DISASTERS COSTING GOVT – DMMU
Written by Millennium on August 26, 2019
RABECCA BANDA writes
@SunZambian
THE Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in the Office of the Vice President says Government is spending heavily on temporary shelters in disaster hit areas.
National coordinator Chanda Kabwe said the northern part of Zambia experienced perennial flash floods in the rainy season which disrupted normal life and increased the need for shelter and other forms of relief.
This is contained in a statement released by first secretary for press and tourism at the Zambian Mission in India Bangwe Naviley.
Mr Kabwe urged India’s Infratel Private Limited to set up a disaster relief essential aids making facility in Zambia.
He said prefabs, which could be assembled in 48 hours had a wide range of the emergency shelter uses, including housing, education and health.
He was speaking in New Delhi, India, when SVARN Infratel Private Limited head of business development Subho Bhattacharya made a presentation to him.
Mr Kabwe warned against acquisition of land for speculative purposes.
He said land was given to Pingpong Group in Chibombo, Central Province two years ago for the construction of a 750-bed capacity hospital and should therefore fulfill its investment pledge.
Mr Kabwe said land in Zambia was a rare resource that should improve the quality of lives of the people.
Government did not want investors that engaged in dialogue for five years without implementing their pledges.
He said Government did not want to excite Zambians for nothing because running a country was serious business.
Zambia High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga said the commission had done everything possible to connect Pingpong to relevant ministries and was hoping that the hospital project would start soon.
Mr Bhattacharya said his company had a great reputation in the manufacturing of panels for prefabricated houses, bio-toilets and water ATM.
He said setting up a manufacturing facility of prefabricated toilets in Zambia would create jobs and that the structures would be durable as compared to temporary shelters.
