The Lusaka City Council (LCC) is calling on all business entities in the city to acquire Health Permits for 2023 during this year’s licensing period which is from August to December, 2022.

In a statement issued, Lusaka City Council Public Relations Manager Chola Mwamba explained that the acquiring of the health permits will be conducted in compliance with various public health statutes such as the Public Health Act Chapter 295 of the Laws of Zambia, the Food Safety Act No. 7 of 2019, and the Solid Waste Regulation and Management Act No. 20 of 2018 respectively.

Ms Mwamba added that the pre-conditions for the business entities to acquire a Health Permit for the year 2023 includes conditions such as ensuring that the building structures are decorated and painted to an attractive finish, the business premises to be subscribed to the legal solid waste management system, meeting satisfactory drainage system to manage grey (waste) water and avoid discharging in the storm water drainage.

Ms Mwamba further added that adequate lighting both artificial and natural within the business premises for the purpose of workers’ (employees’) health and safety should be put in place, assessment of other possible hazards ranging from biological, chemical and physical, including other hazards are to be noted, keeping quality of commodities being displayed for sell and availability, adequacy and cleanliness of sanitary accommodation (toilets) and finally any other conditions that are incidental thereto.

“The Lusaka City Council therefore, is hereby encouraging business entities to follow the above outlined procedures without fail,” Ms Mwamba noted

She noted that no business premises will be issued with a Health Permit without meeting the minimum Public Health Standards.

The Local Authority has since urged the business entities to comply with the guidance and contribute positively to achieving a Green, Clean and Healthy Lusaka City.

Caritas Solwezi Director, Fr. Noel Haaninga says the current Public Order Act (PAO) is not an entirely bad document.

Speaking in an exclusive interview in Solwezi yesterday, Fr. Haaninga said the biggest problem has been the implementation of the Public Order Act by the police.

Fr. Haaninga said from his observations the people that are tasked to safe guard and implement the Public Order Act are the ones that create problems.

“The problem I think for me from my little analysis is not so much about the Public Order Act…as it is now is not an entirely bad document…as it is now there are a lot of good things that are there. The biggest problem has been the implementation of the Public Order Act,” he said.

Fr. Haaninga said even if changes are made to the current Public Order Act as long as the police remain with little knowledge on how to implement it there will always be problems.

He said the problem is that the people that are tasked to safeguard and implement the Public Order Act for the benefit of the Zambian People have little understanding of the spirit behind the Public Order Act or deliberately decide ignore to appropriately implement it.

Fr. Haaninga said previously the police abused the Public Order Act to the extent of injuring the same people they were supposed to protect.

“In the previous regime the police were too heavy handed…were too strong in the implementation of the Public Order Act so much so that what they were supposed to protect actually was injured and affected,” he said.

Fr. Haaninga said for him what is supposed to be looked at in the Public Order Act reform is its implementation by the police.

He therefore, appealed to Zambians to take part in the reform by making submissions and not to leave the reform process to the politicians.

Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda has advised members of the public to be cautious when purchasing used motor vehicles from online dealers purporting to be operating in Japan.

Chushi Kasanda who is also Chief Government Spokesperson stated that the Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has received information regarding mounting complaints from Zambian citizens who have been swindled or shortchanged by unscrupulous individuals running websites purporting to sell used motor vehicles when in fact not.

Ms Kasanda added that the Government has been notified of cases involving Zambians who have not had their vehicles delivered, despite having made the payment, while some have only received their motor vehicles after intervention by our mission in Tokyo, Japan.

She noted that in view of the foregoing, the Government wishes to advise all individuals wishing to purchase used motor vehicles from Japan to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Tokyo, Japan.

“For guidance on the legitimate sources to avoid loss of funds and personal inconvenience, members of the public are advised to contact the Zambian embassy in Tokyo, Japan on [email protected],” Ms Kasanda said

Ms Kasanda cited that alternatively, Zambians are advised to use the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST), which has a signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with various car dealers in Japan, or to purchase their vehicles from companies with a physical presence in Zambia.

She has encouraged individuals to read online reviews of companies before engaging in business, as this will enable them to appreciate the experiences of other customers.

Ms Kasanda has since directed individuals who may prefer online purchases to deal with companies belonging to the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association (JUMVEA), an association approved by the Government of Japan.

Kamwala Ward Five (5) Councillor Mainda Simata says stringent measures are being put in place to ensure safety and security is enhanced in the community.

Mr Simata stated that Kamwala is one of the places with a serious problem of crime, and measures are being put in place to ensure that there’s an upgrade on the levels of security in the Ward.

He noted that one of the things that is being done is the upgrading of Lackson Makushi Police Post into a Police Station as it is located closer to the boundary of Kamwala, Chawama, Nkuku and Misisi compounds and these are areas with a lot of influx of people that are stealing in Kamwala South.

Mr Simata stated that the project to upgrade the Lackson Makushi Police Post has already been submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development awaiting clearance and approval.

“We are hoping that with that we are going to have more facilities at the Police Station such as armed Patrol Police Officers with vehicles,” he stated

He added that neighbourhood watch committee is being constituting to work in close collaboration with the Police who may not have the capacity in terms of man power and even amenities such as vehicles to patrol and police the entire area, hence, the need for the communities to also play their part to ensure that security within the residents and Wards prevails.

He explained that the neighbourhood watch committee will always be in the company of an armed Police Officer as they are conducting their patrols because in case of any incident or encounter with criminals the armed Police will be able to assist and even when they will be a shooting the Police will be answerable by explain what really transpired.

“These are some of the programmes that we are rolling out to ensure that the levels of security are provided in the community,” he said

Mr Simata has since appealed to the Police to work together with the community through the formation of the neighbourhood watch committee as resources will be mobilised and insights will be acknowledged from successful neighbourhood watch committees such as the Makeni neighbourhood watch.

“We are trying to replicate that success in our community so that our community can be safer especially for people who work late and knock off at awkward hours,” Mr Simata noted

And Mr Simata cited that the Police need to take a hard stance on crime, there has to be a very hard-liner approach not the soft approach to criminals who have been repeatedly found wanting.

“I think that was last year where a story was covered where five people were shot and fortunately enough, they didn’t die but this was an attack by some armed criminals who robbed a number of liquor stores and ended up shooting innocent marketeers in the process as they fled,” he said

“So, this really has put us on a spot as civic leaders because the major cry of the residents of Kamwala Ward Five in particular is that something has to be done heighten the security situation, and as civic leaders ours is about service delivery working together with stakeholders such as the Police in the community,” he noted

Mr Simata explained that there are people in Kamwala South that live in unfinished buildings as founded from the investigations where these people who are squatting in unfinished buildings are also suspects over these thefts happening in the area.

Mr Simata added that it’s not just unfinished buildings but there are also mushrooming illegal settlements or camps especially along the Ring Road where they are people dealing in scrap metal and recycling waste by setting up illegal makeshift houses, and bathrooms, and in the evening or night time one can even see spots of lit fires.

He stated that the community has complained to say these are some of the people that turn into criminals at night, when in the afternoon one might think that maybe they are legitimate business people trying to make a living by dealing in scrap metal and recycling.

“In the evenings as early as 20 hours people are being attacked by these people that have illegally settled and those that live in incomplete building, this is a reported case which I had last week when we had a community programme to try and figure out how we can sort out crime,” Mr Simata said

“I have reported this to the Council but no action has been taken to repossess these places or have them demolished, but I will continue to pursue this matter and I will still engage the Town Clerk to know why action hasn’t been taken this far,” he said

Mr Simata cited this when he made an appearance on the CAMNET TV Breakfast Show.

Education Hope Foundation Board Vice Chairperson Aaron Chansa has challenged companies operating in Zambia to help overcome the huge shortage of desks in schools countrywide.

Mr. Chansa said with the re-introduction of free education, local schools need up to about 2 million desks to cushion the deficit.

He observed that many learners in schools countrywide are sitting on the floor owing to increased enrolment.

Mr. Chansa said companies should consider donating desks to schools in their localities to improve the quality of education.

He was speaking when Hope Foundation partnered with Hitachi Construction to donate 32 desks to Insakwe Reformatory School for Female Juvenile Offenders located in Ndola in the Copperbelt Province.

Mr. Chansa saluted Hitachi Construction for facilitating the donation of 32 desks to Insakwe School.

“We are going to go out to mobilise more desks so that we can be second occupant of this school. Insakwe must be our second and Hitachi must be our all weather partner. I am also excited that the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services respects the fact that education is a public good that must be consumed by everyone regardless of their legal status in society. Regardless of whatever offence they have done to society. They have allowed our girls here to continue consuming this public good that we all know as a key to success. You can’t deal without education in this century,” Mr. Chansa said.

“So, the Ministry must be supported, whilst we reform our girls here, we must give them education and from where I come from myself, we don’t just demand education we demand for quality education because poorly educated people are very dangerous to society. So, I will not be happy to come next year and find that there is poor quality here. We want quality education to be provided and this is the reason why I want to thank the management here for opening up the doors.Let me say something about our corporate world. I don’t think that some of our challenges we face today could have been faced if all the companies in Zambia were like Hitachi. Can you imagine if all companies donated 30 desks to schools? Are we going to have learners sitting on the floor? No. By 2019, the education sector in Zambia had a deficit of 1.3 million desks. With the coming in of the free education policy, we are estimating that we need 2 million desks in this country. I have been to all provinces of this country, learners today are sitting on the floor and we have thousands of companies making profits and that is why I took time to thank Hitachi for ploughing back into the community,” he said.

Mr. Chansa has since appealed to the Government to formulate a policy that will make corporate social responsibility among companies mandatory.

“I want to make a call to all companies in this country to emulate Hitachi and identify a school nearby and donate desks, donate computers, donate books and build houses for teachers. I also want to further challenge companies in Ndola to come and build a classroom block at this school. We can’t be struggling with inadequate classrooms when Ndola is dotted with nothing but companies. I also want to appeal to the government to introduce a policy, corporate social responsibility policy that is going to compel companies in Zambia to at least pay back to the community. We need that policy as soon as possible. I found this policy in Malawi. In Zambia it is possible to have this policy. As Education Hope Foundation we call upon the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Community Development to initiate a policy that is going to compel companies to pay back to companies,” Mr. Chansa said.

Young offenders interviewed by reporters said they were pleased with the skills training being offered at Juvenile Reformatory School called Insakwe in Ndola.

Some juvenile offenders said the skills they are acquiring in tailoring, poultry and gardening will help them as they integrate in society after serving their sentences.

Others highlighted some challenges they are facing such as lack of transport when going to access health services from the school.

Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri, who was the guest of honour, said all children deserve to be educated even if they are in conflict with the law.