By SYLVESTER MWALE –

. Chileshe

DEFENCE and security personnel have been deployed on the streets in Kabwe to enforce the suspension of vending and enforce the cleaning of the town amid escalating cases of cholera which has so far claimed one life.
Like in Lusaka, the soldiers will help in the cleaning exercise as well as burry shallow wells in Katondo, Kamakuti and Makululu townships where the water borne disease has been detected.
Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga and mayor Prince Chileshe yesterday led senior Government officials in touring the central business district and Kasanda market to assess the situation.
“We have suspended street vending until further notice; this decision has nothing to do with politics but it has been done for your own lives so I expect everyone to cooperate,” said Mr Mushanga when he addressed the traders.
He added: “Those coming into Kabwe especially those using public service vehicles especially from Lusaka will have to be checked at check points to ensure they don’t bring cholera into Kabwe.”
The Minister who was also accompanied by provincial medical director Rosemary Mwanza said traders had been given chance to salvage their stands on the street but soldiers would destroy the makeshifts
if they were not removed by today.
Mr Mushanga noted that Kabwe had 22 markets but most of them were almost empty because traders had decided to sell from the streets.
There was however, some resistance from some vendors in the CBD who complained that the decision to relocate them to markets would deprive them of income.
Apart from Kabwe, a similar cleaning exercise was also being undertaken in Mumbwa where soldiers have been deployed.
Meanwhile, the Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company (LgWSC) has announced the suspension of water disconnections in all areas affected by cholera in the province.
Acting managing director Sydney Mwale told journalists at a press briefing that the decision was part of the efforts by the provincial task force on cholera to stop the pandemic in the region.
The water utility would also provide a 7,000 litre mobile water tank that would be deployed to distribute clean drinking water to affected townships particularly in Makululu and Katondo where the commodity had tested positive to cholera bacteria.
Mr Mwale said quality assurance officers were also on the ground to ensure that the water supplied to the people was safe.