MINISTER in the Office of the Vice-President Olipa Phiri has directed the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit-DMMU to ensure the more than K200, 000 worth of COVID-19 items donated by BEIJING Henjian Heshan-Zambia be distributed to the front line workers in Nakonde in the next 72 hours.
Speaking when she received 10,000 medical masks, 50 protective suits, 50 medical isolation eye masks and 18 forehead temperature guns, Phiri said there was no point in keeping the donated items in the offices while Nakonde is badly hit by the COVID-19.
Phiri said donations in whichever form are meant to be distributed and therefore tasked the office of the National Coordinator to ensure the items are delivered to the intended recipients.
The Minister said the cooperate world had shown commitment to help manage the situation and government would do everything possible to uphold high levels of accountability.
She thanked Beijing Hajian Heshan -Zambia for the gesture saying it would go a long way in helping the country curb the further spread of the pandemic which has so far posted infected 445 people Zambia and killed seven.
Meanwhile, Beijing Hanjian Heshan-Zambia Company Limited General Manager Shen Hao said China and Zambia are all good friends from the government to the people.
Shen said this was why his company has been compelled to contribute towards the COVID-19 fight through its corporate social responsibility programs.
He said the fight against COVID-19 was everyone’s fight and should not be left to government alone.
He said his company is ready to respond to any government call at any time for the benefit of the country.
Earlier, DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe assured the Minister and the donors that the directives from both the Vice President and the Minister will be taken seriously by his office.
He said DMMU wanted to run transparent affairs and the directives from the two top government officials are timely.
Kabwe further assured the Minister that the items donated will surely be given to the intended people who are the front line workers in Nakonde.
©Kalemba May 13, 2020
