Zamtel has announced a partnership with the Lions Club of Woodlands to launch a feeding programme for front line health workers at the Levy Mwanawasa Covid Isolation Centre.

Zamtel has since donated K20,000 to the initiative and also set up a Merchant Code 69650 through which Zamtel Kwacha subscribers can send financial contributions to fund feeding programme.

The Levy Mwanawasa Isolation Centre is the biggest in Zambia and currently has 171 workers who will receive all essential meals through the feeding programme.

Through the Initiative, Zamtel other partners such as ZSIC Life and the Guardian Insurance Group will pay an identified catering firm that will prepare and deliver the meals to the medical facility.

Speaking at the handover of the cheque, Zamtel Senior Manager for Mobile Money Mulenga Masinja said the feeding initiative is meant to appreciate the hard work that health workers are putting in to combat Covid-19.

“As an indigenous Zambian brand, we are making this donation because we believe it will go a long way in meeting the nutritional requirements of our hard working frontline health workers as they provide the much needed care and support for patients afflicted by Covid-19. The funds provided by Zamtel and other partners will also help motivate our workers who are at the front line of this battle against Covid,” Mr Masinja said.

And Lions Club of Woodlands President Kabwe Kandeke thanked Zamtel and the other partners for responding to the needs of the front line workers.

At the same event Senior Medical Superintendent at the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital Dr. Penias Tembo admitted that it is not a secret that Levy Mwanawasa Covid Isolation Centre is facing a number of operational challenges because the facility is overwhelmed.

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has recorded a warn-and-caution statement from former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Ms. Akakulubelwa Mulalelo.

In confirming the development to Mwebantu, ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono said the Commission has been conducting investigations into alleged irregularities in the awarding of a tender to Honeybee Pharmaceuticals by the Ministry of Health.

“I wish to inform you that the investigations are progressing well and have reached an advanced stage. In this regard, the Commission summoned former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Ms. Akakulubelwa Mulalelo to appear for questioning today. The Commission has recorded a Warn and Caution Statement from Ms. Mulalelo, and the Commission will in due course transmit the case file to the National Prosecutions Authority for further action.” he said.

He further added that a joint team comprising officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission and the Auditor-General’s Office has been constituted to look into the matter involving the accumulation of K2.4 billion debt by the Ministry of Health for Covid-19 supplies. This follows allegations of price inflations and mismanagement of the procurement process in acquiring the Covid-19 supplies.

“The Commission wishes to assure the nation that it will pursue these and other cases of corruption diligently and to their logical conclusion. The Commission recognizes the responsibility placed on it by the people of Zambia, and it shall at all times endeavour to serve the best interests of the Zambian people. “ he said.

THE United Church of Zambia in Lusaka has resolved that congregants shall partake of the Holy Communion sacrament from their homes using their own bread and accompanying drink or wine.

This comes in the wake of the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country.

In a pastoral and higher court Notice of the resolutions, St Andrews congregation has also resolved that that Holy Communion shall not be held within the church service as normally done until further notice.

The church states that after normal physical Sunday Service, a reverend shall, through zoom or Facebook, administer virtual Holy Communion at 14:00 hours and bless the bread and drink that each member will have before them in their homes.

“We need to ensure that, only communicant members in our households should partake of the Holy Communion and partakers must be in a quiet room where there will be no disturbance from television, music, visitors or children,” reads the notice.

Congregants have also been informed that no funeral services COVID-19 or non COVID shall be held in Congregations in Lusaka until further notice adding that indoor funeral gatherings have been identified as one of the super-spreader sources for COVID-19.

The church has since resolved that funeral services shall be conducted at the gravesite.

“Bear with the church administration as we enforce this and several other uncomfortable but necessary measures within our St Andrews family. Congregants shall be updated periodically on any latest developments,” the notice reads.