THE Government has embarked on an ambitious programme to improve the welfare of councils in the country by providing the necessary
tools and equipment for the effective running of the local authorities.
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing last week purchased refuse compactor trucks and other garbage collection equipment valued at K24.6 million to ease the challenges of waste management disposal faced by most councils in Zambia.
The Ministry has also purchased 16 utility vans for 14 of the newly-created districts valued at K2.8 million and office equipment that includes 28 computers bought at K281, 680.00, 14 fax leaserjet printers worth K248, 000.00 and 28 heavy duty printers at a cost of 48,000 for an estimated value of K3.4 million.
Local Government and Housing Minister, Emerine Kabanshi handed over eight refuse compactor trucks, four skip trucks, 172 skip bins and 20 cubic millimetre containers to 10 councils last Wednesday.
Of the 172 skip bins, 112 bins and the 20 cubic containers were purchased by the Lusaka City Council (LCC) at an estimated cost of K4.3 million from their own resources.
The councils that received the compactor trucks are Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola, Solwezi, Kabwe, Choma, Chipata, Chinsali, Kasama and Chililabombwe.
The minister commended LCC for prioritising solid waste management, adding that as a capital city, the civic authority needed to lead by example.
At the ceremony also attended by the two deputy ministers in the Ministry and represented by town clerks and officials of the various councils and councillors, the minister encouraged councils in the country to work closely with the private sector and the community by sensitising them on solid waste management and garbage disposal.
Ms Kabanshi said her ministry has prioritised the procurement,mobilisation and distribution of solid waste collection and disposal modern equipment to local authorities.
She said councils faced challenges in garbage collection and general cleanliness of premises, residencies and community surroundings which have remained a serious problem despite the Make Zambia Clean programme that was launched six years ago.
She said she would soon announce measures that her ministry in conjunction with other line ministries will be taking to improve solid waste management or garbage collection.
And Lusaka Deputy Mayor Mulenga Sata said the donation of the refuse collection trucks could not have come at a better time than now when most councils in the country were experiencing challenges with refuse collection.
Mr Sata said the local authority was struggling with the issue of garbage collection and waste management disposal because it had challenges with equipment; adding however that with the coming of the refuse compactor trucks this was now a thing of the past.
The Deputy Mayor thanked the Government for living up to its promise of improving the living standards of the people of Zambia, adding that local authorities could attest to this testimony.
Solwezi Town Clerk Ronald Daka gave a vote of thanks on behalf of other councillors who benefited from the donation.- (Story courtesy of Lusaka City Council Public Relations Unit)
Ndola Council library closed
By CHATULA KAMPO
THE Ndola main library in the town centre has been closed pending renovations by the Ndola City Council.
Council public relations manager Roy Kuseka said in an interview that the main library was closed because it was no longer safe for human habitation.
He said the council would renovate the facility as soon as Government approves the budget for this year.
Mr Kuseka said K700,000 was this year budgeted to renovate all the six libraries in the city which include Kabushi, Chifubu, Lubutu, Twapia and Masala libraries in Ndola.
“The Ndola main library is no longer safe for human habitation, we have temporary closed it for now pending renovations. We will start the rehabilitation works as soon Government approves our budget for this year,” he said.
Mr Kuseka said the rehabilitation of the libraries in the city would attract stakeholder and other individuals to donate reading materials hence improving reading culture of the people in Ndola.
Meanwhile, tenants renting council buildings in Ndola have expressed concern over the poor state of the instracture which they termed as unfit for human habitation.
The tenants alleged that the council was not working on its infrastructure but was busy closing private buildings in similar state.
Vulnerable Children Advocacy Project (VAP) director John Daka bemoaned the state of the offices the organisation is renting.
He urged the council to rehabilitate the structure for the safety and hygiene of the tenants.
When contacted for a comment, Mr Kuseka said the council was unable to renovate the building due to limited funds because tenants were not paying rentals on time.
He said the council could only renovate the building if tenants cooperate by making rental payments promptly.
LCC wins praise
By PRISCA JANGAZYA –
SOME Lusaka residents have commended the Lusaka City Council (LCC) for sweeping various streets in the townships.
Daniel Choongo, a resident of Chelstone, said the LCC health department cleaners deserve praise for their efforts.
Mr Choongo said not long ago, it was rare to find women sweeping the streets, adding that they started work after 18:00 hours to make sure the streets were swept in the night.
He said the hard working women worked not only around the city centre but the services had been extended even to the townships.
Margaret Mwanza of Linda Township urged residents to avoid littering as a way of appreciating the efforts of the sweepers.
Ms Mwanza said even where bins were provided, eight out of 10 members of the public did not care where they threw litter whether during the day or in the night.
She said the LCC should embark on an exercise to sensitise the public on the need to keep Lusaka clean.
Joseph Zulu, a taxi driver and a Matero resident, said the council should make sure that it provides reflective clothing to the women because they worked as late as 21:00 hours.
Mr Zulu said women needed reflective clothing to protect them from being hit by careless drivers.
LCC public relations manager Mulunda Habeenzu said the council had done its best to sensitise the general public on how to dispose of litter.
Mr Mulunda said it was up to the public to respond accordingly in order to keep the city clean and avoid disease outbreaks.
He also urged residents to pay garbage fees so that they could live in a clean environment.
BELSAM acquires more driving school vehicles
By JACK MWEWA-
BELSAM, a driving school and consultancy institution has acquired two more Volvo trucks and four pedal vehicles to enhance its operations.
The two trucks and vehicles valued at K500,000 brings the training fleet to three trucks and seven vehicles and is expected to meet growing demand for the driving school which operates in Lusaka and Ndola.
BELSAM managing director Anthony Samuhandu said in an interview in Ndola that with the four pedal vehicles, suitable for driving lessons, both the instructor and students are guaranteed of safety, the fourth pedal being an emergence break.
“With the four pedal training vehicles, both the instructor and students are guaranteed of safety because the extra pedal is on the instructor’s side which can be applied on emergency breaking,” he said.
Mr Samuhandu further revealed that his company intends to acquire land on which they would run a 10-kilometer training circuit with all road signs and terrain depicting the actual road network.
“We intend to put up a 10-kilometre road circuit with traffic lights and all road signs on which we will be training drivers before they are taken on actual roads,” he said.
Mr Samuhandu bemoaned road traffic accidents involving Public Service Vehicles which he attributed to fatigue among drivers and suggested that managing it could reduce fatalities.
‘Siavonga residents share water with crocs’
By FLAVIOR CHISHALA –
A CONCERNED resident in Siavonga District says lack of clean water in Nanyanga and Sikongo wards is forcing people to walk long distances to fetch the commodity in crocodile-infested rivers.
Lovemore Kanyama said three people had lost their lives in the recent past after being attacked by the reptiles.
Mr Kanyama appealed to relevant authorities to consider improving access to clean water to the residents so that they do not walk long distances and in the process get killed by crocodiles.
Mr Kanyama said in a walk in interview that residents in the two wards have for a long time been denied access to clean water.
He said the people in the area were still living like in the colonial days as they shared water with animals which he described as retrogressive.
He noted that women and children’s lives were in danger as they had to fight with crocodiles before they could get water.
Mr Kanyama appealed to Government and other charitable organisations to consider putting up boreholes and hand pumps in the area before more lives are lost.
He also commended the Government for repairing Bottom Road which was neglected for many years, adding that the same efforts should be directed at creating water sources in Siavonga Constistuency.
