By JAMES KUNDA –

GOVERNMENT has assured delegates coming to attend the 134th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Lusaka next month, that the recent Cholera outbreak will not be an impediment to the successful hosting of the event.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said there is no cause for alarm as Government is working hard to ensure that the delegates and the country’s citizens operate in a disease free environment.
Dr Kasonde said this in Parliament yesterday when responding to a question by Monze Central UPND Member of Parliament (MP) Jack Mwiimbu, who raised concern about the Cholera outbreak in awe of the meeting.
Mr Mwiimbu asked the follow-up question after Dr Kasonde gave a ministerial statement on the outbreak of the disease, which had hit 14 people in Lusaka and two people in Chibombo District.
“There is utterly no reason for shame or concern as these delegates coming to attend the IPU will be accommodated in a clean environment.
“Moreover, the IPU seeks to bring together different stakeholders at Parliamentary level to deliberate on matters that will enable governments find solutions to economic challenges such as disease outbreaks,” Dr Kasonde said.
He said as at Monday this week, 30 suspected cholera cases had been recorded in Lusaka and 14 had been confirmed by laboratory examination with five people being treated in Kanyama Township.
Dr Kasonde said eight suspected cases of the disease had been recorded in Chibombo and two had been confirmed.
“The index case was a patient from Kanyama, who had visited relatives in Chibombo.
“Mr Speaker, in order to curb the spread of the disease, there is need for the general public to adopt safer behaviour with regard to personal hygiene,” Dr Kasonde said.
Meanwhile, the House heard that Zambia’s international profile had continued to soar under the tenure of President Edgar Lungu.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba said Zambia’s image across the international community had been decorated with high profile engagements between Mr Lungu and dignitaries such as Pope Francis.
Mr Kalaba said this in response to a question by Kabompo West UPND MP Ambrose Lufuma who asked a follow-up question to the Minister’s statement on Mr Lungu’s recent outing to the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia.
The Minister’s statement also included a synopsis of Mr Lungu’s meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican and French President Francois Hollande in Paris.