Luanshya entrepreneurs counselled
ENTREPRENUERS in Luanshya have been urged to be more innovative in order to boost the local economy and create employment opportunities for the less privileged communities.
Luanshya Mayor, Nathan Chanda, said time had come for enterprising individuals to come up with soap making initiatives using local raw materials such as palm oil mixed with caustic soda.
The Mayor said this in a speech read on his behalf by Health, Environment, Housing and Social Services Committee chairperson Elizabeth Mulenga during the official commemoration of the 2020 Global Hand-washing Day.
"The outbreak of the corona virus has not only changed people’s lifestyles but also come with business opportunities for soap manufacturing and hygiene services industries," he said.
He said the local authority had noted that soap, just like access water was a critical element.
Mr Chanda said this was the reason why Luanshya Municipal Council wanted the private sector to once again help through innovations.
He said that Luanshya and Fisenge areas in particular housed the settlement centre for the blind and disabled people, who should be engaged in various projects such
as the manufacturing of soap and hand washing stations.
"As part of promoting access to water and sanitation, the Luanshya Municipal Council has embarked on the constructing modern ablution blocks in strategic places such as markets and bus stations," he added.
He said the local authority had sunk and rehabilitated more than 20 boreholes in different parts of Luanshya using facilities such as the council managed Water Scheme, the Ward Development Fund and the Constituency Development Fund.
During the same function, Luanshya Town Clerk Timothy Mambalakata called for concerted efforts to adequately address the challenges which the less privileged
communities faced in their quest to wash their hands in a proper way on a daily basis with access to soap and clean water.
Mr Mambalakata urged Luanshya residents not to relent in performing the life-saving good habit of always washing hands before eating and after using the toilet.
Meanwhile, Fisenge ward councilor, Nepoll Chiyasa, commended council management for consistently promoting hand-washing and good health practices.
Mr Chiyasa however, appealed to Luanshya residents to take hand-washing seriously now that there was a world-wide outbreak the covid-19 which had not spared Zambia.