Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa says the water contamination in Mtendere Township has been caused by the bursting of two water pipes underground causing faecal matter to mix with the commodity.

Mr Sampa said it was established during a site visit he undertook with the Lusaka Water and Sanitation Company that one or two water pipes have busted underground and mixing with faecal matter as evidenced by the foul smell of the water.

Mr Sampa said he also inspected the reported water contamination at Chainama golf club.

He said the Lusaka Water and Sanitation Company has since sent their 10,000 litres Water Bowser to the area so that residents can draw clean Water for their domestic usage.

He said he had a phone conversation with Lusaka Water and Sanitation Company Managing Director Jonathan Kampata who assured him that underground pipes in the affected area will be repaired as soon as possible.

He reiterated his call on residents in the affected areas to avoid tap water for and draw from the bowser until repairs are completed.

The Lusaka Water and Sanitation Company recently advised Mtendere residents to avoid tap water after they received water contamination reports from the area.

Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini has commended the Law Association of Zambia for its renewed commitment in collaborating with the National Assembly on matters of governance.

Speaking when the newly elected President of the Association Abyudi Shonga, SC, paid a courtesy call on him, Dr Matibini stressed the need for the Association to get more involved in the work of Parliament.

Dr Matibini said enhanced engagement and contribution to the work of Parliament is cardinal in fostering the relationship between the two institutions.

He however, noted that, critical governance related matters ought to be resolved through engagement, as opposed to initiating legal actions as a first resort.

Dr Matibini said Legal actions should if need be invoked as a last resort.

He noted that it was wise of the LAZ leadership to trace its birthplace.

“The Association is in fact established through an Act of Parliament. Thus the institution should be professional and focused on its statutory mandate and mission. And ensure that it transacts its business in an apolitical manner or fashion”, he said.

Dr Matibini indicated to the Association that he was open and amenable to dialogue whenever necessary.

Meanwhile, President of the Law Association of Zambia Abyudi Shonga, SC, pledged to collaborate and interface with the National Assembly of Zambia as mandated, especially in the area of promoting the reform of the law, both by the amendment of and the removal of imperfections in existing law, and by the re-formulation, codification or restatement of particular branches of the law.

Mr Shonga expressed gratitude for the invitations to participate in making submissions on bills that were under consideration by the National Assembly.

He however implored the National Assembly to consider increasing the notice period that the Association is given to make submissions before the relevant committees in order to make significant contributions.

Mr Shonga further expressed concern that, in some cases, well researched contributions by LAZ were glossed over and therefore, urged the National Assembly to apply much more consideration to the submissions.

Mr Shonga, SC, was accompanied by two other Council Members namely Sokwani Chilembo and Kampamba Kombe.

This is according to a statement issued to the media by Clerk of the National Assembly Cecilia Mbewe.

By Bowman Lusambo

After weeks of anguish, sickness and pain, I am delighted to announce that I have now been certified Covid-19 negative. The latest round of tests conducted this morning have confirmed that there is no presence of Covid-19 virus in my body and as such i no longer pose any transmission risks to anyone who might come into with me.

I wish to heartily thank the Almighty God for saving my life and the hardworking staff at the Levy Mwanawasa Isolation Centre for their professionalism and dedication to duty. Whilst admitted, I came to learn that we have some of our health workers who have been in quarantine working at the Isolation Centre for over five months without breaking off to see their relatives and friends, now that is an excellent dedication to duty.

Let me also sincerely thank Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya and Dr Alex Makupe from UTH for their personal interest in my case.

I also wish to thank my family, particularly my wife Nancy Manase for the support and care rendered during this very difficult period.

Colleagues, Covid is real and it kills. Let us do our best to protect ourselves, our families and friends of catching this deadly virus.

I am now looking forward to resuming my full duties soon as I seek to serve the Zambian people.

By Bowman Chilosha Lusambo

A witness has told the Lusaka Magistrates Court that the total assets for Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya were more than the assets that he is accused of having obtained illegally.

Chipampe Manda, an Investigations Officer from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said that he came to such a conclusion after analysing Dr. Chilufya’s sources of income.

He informed Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale that he had access to Dr. Chilufya’s bank statements and that of his businesses.

Mr. Manda said based on this, he did not believe that Dr. Chilufya had committed a crime by acquiring the property that he is accused of.

It was at this point that Magistrate Mwale asked the witness why the matter is in court.

This is in a matter where Dr. Chilufya is accused of having been in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The witness said contrary to the allegations, there is no evidence that Dr. Chilufya possessed three million Kwacha cash and that he bought Sparks Guest house for himself.

Mr. Manda also said Dr. Chilufya had been running Samfya Marine as a tenant even before he bought it.

The court was also informed by the witness that Dr. Chilufya , through Henry Courtyard Hotel in Mansa, had obtained loans way back before he was arrested for wrongdoing.

Mr. Manda said Henry Courtyard also had the capacity to buy Sparks Guest House.

During cross-examination, the witness agreed that Dr. Chilufya had obtained a 15 million Kwacha Loan from the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) and the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).

The witness said there is also no evidence that Dr. Chilufya possessed 200,000 dollars cash as per indictment.

The ACC investigations officer further stated that no one ever saw the alleged 200,000 United States dollars and that the allegation does not exist.

In this matter, Dr. Chilufya is represented by Tutwa Ngulube and Jonas Zimba.

The government has dispatched a team of experts to ascertain water contamination in Lusaka’s Mtendere Township.

Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister Jonas Chanda said that Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company experts have already been deployed to collect samples and ascertain the contamination.

Dr. Chanda said that he will later in the day visit Mtendere to see affected areas, adding that the government is concerned with the welfare of the people and will do everything possible to rectify the situation.

The Minister was speaking after conducting a familiarisation tour of the water utility company today.

And Dr. Chanda said revenue collection has remained a major challenge for the utility company and that the outbreak of Covid-19 has worsened the situation.

Dr. Chanda has however appealed to customers of water utility companies to settle their bills even in installments so that the companies can continue operating efficiently.

And Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company Managing Director Jonathan Kampata said the Mtendere Water contamination is only affecting a few houses and not the entire township.

He has however stated that his company is giving the situation all the attention it deserves and working at resolving it as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chanda has warned that Government will take drastic action against people that are putting up structures closer to water sources.

Dr. Chanda observes that underground water especially along the line of rail is under serious threat.

He says safeguarding water sources is a matter of urgency.

Dr. Chanda was speaking in Lusaka today when he visited Water Resources Management Authority- WARMA offices.

And WARMA Director General Kenneth Nyundu said the Authority is working to safeguard the water resource.