“WHY DEPLOY SPECIAL FORCES TO CLEAN STREETS?” M’MEMBE QUESTIONS USE OF 150 ELITE SOLDIERS IN LUSAKA
Socialist Party President Fred M’membe has challenged the government over the deployment of 150 Special Forces personnel to conduct street cleaning operations around the FINDECO Flyover and Kamwala areas in Lusaka’s Central Business District.
M’membe says while the party supports efforts to maintain a clean and healthy capital city, using highly trained military personnel for routine municipal sanitation raises serious questions about priorities and institutional responsibilities.
He argues that street cleaning should be the responsibility of civilian institutions, particularly the Lusaka City Council, rather than specialised military units.
M’membe further maintains that if the council lacks the capacity to maintain sanitation, government should address the underlying funding and administrative challenges.
He has called for adequate funding for local authorities, fair wages for sanitation workers and stronger civilian institutions to ensure sustainable public service delivery.
“A clean Lusaka cannot be sustained through sporadic military interventions,” M’membe argues.