Laxity fuelling cholera cases in Thyolo—Nice

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has blamed authorities for their laxity to contain the further spread of cholera in Thyolo District and Luchenza Municipal councils.

Thyolo Nice civic education officer Moses Kaunda said this on Monday in Luchenza during a service charter sensitisation meeting on people’s rights to access quality services.

During the meeting, it transpired that the Luchenza Municipal Council has not issued any statement stopping the sale of ready-to-eat food in the wake of the cholera outbreak.

Kaunda said failure to ban the sale of ready-to-eat food has led to vendors leading a “normal life” as if there is no outbreak, which is fuelling the spread of cholera.

“I am not pleased with people’s conduct towards the cholera outbreak. By this time, I expected people to start observing preventive measures,” he said.

Kaunda immediately set up a team comprising seven members to meet Luchenza Municipal Council officials and discuss the matter.

Luchenza Municipal Council director of planning and development John Maneya admitted that they delayed to effect the ban on the sale of ready-to-eat food.

He said they expected councillors to give them feedback.

“We summoned the councillors to discuss  the possibility of issuing a ban on ready-to-eat food. They said they would respond after meeting their people,” said Maneya.

Luchenza Ward councillor Henderson Spoon commended Nice for sensitising them to the dangers of the disease.

On his part, Thyolo district hospital health promotion officer Fanuel Makina asked for the establishment of a special committee to tackle cholera issues.

Nice held the meeting with financial support from the European Union.