Ndola’s Ndeke township has been hit by an erratic water supply for two weeks and residents are demanding an explanation from the Kafubu Water Supply and Sanitation Company.

ZANIS reports that in random interviews conducted in the area yesterday, Chalwe Mambwe, one of the residents complained that the water utility company (Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company) has failed the residents of Ndeke township.

Ms. Mambwe complained that in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, water is an essential commodity which no one should be deprived of.

“No one can survive without water. But this is the situation that Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company has subjected us to,” she said.

She added that, “whenever we want water, we have to draw it from homes that have shallow wells because the ones with boreholes do not allow people to draw water from their houses saying electricity is too expensive,” she explained.

Another resident, Chansa Muleya, said life without running water for two weeks has not been easy especially that she is nursing a baby.

Ms. Muleya said mothers are facing difficulties as they have to wash baby clothes very often.

And the water utility company has admitted the erratic supply of Water to Ndeke township.

Director for Engineering at Kafubu Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Bernard Phiri, explained that problem was due to the bursting of a water pipe supplying Ndeke.

“We have a team on the ground working to ensure that water supply is restored in the area,” he said.

Mr. Phiri said the water utility company is hopeful that water supply will be restored by the end of the day tomorrow.

He has since called for patience from Ndeke township residents as the company is working round the clock to ensure that water supply is restored.

The Media Institute for Southern Africa-Zambia chapter (MISA-Zambia) has encouraged journalists to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and not to shun away from the vaccine.

MISA-Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale said much as the vaccine is not mandatory, the media personnel should consider protecting themselves by being vaccinated because they are front liners and key players in the fight against the pandemic.

Ms. Mwale told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that journalists should reciprocate by going ahead to get vaccinated because government is only trying to protect them as they carry out their duties.

She observed that government prioritised journalists to be among the first group of people to get the vaccine.

She said this is a very good move hence journalists need to appreciate that stance by government.

“What is it of benefit to journalists to shun away from getting the vaccine then later on getting sick at the end of it all? So the best is for all journalists to go and get vaccinated,” she said.

Ms. Mwale reiterated that there is no government that would bring in a vaccine which would be harmful to people.

She has since called for enhanced sensitisations to people across the country in order for them to understand and appreciate the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Ms. Mwale has meanwhile encouraged journalists to work hand in hand with the appropriate authorities in order to sensitize the general public on the Covid-19 vaccine.

Goodwill Ambassador for Persons with Disabilities Elijah Ngwale, has called on President Edgar Lungu to rename the Zambia Institute of Special Education (ZAMISE) after First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda in honour of his 97th birthday which falls today.

Mr Ngwale has suggested that the name of the institution should instead be changed to Kenneth Kaunda Education College for Persons with Disabilities.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS on the sidelines of a birthday celebration in Lusaka for persons with disabilities which was held on the eve of Dr Kaunda’s birthday in Lusaka yesterday, noted with concern that there is no institution with a bias towards special education and the plight of the disabled that has been named after the first republican president.

Mr Ngwale said Dr Kaunda contributed immensely to the wellbeing of people living with disabilities during his time as republican president.

He said under Dr Kaunda’s tenure, his government’s philosophy of humanism favoured the disabled more than even democracy.

Mr Ngwale said renaming the institution after Dr Kaunda would be fitting considering that the former president is also a goodwill ambassador for persons with disabilities.

He enlisted numerous success stories the first republican president scored for people living with disabilities.

“It was also during the time of Dr Kaunda that he built National Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities in Ndola. It was also during the time of Dr Kaunda that the government took over education for persons with disabilities because previously it was under missionaries,” Mr Ngwale said.

He said President Lungu has a listening ear expressing confidence that he will act upon the call.

“President Lungu is a consulting President. On 5 March, 2015 His Excellency called me to State House, asked me what he can do for him, I asked him to reinstate 300 people who were declared redundant by the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities in 2013. The people were reinstated,” Mr Ngwale said.

Dr Kenneth Kaunda is celebrating his 97th birthday today 28th April, 2021.

Cleaning Association of Zambia (CAZ) has commended government for ensuring that local companies benefit from the available cleaning contracts.

In a statement, Association President Lawrence Makumbi said various cleaning companies in the country are now benefiting from the cleaning contracts coming from local institutions such as National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA), National Airports Corporation and Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMSA) formerly Medical Stores.

Mr Makumbi said this has been made possible by government’s decision to put in place Statutory Instrument number 22 of 2019.

“The Association is grateful to government for what it has done to the cleaning sector, in the first quarter of this year the sector has performed exceptionally well looking at the number of institutions it is working with,” he said.

He added that the National Airports Corporation is expected to give the cleaning contract of the new Kenneth Kunda International Airport to a Zambian owned company that will show case expertise cleaning at the international standard infrastructure.

Mr Makumbi noted that this is great empowerment for the locals.

He further commended the a Lusaka City Council for the good working relationship with the Association, adding that most cleaning companies have so far been trained in areas fumigating and sensitization of public places by professionals from the department of public health at LCC.

“Now we have professional trained sanitizers that are making sure that the pandemic is eradicated with the help of professionals from the department of public health at the council.

Minister of Higher Education Brian Mushimba has called for more education sector collaboration between Japan and Zambia. Dr. Mushimba says Zambia can learn a lot from Japan especially in the area of science and technology.

He has said science and technology are key in helping Zambia attain its developmental aspirations.

The Minister has also requested the Japanese government to increase the number of scholarships being offered to Zambian students to study in Japan.

He says having more Zambians taking up Japanese scholarships will further boost the cordial bilateral relations existing between the two nations.

Dr. Mushimba was speaking in Lusaka when Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Mizuuchi Ryuta called on him.

And the Japanese Ambassador has encouraged prospective beneficiaries of Japanese scholarships to develop an interest in mathematics and science.

Mr. Ryuta revealed that most scholarships offered by the Japanese government require students to be proficient in mathematics and science, adding that most Zambian applicants fall short of this requirement.

He however commended the University of Zambia department of veterinary that the Japanese government is currently sponsoring for the outstanding performance of the students.