Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation ZESCO Public Relations Manager Andrea Makulu has hailed communities around the country and the law enforcement agencies for their continued support in curbing vandalism on the company’s equipment.

Mr. Makulu says that the electricity utility company has been working with the law enforcement agencies and the communities in protecting electricity equipment from being vandalized.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that ZESCO has beefed up and intensified security patrols on various ZESCO power installations.

He explained that the company has employed officers who are carrying out patrols on all ZESCO lines and substations to ensure that vandalism cases are reduced.

He expressed happiness that communities have been vigilant in protecting the equipment which he said was encouraging on the part of the company.

Mr. Makulu noted that there has been a significant reduction in the number of vandalism cases country wide.

He has since appealed to the members of public to desist from vandalizing ZESCO equipment as this would negatively affect the development process of the country and their communities in particular.

And The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has threatened to disconnect power supply from the Namwala Boma if bills amounting to over K782.5 million were not settled in full immediately.

In a notice of disconnection dated 11th April, 2011 obtained by ZANIS yesterday, the power utility company warned of disconnection as per section 14(2) of Chapter 811 of the Laws of Zambia.

The notice signed by the area Manager Joseph Soko also warned of legal action against non-settlement of the bills.

“Please take note that should you fail to pay and remain disconnected for more than twenty-one days, legal action will be taken against you and your service line/transformers will be recovered,” stated the letter in part.

And Namwala District Commissioner, Wilson Siadunka has appealed to government departments at the Boma to contribute money in order to settle the bill and avoid power supply disconnections.

ZANIS

The Passengers, Pedestrians and Cyclists Association of Zambia (PAPECA) has called on government to rescind its decision
to scrap off the code of conduct for Public Service vehicles (PSV) which compelled bus and taxi operators to paint their vehicles in sky-blue which has since been suspended.

PAPECA Lusaka Province Secretary Paul Phiri said the scrapping of the Statutory Instrument number 115 of 2000 will work against the will of many Zambians who will have difficulties identifying PSVs.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Phiri observed that now that the decision has been suspended, government should consider reverting to the old order of having all PSVs painted in sky blue for easy identification by the commuters.

He said the uniform colour of Public Service Vehicles brought sanity on the roads as contravenes of traffic rules could easily be seen and brought to book unlike where such vehicles are painted in different colours.

He added that the uniform colour has in some way reduced road traffic accidents as drivers of passage vehicles have been careful not to abrogate rules as they feared to be reported to the authority due to the distinguished colour of their vehicles.

Mr. Phiri notes that if the colour code is changed, people with bad intentions will take advantage of commuters who will not differentiate between public transport and private vehicles.

Mr. Phiri also claimed that his association was not been consulted on the matter and hoped that the views of the association will be taken into consideration.

Mr. Phiri’s comments follow government’s decision to suspend the scrapping of the colour code for public service vehicles (PSV) to allow more discussions on the subject.

Government through the Ministry of Communications and Transport announced on Friday that all PSV operators would be free to prefer colours of their choice following the abolishment of Statutory Instrument number 115 of 2000, which compelled bus and taxi operators to paint their vehicles in sky-blue.

But yesterday Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa announced the suspension of Statutory Instrument number 31 of 2011 on the colour code for public service vehicles pending more consultations.

ZANIS

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has received funding for constructing of new structures at a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts.

Commission Public Relations Manager John Nyawali disclosed that government has allocated k1.8 billion in this year’s budget to facilitate the construction of new structures at the rehabilitation center for drug addicts.

Mr. Nyawali said about K500 million has already been released for the commencement of the project in Lusaka’s Makeni area

He explained that the center for will be a reformatory center for people addicted to drugs.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that as soon as the rehabilitation center is completed, it will be opened to help reform people addicted to drugs and not people who need de-intoxication.

Mr. Nyawali further explained that the infrastructure is meant to facilitate the provision of outdoor activities to out-patients that need reformation in order to reduce drug abuse in the country.

He added that the center will offer counseling and training that will offer life skills to help people that are addicted to drugs fit in society and become productive members of the community.

Mr. Nyawali said the construction of the centre is expected to be completed this month and be opened in May this year.

He hoped that people will take advantage of the centre to get the help they desire in dealing with drug addicts.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nyawali has disclosed that the commission is currently renovating the existing structures in Lusaka to facilitate for the treatment of drug abusers.

ZANIS

The Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) and the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) have welcomed government’s plans to formulate a code of ethics for teachers.

Both ZNUT and ZANEC said the formulation of a code of ethics for teachers will bring about sanity in the teaching profession.

Recently, government announced that it will soon present the Professional Teachers Regulatory Body Bill to Parliament to pave way for the formulation of a code of ethics for the teaching fraternity.

Speaking in a separate interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, ZNUT General Secretary Newman Bubala said a code of ethics for any profession plays an important in improving service delivery.

Mr. Bubala noted that without a code of ethics, workers fail to work according to the expectations of the public and consequently affect national development.

He explained that this was why a code of ethics is vital as it will also help in maintaining discipline among erring teachers.

And Mr. Bubala has noted that government should ensure that in the code of ethics, teachers that have been fired from government schools do not find employment in private schools.

He said this will ensure that teachers are regulated in their profession just the way it is with other professions.

He further urged government to ensure that teachers are also part of the formulation process if the code is to address key issues in the education sector.

“For us teachers, we want to ensure that we follow this bill closely and also urge the government to include us in the formulation process,” he aid.

And ZANEC Chairperson Barbara Chilangwa said government should be praised for coming with such an idea.

Ms. Chilangwa stated that the teachers are the only professionals that do not have a professional regulatory body despite them comprising a big number of employees in the country.

“The teaching service is one of the largest industries so it is surprising to see that they do not have a professional body,“ he said.

She said a code of ethics will assist people to hold teachers in high standards in society.

She noted that the code will also help rekindle the trust that people have had in the teaching service in the past.

Ms. Chilangwa added that by having professional guidelines, issues of abuse and examination leakages will also be effectively addressed.

ZANIS