Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
The Ministry of health has confirmed that there is an outbreak of cholera in Mpulungu in Northern Province and as at yesterday a total of 10 cases were recorded.
Ministry of health Spokesperson Dr. Kamoto Mbewe said the first case was recorded on 2nd October .
In a telephone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Dr. Mbewe noted that with the onset of rains it was possible that more cholera out breaks in some parts of the country would be recorded.
He explained that the Ministry had established a Cholera treatment Center in Mpulungu which is providing care to the patients.
He said measures to prevent the water borne disease has been put in place among them health education and chlorine to purify the water.
He disclosed that a total of 660 bottles of household chlorine were distributed through churches at boreholes and households
Dr. Mbewe said Community sensitisation was being conducted in churches,homes, at water points and markets and the District Health Management Team was working with the Council to ensure that safe water was provided to the people of Mpulungu.
He added that the cumulative number of cases as of Monday was 10 and that currently all the patients have been treated and discharged.
Dr, Mbewe further said that cholera was preventable if people strictly took and followed precautionary measures.
He advised people to boil or chlorinate all drinking water and maintain personal hygiene-by washing hands with soap before eating or handling food and after using the toilet.
He explained that food must be cooked thoroughly and must be Kept food covered and eat it while it is hot.
President Michael Sata and First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba arrive for the Post Election Thanksgiving Prayer Service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka
2.
Lusaka residents jostle to touch the hand of President Sata
3.
Patrotic Front cadres singing political songs
4.
President Sata meets Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli
5.
President Sata welcomes First republican president Kenneth Kaunda to the Thanksgiving Prayer Service
6.
National restoration Party leader Elias Chipimo jr meets President Sata
7.
US Ambassador Mark Storrela arrives for the Thanksgiving Prayer Service
8.
Political pardonee Anshel Kampengel captured on the phone
9.
Vice President Dr Guy Scott talks to his wife Charlotte during the Thanksgiving prayer service
10.
President Sata consults with Anglican Bishop David Njovu (kneeling)
11.
President Sata and vice president Dr Guy Scott confer
12.
Vice President Dr Guy Scott talks to First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba
13.
President Sata, First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba and vice president Guys Scott and Mrs Scott Charlotte
14.
MMD Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka (in glasses)
15.
Former Lusaka Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo (l) and his wife Maria Sung (r).
16.
Zambia's First president Dr Kenneth Kaunda wipes his face during the Thanksgiving Prayer Service at the Cathedral of The Holy Cross
17.
Bread of Life Church owner Bishop Joe Imakando in prayer
18.
A young member of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross church
19.
Chinese embassy counsellor Wang Peng following proceedings during the post elections thanks giving prayers.
20.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia following proceedings during the post elections thanks giving prayers
21.
Bishop Joe Imakando and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia president Reverend Pukuta Mwanza (l) confer
22.
A choir from the United Church of Zambia in action
23.
US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storrela follows proceedings during the post elections thank giving prayers
24.
National Restoration Party leader Elias Chipimo jr follows proceedings during the Thanksgiving Prayer Service
20.
United Church of Zambia KB Lay group members
26.
Some religious women participate in hymns
27.
New police chief Dr Martin Malama leaves the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
28.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba goes to board the Presidential Mercedez Benz car
29.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba boards the Presidential Mercedes Benz car
30.
Wife to vice president Dr Guy Scott, Charlotte
31.
President Sata's Mercedes Benz leaves the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Some Police officers in Lusaka yesterday morning protested at the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ over the delayed payment of election allowances.
The Police officers told Muvi TV NEWS that they have not been paid their alowances for the services rendered during the September 20th 2011 polls.
For fear of being victimized some police officers who sort to speak off the camera, expressed displeasure at the delays by ECZ to pay them their allowances for the services rendered during the just ended general elections.
The police officers accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia of not showing commitment to pay them their allowances.
However when contacted for a comment, ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna expressed ignorance over the matter describing it as an administrative issue.
Meanwhile, A Police officer who shot at a public service vehicle on Monday eveining at Kabanana check point on the Lusaka-Chirundu road injuring two passengers on board has been arrested.
Zambia police service spokesperson, Ndandula Siamana has confirmed the arrest of constable Nkombe saying the officer shot at the mini bus after an argument with the driver, who decided to drive off.
She says the driver has been identified as Justine Chishimba of Lusaka’s Mandevu compound while the two injured women passengers are both from Zimbabwe and are currently admitted to Mtendere mission hospital in Chirundu.
Ms. Siamana says the police officer has been charged with unlawful wounding and will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siamana says three people including a driver of a Scania truck have died on the spot in an accident in eastern province.
This is contained in a statement made available to MUVI TV News yesterday.
The National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) has engaged management at PEP stores and Home Corp in an effort to resolve complaints raised by workers who downed tools yesterday.
NUCIW President Robert Munsanje said the union was currently sitting with management of the two companies to find an amicable solution to the problem and appealed to the workers to give chance to dialogue and report back to work so that their grievances could be addressed.
Mr. Munsanje told ZANIS in an interview in Ndola today, that protests by workers yesterday were justified because their conditions of service were poor and unreasonable.
He said it was important for investors to cooperate and follow the country’s labour laws to avoid such incidents.
Mr. Munsanje pointed out that some companies have continued to pay their workers between K100, 000.00 and K300, 000.00 as salaries despite knowing the minimum wage as stipulated by law.
He noted that such meagre salaries could not take the workers in Zambia anywhere as the cost of living was costly.
Mr Musanje also blamed Zambian Managers for perpetuating the problem of poor conditions because of their failure to tell investors the truth.
He advised Zambian Managers to learn to tell the truth and inform investors of the prevailing law in the country instead of serving their interests.
The union leader further expressed optimism that with the leadership of President Michael Sata, labour laws would definitely change in favour of human capital.
He called on workers in Zambia to support the President and his administration describing him as a leader of his words and that he would not let workers down.
Students at Mansa Trades Training Institute in Luapula Province yesterday staged a class boycott demanding among other things the resignation of the Vice Principal Amos Kabwe.
The students who carried placards denouncing the college Vice Principal vowed not to return to classes until their demands were met.
Speaking to ZANIS in Mansa, Institute Union President Nathan Njovu said the students were calling for the resignation of the Vice Principal because of what he termed as intimidation to both lecturers and the students.
Mr Njovu said staffing levels at the institution were low because lecturers are being fired without replacement thereby affecting learning at the institution.
He said the institution which he described as an hands on institute has had no training materials for a long time making it difficult for students to pass exams or perform as were supposed to once they completed their education.
He said the students union at the institution had tried to engage management on several occassions but nothing had been done so far.
The students were also demanding that management review the money they have been paying for the purchase of a bus since 2009 had elapsed and no bus had been purchased.
Speaking earlier Union Vice President Mukubulo Chilufya called on republican President Michael Sata to sweep the corruption allegedly being perpetrated at the institution as he endeavoured to sweep graft out of the country.
Mr Chilufya said it was worrying how infrastructure at the institution was tearing apart despite paying maintenance fees.
He also questioned where the sports fees from students were taken because no sporting activities were undertaken.
He further called on management to reconnect the institution to the Musonda falls power supply line instead of the national grid to reduce on load shedding and low voltage.
He said this had impacted negatively on the students who were unable to study due to low voltage and outages.
And College Board Chairperson Edward Limande revealed to ZANIS in an interview today that in the quest to meet student’s demands the college had decided to send the vice principal on leave pending investigations.
Mr Limande said management was doing everything possible to ensure that all their demands were met.
Four workers in Lusaka west have spent four days and nights in a garage in Lusaka west after their boss locked them up and went for hunting.
A check at the farmhouse which is located in Lusaka west Kasupe area found scores of residents keeping vigil at the place.
Davison Zulu, who is one of the four workers locked inside the garage, told MUVI TV News that he has spent four days and nights in the garage because his employer went away with the keys.
Police officers, fire brigade and health workers who rushed to the scene could not do anything as the workers pleaded them that they be left alone.
According to the workers, their employer locks them up every time he goes in the bush to hunt animals
GOVERNMENT has warned that it will take stern action against investors who exploit workers on the pretext of high production costs.
And Minister of Labour, Sports, Youth and Gender Fackson Shamenda has said Government will firmly deal with corrupt labour officers.
Mr Shamenda said in Ndola yesterday there are investors who exploit workers while others take good care of them.
“We have good employers, but some of them want to exploit our workers. As Government we are not going to entertain that,” Mr Shamenda said.
He also dismissed assertions that all foreign investors exploit their workers. Mr Shamenda called on investors to take stock of their actions because the new government will not tolerate the exploitation of workers.
He was speaking at a press briefing after touring Zambezi Portland Cement Limited, El-Sewedy Electric Limited and Gourock Industries in Ndola.
Mr Shamenda said Government will not allow employers to pay their workers salaries that are below the minimum wage.
He said companies whose workers are represented by trade unions are expected to pay salaries that are above the statutory minimum wage.
“Within the course of this week we expect to receive proposals for the revised wages for shop workers,” Mr Shamenda said.
And Mr Shamenda has issued a one-week ultimatum for investors to resolve industrial disputes. Mr Shamenda said his ministry and that of Home Affairs will work together to ensure companies engage expatriates in fields where skilled labour is not available locally.
“Once we find out that there are expatriates employed in certain positions and we have qualified Zambians to work in those same positions we will revoke their work permits,” he said.
Mr Shamenda said Government wants to see companies operate in harmony for increased production. Earlier, at Zambezi Portland Cement (ZPC), Mr Shamenda urged management to ensure workers are represented by a union of their choice.
ZPC managing director Antonio Ventriglia said his human resource manager has held meetings with various unions on the matter.
Mr Ventriglia said his company has always adhered to labour laws. He said ZPC has more than 600 workers, and is working in harmony them despite last week’s protests.
“Management took a decision to award all workers K500,000 across the board,” he said. Mr Ventriglia said the six workers whose contracts were terminated reported for work drunk, which is against the law.
And at Elsewedy Electric Limited, Mr Shamenda urged management to ensure that all industrial disputes are resolved within a week.
He urged the protesting workers to go back to work as management addresses their grievances.
Meanwhile, more than 500 casual workers yesterday protested against poor salaries at Gourock Industries.
Mr Shamenda, who rushed to the company, called on the workers to return to work and allow Government to revise the minimum wage.
Gourock chief executive officer Raul Rao said the outsourced labour force will be incorporated into the company.
Mr Rao said the company has engaged trade unions to represent the workers.
Danish Ambassador to Zambia Thomas Schjerbeck says his government intend to renew its system of financial support to Zambia.
Mr. Schjerbeck says Denmark will work on moving from the traditional style of supporting Zambia to a more streamlined approach.
He says the Danish government is currently supporting Zambia in areas that include infrastructure development, environment, education as well as water and sanitation.
Mr. Schjerbeck revealed that the change in the support system is expected to be effected by 2013.
And the Danish ambassador has congratulated Zambia on the recent tripartite elections which saw the Patriotic Front ushered into office.
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has warned that he will not take kindly to maize being soaked due to inefficiency and has tasked the new Food Reserve Agency director to ensure maize is collected from farmers and paid for without delay.
And the President has appointed former Pemba UPND MP David Matongo as FRA director and promoted Zambia National Service (ZNS) deputy commandant Brigadier General Nathan Mulenga to commandant and elevated him to the rank of Major General.
Mr Sata said Mr Matongo, who is former Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZISC) managing director, is fit for the job.
“We must collect all the maize and dump it on the doors of millers, who must ensure they pay for it,” the President said.
Mr Sata retired FRA director Professor Loveday Malambo and director of purchasing Lazarus Mawere in national interest.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Emmanuel Chenda says about 20 percent of the maize risks being soaked if it is not secured.
Mr Chenda said in an interview that government has put in place measures that will protect maize from the rains and also from thefts.
And the President has also appointed Brigadier General Alick Kamiji as deputy ZNS commandant. The President said, after swearing in the new ZNS chiefs, that the armed forces have abandoned their roles.
He said government does not have to spend money on feeder roads neither does it have to contract people to build bridges when this can be done by defence forces.
[pullquote]He said government does not have to spend money on feeder roads neither does it have to contract people to build bridges when this can be done by defence forces.[/pullquote]
“Why should maize continue getting soaked when these wings are there? When officers are retired, why are they not being paid because ZNS is supposed to be the richest wing among the defence forces?” he said.
The President also said it was illogical for the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to spend US$98 million to refurbish a building using a foreign contractor.
He said because of the bad roads, the previous government procured two 4×4 vehicles at K3.6 billion to be used on poor roads at the expense of Zambian people. He said the vehicles were flown into the country.
President Sata said ZNS should go back to what it was created for, saying this will bring a big change to Zambia.
Meanwhile, Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is expected to complete the production of 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser next week.
The company, which was contracted to supply 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), has so far produced 24,000 metric tonnes and has a balance of 6,000 tonnes.
[pullquote]The President also said it was illogical for the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to spend US$98 million to refurbish a building using a foreign contractor.[/pullquote]
NCZ executive director Richard Soko said the company is expected to complete the production of the consignment next week.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock contracted NCZ to produce and supply 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser meant for the FISP for 2011/2012.
“We have produced 24,000 out of the 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser under the FISP, and we are targeting to produce the remaining balance by next week,” he said.
Mr Soko said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
He said Government through Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is expected to collect and distribute the fertiliser produced so far.
“Distribution of farming inputs has started in some parts of the country and we are expecting Government to collect soon and distribute what we have currently produced,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Soko said the company has so far produced 10,000 tonnes of fertiliser for Nyiombo Investment out of 20,000 tonnes consignment for this farming season.
He said the remaining 10,000 tonnes will be completed after the completion of the FISP.
On the current fuel reduction, Mr Soko said it will contribute to lower production costs although its business is mostly based on raw materials.
“Indeed the reduction of fuel will lower production costs but, it will not necessarily be measured as we have already bought all the raw materials needed for production,” he said.
Zambia have been seeded in Pot 2 of the 2012 Africa Cup draws to be conducted on October 30.
Coachless Zambia is in Pot 2 together with Angola, Tunisia and Guinea.
They will be paired with a team from Pot 1 than contains Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and 2012 co-hosts Gabon or Equatorial Guinea.
Pot 3 is the most interesting with the pedigree there unavoidable there in Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Morocco.
Meanwhile, Zambia could face either their 2014 World Cup qualifying opponents Sudan who are in Pot 4.
It doesn’t end there in Pot 4 with a potential rematch with Libya is also likely while Niger and Africa Cup first timers Botswana also in the fray to draw against Zambia in the preliminary group stage of matches.
Zambians may be celebrating the departure of Dario Bonetti’s but his exit could also see a small part of legacy suffer.
It was Bonetti who handed forgotten striker Collins Mbesuma his kiss of life.
Discarded by Herve Renard and for many left for dead, Bonetti took a gamble that paid off against Mbesuma.
He may be going through a three-match draught but he still presents a clear and present danger as shown in the game against Libya.
It will be interesting to see how Mbesuma will fit into the new man’s tactical plans with the Africa Cup looming over the horizon.
09/10/2011
NORTH
Mufulira Wanderers 1-Luanshya United 0
Kabwe United 0-Mufulira Police 2
Kitwe United 1-Nkwiza 0
Lusaka Dynamos 1-Ndola United 1
Indeni 2-Kalulushi Modern Stars 1
Bresmer United 0-Prison Leopards 1
Chindwin Sentries 1-Konkola Mine Police 2
Zesco Luapula- Mining Rangers*
*Played 12/10/2011
Chambishi 0-Mufulira Blackpool 1*
*Abandoned
SOUTH
Big Roma 3-Kalomo Jetters 0
Livingstone Pirates 0-Lusaka Tigers 1
Riflemen 0-Nampundwe 2
Paramilitary 2-Profund Warriors 3
Petauke United 2-Luena Buffaloes 1
Senanga Leopards 0-Mazabuka United 0
Young Green Eagles 1-Lusaka City Council 2
City of Lusaka 1-Kafue Celtic 2
National Assembly-Freedom Rangers*
*Abandoned
President Sata kisses the palms of Bishop of Canterburry Rowan Williams at State House
President Michael Sata says Zambia’s development has lagged behind because of its drifting relationship with the West.
President Sata says in the recent years Zambia has drifted away from the west to establish relations with other regions.
He was speaking when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams called on him at State House in Lusaka.
President Sata says First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda achieved a lot during his reign because of the close relations he had with the West.
Mr Sata knelt and kissed the hand of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his delegation that accompanied him to State House.
The President told Dr Williams that the church in Zambia lacks human resource to spread the word of God and asked the Church in Canterbury to send some of its priests to serve in Zambia.
And Dr Williams congratulated President Michael Sata on his election as President of Zambia and wished him well in his quest to bring development to Zambia.
He also acknowledged President Sata’s commitment to develop a fair and just tax regime in the country.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is in the country for a two day visit and will leave the country on Thursday.
Zambia’s fifth President H.E MC Sata has so far performed true to his defining nickname as ‘Man of Action’. Since his inauguration as president on 23rd September 2011 he has made numerous pronouncements and taken numerous actions that will fundamentally change the landscape on the political, Economical and Social scene in Zambia forever. Obviously this is a frantic attempt on the part of the President to fulfill the 90 days promise. As to whether the pronouncements and actions are positive or negative is a subject of much debate which really should be engaged into on a one by one basis.
As a Barotse Self-determination activist, I wish to commend the President for pronouncements and actions in relation to the Barotseland issue namely, the release of the remnant Barotse detainees from the Mumbwa state prison and the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry into what he terms the ‘Mongu Saga’.
May I thank the President for the two timely gestures both of which are really long overdue. It is a marvel that immediate past President Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda could not see sense despite numerous free expert advices from all angles, including highly learned and experienced Lawyers like Dr. Roger Chongwe and Professor Hansungule, leading Politicians like Gen Masheke and Dr Sondashi, prominent Clergy like the late Bishop Paul Duffy (May his soul rest in eternal peace) and a group of Clergy even wrote a pastoral letter asking him to set the detainees free and appoint a Commission of Inquiry but to all these he put his fingers into his ears or buried his heard in the sand like an Ostrich. No wonder he had to go because a leader who cannot make use of such abundance of well meaning advice is not worth the leadership mantle.
In any case I wish to point out that the steps taken by the ‘Man of action’ falls far too low the expectations of the Barotse people to put it mildly. We can only hope that this is just the beginning of a set of actions by the President targeting at resolving the Barotse issue which is a big and complex issue that will not go away by cosmetic attempts.
May I make one or two suggestions to the President and his advisors:
The Commission of Inquiry should be given terms of reference that go beyond just the ‘Mongu Saga’ so that it can inquire into the totality of the whole Barotseland Agreement 1964 Issue so as to inform government thoroughly.
The president should extend his pardon to the detainees who were released on Nolle’ Prosque because we understand from expert explanation that Nolle Prosqui is not acquittal. The Barotse ex-detainees do not need to live forever with the Nolle hanging over their heads.
The President should squash the dismissal from the Police Service of Superintendent Maybin M. Sikwa who was dismissed from the service over the ‘Mongu Saga’ issue.
The President should seriously consider restoring the name Barotseland instead of the slave name ‘Western Province’ which is a source of embarrassment to the Barotse people as a starting point in search of a lasting pacific settlement to the Barotseland Agreement 1964 issue.
May the president ,the Government and the people of Zambia be informed that while we appreciate the little that has been done to pay attention to the Barotse Issue so far, the people of Barotseland will not rest until a genuine and amicable solution to the Barotseland Agreement 1964 standoff is finally achieved. May I also implore the Barotse people at home and abroad that the solution to the Barotseland Agreement 1964 issue squarely falls in the hands of the Barotse people themselves. It will not be gifted to them even by the so called ‘Man of Action’. What we want as Barotse people cannot come from either Addis Ababa or Lusaka, it can only come from the sacrifice, courage and self determination of Barotse People at home or abroad. Barrack H. Obama speaking on 5th February 2008 made a statement whose sentiment we must borrow for the Barotse Struggle:
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”
File:Police on Patrol in Mongu during the Mongu riots
President Michael Sata says he is confident that the nine-member Commission of Inquiry he appointed to investigate the January 14 Mongu disturbances will pave the way for an amicable settlement of the problems in Western Province.
This was contained in a statement released by George Chellah Special assistant to the President on Press and Public Relations
“I have no doubt that the high professional and personal integrity of the commmission chairperson Dr Roger Chongwe, SC, and his team will help bring about an agreeable and peaceful settlement to this matter,’’ said the President.
The President said he remains committed to addressing the main causes of public discontent in Western Province thus the Barotse Agreement.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala will tomorrow, October 12, 2011, swear-in members of the Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the extra-judicial killings of civilians during the Mongu demonstrations.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 15:00 hours at the Supreme Court and thereafter the commissioners will proceeed to State House to pay a courtesy call on the Head of State.
President Sata named the Commission of Inquiry last week to investigate the Mongu killings and pardoned all Barotse activists who had been jailed over the January 14 riots.
By Nellow Simukonde( Civil Engineer)
Development to the man in the street, typically means improvement in the environment in which we conduct our daily lives. In our country, it has so far been the opposite in too many places.
Development brings along significant deterioration in the quality of our enviroment. Countrywide, this is mostly in the form of dust and mud.
Dust and mud put a bad mark on our appearance, sanitation and health,the beauty of our towns, and on tourism. We walk around with dusty shoes, our wardrobe turns pale in one day and buildings look tarnished. It is extremely difficult to maintain clean vehicles and the impact of excessive dust on vehicle systems is costly.
The problem begins with our developers. This is not to say developers are the problem. The problem rather lies in the framework of regulations and
the manner of their administration, or lack thereof, by the government. It appears small-scale developers (or entrepreneurial developers, as I would like to call them) in our country simply pay a fee to the council and they are good to develop land parcels in any way without following any development regulations.
small scale entrepreneurs in Lusaka
The only thing that seems to matter is that the building is in the right place and in the right zoning. Development is confined to the perimeter of the building. That is all the developer cares about. The adverse impacts of surface development, such as the removal of vegetation cover, increase in
impervious surface areas and subsequent changes in drainage patterns and increased storm runoff do not seem to be considered at all and go unmitigated.
Developers typically clear the area from the building footprint to the edge of the adjacent roadway. This area is left open without any landscaping or organized parking lots. This area, in front of numerous business buildings, is constantly walked on by pedestrians and driven over by traffic and parked on anyhow. These areas are the ‘breeding grounds’ for our dust and mud in towns and residential business centers.
Our country has many competent town planners and development engineers in government who, hopefully, appreciate the purpose of their professions in the welfare of the public as well as the beauty of our environment. Therefore, it does not make sense that the issue of dust and mud has never been addressed in the process of implementing small-scale developments. This is failure on the part of government.
Much of the government (councils) failure to provide proper oversight on small-scale developments can be attributed to corruption. We cannot expect small-scale developers to look out for our environment while they look to make profits. Spending a little more to at least improve the appeal of their facade is the last thing on their minds regardless of the value inherent within it. It does not affect their real business because we, as customers, have learned not to care how a business looks like on the outside as long as they have what we want.
We just go in with our mud and dust and give them our business. There is no reason to expect a single developer to care about the mud and dust in front of his business when nobody else cares. The issue of dust and mud (a result of poor drainage) is a government regulation issue and a constitutional responsibility effected through the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act of 1990. The Act is supposed to be administered by the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ), assuming this has not changed recently.
This was once a beautiful park in the copperbelt
On dust and mud,the council may as well be nonexistent. They do not consider the cumulative impact of small-scale developments on our environment. This
cumulative impact is just as significant as that of large developments which require environmental impact studies. The government must have regulations or codes at the local level or effectively enforce existing regulations to bring about proper site developments. A developer must be required to submit a plan of development, and design plans showing how he or she proposes to develop the site; not the building. It is the job of the city engineer to review these proposals and make sure the proposed site development is proper. Local regulations must require that small private developers include in their proposals, Best Management Practices for Erosion and Sedment Control on their sites, during development and after development. By these standards, most of our small- developments are incomplete and that is exactly how they look like to our tourists.
Regulation must require proposals on how small-scale developers will mitigate the impacts of increased storm runoff from their sites and demonstrate that their site development will be consistent with and or facilitate the orderly future development of adjacent plots. Failure of small developments to provide for proper drainage is what leads to mud, standing water and roadside ditches or storm sewers that are deposited with excess sediment and cannot do their job.
The result is flooded roads following rain storms during our wet season. In the absence of other measures that would accomplish the same mitigation effects, small developers must be required to pave the area between the buildings and the adjacent roadway and mark out a proper parking lot. If the distance to the street is too much, the developer needs to propose a landscaping plan that introduces grass cover or other non-erodible application between the roadway and the parking lot.
This curbed grass cover should be maintained by the developer as long as it is on his property. Offsite development on public property must be adopted and maintained by the council. This opinion is expressed with the hope that our new government is going to look at the small changes that will make a long-term difference in the lives of Zambians.
Our new president’s best record comes from his performance as governor of Lusaka and as Minister of Local Government and Housing. He demonstrated then that he had a vision on how to improve the environment in which we live our lives,by cleaning up the house. I hope that he will bring this vision into
this government because we could use it. Town and country planning must begin to make sense for once.
It is time our government ventured out and embarked on an awareness campaign for developers as well as citizens to bring an understanding of what it will take to improve our surroundings, the importance of sustainable development and the role government will play in it,including improvement of water supplies to maintain grass landscaping.
A road in a residential area in the copperbelt
Government must also encourage individual home owners, through community enhancement programs, to grass their surroundings.This endeavor to reduce or eliminate dust and mud and clean up our surroundings begins with the government itself, especially its ministry offices. There are numerous government offices with vast dust pans in front, constantly being eroded.
I have just spent a month in Mpika. There, the ministry of health offices, the ministry of agriculture offices, and the general hospital itself sit before a waiting cloud of dust. This is the same senario countrywide. If our government is to put an end to our dust and mud, it must first
start addressing the issue around public property. It would not make much sense for the government to enforce onsite and offsite development rules on developers to reduce dust and mud while there are no properly paved roads or the existing roads abutting these parcels are in sorry shape.
Health and dust are not compatible in development.
