By JOHN SAKALA
Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will engage 400 people in Lunga to immediately clear canals in Lunga district of Luapula province. This is to allow water to flow in the flooded areas to ease the challenges being faced by the district.
This came to light when a combined team of Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Local Government, Infrastructure Development, DMMU and the area Member of Parliament, Emerine Kabkanshi toured the district to assess the flood situation.
And DMMU National Coordinator, Chanda Kabwe disclosed that DMMU working with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development will soon mobilize resources and dredgers to ensure the flooding problem is permanently resolved.
As an immediate relief intervention, DMMU has released 5,000 bags of mealie meal to the district to assist the affected households.
Mr Kabwe further disclosed that the Unit will also release iron sheets for the five Schools whose roofs were blown off, in addition to 600 bags of cement. This is to restore normal learning in the affected Schools.
And Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary, Bishop Ed Chomba said there was need to intensify sensitization on the issue of Climate Change in Schools. This is in a bid to inculcate coping and adaptation mechanisms in the growing generation.
Bishop Chomba added that he would ensure effective use of the equalization fund in the constituencies to mitigate some of the problems instead of calling on DMMU for everything.
Meanwhile Ministry of Infrastructure development Permanent Secretary, Charles Mushota has called on relevant stakeholders to explore the issue of producing energy by use of waste material.
Area Member of Parliament, Emerine Kabanshi thanked government for the quick response and concerted efforts in finding a permanent solution to the plight of the people of Lunga.
And speaking through his retainer Chief Kasoma Lunga thanked government for coming to the aid of people especially those who have been left homeless. The Chief said a number of houses have collapsed due to heavy rains and floods.
He welcomed the move by government to increase relief food allocation for the district adding that this will really help the growing population in the area.
The traditional leader, however called on DMMU to quickly address the issue of relocating people to safe areas before lives are lost.
This is according to a media statement but DMMU Senior Communications Officer Racheal Chama.
