Government says it is in the process of restructuring the Forestry Department to make it more effective in monitoring and assessing the extent of deforestation in the country.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Catherine Namugala, says government will ensure that the department is equipped with appropriate tools that will help mitigate the impact of climate change on the country.

Ms Namugala said this in a speech read for her by Permanent Secretary, Teddy Kasonso, at a tree planting ceremony to mark the World Forestry Day cerebrations in Lusaka today.

She said there is need to encourage planting of trees in all parts of the country because they trees play an important role towards cushioning the effects of climate change.

She explained that this is why trees should be considered as one way of implementing control measures of climate change in sectors like tourism, energy and agriculture.

The minster, further, added that her ministry is working in collaboration with the ministry of energy and water development and the ministry of agriculture to find alternative sources of energy and sustainable agricultural practices aimed at reducing effects of carbon emissions.

Speaking at the some ceremony, Director of Forestry Department, Anna Musanje said forest conservation is important to both the environment and human beings.

Mrs. Musanje explained that though trees are a renewable resource there is need for people in the country to help protect them just like other natural resource.

She, further, urged other stakeholders to partner with government in finding solutions to address the effects of climate change.

ZANIS/MM/ENDS/SJK.

President, Rupiah Banda, has confirmed that the Lusaka –Chirundu road that was extensively damaged cutting off the route that connects Zambia to the rest of Southern Africa, has been reconnected.

The damage of the road was caused by heavy rains ,leaving trucks and other vehicles marooned on both sides of the road for long hours.

And President Banda has disclosed that Western, Southern and North-western provinces have been severely affected by the excessive rains in which 15 districts are severely affected.

Mr. Banda told a press briefing at State House today, that government contracted Sable contractors to carryout emergency works to allow the flow of traffic.

He said this followed an on the spot assessment by a team led by Works and Supply minister, Mike Mulongoti and officials from the Road Development Agency, RDA.

He said government through the office of the Vice president’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, DMMU, has been monitoring and assessing the impact of the excessive rainfall.

The president, further, said government has since dispatched another team led by deputy minister in the office of the Vice president, Guston Sichilima, Works and Supply deputy minister Mundia Ndalamei, Communication and Transport deputy minister Mubika Mubika and other senior government officials to the three worst hit districts in Western province.

Mr. Banda added that two bailey bridges have been dispatched to Shang’ombo district as part of the efforts to ensure that the area is re-connected to the rest of the country.

He said government has already received 30 more bailey bridges from China for the on-going works on the Kalabo-Mongu road.

He commended Sable Contractors for quickly working round the clock to ensure that the road that connects Zambia to the rest of Southern Africa is re-connected before permanent works are done.

Meanwhile, President Banda has directed the defense forces to mobilize and support the disaster management’s efforts throughout the country.

He has, further, directed them to be on standby as government continues receiving reports on floods from the districts.

The President has assured Zambians that government will continue monitoring the situation and the nation will be kept informed on the developments.

He noted that if the rains continue, it will cause widespread damage to infrastructure in other parts of the country.

In the last few weeks the country has been experiencing unprecedented levels of rainfall, which has led to floods and damage to road and other infrastructure across the country.

Government’s assessment indicates that most parts of the country have been severely affected including Western, Southern and North-western provinces in which 15 districts have been severely affected.

ZANIS/JT/ENDS/SJK

Dear Bloggers,

I have a dilemma I never thought I would find myself in. A year ago I started working for a certain company. Two months into my new job my boss went on leave and another man took his place in an acting position. I got along with my new boss very well and we soon struck an out of office friendship. You see I wanted to be professional at work and only agreed to see him after hours.We have been dating seriously for the last 8weeks.

I felt he was a descent guy because he never invited me to his place.He does come to my place but my flat mate is usually there so we are never really alone.

I have really grown to love this man and could see myself spending the rest of my life with him.

Last week I got a phone call from an angry woman telling me to lay of her husband. If she had not been calling from his cell phone I would have had my doubts about her. My brother also told me he thought he saw my boyfriend dropping off a kid at the school my niece goes to.

I am in total shock. He never wore a ring, at least in my presence.I do not know what to do. I can not stand working at that company anymore.People I’m sure have been looking at me like a slut.Perhaps that may be the reason the other women at work have not been friendly towards me.I have not yet confronted him but I am so embarrassed and angry for having missed all the signs that I was dating a married man.Should I resign from my job and put distance between us? I can not stand working in such close proximity with him anymore.

Lady in distress

Government has described as natural, the washing away of part of the Chirundu-Siavonga by rains.

Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti, said the contractor of the road, China-Henan, took into consideration all precautionary measures to put up quality works which could not easily be compromised.

Mr. Mulongoti, however, told ZANIS during an on the spot check of the washed away road, some 100 kilometers away from Lusaka, that the disaster was due a weak bottom of the road surface created by rain water.

He has, however, assured motorists that the contractors will put in place measures to strengthen the road base to avoid similar damage in future.

Mr. Mulongoti has, further, assured motorists and the general public that a temporal measure is being worked out by Sable Contractors to sustain the flow of traffic between Lusaka and the two border towns.

Speaking at the same scene, Road Development Agency, Chief Engineer of Maintenance, Robby M’kandawire, said the agency will work hand in hand with the contractor to ensure that the damaged portion of the road is reconstructed.

He said key logistics such as culverts are already on site, to work out a permanent solution while a by pass is being created as a temporal solution for sustaining the flow of traffic.

Siavonga and Chirundu districts were yesterday cut off from the rest of the country when part of the Lusaka Chirundu road was swept away by rains.

ZANIS/CM/ENDS/SJK

Investigations conducted by the Environment Council of Zambia (ECZ) has revealed that Lumwana East river in Solwezi was not polluted by uranium discharged by Lumwana mine as alleged by media reports.

ECZ Public Relations Officer Bwalya Nondo disclosed that ECZ have also dispelled reports of crops and other plants being burnt by alleged uranium contaminants .

He explained that a comprehensive report submitted to Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Catherine Namugala today on the reported pollution incident by Lumwana mine has revealed that there was no trace of pollution.

In a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Nondo said analysis carried out on water in the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and on water released into the environment revealed no trace of pollution and that discharged water was within statutory limits.

“The report further reveals that samples collected from boreholes, the main source of domestic water in the community down stream of Lumwana East, did not show any raised levels of radiation in the water. River water is mostly used for crop irrigation in the dry season, and as such, no crops or any other plant were burnt or affected by any uranium discharge as reported in the press”, he said.

The Public Relations Officer disclosed that Lumwana mine has not commenced any uranium production and that, the copper extraction process does not employ a method used that requires use of sulphuric acid which could be harmful to plants in the event of pollution to the environment.

Mr. Nondo further explained that the local community was informed that Lumwana mine would be discharging water into the river and advised them not to drink it because it was dirty and muddy.

He said the Tourism Minister has since commended ECZ for promptly investigating the pollution incident in Solwezi.

Mr. Nondo said Ms Namugala has since assured the nation that her ministry through ECZ will closely monitor Lumwana mine and other industries to ensure that their operations were environmentally friendly, and not a danger to human life and the environment.

ZANIS/PM/MKM/ENDS