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Over 745 pupils’ lives and those of the surrounding community at Chipepo High School in Gwembe District are in danger following a break down in the water supply line at the institution.
The school, the clinic, and the nearby community have had no running water for a week now.This came to light when ZANIS and medical officers visited the institution yesterday.
Close to 620 boarding and day pupils are writing the 2010 Grade Twelve Leaving Examinations and lack of water might force the public health department to close the institution if the problem is not remedied.
Deputy headteacher, Huefoot Muchenya explained that the institution had been experiencing frequent water problems and that the institution had been looking for alternative measures to curb water blues.
He said lack of pit latrines at the institution has aggravated the problem adding that the pit latrines at the institution were condemned by the public health department.
The Deputy headteacher explained that the institution awaits the public health department to site where pit latrines could be constructed before it could replace the condemned ones in order for pupils to use toilets as opposed to the use of open bush during a water crisis.
A check by ZANIS revealed that pupils were using the nearby bush to relieve themselves, a situation that could result in diarrheal diseases with the on set of the rains.
A guided tour of the ablution blocks revealed that most toilets have been discontinued and thorny branches have been placed on toilet door to bar pupils from using them.
Mr. Muchenya has assured the pupils that the institution will soon have running water once the team that had been dispatched to Lusaka to purchase a spare parts comes back.
He also observed the need to install a submissive pump at the institution as an alternative measure when the water pump breaks down.
And a medical officer at Gwembe District Hospital has observed that the washing of hands after using the toilet and the preparation of clean food in the school kitchen have been compromised following the water shortage at the institution.
Speaking when he toured the school ablution blocks for both girls and boys and the school kitchen, Dr Habasimbi said the current water problem at the High School is likely to create a bigger crisis due to the huge population.
Dr. Habasimbi has since advised school authorities to bring the matter to the attention of the District Education Board and the District Health Management Board for quick action before disease breaks out.
He observed that there is urgent need to reduce the number of pupils by sending non-examination classes home until the water situation is normalized.
At press time, pupils were seen drawing water from the school borehole but lack of pit latrines was observed to have compromised hygiene standards at the institution.
Jubilation from UPND supportersThe Citizen’s Forum CF executive secretary, Simon Kabanda has attributed the loss of the Movement for Multi party Democracy MMD to intimidation by the ruling party.
Mr. Kabanda also observed that the blame game that the ruling party is beginning to play on who is responsible for the loss incurred in Chilanga last week is a wake up call for the party to put its house in order again.
He said the MMD party leadership should have known long before that violent behavior by their Lusaka provincial chairperson, William Banda is not their best approach to politics.
Mr Kabanda noted that the MMD has never been exemplary in averting political violence and now it has cost them big because they tolerated it within their rankings and allowed it to breed.
He has ,therefore, challenged the party leadership to take disciplinary action against their violent cadres and ensure that they were tamed before the next elections.
Mr. Kabanda has repeatedly appealed to the MMD leadership to consider reorganizing its house before few violent figures mess up the tenants that the party has built its credibility on.
[ QFM ]
Former Bank of Zambia Governor Justin Zulu has observed that the low inflation rate that the country has continued to record is a great achievement by the Central Bank.
Mr. Zulu said high rate of inflation tends to disadvantage the low income households and hopes that the reduced 7.3 percent of inflation recorded in October, 2010 will trickle down to the low and middle income households.
He has however stressed that infrastructure development is key to the Country’s economic growth and in efforts to alleviate poverty.
The former governor who served from 1967 to 1970 said the current scenario in Zambia’s economic development is similar to the one in his tenure of office.
He said the country needs to take advantage of the inflows of foreign direct investment adding that this is an important driver of the economy.
Mr. Zulu has also called for the need to maintain the level of foreign investment and focus on power generation through the rural electrification programme to make and sustain economic growth.
He added that Zambia would not be able to attain all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 but that the leadership should ensure that there is growth in major sectors of the economy.
[ QFM ]
Kalusha Bwalya’s co-opted executive is looking very isolated after the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) sub-committee led by Max Sichula report was released today.
Sichula’s report to the NSCZ said the co-opted Faz executive committee is illegal and an interim executive looks into the affairs of Football House.
NSCZ spokesman Smart Mwitwa said at a press briefing in Lusaka today that the Sichula inquiry had found that Kalusha’s executive ceased to exist after the resignation of the three committee members including Faz vice president Emmanuel Munaile.
Mwitwa added that Fifa should direct Faz into holding an extraordinary council meeting in line with the football governing bodys’ statues.
Mwitwa said: “The argument that the executive committee has eleven members inclusive of the two ex-officios and that therefore there were seven executive committee members remaining after the resignations of the four does not cure the lack of a quorum.
“From the fore-going the findings of the sub-committee, is that the resignations of the four members of Faz rendered the executive committee dysfunctional. In other words the Faz executive dissolved itself.
“The sub committee recommends as follows: That Fifa prevails upon its affiliate, Faz, to convene an extra ordinary council meeting to enable councilors resolve differences in Faz as per article 26.2 (iv).
“In the alternative, Fifa consider invoking the provisions of article 7 (12) (1) of Fifa statutes which provide for the establishment of a normalization committee for a specific period of time.
“You have to appreciate that the NSCZ has got a vested interest in the administration of football. And we also know the Fifa statutes.
“We do not want to bring any antagonism that is why Fifa is very particular about third party interference and we recognize that, hence the board saw it fit that we leave this matter to FIFA who superintends over Faz.”
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has reiterated the need for media practitioners wishing to cover elections to obtain accreditation from the Commission during specified time.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna noted that the Commission does not wish to bar any journalist from any election activity as long as they abided by the electoral regulations and code of conduct.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Akufuna noted that being accredited was an ECZ requirement for all persons wishing to enter any polling station or tally centre to avoid overcrowding.
He said it also helped to ensure that only authorised persons were present during proceedings at the nomination centre, polling or tally centre.
Mr. Akufuna said the Commission only received applications from Radio Phoenix and Radio Ichengelo as well as ZANIS who were duly accredited for the Chilanga and Mpulungu by-elections.
He noted that there had been no time that the Commission had barred accredited journalists from covering any electoral proceedings.
Mr. Akufuna said what was reported in the media recently was misleading.
Second republican president Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina
Judge Evans Hamaundu announced in the Lusaka high court today that the judgment has been adjourned to December because Judge Christine Makungu who is based on the Copperbelt has not been able to travel to Lusaka.
This is the second time in the month that the matter has been adjourned as it was again postponed on October 1, 2010 to today.
The appeal is being handled by a panel of three Judges that include, Judge Evans Hamaundu, Judge Eddie Sikazwe and Judge Christine Makungu.
Mrs. Chiluba was flanked by her husband, the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) Bishop Peter Ndhlovu, church, family members, and MMD cadres.
The former President joined in singing a song of praise along with his wife and church members.
Regina Chiluba appealed to the High Court against a three-year conviction by Lusaka magistrate Charles Kafunda in which she was jailed after being found guilty on five counts of receiving property believed to have been stolen.
[ QFM ]
Stop Political Violence Launch day. Zambian International Health Alliance -ZIHA took a comprehensive approach of coming up with this Nationwide Political Violence Prevention Initiative. ZIHA is a US based and incorporated organizaion headed by Mr. Oliver Mupila
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UPND Siavonga Member of Parliament Douglas Siakalima talks to police officers when he was blocked from entering the results centre for Chilanga constituency
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UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa talks to police officers when he was blocked from entering the results centre for Chilanga constituency
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Zambian students in Kursk,Russia dancing to a Zambian song during the 46th Independence celebrations.
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Zambian students in Kursk,Russia,celebrating 46th Independence of Zambia
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Zambian Students In Kursk,Russia,celebrating 46th Independence of Zambia.
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Some of the invited guests at the 46th Independence Celebrations in Kursk,Russia
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The choir master from the United Church of Zambia walks away with hands full of cash after conducting a successful session
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The Botswana National Dance Troupe showcasing that country's traditional dance
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Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Eularia Siamujaye and groom Nathan Mwale during their wedding ceremony at Saint Anne’s Catholic Parish in Chipata.
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Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Eularia Siamujaye hugs her groom Nathan Mwale during their wedding ceremony
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The newly weds cut the cake with the assistance of matron Gladys Nswima during the wedding reception held at Luangwa Lodge in Chipata
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The bride feeds her groom a piece of cake during the wedding reception
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Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Eularia Mwale and her husband Nathan during the wedding reception held at Luangwa lodge in Chipata
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President Banda unveils a plaque for the new police houses in Chipata
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President Banda about to cut a ribbon for the new police houses in Chipata
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Police officers blocking the entrance to the results centre for Chilanga constituency
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MMD candidate for Mpulungu Given Mungomba (in yellow) and his supporters celebrating the party's victory
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Jubilation from UPND supporters after their candidate won the Chilanga by-election
Health minister, Kapembwa Simbao has described as scandalous the global fund report that highlights both the public and private institutions in the country as having misapplied resources meant for the provision of quality health services.
Mr. Simbao said that the Zambian government is being marginalized in the report.He told QFM that the government did not at any point misapply any resources and is being implicated in this matter because the country is the one on the begging end.
He said that the resources were released as per requirement but the workers are the ones who misapplied the fund and government should not be the one to blame.
Mr. Simbao said that in other countries, governments did indeed squander resources but r Zambia particularly never touched that money.
The recent global fund audit report has cited the ministry of health as not possessing the capacity to handle the global fund money.
Faz is courting two African countries for a friendly game on November 17.
Football House are said to be in negotiations with 2012 Africa Cup co-hosts Gabon including South Africa’s 2011 CHAN-bound team for a friendly international next month.
The Gabon game has been proposed for Europe while the South africa developmental teams prospective warm-up was mooted in June after the Bafana B team ejected Zambia from the CHAN qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Dario Bonetti will likely use a team dominated by home-based players for their CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup out in Tanzania next month with the inclusion of some foreign-based players.
The foreign-based players will include Russian-based Chisamba Lungu who has been in the wilderness for the last two years with TP Mazembe’s Zambia’s contingent led by Given Singuluma also likely to be in the reckoning.
Zambia is one of three guest teams invited for this year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup who include Malawi and Cote D’Ivoire who will compete in the 10-team East Africa football competition.
GOVERNMENT will ensure that more hostels are constructed at the University of Zambia and the deteriorated roofing system is renovated with utmost urgency.
Education Minister Dora Siliya said this in Lusaka yesterday during the tour of the University of Zambia Great East Road campus.
She said the new hostels and the stalled ones in the eastern side of the institution would only accommodate about 1,000 students in total and yet the shortfall was over 6,000.
Ms Siliya said Government had spent K13 billion on the construction of the new hostels that would be commissioned before the end of the year.
She was shocked that about 50 students were accommodated in one room in Africa big student flats.
The students left their property especially clothes and bags littered everywhere and movement from one point to another required to step on beds.
“For the female students this is not normal. Let me just say this situation is bad for all students because firstly it is very hot and unhealthy,” Ms Siliya said.
There was urgent need to restore sanity at the institution but this would be done at a manageable pace.
Ms Siliya said Government was facing shared challenges to address problems faced by institutions of higher education.
The minister was worried that the roofing system was leaking water to the rooms down stairs due to defective taps and water pipes.
She said she would seek specific steps from other Cabinet ministers especially Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane to ensure the students hostels were renovated.
The deep roof-leaks were noted in the library, the student hostel and the administration block.
She said Government would ensure that the huge debt UNZA owes retired staff was dismantled to allow for the expansion projects at the institution.
UNZA acting vice-chancellor Wilson Mwenya said the student-lecturer ratio had increased to one lecture per 27 students, which required expansion to the limited infrastructure.
MMD candidate for Mpulungu Given Mungomba (in yellow) and his supporters celebrating the party's victory
UNIP General Secretary Jemima Banda has accused opposition political parties that took part in the just ended Mpulungu by-election of allegedly being involved in corrupt practices.
And the Christian Coalition has advised UPND president Hakainde Hichilema to reconsider his association with Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata before he is allegedly soiled by what it described as the latter’s old fashioned politics.
Mrs Banda said it was unfair for opposition political parties to claim that the MMD was corrupt when deep down their hearts they knew that they allegedly left brown parcels to some headmen. [pullquote]We call upon Mr Hakainde Hichilema as a youthful leader not to confuse himself with the old fashioned politics of PF’s Michael Sata. We advise him to chart a clear political path for his career and position himself for the future[/pullquote]
On Wednesday, Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata accused the MMD of electoral malpractices and said his party would petition the Mpulungu parliamentary results. The seat was won by MMD candidate Given Mung’omba.
“We learnt about the corrupt activities when some headmen complained why UNIP did not leave any parcel when other political parties did,” Mrs Banda said.
The secretary general was campaign manager for UNIP candidate Germanico Simusokwe in the Mpulungu parliamentary by-election.
Mrs Banda said there was need for the opposition political parties to avoid applying double standards.
Mrs Banda complained about the verbal assault UNIP suffered from suspected PF cadres who allegedly referred to UNIP members and officials as foolish people.
She said if PF supporters could behave in an alleged arrogant manner when they were still in the opposition, it would be worse if they formed Government.
It was imperative that Zambians were careful when voting for political parties to form Government.
She was disappointed that PF could shower unprintables on fellow opposition political parties, instead of preaching unity in diversity.
Mrs Banda has cautioned Zambians to seriously look at the calibre of individuals aspiring for public offices like parliamentary seats before they made a mistake of electing crooks or criminals in public offices.
When contacted PF spokesperson Given Lubinda and Alliance for Democratic Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi denied that their parties were involved in corrupt practices in the Mpulungu by-election.
Meanwhile, Christian Coalition has advised Mr Hichilema to reconsider his association with Mr Sata before he is soiled by what they described as latter’s old fashioned politics.
The coalition has also commended President Rupiah Banda’s Government for the various developmental projects it is undertaking across the country especially in rural areas.
According to the coalition, Mr Hichilema should not confuse himself with the old fashioned politics of Mr Sata.
This is according to a joint statement signed by the Coalition president Godwin Musonda and the spokesperson John Mwendapole.
“We call upon Mr Hakainde Hichilema as a youthful leader not to confuse himself with the old fashioned politics of PF’s Michael Sata. We advise him to chart a clear political path for his career and position himself for the future,” reads the statement in part.
The coalition has since congratulated the UPND for scooping the Chilanga by-election.
Zambia has maintained the single digit inflation rate by further recording a reduction in the annual inflation rate for the month of October.
The annual inflation rate as measured by the all items Consumer Price Index (CPI), reduced to 7.3 percent in October, 2010, from 7.7 percent recorded in September, 2010.
Central Statistical Office (CSO) acting Director John Kalumbi said in Lusaka today during the presentation of the monthly bulletin that the decline in the rate of inflation is attributed to the reductions in the cost of non-food items.
Mr. Kalumbi said the annual food inflation rate was recorded at 3.4 percent in October, 2010 which represents an increase from the 2.8 percent recorded in September, 2010.
He has further added that the annual inflation rate of non-food items was recorded at 11 percent in October, 2010 saying that this is a decrease from 12.5 percent recorded in September.
Mr. Kalumbi said the annual inflation rate reduced for items such as clothing and footwear, household fuel and lighting.
Other non-food items that contributed to the decrease in inflation are furniture and household goods, medical, transport and communication, recreation, and education.
[ QFM ]
A four year old child is battling for his life in the Namwala District Hospital after he was allegedly stabbed several times by unknown people men in the same area.
Southern Province Commanding Office. Lemmy Kajoba confirmed this to ZANIS in a telephone interview today,He identified the victim as Chimwila Kasolo of Ching’ombe Village adding that the incident happened around 18 hours yesterday.
Mr. Kajoba said the child was in the company of two of his friends and they were playing near their home when two men emerged from a nearby bush then grabbed and dragged him into the bush.He said two unknown men stabbed the child in his stomach and attempted to cut his throat using what the police suspected to be a knife.
He said the boy was only rescued by alert members of the general public after one of the boys screamed for help. The suspects fled for safety.
Mr. Kajoba said the victim sustained deep wounds on his stomach leaving his intestines protruding and had deep cuts on his throat and his back.
He also said the boy was bleeding profusely from the stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted.
Mr. Kajoba pointed out that this was the latest incident and police believe the suspects could ritual killers.
And Namwala District Medical Officer Dr Davy Kaile said the condition of the boy was stable as he was responding to treatment well.
“We operated on him when he was brought in yesterday and we finished around 02:00 hours today and I can confirm that his condition is stable,” said Dr Kaile.
Meanwhile, Police have launched a massive manhunt for the two men and are appealing to members of the public to assist them with information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The recent protest in Western Province on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, resulting in very serious injuries and one death was something that should never have happened. But the government’s reckless behavior by ignoring Western province submissions to the new constitution has outraged the people of Barotseland. This is a good example of how civil wars are born. One little spark is capable of igniting a huge and destructive fire.
All this came about in August 2010, following the release of the final draft of the constitution. It was discovered then that all the submissions from western province were not included. Someone essentially thought they were not that important, and that Zambia can do just fine without them. Turned out to be a big mistake and recipe for disaster. Prior to this incident, when asked if he would ever thank the people of WP for tilting the presidential election results in his favor; president Banda is believed to have said; ” I did not ask for their votes.” As if that was not enough, the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia went to Western province and made a very troubling statement at the Ku-fuluhela gathering, which is reverse of Ku-omboka 2010. He publicly told the people; ” A Mulozi will never be president of Zambia.” People were so shocked that the Induna who was translating for him collapsed and passed out. Without an apology, he further demanded for another translator. The final nail on the unitary state coffin came when the constitution submissions from western province were thrown out of the draft. People who were in denial of government agenda can now smell the coffee. Hence the events of that fateful Saturday, after three requests to legally acquire public permit to hold a public meeting were denied by the pro Barotseland freedom advocates, not secessionists,
Barotse Agreement 1964
What many people do not understand is that the WP submission included a review of the Barotse Agreement 1964, which was the vehicle for the unitary state of the Republic of Zambia, without which the boundary between Zambia and Barotseland would have been the line of rail from Copper belt to Victoria falls. When King Lewanika signed successive treaties back in 1890, that claimed a vast area of Northern Rhodesia, he protected North-Western province from the Portuguese, Copper belt and Luapula from the French and Belgians, Northern and Eastern provinces from the Germans, and the whole Nation of Zambia was preserved as we know it today. This is the reason Zambia is known as King Lewanika’s country or Kingdom. Lewanika is a nickname, his real name was Lubosi. He acquired Liwanika name as people remembered his ability to unite tribes and Nations. Of the 73 plus Zambian languages, 31 are from Barotseland. In truth there is no tribe called Lozi. Bulozi or Barotseland is a Nation or Kingdom consisting of different tribes and peoples who have come to be known as Malozi today. There is no Lozi versus Nkoya, Mbunda, Luvale, Nyengo, Toka, Leya, Mbukushu, Mboela, Cokwe, Mweenyi, Kwangwa, Simaa, Subia, etc. Lozi is citizenship not a tribe. But those who want to devide and rule erroneously or purposely designate Lozi versus all of the above.
The following are implications of not including Western Province submissions:
* Technically and by default Barotseland ceases to be part of Zambia. Barotse Agreement 1964 was the glue of the union of the two nations
* Zambia cannot hold Barotseland accountable for stay, to an agreement Zambia no longer respects or considers abrogated.
* The Zambian Government will create a peaceful political atmosphere to help Barotseland resort to her original status, by referendum or other, if necessary.
* All Barotseans residing in the main-stream Zambia will be free to have dual citizenship or choose to stay wherever they want.
* The rest of the Zambians residing in Barotseland will choose to stay or have dual citizenship and live wherever they want.
* The Royal establishment resumes the role of reorganizing their government with the Litunga as King of Barotseland.
* The two governments will discuss boundary modalities without a fight, under AU and UN supervision
* The natural boundary being Kafue river running west side of Itezhi-tezhi passing through Namwala and Mulobezi area to Livingstone.
* Zambia takes Copper belt and the predominantly Lozi speaking people of Livingstone continue to be in Barotseland
* Kabompo and Zambezi will choose to stay in Zambia or be free with Barotseland
* The government of Barotseland will not seek to retrieve original parts of Barotseland now occupied by other countries like Kwando area in Angola, Caprivi Strip in
Namibia, Kasane area in Botswana, and Victoria falls town to the border with Hwange, in Zimbabwe.
* Barotseland will be a good neighbor of Zambia and the surrounding nations.
* Barotseland will join Common wealth nations, UN, AU, SADC and other.
* There is no treasonable charge against freedom of speech and expression of self-determination
* The Republic of Zambia under the surveillance eye of the International community will be a benchmark of a peaceful transition in Africa.
One of the objectives of Barotseland Peace Foundation, as a non profit and an apolitical organization, is to advocate for peace and facilitate for peaceful and transparent deliberations regarding conflict resolutions. Therefore, Both Zambia and Barotseland will benefit greatly by working with BAPF. We invite all other peace loving and peace making entities to join us in this matter, so we can resolve this matter without bloodshed. Self-Determination is imbedded in human rights, a privilege for all people everywhere in the world. There is a distress call from the people of Barotseland. The International community should not wait until it turns into Rwanda, Sudan, or Bosnia. Now is the time to respond and prevent war! Ki naako!
President Rupiah Banda is wednesday expected to officially launch the newly established Renal Unit at the University Teaching Hospital UTH
The President will also commission ten brand new Dialysis machines as part of his health care programme.The Renal Unit has been refurbished at a cost of over 3.5 billion Kwacha.
The ten dialysis Machines have been bought from Japan as part of President Banda’s wider health campaign programme aimed at delivering quality health care to Zambians.The machines will help cut government costs as most patients with renal problems were sent abroad for treatment.
The President said he is happy to deliver another achievement in the country’s health sector, barely a month after he launched the country’s first-ever CT scan Machine, which was installed at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka.
This is according to a statement issued to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President Dickson Jere
It is the first time since Independence that Zambia has managed to acquire ten dialysis machines to help patients with renal problems.
The Machines have been procured through the assistance of the Tokushikai Medical Centre of Japan.
A Zambian medical team, comprising a Doctor, Nurse and Technicians, was recently trained in Japan to handle the newly acquired equipment.
Over 745 pupils’ lives and those of the surrounding community at Chipepo High School in Gwembe District are in danger following a break down in the water supply line at the institution.
