Chiwundura villagers get water
OVER 3 000 villagers in the Chiwundura area now have access to clean and safe water following the commissioning of the Mlezu and Shagari piped water schemes over the weekend.
The two schemes, which have seen piped water reaching thousands of villagers in Chiwundura area, on the outskirts of Gweru, were rehabilitated by Vungu Rural District Council and Unicef.
Commissioning the schemes at Chiwundura Primary School the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs, Cde Owen Ncube, said the water schemes were going to improve the basic living conditions for the villagers as they were no longer going to walk long distances to fetch water.
“The refurbishment of the Mlezu and Shagari water schemes will improve the quality of life of villagers in Chiwundura, especially women and the girl child who
Zambia issues travel advisory alert to truck drivers travelling to SA
LUSAKA. — The Zambian government has issued a second travel advisory alert to truck drivers and transporters entering South Africa following a fresh wave of sporadic attacks on foreign registered trucks driven by foreigners in that country, its embassy in South Africa said yesterday.
Emmanuel Mwamba, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, said truck drivers and truckers should remain alert and follow security protocols issued by the South African government.
He said it was cardinal that truckers should always use highways as they were well secured with high police presence and avoid using routes which were experiencing picketing, protests or demonstrations.
He however said in a statement that he has been assured by the South African government of intensive security measures that have been established. According to him, the trade between the two countries will not be interrupted as the South African government had assured of stringent security and safety measures.
About six Zambian registered trucks were recently caught up in separate local violent protests. The six trucks were petrol bombed in South Africa following violent protests that erupted in Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal provinces, although no lives were lost. — Xinhua traditionally have the mandate to provide clean water in homesteads and sometimes travel long distances to fetch clean water,” he said.
“This initiative will now ease pressure on the girl child who will now focus on her education as well as the woman who will focus on income generating projects which will improve their quality of life.”
Cde Ncube said the provision of tapped water also reduced cases of water borne diseases, adding that Government was working tirelessly to provide clean drinking water to its entire people regardless of where they stay.
“This is going to improve health conditions of the villagers who now have access to clean and safe water and are no longer exposed to diseases like typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea,” he said.
The provision of safe and clean is a basic human right which also falls under the United Nations development goals.”
ADDIS ABABA. — The number of officials detained in connection with Saturday’s bomb attack in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa has reached about 30, state TV reported. Addis Standard late yesterday wrote wrote on its Twitter handle @addisstandard: “Senior security & civilian officials are asserting that the incident is being treated as an ‘assassination attempt’ on the life of PM #AbiyAhmed.”
Meanwhile, a second person has died after the grenade attack at the political rally addressed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, as authorities arrested police officials and other suspects.
The explosion on Saturday struck a large rally by supporters of Ethiopia’s new, reformist prime minister, wounding scores, including five who are in critical condition.
Health Minister Amir Aman confirmed yesterday that two people had been killed from the attack and 156 wounded.
“I’m so sorry to learn that we have lost another Ethiopian victim of yesterday’s (Saturday’s) attack who was in ICU at Black Lion Hospital,” Aman said on Twitter. “My sincere sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and all Ethiopians.”
Prime Minister Abiy had just wrapped up his speech at the capital’s Meskel Square before tens of thousands of people on Saturday when the explosion went off, sending droves of supporters towards the stage as the prime minister left hurriedly and was taken to safety.
By end of day Saturday, nine police officials, including the deputy head of the Addis Ababa police commission, had been arrested over alleged security lapses.
“Ethiopian police have confirmed that nine policemen have been arrested because of what they are calling gross negligence; for not putting enough security measures in place to make sure that such an incident did