Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has implored politicians, business entities and Zambians of goodwill to come together and supplement government efforts in curbing the further spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Lusambo said government alone cannot manage to contain the disease because of budgetary constraints and other equally competing needs.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Lusambo particularly called on opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) parliamentarians to show unity of purpose by closely working with the government in sensitizing the public on the dangers of the pandemic.

The Lusaka Provincial Minister was speaking on a Radio Phoenix’s special ‘Let the People Talk Programme’ yesterday on the COVID 19 pandemic and measures that government has put in place to halt the spread of the disease.

“This is not the time for us to start politicking, it is in this vein that I am calling on my colleagues, Choma Central Member of Parliament, Cornelius Mweetwa, Monze Central MP, Jack Mwiimbu, Kafue MP Miriam Chonya and Rufunsa MP, Sherry Mulyata to join forces with government in preventing the spread of the disease,” he appealed.

And Mr. Lusambo has justified the use of minimum force by the police on revelers who have defied government’s directive to shut night clubs and bars among other places.

He explained that some people will only adhere to the directive when they are beaten.

“…….even a child will only listen if you spank them a bit. We are dealing with a very difficult situation which needs bold leader to control. You bar owners that want to abrogate the presidential directive with impunity am warning that soon l will visit and you will be sorry,” he warned.

Mr. Lusambo reiterated that people can buy alcohol and go home to drink.

And most callers to the programme commended Mr. Lusambo for his actions.

The callers said it was surprising that Zambians, especially those that are enlightened, are in the habit of abrogating the law with impunity.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lusambo disclosed that he is in the process of engaging Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya and her Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga on how best the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) could be engaged in conducting mobile announcements on COVID 19.

He has however asked capable Zambians to come forward and supplement government efforts in conducting mobile announcements especially in Lusaka district which has recorded many cases.

“Those with private-public announcement equipment and a fleet of vehicles, please come forth so that we give you messages on this disease so that you sensitize Zambians. This pandemic has affected all of us hence the need for concerted efforts to curb the further spread of the disease especially here in Lusaka,” he said.

Zambia has seen an increase in the number of cases since it recorded its first two cases last week.

As of yesterday, the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus infected people in Zambia is 36.

Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML), a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals, has pledged to donate in-kind over K600, 000 towards combating the coronavirus in Zambia.

KML Assistant General Manager, Junior Keyser has also pledged to provide the necessary health support that shall fall within the means of the mining firm.

“I wish to assure you that we are together in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and we shall provide the necessary health support that shall fall within our means as and when need arises. Our earnest hope is to see our country Zambia walk through these hard times with manageable social and economic impacts,” he said.

Mr. Keyser said this in a letter made available to the media yesterday by Kalumbila District Commissioner, Robinson Kalota following his recent request from the mining company for assistance in combating the coronavirus outbreak.

He stated that KML has pledged to donate in-kind 50 percent (K620, 201.25) of the total district epidemic preparedness and response budget pegged at slightly over K1.2 million.

“The decision to donate in-kind was motivated by our stringent internal corporate auditing procedures. The pledged donation shall be accessible through the Trident Foundation Limited (TFL) with immediate effect,” he said.

He said the donation will cover personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare service providers, consumables for epidemiological investigations and active surveillance, medical supplies and laboratory consumables, public health consumables, public road user screening requirements, fuel for distributing materials within the district as well as preparedness needs for potential worst-case situations.

Mr. Keyser said KML is currently providing support through sensitisation support in 12 communities in collaboration with the district health team.

This is done though distribution of awareness material, provision of fuel for contact tracing being coordinated through the provincial health team and transportation of samples to Lusaka for analysis.

And Kalumbila District Commissioner Robinson Kalota has appreciated the gesture by the mining company.

Mr. Kalota said the fight against COVID-19 is a responsibility for everyone even if government through Ministry of Health is leading.

“This fight can only be won if we all adhere to the guidelines set. I am very delighted by this gesture as it shows that we can achieve by working together,” he said.

Mr. Kalota has since called upon other stakeholders to emulate Kalumbila mine and Mei Mei Limited who also recently donated assorted hand washing basins, liquid soap and face masks.

A South African Politician from the opposition United Democratic Movement (UDM) had his wish to be buried in his Mercedes-Benz honoured.

According to reports from local newspapers, including news24.com, Tshekede Bufton Pitso, was over the weekend, while smartly dressed in a white shirt and suit, wheeled into his final resting place in Sterkspruit over the weekend, as mourners somberly looked on.

Photos of the ceremony showed the politician behind the wheel of his car as the vehicle was mechanically moved toward the hole in the ground, positioned in a way resembling him driving while wearing a seatbelt.

His Party president Bantu Holomisa tweeted that he had planned to attend the funeral of the politician, who some people described as flamboyant, but had abandoned his trip on account of COVID-19.

Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has warned that people disobeying regulations on Coronavirus such as not frequenting bars will get whipped.

Mr. Lusambo said it is regrettable that some people have opted to disregard regulations outlined by government to contain the spread of Covid-19 such as staying home and not visiting bars.

He said the Provincial Administration and officers from the Council will start going round the Province whipping people that fail to follow the regulations.

Mr. Lusambo was speaking this morning when he featured on Tuesday edition of Let the People Talk programme on Phoenix FM.

He said it is incorrect to assume that some people are not aware of the regulations issued by the Ministry of Health because the information flow has been adequate since the disease broke out.

“When I inspected J.S Mall in Chalala over the weekend, I found Elite people in Chalala drinking in these bars. They had locked themselves inside and they even had boor bouncers to limit entry and there was a notice placed on the door saying the Bar is closed but they were only taking takeaways which was not rue because when I entered, I found a lot of people drinking. Now these are educated people with big vehicles packed outside but they just decided to do silly things and this is why we are going to whip them,” Mr. Lusambo said.

The Lusaka Province Minister said a similar pattern repeated itself in Chelstone when he inspected the area on Saturday evening.

“In Chelstone, the people we apprehended after we found them drinking confessed when we interviewed them that they were aware of Coronavirus that they only wanted to drink a few bottles. So we know that Information is out there but people are just ignoring it,” he said.

He added, “We are dealing with adults and we can’t say we have failed to communicate as government, we will continue sensitizing the people but we will activate Plan B which is whipping these people because it appears that they are acting like Two-year-old babies who can only be controlled using whips. The same way we handle our babies in our homes, we give them strokes when they become indiscipline.”

The regulations that the government has set up in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic in the country seem to have fallen on deaf ears as some people in Katete district of Eastern Province have continued with their usual way of life.

Some members of the public have refused to adhere to public health pronouncements in the district and have not perceived risk that is presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

A check by ZANIS around the Central Business District (CBD) of the district revealed that people seem not to care about the pandemic and have chosen to ignore most of the guidelines set out by the government.

One of the members of the public, Aaron Mwanza who was asked why he was not adhering to the preventive guidelines, said the measures being pronounced cannot save a person, arguing that it was only God who could save someone.

Mr. Mwanza claimed that death was inevitable with or without the coronavirus adding that there was nothing that man could do to save himself.

“If white people who are busy sensitizing us on social distancing are dying, death just comes. It is inevitable. It is only God who can protect and save us,” he said.

Another resident, Racheal Zulu, said she was failing to maintain the two metres social distance because she was accustomed to sitting close to others.

“I just forgot to sit two metres apart from the next person, otherwise I know about how one can protect themselves and that is by washing hands with soap, maintain good personal hygiene and social distancing of two metres,” she said.

On the measures put in place by government, Ms. Zulu said the regulations were valid and important as they were not only a means of preventing oneself from COVID 19 but also for other diseases that could come out of unhygienic practices.

And when asked if the public should not practice preventive measures but just wait on God to save them, Ms. Zulu said just waiting on God without practical preventive measures was folly.

Ms. Zulu said God helps those who help themselves adding that by taking necessary preventive measures while praying, God will come through to save someone.

Meanwhile, Katete District Commissioner (DC) Joseph Makukula took some time to sensitize the public at the Boma area who did not seem to maintain some level of social distancing.

Mr. Makukula underscored the importance of social distancing and not standing or sitting closer to one another.

He explained that being close to one another posed a risk to individuals and other people within the community.

Mr. Makukula further said adhering to some of these practical and simple rules of hand washing, social distancing and personal hygiene would prevent the disease from breaking out in the area.

“I have just been telling them on the importance of social distancing and not being close to each other. You can’t tell who has it and who has not, so it is important to take preventive measures,” he said.