Lusaka City Mayor, Chilando Chitangala, has applauded Standard Chartered Bank and WaterAid Zambia for championing the wash out Cholera clean up project that has attracted over K1.35 million from Standard Chartered Bank.

Ms Chitangala says the project is imperative to keep Lusaka City clean and litter free, following the outbreak of the cholera epidemic where over 25 000 lives were affected with some lives lost.

ZANIS reports that the Mayor was speaking at the Standard Chartered Bank branch at Central Park where she launched the wash out Cholera and waste bins project.

“As stakeholders in Lusaka City, we have embarked on a crucial mission to raid the streets of Lusaka by ensuring that the city is clean enough not to attract any diseases,” she said.

She further said that the washout cholera clean – up exercise should be used as a starting point for future initiatives and the quality of lives in communities.

Ms Chitangala also warned the public against vandalising the bins that will be placed around the Central Business District (CBD).

Standard Chartered Bank Chief Executive Officer, Sonny Zulu, says it is sad that the country has continued to receive reports of cholera related deaths.

Mr Zulu says it is critical that Lusaka City maintains cleanliness not only to prevent diseases but also to attract investors.

“As Standard Chartered Bank we are championing the cleaning up exercise because we are creating a movement on litter prevention, and we are appealing to the local authority to put punitive measures for those that would be found littering the city,” he explained.

He called upon the packaging industry to strategise on better ways of packaging their plastic product.

Mr Zulu advised that the industry should be part of the stakeholders that are working on finding a lasting solution.

WaterAid Zambia Country Director, Yankho Mataya, emphasised the importance of hand hygiene in order to avoid communicable diseases.

“According to the Zambia Demographic Health Survey 2018, 7 million Zambians lack access to safe and clean water sources, 46 percent or close to 9 million people in Zambia lack access to adequate sanitation facilities and 76 percent are compromising hygiene due to lack of washing facilities,” M. Mataya noted.

Ms Mataya said community engagement in this exercise is key to winning the battle against Cholera.