Frieslaar will pay the money through the court every month as fees for maintenance for rentals and daily provisions for his children and wife, while waiting for the petition to be disposed of.
“The respondent (Mr Frieslaar) should pay the sum of K4, 341, 144.53 for the lease. This brings the total monthly payment for maintenance pending suit to K16,341,144.53.
“This amount should be paid in court at the end of each month until the petition is disposed of,” Mrs Phiri said in a ruling delivered recently.
She said considering that Mr Frieslaar would pay school fees, buy clothes, pay medicals for the three children, K120 million would be sufficient maintenance to provide for rentals and daily provisions for her and the children.
Ms Van Boxtel also wanted her husband to provide the family with other requirements such as medical fees, groceries, fuel and motor vehicle maintenance.
She stated that her husband used to provide for the family before and nothing should stop him from doing so now that the couple was on separation.
But Mr Frieslaar said it would not be practical to make the provisions from his current income.
He called upon the court to take into account the reasonableness of the amount claimed by Ms Van Boxtel and his ability to pay.
Mr Frieslaar asked the court to take into account the fact that he had earlier accused his wife of committing adultery.
LUSAKA Province Minister Gerry Chanda says Government acknowledges the problem of hawking as a national issue but getting rid of traders from the streets at the moment would do more harm than good.
He said although some citizens have complained about allowing street vendors to continue trading from the streets, they cannot be stopped because that is their only source of income.
He said at the moment, the Patriotic Front (PF) government is working at creating employment opportunities for all to alleviate poverty.
Colonel Chanda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that President Sata and his cabinet are working to ensure that Zambians, especially youths are economically empowered to help them fend for themselves.
“It is because of Government’s commitment to job creation and poverty reduction that the President gave a directive to keep vendors on the streets so that they too could earn a living,” he said.
“Many people are benefiting from the presence of the vendors on the street and they will remain there until Government formulates a lasting solution,” he said.
Col Chanda said Government cannot force the traders off the streets as the action may result in them engaging in illicit behaviour such as crime and prostitution to make a living.
He said as soon as Government makes a decision on how to deal with vendors, the public will be informed.
Col Chanda said the new Government will soon address the matter to promote sanitation and avoid outbreaks of the disease.
Over 300 cases of diarrhoeal diseases have been reported in Mufulira’s Mupambe township following the contamination of water pipes last week.
Out of the 300 cases, 100 patients with severe diarrhoea have been admitted to Ronald Ross and Malcolm Watson hospitals where they are receiving treatment.
Copperbelt Province Minister Rodgers Mwewa has directed the Mufulira District Health Management Team (MDHMT) to mount a mobile hospital in the area to contain the outbreak of the diarrhoeal diseases.
The provincial minister also visited the township to check on the sanitation in the area.
Presenting a report to Mr Mwewa over the weekend on the pollution of the water pipes in Mupambe, Mufulira Town Clerk Charles Mwandila said cases of diarrhoeal diseases have increased.
Mr Mwandila said water pipes were contaminated when the sewer pipe carrying human waste burst, discharging effluent which seeped through the pipes supplying clean water to the area.
“The water pipe carrying clean water and the one which carries sewer matter run parallel to each other, this is the way they were designed in the 1950s.
“The human waste contaminated the clean water and unfortunately 300 cases of diarrhoea diseases have been reported since the contamination took place last week,” he said.
Mr Mwandila said the water pipes and the sewer lines that service Mupambe are worn out and they cannot be repaired because they are rusty.
He said K7.6 billion is needed to replace the water pipes and the sewer lines that service Mupambe, to improve sanitation.
He said Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) has started feasibility studies to work on the possibility of diverting the water pipe that supplies water to Mupambe from the sewer line to prevent the contamination of piped water.
Mr Mwandila said Mufulira has a serious sanitation problem in most townships, due to the dilapidated water infrastructure.
He said in Chibolya, Kankoyo and Kansuswa, MWSC with support from stakeholders managed to replace some of the water pipes in the three townships.
Mr Mwandila also called on Government to help the municipal council to curb vandalism of water infrastructure in the district.
He said peasant farmers in most townships are perforating sewer pipes with a view to getting raw sewer, which they are using to water their gardens.
And Mufulira acting medical officer Charles Chipanda said more than 100 people from Mupambe have been admitted and treated for diarrhoeal cases since last week.
And Mr Mwewa urged MDHMT to mount a mobile clinic in Mupambe to treat the residents suffering from diarrhoea.
He said a base should be established in the township where people can receive treatment to contain the waterborne disease.
Mr Mwewa also said Government will work hard to ensure that residents on the Copperbelt have clean water.
“Right now, we should move on site and mount a clinic where those affected by the contaminated water can be treated,’’ he said.
LEADER of the opposition in Parliament Felix Mutati says he is impressed with the flow of people visiting health centres for healthcare services following the scrapping of user fees by Government.
Mr Mutati said Parliament last week approved the 2012 budget and it is now time for implementation, especially in the social sectors.
“The increase in the number of people visiting health centres is a testimony that the user fees were a big hindrance for people seeking medical attention. It also shows that the country is headed in the right direction in the health sector,” he said.
Mr Mutati, who is also Lunte member of Parliament, was speaking when he donated assorted Christmas gifts to patients at Kalingalinga Health Centre yesterday.
He urged Zambians to embrace each other as they enter 2012 regardless of political affiliation, businesses and religious beliefs.
Mr Mutati said a number of families are struggling to make ends meet and leaders have the huge task of reducing poverty.
“I call upon the nation to work together and focus on a common purpose of creating a better Zambia, founded on strong institutions and a Constitution that can stand the test of time,” he said.
He said Christmas will allow Zambians from all corners and tribes to search within souls and commit to living above tribe under the creed ‘One Zambia One nation’.
Mr Mutati said as the country enters the New Year, it is an opportunity, irrespective of political affiliation, to serve one another, to seek new ideas and new innovation and to start a new chapter for a great nation.
He said millions of people across the nation celebrate Christmas in the shadows of great need, in need of basic things and that should make this day special for them.
He said millions of people across the nation celebrate Christmas in the shadows of great need, in need of basic things and that should make this day special for them.
Mr Mutati said remembering the victims of floods in compounds who for Christmas means wading through water from their flooded homes begs leaders’ utmost dedication to rebuilding the nation with speed.
“Sometimes in our political discourse, we have vehemently debated while alienating the communities we were called to serve by building artificial walls of indifference and intolerance. Let Christmas be about reaching out to someone,” he said.
And Kalingalinga registered nurse Nandi Mbulwe said the health centre was facing a number of challenges such as shortage of staff and one of the fridges in the mortuary is not working.
She said with the scrapping of user fees, there is an increase of patients at the health centre.
Ms Mbulwe thanked Mr Mutati, the MMD presidential aspirant, for sharing his love with the patients at the health centre.
