UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema has accused the Patriotic Front of using Konkola Copper Mines as a cash cow aimed at benefitting party cadres.

And Mr. Hichilema says the PF is creating a perception that it cares about the plight of miners at KCM when in fact not.

Addressing a media briefing on Wednesday, Mr. Hichilema said the PF disregarded any advice from stakeholders who initially opposed Vendetta taking over the mine saying it is now surprising that they are against the investor.

Mr. Hichilema says what is happening at KCM is total abuse by the PF and that it must not be left to go on.

The UPND has called on Miners at KCM not to trust the promises the PF is making describing them as mere politics gymnastics.

Mr Hichilema has also called on the PF-led Government to pay redundancy packages for KCM miners all once and not in installments.

He has condemned the proposed mode of payment and demanded that all miners be paid their packages all at once and in full.

Mr. Hichilema said that the proposed repayment mode of redundancy packages in three instalments to KCM employees has led to unjustified anxieties among miners.

“We hear that they want to pay the miners in three instalments with the first one on 1st March and the second one being at the end of September 2021. And the last installment they plan to pay 6 months after September, 2021. As UPND we agree with the miners that this payment mode is undesirable,” he said.

He has since proposed a lumpsome payment of KCM miners, adding that the previous incidences where PF failed to pay miners after changes of ownership of parastatals were a cause for concern.

“Due to the poor track record of the PF, we therefore, propose that any amount that arises from the splitting of the company must be paid in full. If you want to pay in February, pay the amount in full because there are concerns that amounts that are due to some workers from the previous changes of ownership have still not been paid,” he said.

The government has said that it will review the COVID-19 preventive guidelines that were set in order to determine the way forward amidst a surge of cases in the second wave of the pandemic.

The multisectoral meeting which is scheduled for today will determine the way forward in regards to opening of schools as well as other socioeconomic factors.

Health Minister Dr Jonas Chanda disclosed the development yesterday when he held his first COVID-19 update in Lusaka.

He said the meeting will review the progress that has been made from the last presidential address where socioeconomic interventions were made but reiterated that there will be no lockdown to ensure the economy continues to run even amidst the pandemic.

“There is hope that Zambia will overcome COVID-19. This pandemic is not the fight for government alone or the ministry of health but on an individual level let’s adhere to the five golden rules” Dr. Chanda said and called for heightened masking up, physical distancing and avoidance of unnecessary crowds in ‘pandemic super spreaders’ such as weddings and bars.

And Dr Chanda has pledged to restore public confidence in the provision of health sector services and assured of total transparency and accountability.

And regarding the much talked about COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Chanda assured that government will ensure that the vaccine that will come into the county will be of good quality that will meet all the World Health Organization guidelines and standards and further encouraged more research on both traditional and conventional treatment of the pandemic.

He said a more comprehensive statement will soon be issued on all matters and concerns relating to the vaccine and when its will be available in the country.

Meanwhile, Zambia recorded 1,343 new cases out of the 11,302 representing a 12% positivity rate, Dr Chanda disclosed.

President Edgar Lungu has said agencies entrusted to enforce the covid-19 guidelines should refrain from abusing and harassing citizens found flouting the rules.

The President said that it is regrettable that enforcement officers have lately abused or humiliated citizens found flouting covid-19 guidelines.

The President said that enforcement officers can make citizens abide by the covid-19 guidelines without necessarily harassing them.

President Lungu has, however, said the number of people that have contractedcovid-19 since the turn of the year and those who have died is of great concern.

The President says there is correlation between the high numbers of cases and the relaxed observance of covid-19 guidelines in the current spike.

“Arguably we dropped the guard. The covid-I9 guidelines I had announced last year as recommended by health experts were largely ignored and we forgot about the ‘New normal towards the end of 2020,” the President said.

President Lungu added that the festive season came with partying and overcrowding with little observance of the covid-19 health guidelines.

“In September during my Address to Parliament, I partially reopened bars, taverns and nightclubs with serious caution that all covid-19 health guidelines are strictly adhered to. These outlets were to operate from 18:00 hours to 23:00 from Friday to Sunday. This was on a pilot basis and I said should there be any flouting of these public health guidelines, I will be left with no option but to close them again,” the President said.

President Lungu said at no time did he allow these outlets to open daily but this is what is obtaining at the moment leading to the situation citizens are in.

The President has since made a clarion call aligned to the Public HealthCAP. 295 of the Laws of Zambia and COVID-19 associated Statutory Instruments Nos. 21, 22 and 62 of 2020 that:

1. All citizens must wear masks and practice good hand hygiene when in pUDIC places and gatherings. Masks must be worn correctly if they are to provide the intended protection.
2.  All public facilities and hosts of public gatherings must ensure provision of hand washing facilities or alcohol-based hand sanitisers and enforce the Use of masks in these facilities.
3. The local authorities will facilitate disinfection of conveyances and public places including markets, bus stops and stations, shopping malls, places of worship, schools and office places; the owners of the public vehicles are directed to ensure passengers wear masks and are provided with hand hygiene facilities before embarking onto the vehicles. Drivers flouting the rules will have their licences revoked.
4. Enforcement of public health measures in bars must be in place; the conditions for opening bars must be adhered to. Failure to adhere to these measures may lead to the withdrawal of trading and liquor licences.
5. All leaders, be it traditional, religious, political, or civil are called upon to lead their followers in adherence to public health measures.

The President says failure to follow these guidelines will invite stringent measures to curb the rise in the number of coviad-19 cases.

The President expects the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Health to ensure bar, tavern and nightclub owners and patrons strictly observe the opening days and hours, and the public health regulations, guidelines and certifications. Conversely, the President expects the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education to ensure schools, colleges, and universities adhere strictly to public health regulations, guidelines, and certification when they open.

The Presicent said:, “All relevant authorities, including parents and guardians must contribute to the protection of pupils and students.”

The President has also urged frontline workers, in charge of testing to ensure they make available contacts that people can use to call them when they feel unwell.

“I am aware that sometimes the results are made available when some people have already recovered but may have infected other people. Therefore, we need to expedite the availing of results to our citizens,” the President said.

President Lungu has, however, commended all Frontline workers for their courage and resilience when looking after covid-19 patients.

“These are Men and Women of the Year 2020 because without them thousands of lives would have been lost,” the President said.

The President mourns with all bereaved families and wishes all citizens God’s protection and blessings. President Lungu adds that Home-based care solutions such as “steaming”, Using eucalyptus leaves, consuming vitamin C, ginger, garlic, honey and cinammon concoctions are some of the tested remedies that health experts are recommending.

“All of us are either affected, infected or even re-infected,”the President said.

FOLLOWING the voluntary mass testing for Covid-19 last week on Thursday, the Ministry of Works and Supply has recorded 87 positive cases after the revelation of the results.

The breakdown of the test results is as follows; Out of the 137 that were tested, 87 came out positive, 18 negative, 26 inconclusive, and 6 are pending.

This came to light when a report was released to the ministry by the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).
Minister of Works and Supply Honourable SYLVIA BAMBALA CHALIKOSA, MP who led the testing exercise expressed gratitude that members of staff heeded her call to take up the test.

She said it was good the members of staff took the exercise seriously because they care about their health and that of the people they serve.

The Minister confirmed that the testing exercise went on very well and now results are out indicating that some members of staff have been found positive though not showing any signs or symptoms of the symptoms of covid-19 infection.

Hon. CHALIKOSA last week disclosed that the testing and fumigation of the ministry headquarters was carried out because of the four cases and one death that were recorded.

The Ministry has since advised staff with positive results but asymptomatic to work from home while they observe their health status during self-quarantine in line with following the health guidelines as stated by His Excellency Dr. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, President of the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. CHALIKOSA confirmed that her own result was inconclusive as such she is due to do another test after 7 days or so.

The Minister has encouraged members of staff working from home to ensure their family members are take the test to avoid further spread of the virus, as this particular strain is more vicious and may have lethal consequences if not detected early and treated in good time.

She also counselled that much as living with Covid-19 is the “New Normal”, there is need to act responsibly as there is too much at stake if “we are careless in our day to day actions”

Hon. CHALIKOSA commended staff for their commitment towards rendering service to the general public in the midst of challenging times everyone is going through.