By Richard Banda
Mumbwa Sunday 22nd January 2023.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL OF US AS A COUNTRY TO PLAY A ROLE AND HELP THE COMMUNITY SAYS DR POLLEN.
Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit National Coordinator Dr Gabriel Pollen says the its the responsibility of every individual in this country to play a role in the management at whatever level and ensure that life and properties are saved from destruction from both natural and induced causes. Dr Polen said DMMU is open to ideas, suggestions and any help that can be of any use because the community are the biggest stakeholders and must be involved in solution making as they can define challenges well as they feel them therefore even solutions could be best assessed from their point of understanding and DMMU will respond.
Dr Pollen said this in Nangoma yesterday where he went to see various bridges that have submerged due to heavy rains creating enormous social and economic inconvinience to the people of Mumbwa district.
Nangoma bridge is believed to always flood whenever it rains affecting nearby food crops by famers as well as cut off the area into parts for several days until water levels goes down before they can resume crossing.
Speaking to CIC in Mumbwa yesterday Dr Pollen said DMMU is communicating through various platforms ranging from social Media, SMSs, Radios and many other mediums of communication on wether updates and that people should pay attention and avoid endangering themselves.
Speaking at Nangoma Bridge which has been submerged connecting the only route that leads to Chief Shakumbila palace.
The bridge has been submerged for over 7 days now and crossing is really difficult as school going pupils are unable to cross it.
Dr Pollen said the assement has been done and the long term solution is under way because DMMU needs to wait for the water levels to come down so that the bridge can see a face-lift to avoid the
Another crisis occured in Nangoma where two babies died because the local hospital ran out of power as Zssco transformer was sarbotaged and its oil drained. Central province Permanent Secretary Mr Milner Mwanakampwe said that people must be very careful and considerate not to push their luck too far. He said the sabortage of Zesco transformer caused the death of two newly born babies in Nangoma who required oxygen supply and machines could not operate. He told CIC yesterday that government is working very hard to uplift the standards of living of every Zambian and that its not fair that either local or not local people to damage a sensitive state asset in that manner because the minimum sentence one carries for Zesco sarbotage is 25 years in prison with hard labour that whoever will be found will have themselves to blame.
And Nangoma residents thanked DMMU team for the quick response to the crisis saying it shows care the new dawn government has towards its people. Mr Hanchele who spoke to CIC said that he is a very happy person because the entire convoy of government officials showing up right at the scene so that they see for themselves how the situation is gives them a better understanding on the matter than communicating through the phones where they might not take the matter serious. He said he is hopeful as DMMU team has assured the community that the bridge will be attended to as soon as water levels drops lower.
Dr Pollen was accompanied by Greens Economy Minister Hon Collins Nzovu, Central Province Permanent Secretary Mr Milner Mwanakampwe, Mumbwa District Commissioner, Mumbwa Council Chairperson and many officials.
CIC PRESS TEAM.
