Lusaka City Council (LCC) yesterday stopped the church service at Lumba Church of God in Lusaka’s Marapodi Compound for contravening the guidelines on mass gathering.

Lusaka City Council Public Relations Manager George Sichimba said that the church was found conducting a service comprising more than 100 people with many more still trooping in.

“Congregants were found seated on the floor of the makeshift church without observing the guidelines on social distancing of at least one metre apart,” Mr. Sichimba added.

“The sanitary conditions of the church are not conducive for congregants as the floor is covered by sawdust for unknown reasons.”

And Mr Sichimba said a combined team of Council police officers, State Police and Public Health Inspectors last night swung into action and closed four liquor outlets for allowing patrons to consume liquor within the premises.

He said of the four outlets, two are liquor shops and two Mini-mats.

The LCC PR Manager said by allowing patrons to consume liquor within their premises, the businesses abrogated the guidelines of bottle store liquor licenses that permit sell of liquor only on take away basis.

Mr. Sichimba stated that members of the public should realize that immediately a bottle store (Liquor shop) allows patrons to consume liquor within the premises is illegally turning their shops into a bar.

He reminded liquor traders in the city to study the types and guidelines of the liquor licenses they possess to avoid contravening the law.

He stated that the owners of the affected outlets have been ordered to come to Civic Centre on Monday next week and show cause why their licenses should not be revoked.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sichimba said that the Council has leaned with disappointment, that some lodge operators in Lusaka have taken advantage of the closure of bars to turn their in-house bars into full public bars and admitting every member of the public.

He added that Lodge owners are taking advantage of the fact that most of their premises are enclosed in-wall fences.

He said with the help of members of the public this scam has been unearthed and operations will now be extended to all suspected lodges.

Mr. Sichimba said the local authority is, therefore, appealing to liquor dealers and patrons alike to observe public health guidelines for there safety and the safety of others.

He further added that the Fight against the spread of Coronavirus depends on both personal and collective discipline if it is to be won.

Zambia national team coach Milutin Sredojovic has chosen not to deny the issue of a reportedly unsigned two-year contract with Chipolopolo.

Reports emerged recently that Sredojovic is yet to put pen to paper with the Zambian FA despite being unveiled as their new national team coach in early February.

‘Micho’ would have taken charge of his first game for Zambia against Botswana in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this week but all CAF football has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Serb, who has also coached Rwanda and Uganda, was briefly in charge of Egyptian giants Zamalek before securing the job with Chipolopolo.

Speaking to KickOff.com from Lusaka, the former Orlando Pirates could not deny that he has still not signed any paperwork for his new job.

“I can only answer technical questions [related to my coaching job]. You can ask that question [about my contract] to the relevant authorities,” says Sredojovic.

Zambian FA President Andrew Kamanga could not be reached for comment.

The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) says it is implementing public health measures to avert the transmission of the pandemic at all Agency service points, in line with the guidance by the Secretary to the Cabinet directing all Government Institutions and Statutory Bodies to take measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

RTSA Chief Executive Officer Gradwell Banda says the safety of the clients is its primary concern.

Mr. Banda said the Agency is doing everything possible to ensure that clients are served in a safe and hygienic environment.

“We have been implementing strict health and safety practices to ensure the wellbeing of our staff and clients. In an effort to reduce overcrowding at RTSA service points, last week, we announced the extension of the payment period for Road Tax for the second quarter from 31st March to 19th April 2020.However, the Agency, will next week provide further guidance on a possible extension period for others services,” he said.

“Further, all RTSA service points are equipped with sanitising facilities for staff and clients. Similarly, we implore Public Service Vehicle (PSV) owners to provide sanitizers to the traveling public before getting on a bus.”

The RTSA boss called on stakeholders in the road transport sub-sector such as the Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia (BTOAZ), Truckers Association of Zambia (TAZ), Commuters Rights Association of Zambia (CRAZ), Bus and Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia (BTDAZ), Passengers, Pedestrians and Cyclist Association PAPECA), Petroleum Transport Association of Zambia (PTAZ), Copperbelt Open-Boarders Transporters Association (COTA) and other players to be proactive and direct all their members to strictly implement the recommended measures by government to avoid the further spread of COVID-19.

“We are aware that public transport is part of everyday life where you sit close to other people. Therefore, in the current situation with coronavirus, we urge commuters to avoid the use of public transport where possible,” Mr. Banda said.

“Lastly, we advise all our clients and Zambians, in general, to adhere to the health practices in line with the directive from the Ministry of Health.

Destiny Tower Ministries Pastor Boyd Ngosa has appealed to Pentecostal churches to emulate the Catholic, United Church of Zambia – UCZ and others that have cancelled worship services.

Pastor Ngosa popularly known as Bj Ngosa has urged churches to utilize online platforms for services.

He says the measure will ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is prevented.

Pastor Ngosa has told ZNBC News in an interview that government has provided clear guidelines to limit public gatherings to about 50 people or less and this can be followed if churches take a lead.
[ZNBC]

Government has assured the flood victims in Kanchibiya district in Muchinga Province, that no one will die of hunger.

Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone made the assurance yesterday when he visited flood victims, who have sought shelter at Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority -TAZARA-offices in Chambeshi.

Mr. Sichone, accompanied by Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Joyce Nsamba, directed Chambeshi primary and secondary schools to temporarily provide shelter to the flood victims.

He said the number of people affected is just too much adding that providing tents to the affected families, is not possible.

Mr. Sichone, however, said Government will provide relief food and directed the office of the District Commissioner to immediately start the distribution of 50 by 25 kilogramme bags of mealie meal which has already been taken to the area.

He assured the affected families that more assistance from the government was underway adding that officers are still on the ground assessing the situation.

Over 10 000 families have been affected by floods in the Province.

And, Provincial Health Director Nero Chilembo who distributed bottles of Chlorine to the affected families said his officers will be in the area to educate the flood victims on hygiene.

Dr. Chilembo also appealed to the flood victims to be weary of COVID -19 pandemic which has ravaged the world.

Meanwhile, Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Martin Malama told ZANIS that transportation has been affected due to serious floods being experienced in the area.

Dr. Malama said seven bridges and crossing points have been damaged making most parts impassable.

The law maker said food shortages, clean drinking water and lack of medicine, are some of the problems in the Bangweulu Wetlands where over one million people are affected by the damage to agriculture.

He said relief is sought to people in the affected areas.

Dr. Malama also asked the Government to declare a disaster in the area compounded by the threat of coronavirus.

When a Zambian couple that travelled to France were reported as the first officially tested victims of the Corona Virus in the country, the Zambian social media machinery went full throttle to insult them, instead of taking a compassionate stance for the couples’ situation. The couples’ pictures were uncontrollably shared all over social media by many Zambians that took it so personal, without considering the trauma the couple were going through. Of course, a lot would argue that the couple were irresponsible to have travelled abroad during this period. Nevertheless, in critical situations like this, how one contracted the disease is immaterial, but how the disease could be contained, and how the victim could come out of danger as quickly as possible without endangering others matters most.

The above mentioned could just be a tip of an iceberg because during the same period, it is possible there was a great number of Zambians and Zambian residents that went in and out of the Corona Virus affected countries. This is because at that time, there was no strict government blueprint to deter people from taking non-essential trips abroad apart from some scanty lip-service advice. Consequently, there is a big chance that the people with the Corona Virus in the country are many, also, considering how the numbers are increasing by day. But, because of the abuse that is coming with being tested positive, many people may be shunning going for medical testing, lest the Zambian community abuses them. The current social environment in Zambia can make people fake not to have the virus just because of being scared of being labelled as “the one with the Corona Virus”.

Subsequently, the Chinese that self-quarantined himself\herself at a working place in Zambia did not report his\her predicament to the medical authorities probably because of the fear of how the Zambian public was going to react in case he\she tested positive for the Corona Virus. It is common knowledge that the people that are spreading the Corona Virus domestically within countries are the people that do not even know that they are carrying the virus. Therefore, to intervene on this, people should be willing to go for medical tests, especially when they are feeling any of the signs that have been established by the medical experts.

However, with the kind of an abusive culture that Zambia is slowly building, the chance that people that have interacted with Corona Virus victims, and are feeling the signs will go for medical testing is slim, as they are thinking twice of being open about it. The Zambian authorities should be more proactive in creating a conducive environment where people can freely test without being stigmatised, worse still, abused. Currently, the Zambian government is not emphasising on this when giving daily updates on the Corona Virus and the corresponding measures being implemented. Instead, there is some kind of intimidation from the authorities, making people have a certain amount of fear, than the willingness to test openly that can lead to containing the disease as quickly as possible.

On the other hand, Zambians with diverse views that have contributed their take on the Corona Virus pandemic have received insults left, right, and centre. The politicians, and other health, religious, educational, and social commentators that have contributed their thoughts around the virus have highly been abused by a large section of the Zambian community at home and abroad, especially on social media platforms. Zambians should realise that, these are unprecedented times that call for every effort, and every contribution towards containing the virus, as there is no one method to contain the situation.

Creating light moments in times of calamities such as this period is important, however, it should not be in form of abusing the victims and creating unnecessary stigma around the disease. Social media and other online news spaces in Zambia are not being utilised positively to help with the situation, but being used as tools to abuse those that are willing to contribute their diverse thoughts. The readers on the aforesaid media spaces are not only propagating abusive feedback to people and authorities trying to help the situation, but unfortunately also using it to peddle unsubstantiated rumours on the emergence and prevention of the virus. Therefore, the Corona Virus frenzy is slowly cultivating a culture of prejudice, stereotype, discrimination, and even xenophobia in our communities in Zambia, unless the authorities deliberately intervene.

Look at how the authorities put the Cholera victims in Heroes Stadium, and then exposed them to both local and international media during the last Cholera outbreak in Lusaka.

From a general perspective, the Zambian authorities should avoid putting the Corona Virus victims on the spot by protecting them as much as they can. Look at how the authorities put the Cholera victims in Heroes Stadium, and then exposed them to both local and international media during the last Cholera outbreak in Lusaka. This caused a lot of panic among the victims, and actually made some victims not to report their cases to the medical authorities for fear of being put on the spot, and attracting unnecessary stereotype and prejudice from the members of the public. Against this background, there is need for the authorities to devise ways to protect the privacy and integrity of the victims in a society that has built negativity towards people affected by the Corona Virus and other ailments that can easily position victims in a negative limelight.

After all, Zambia has had the HIV/AIDS epidemic that ravaged the country in recent years that it can learn massively from. It is common knowledge that, one of the reasons Zambia failed to contain the HIV/AIDS epidemic was because of the stigma and discrimination that was attached to it, especially in the early stages of the disease. People could never come out in open if they discovered or suspected that they were HIV/AIDS positive because of the fear of being discriminated and rebuked by society, including some immediate family members. This situation made the HIV/AIDS to get worse by day because people were scared to be tested, later on put on some treatment, as they kept spreading it unknowingly.

Here we are as Zambians, back at the same stage, but only with a different virus. Are we going to walk the same path, when we know that this path is a wrong one based on our experiences with the HIV/AIDS? We can do much better this time around. We should instead help spread kindness and support to each other, and to the victims, so that together we can contain the virus. We need to enlighten individuals and groups peddling negative views that can instigate a form of discrimination and fear in the victims and the Zambian society at large. Therefore, let us all fight the Corona Virus, and not the people purported to be carrying it, or the people trying to fight it from different medical, social, economic, political or academic fronts.

By Kabanda Mwansa

The author is a Zambian social commentator and a PhD research fellow in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.