By Lumbiwe Mwanza
GOVERNMENT has acknowledged need to find a lasting solution for Kabwe lead contamination challenges stating the urgent need to develop a proper database of all related deaths.
Officiating this morning at a round table conference for lead contamination in Kabwe, Acting Minister of Green Economy and Environment Elijah Muchima says the Ministry of Health should scale up efforts in tracking and ensuring that all cases of contamination are recorded and treated.
Mr Muchima emphasised that Government is not happy that more money is being pumped into lead contamination testing and treatment yet no progress has been made.
And speaking at the same event, Germany Ambassador to Zambia Ann Wagner-Mitchell says no amount of donor money or support will address the challenges of Lead Contamination in Kabwe but unity of purpose between Government and stakeholders will.
Meanwhile, Kabwe Member of Parliament (MP) Chrizoster Phiri says more vulnerable communities have continued to be affected by lead poisoning, a situation that calls for urgent intervention.
There is no safe level of lead contamination in children and women of the child bearing age.the lead dump site need to be cleared through the Government process.The money that was intended to be used for helping the vulnerable population at risk from lead Poisoning was not used we can even notice from the Ministry of health representative submission to meeting .Her report did not address the abatement of the nuisance of lead poisoning in Kabwe that has affected the people Kabwe.
We have several Government Departments in Kabwe District.
Ministry of Health (MoH)
Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE)
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development MLGRD)
Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA}