Chief Nsamba of the Bangweulu Swamps in Samfya has said, the theft of K10 billion by officers at the Ministry of Health is a sad development.

The chief has joined those calling for immediate arrest and prosecution of the officers involved in the K10 billion-scam.

He said those who will be found guilty of the corrupt act should be handed life jail sentences, because what they have done is tantamount to killing.

The traditional ruler said the K10 billion which the officers put in their pockets to serve their personal interests would have been prudently spent for the procurement of medicines to save lives, especially at the time when the country is grappling with the AIDS pandemic.

“In the Bangweulu swamps the situation is very bad in this era of HIV and AIDS, where people need better health services. There is need to have one of the health centres upgraded to stage II (two) clinic, where specialised health services can be provided ,” Chief Nsamba said.

He said he gets worried to understand that one of the officers identified to be behind the K10 billion-scam at the Ministry of Health has been transferred to the Ministry of Local Government.

He said leaving the said officer scotfree will afford him another opportunity to steal more public funds and urged the ACC to investigate deeper and arrest the officer.

“These people need to be handed harsher penalties, not simple sentences. Life sentence could be ideal, since what they have done is tantamount to killing,” the chief said.

ZANIS

Nurses in North-Western Province have appealed to government to consider paying of rural hardship allowance in order to motivate medical personnel serving in rural areas.

The nurses, who cheered as their union representative gave a speech during the international nurses’ day cerebration, later told ZANIS in an interview that North-western was a more of a rural area than other provinces in Zambia.

The nurses came as far as Chavuma, Zambezi, Mwinilunga, Mufumbwe, Kabompo and Solwezi to attend this year’s commemoration of nurses’ day which was hosted in Kasempa district.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zambia Union of Nurses Provincial Chairman, Laban Mungwala said North-western was predominately rural hence the need for the government to pay rural hardship allowance.

He said health workers in rural areas need motivation as they face many challenges while working to improve the lives of the people.

Mr. Mungwala observed that some teachers, who were serving in the same areas, have been receiving rural hardship allowance leaving health workers.

“As for us, we are forgotten simply because we are classified as essential workers and we cannot easily take industrial action,” he said.

Among the many challenges that were stated was the issue of housing allowance, which was said to be below their entitlement and the retention scheme.[quote]

Mr. Mungwala further commended nurses for having a self-sacrificing spirit, adding that most of the health centres have shortages of staff thereby making the few workers overloaded with work.

He said the issue of inadequate staff was not because of lack of skilled workers but because of lack of motivation in the health sector.

“As long as these are not addressed, nurses will continue going until such a time when government will be willing to provide meaningful conditions of service,” he said.

And gracing the occasion Kasempa District Commissioners Henry Shantolo commended the nurses for being innovative and ensuring that patients were cared for.

Mr. Shantolo said initiatives by health workers have resulted into significant improvement of the health systems in the district.

He further urged the public to support the efforts of the nurse in order to provide solutions to the challenges and demands being faced in providing care in the country.

ZANIS

Villagers in chief Kathumba’s area in Katete district have accused Mozambican security officers of harassment when manning the boarder areas.

Chief Kathumba’s Induna, Mbila Banda, said his subjects have for a long time suffered beatings and loss of money in circumstances when attacked by Mozambican security officers.

Mr Banda disclosed this at a sensitization meeting on health, marketing, agriculture and security in Katete district yesterday.

He appealed to government to quickly address the situation, saying Zambians have been kind to Mozambican nationals who are allowed to access medical assistance in the district.

Mr Banda has also called on government to quickly open up markets to stop farmers from selling their maize produce to briefcase buyers who are allegedly buying the commodity at give away prices.

He explained that it was unfair that farmers who had spent a lot of resources on farming are not benefiting from their produce.

Meanwhile, Katete District Commissioner, Elemani Mwanza, appealed for continued peace and patience among Zambians living in the border areas as government would address the matter to protect its citizens.

Mr Mwanza assured the villagers of responsible action, saying everything possible would be done as Zambia and Mozambique currently had warm existing relations.

He, however, expressed concern that some security officers were harassing Zambians for selfish gain because they do not provide government receipts to those that pay fines for the various offences charged.

The District Commissioner also commended some vigilant Zambians who retrieved eleven rounds of ammunition from a Mozambican national and reported the matter to the police.

He disclosed that the three named Zambians were initially summoned by chief Mwala of Mozambique for allegedly assaulting a Mozambican national and reported the matter to police in Zambia but it was later discovered that the assault occurred as the trio were trying to retrieve ammunition from the Mozambican national.

ZANIS

Irate villagers in Magoye area of Mazabuka have ordered officers from the Roads Development Agency (RDA) to immediately stop the ongoing government sponsored feeder roads rehabilitation .

Magoye member of Parliament, Bennie Mweemba who disclosed this in Mazabuka today said he is in full support of the decision taken by villagers because the road rehabilitation works are of poor standards.

He alleged that staff sent to do the repair works were just filling pot holes with ordinary sand instead of doing full scale rehabilitation as required in the contract.

Mr Mweemba said he is not going to support shoddy works when government spent alot of money to procure 5,000 litres of diesel used by the heavy duty equipment in the project.[quote]

He urged RDA regional manager to ensure well trained grader operators are sent to the district to do a good job.

He has also urged government to ensure close supervision of the works to save public resources from going to waste.

Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba is scheduled to inspect the rehabilitation project.

Government send a Grader, Frontend Loader and a Tiper truck to execute the 1,200 kilometres of roads in the four chiefdoms.

ZANIS