By PRISCA JANGAZYA

LUSAKA residents are urging Lusaka City Council (LCC) and the ROAD Development Agency (RDA) to work on the Cairo Road island by pruning the overgrown trees and mend the broken surfaces caused by tree roots.

Gilbert Mbewe a Kabwata resident said planted trees which run along the island had overgrown to the extent that they had developed big roots which in most places had broken the surface of the island.

Mr Mbewe said in some places, the trees had broken the ground surface in such a way that the roots were exposed to the surface.

“LCC and RDA must team up and work on the Cairo island,” Mr Mbewe said.

Robert Mwansa, a Chalala resident said most people use the island as a safe passage.

Mr Mwansa said under the island runs a major drainage system which carries water from south to the northern part of the city.

He said if the roots were not checked, they could damage and penetrate into the drainage system.

“This is causing a danger to the pedestrian who use this island as a path to avoid traffic along Cairo road,” Mr Mwansa said.

Tracy Mwiinga said the trees were planted for environmental protection but had overgrown and become top heavy as they were not pruned.

Ms Mwiinga said in some incidences, some street kids lie down along the shed of the same trees on the Island not knowing the dangers paused on them by the trees above and the drainage underneath.

“Something must be done immediately before a calamity happens on either the pedestrians or the passing motorists,” Ms Mwiinga said.

Chamba Valley power outages anger residents

By PRISCA JANGAZYA

RESIDENTS of Chamba Valley and Chelstone residential areas in Lusaka have complained over persistent load-shedding despite Zesco assuring them of improved service.

Maxwell Mvula, a concerned resident said Zesco should explain in the simplest language the reason behind load-shedding other than using engineering terminologies which could not be understood by many residents.

Mr Mvula said Zesco had assured them that it would upgrade the main substation which supplies power to these areas but nothing had been done.

He said in some instances, power goes suddenly and comes after some minutes a situation which caused damage to electrical appliances.

“As a concerned resident, I am expecting the power utility company to improve in this year,” Mr Mvula said.

Evans Mweetwa said the power utility company owes the residents a good explanation which should be simplified so that ordinary residents could understand it better.

Mr Mweetwa said residents were wondering why load-shedding had continued despite the main power supply being upgraded.

“I am urging the power utility company to meet the consumption demand in the city,” he said.

Bridget Mulenga said in some incidences, power does not completely go but the bulbs remain deem due to low supply of electricity which could cause damage to electrical appliances.

Mushili market traders want lavatories

By JAMES KUNDA

THE Old Mushili market in Ndola has been operating without water and adequate sanitation facilities for several years now, a representative of the traders at the market has revealed.

Old Mushili market chairperson Rogers Mataka said in Ndola that there was only one communal borehole which was a source of water.

The borehole was donated by a Non Governmental Organisation in 2007.

“Seeds of Hope Zambia donated this borehole in 2007 but due to the influx of people seeking water, the facility broke down in 2012 and has never been worked since then,” Mr Mataka said.

He said traders are forced to fetch water from the nearby households to meet all ther water requirements during working hours.

Mr Mataka said traders at the market were forced to operate without adequate lavatory facilities because the only communal public convenience in the area was vandalised years ago.

“Traders here really struggle because they are forced to find other alternatives to answer the call of nature,” he said.

Mr Mataka has since appealed to the relevant authorities to avail some resources from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), to renovate the borehole and lavatory.

The Old Mushili market which has been in existence for several decades accommodates over a thousand traders customers on daily basis.

Madido community cries for health centre

By PRISCA JANGAZYA

RESIDENTS of Madido commonly known as Obama Township in Lusaka’s Chelstone area are appealing to the Government to construct a health centre.

Martin Ngosa a concerned resident and an asthmatic patient said people were forced to travel long distances in order to access medical attention at Chelstone clinic which is very far.

Mr Ngosa said the long distances had not  only affected him but also people with children and pregnant mothers who had to walk long distances or were forced to book vehicles to take them to Chelstone health centre or Levi Mwanawasa Hospital.

Percy Mubanga said if the health institution was constructed in the area, it would provide easy access to medical facilities to the residents in the area which had the fastest growing population and that most of them were retired civil servants.

Evans Sakala said apart from the health centre, the area was facing sewer system challenges which also needed quick attention.

Mr Sakala said Lusaka Water Sewerage Company (LWSC) should come in and construct a sewer system in the area to maintain a clean environment.

He said most people in this area had constructed shallow wells and pit latrines for water consumption which could be a danger to the health of the residents.

“I am urging the Government to come in and address these people’s concerns to avoid outbreaks of water diseases in the area,” Mr Sakala said.

Thomas Banda a retired civil servant said the streets should also be graded to ease the movement of people and motorists as the population was expanding.

Mr Banda further said a police post should also be constructed in the area to boost the morale of the police officers who were currently operating in an old council official.

“I am urging Government to quickly respond to the problems of the residents of Obama area,” he said.

Lusaka residents call for street lights on Freedom Way

 By PRISCA JANGAZYA

SOME Lusaka residents have appealed to the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to put up street lights along Freedom Way.

Patrick Moonga, a business executive said Freedom Way was one of the famous and important roads in the city.

Mr Moonga said the importance of the road could not be over emphasised.

“I am urging the relevant authorities to quickly put up the street lights before lives are lost due to darkness,” Mr Moonga said.

Mathews Mulenga said Freedom Way was also used as an alternative route by motorists going north.

Mr Mulenga said the road has been forgotten in terms of street electrification for a long time now.

He said despite it being a commercial centre at night, it becomes dark in the night which could attract steet kids who harass innocent people.

“This road will turn into a danger zone if measures are not implemented immediately and it will also promote high crime rate,” Mr Mulenga said.

He said criminal activities could be avoided if the road was electrified..

Patricia Mweemba said street lights could also ease the job of the law enforcement officers patrolling the area.

Martin Mbewe, a taxi driver operating along Freedom Way said it was risky to do business in the area due to darkness.

“This has forced me to be knocking off early in fear of attacks from criminals due to lack of street lights on the road,” he said.