By CHILA NAMAIKO –

PREPARATIONS for this year’s golden jubilee celebrations to mark Zambia’s 50 years of independence on October 24 have kicked off in Choma with a call for residents to uphold hygiene.

Choma District Commissioner Bernadette Hamweemba at the weekend flagged off the ‘Keep Choma clean campaign’ in Batoka Township where heads of Government departments cleaned the area.

Ms Hamweemba said Choma, the provincial capital of Southern Province, should lead by example in promoting hygiene to celebrate the golden jubilee in a dignified environment.

“This is a special year for our country’s development, that is why we need to get involved to ensure that Choma is kept clean as we look forward to celebrate our golden jubilee in a dignified and clean environment,” she said.

She called on the residents, particularly the marketers, to avoid indiscriminate disposal of waste.

Ms Hamweemba directed Choma Municipal Council to ensure more waste bins were strategically mounted in all townships to avoid littering of the streets.

She urged the local authority to beef up its mandate of collecting garbage in the residential and trading areas to prevent an outbreak of diseases like cholera.

Choma Municipal Council assistant public relations manager, Robert Zawe appealed to the residents to refrain from vandalising garbage bins provided in their locations.

Mr Zawe said although the council was committed to its obligations of keeping Choma clean, the main challenge was vandalism of its facilities.

Senior clinical officer under the district community medical office, Austin Muchanga said a clean environment was necessary for Government to achieve its developmental objectives.