Government has released K40 Million to support the availability of oxygen in all health facilities countrywide.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama said government has continued to make funds available to improve drugs and other supplies support to repair and maintain medical equipment in health facilities.

He indicated that the demand for oxygen continues to increase, and the ministry is exploring all available options to increase both the manufacturing and cylinder capacity so as to ensure that they meet the oxygen requirements of patients.

Dr Malama however, disclosed that the Bankers Association of Zambia has pledged to procure a further K750, 000 worth of oxygen through the Centre for Infectious Disease (CIDRZ).

‘’Our friends from the Association of Indian Community in Zambia have also pledged to provide 100 cylinders and other supplies. The oxygen cylinders will be prepositioned around the country to ensure that all facilities are adequately equipped with this essential commodity,’’ he said.

Dr Malama also expressed solidarity to the frontline workers who have continued to work tirelessly in the health centers to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘’Our thoughts today are with our Health workers who have continued putting in their best with some getting infected, sick with some losing their lives. We are fully behind you, our dedicated health workers,’’ he said.

Dr Malama further stressed that there is an increase in the number of admissions of patients with severe diseases and deaths daily in the country.

‘’As it is, even in the last 24 hours, our new admissions far exceeded the discharges, with 255 new admissions and 116 facility discharges,’’ he stressed.

Dr Malama announced that in the last 24 hours Zambia recorded 3,367 new confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 12,952 tests conducted bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 137,026.

‘’In the last 24 hours, we recorded 50 new deaths. The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to date now stands at 1,794. A total of 1,265 discharges were made, which brings the cumulative number of recoveries to 113,109,’’he said.

This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS today by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama.

Copperbelt Provincial Medical Officer Robert Zulu says Kitwe Teaching Hospital has run out of bed spaces for COVID-19 patients due to the steep rise in Covid-19 cases.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe yesterday Dr. Zulu said the province has continued recording an increase in the number of people testing positive for the disease.

“Currently we have a total number of 150 people admitted for COVID-19 in the province and Kitwe Teaching Hospital wards are full already because we are receiving a high number of people that are testing positive,” Dr. Zulu said.

He added that the consumption of oxygen is very high and the number of death cases are still high in the province, a situation he attributed to the non-adherence to the Covid-19 preventive measures by communities.

Dr. Zulu who could not give the state of the mortuaries said he was yet to check the mortuary in Ndola to see if there was still space as the death rate continues to rise.

He however stated that the province is also having quiet a good number of people being discharged from hospitals.

The medical official said the situation is already overwhelming and appealed to the people to observe the five golden rules of covid-19 prevention so that the cases can start going down.

Dr. Zulu noted that if people in communities do not adhere to the preventive rules, the cases will continue skyrocketing and the health facilities will be totally overwhelmed.

He noted that there are still some people that doubt the existence of covid-19 stating that these are the ones that are not adhering to the preventive measures prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Copperbelt Regional Coordinator, Poster Jumbe has accused some political leaders of allegedly funding the on – going pockets of political violence in the country.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe yesterday, Mr. Jumbe said AVAP is aware of political leaders sponsoring youths to engage in political violence.

He says political violence will not end until leaders begin to tame their cadres especially youths against engaging in violence.

“We are aware of political leaders funding youths to engage in political violence in the background, but it should be made clear there is no need for physical fights as that was only needed during the time freedom fighters were fighting for independence but now what is needed is the fight for ideas on how to develop the country,” he said.
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Mr. Jumbe said political leaders should be held accountable for the violence caused by their cadres should the country be plunged into chaos.

He has called upon all political parties to ensure a violence cease fire as the country mourns its founding father.

The civic organisation has since called on political parties to reject violent cadres that move from one party to another.

He also called on the police to remain firm and fair as they ensure peace and order during, before and after the August 12 general elections.

Mr Jumbe also called on political cadres not to provoke the police as they perfume their duty to ensure law and order.

And the Dag Hammarskjold Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (DHIPS) says sanctions should be meted against political party leaders failing to control their members engaging in violence.

DHIPS Director John Bwalya said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the leaders should be held accountable should their cadres plunge the nation into chaos.

Professor Bwalya observed that the reason why the country continues to record pockets of violence is because leaders are not usually held accountable for the actions of their members.

“We recommend much stronger sanctions for leaders who fail to control their members. There should be a strong price for them to pay for failing to control their members,” he said.

Prof Bwalya said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should also contemplate on disqualifying leaders failing to cage their unruly members.

Prof Bwalya said police officers alone cannot manage to control violence but with help from political parties.

Pockets of political violence have been recorded across the country forcing the Electoral Commission of Zambia to suspend campaigns in Mpulungu, Mbala, Bweengwa and Lusaka for two weeks.

Government has announced the death of Dr. Michael Mabenga a former Cabinet Minister in the MMD Government. Dr. Mabenga aged 72 died yesterday at 09:00hours at Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital in Lusaka after an illness.

The late Dr. Mabenga was until his death serving as Dean in the School of Education at the Zambia Open University.

President Lungu has since accorded the former Cabinet minister an official funeral in recognition of his numerous contributions to the country.

He has been accorded a one-day national mourning which will be observed on the burial day.

The funeral gathering will be held at his residence in Shantumbu Road in Chalala in Lusaka.

And on another sad note, government has also announced the death of former Cabinet minister in the MMD government Newstead

Mr. Newstead Zimba aged 79 passed away at 13:00hours yesterday at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka after an illness.

Mr. Zimba was a former trade unionist and retired politician who served in the MMD Cabinet of Second President Dr. Frederick Chiluba as minister of Home Affairs, Labour and Social Security and other portfolios.

President Lungu is saddened by the death of Mr. Zimba and has since extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.

The Head of State is particularly saddened that the country has in a space of days lost a number of eminent senior citizens.

President Lungu has accorded Mr. Zimba an Official funeral in recognition of his contributions to the country.

The former minister has also been accorded a one day of National Mourning which will be observed on the day of his burial.

There will be no funeral gathering at the residence of the late Newstead Zimba, mourners are encouraged to sign the book of condolences at the funeral house in Woodlands Lusaka.

This is according to a press statement issued to the media by Secretary to the Cabinet Simon Miti.

Government has revealed that the body of the late Chief Justice Irene Mambilima is expected to arrive in the country today at 21:00 hours aboard a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) aircraft.

And President Edgar Lungu has declared 3 days of national mourning for the late Justice Irene Mambilima to be observed from tomorrow 24th of June to 26th of June 2021.

Mrs. Mambilima passed away on Saturday 20th June in Cairo, Egypt while on official duty.

The funeral gathering for the Chief Justice is being held at her residence at House Number 24, Tito Road, Rhodes Park in Lusaka.

Attendance to the funeral house is restricted to close family members and selected government officials in observance of the Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

The Late Justice Mambilima will be put to rest on Saturday 26th June at Leopards Hill Memorial Park in Lusaka.

The burial will be preceded by a valedictory ceremony and funeral church service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross at 10:00hours.

Meanwhile President Edgar Lungu has declared 3 days of national mourning for the late Justice Irene Mambilima to be observed from tomorrow 24th June to the 26th of June 2021.

This is in recognition of the vast contributions the late Justice selflessly made to the body of knowledge to the Judiciary and the country.

During the three day period of National mourning, all activities of entertainment nature will be suspended from 06:00 hours to 18 hours while flags will fly at half-mast.

Members of the public have been advised that government through Cabinet Office will release a detailed burial program in due course.

This is according to a press statement issued to ZANIS by Secretary to the Cabinet Simon Miti.

Governance expert, Isaac Mwanza has petitioned the Constitutional Court to compel the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to cancel elections in constituencies where candidates have withdrawn, resigned or died.

Mr. Mwanza has also petitioned that the ECZ conduct fresh nominations in such constituencies.

He stated that ECZ Hon.bJustice Essau Chulu closed nominations on 20th May 2021.

But on 21st May 2021, Lusaka Central Constituency Aspiring Independent Candidate, Charity Chanda Lumpa made a formal notification that she had withdrawn her participation in the election.

And on 14th June 2021, an Independent Candidate for Monze Central Parliamentary Candidate, Maambo Musute made a formal position withdrawing his candidature.

And on 19th June 2021, a candidate sponsored by the Zambia United for Sustainable Development (ZUSD) for Mandevu Parliamentary Candidate, Melody Musutu died after a short illness.

Mr. Mwanza has also called on the Constitution Court to regard those that have withdrawn to be considered as resigned for purposes as defined by the Constitution.

Mr. Mwanza also stated that while the main General Election fixed by Article 56(1) is unaffected by resignation or death of candidates particular constituency election can cancelled as defined in Aryicle 52(6).