•SOME children standing against a background of a leaking sewer pipe in Masala Township in Ndola, where the residents are living under the threat of waterborne diseases. Picture by MILDRED KATONGO

By MILDRED KATONGO –

AS the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness. Everyone loves to clean up and look good, but what good would that be if people did not clean their own surroundings?
Luanshya Municipal Council has, in this regard, embraced the ‘Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy’ campaign, and is faithfully sticking to the directive by Government that first Saturday of every month will be dedicated to cleaning programmes.
The ‘Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy’ campaign is a multi-stakeholder programme that should be embraced by everyone in order to improve the quality of life for all the people.
Luanshya District Commissioner Harold Mbaulu said the campaign should not only be seen as a Government programme, but one that should be championed by all.
Mr Mbaulu said during the launch of the Luanshya District clean campaign that members of the public should not only be spectators, but should participate and help clean the environment for better health.
He assured Luanshya residents that Government was doing everything possible to ensure that the lives of the people were improved.
Mr Mbaulu appealed to the residents to join hands with the Government in the noble cause of making Luanshya clean and healthy again.
He said the ‘Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy’ campaign would bring significant changes to the lives of   citizens, as it would help them re-discover the benefits of a clean environment.
Luanshya Town Clerk Moses Mwelwa said Luanshya had created a good platform for all the residents to participate in meaningful initiatives that would impact positively on their lives and those of others around them.
Mr Mwelwa said this would contribute to restoring a level of cleanliness and environmental good health for which Luanshya and other mining towns were for a long time renowned.
Luanshya Mayor Gordon Siwale said it was gratifying to note that the ‘Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy’ campaign would not only be a routine responsibility for the local authority or the central government, but all the stakeholders at various levels.
“As a father of the city, I am extremely happy to note that Government is truly committed to seeing to it that this initiative comes to fruition by issuing a decree that every first Saturday of the month will be a national cleaning day.
“The declaration of the national cleaning day is a constant reminder to everyone that they should make cleanliness and health their lifestyle,” he said.