‘PUBLIC SAFETY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE’



ZASAA chief calls for urgent action after traders are filmed operating beside active railway line at Kamwala Market

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — 9-09-2026 --  The Zambia Safety Awards for Excellence (ZASAA) has called for urgent action after a viral video showed informal traders operating dangerously close to an active railway line at Kamwala Market.

ZASAA founder and chief executive officer Hellen Mwamba said the situation was a serious public safety concern, warning that railway corridors should not be used as trading spaces.

“We are deeply concerned because railway corridors are not trading spaces,” Mwamba said.

She said protecting people’s livelihoods should not come at the expense of their safety, particularly where preventable risks were involved.

“Protecting livelihoods must never mean accepting conditions that expose people to preventable risks,” she said.

Mwamba called for the immediate enforcement of existing restrictions, saying authorities should act before an accident occurs rather than wait for a tragedy to force action.

She, however, acknowledged the economic pressures facing informal traders and said enforcement should be accompanied by investment in properly planned and safe trading spaces.

“While we acknowledge the economic realities of the informal sector, consistent enforcement must be paired with investment in proper markets,” Mwamba said.

She noted that overcrowding and poor conditions in some trading areas often pushed vendors into spaces that were not meant for trading.

Mwamba also urged railway operators to strengthen safety controls around busy areas, including managing train speeds and ensuring railway tracks and their surroundings are clear before trains are allowed to proceed.

“The Kamwala incident is a warning—public safety is non-negotiable and requires a coordinated response from all stakeholders,” she said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bishops Decry DEC Summons

Image
ZCCB Warns Against Using State Institutions to Silence Church Leaders By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (3-01-2026) - The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has condemned in the strongest terms the Drug Enforcement Commission’s (DEC) summons of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda, describing it as a brazen attempt to intimidate the Church and silence its voice on governance. ZCCB President Archbishop Ignatius Chama said in a statement that the Bishops stand in unwavering solidarity with Archbishop Banda, who is scheduled to appear before the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the DEC on 5 January 2026.  The summons, delivered on 31 December 2025, comes amid a wave of public attacks and derogatory remarks against the Archbishop. The Bishops labelled the DEC action as unmistakably state-sponsored harassment, designed to punish Archbishop Banda for speaking truth to power and holding the government accountable.  Bishop Chama warned that weaponizing state institut...
Read more

Opposition Meets ECZ Over Voter Concerns

Image
Lungu says the Dialogue focused on transparency and voter registration ahead of 2026 polls. By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (October 25, 2025) -- Leaders from the United Opposition Front (UOF) have met with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to discuss concerns surrounding voter registration and other electoral matters ahead of the 2026 general election. The meeting, held at the ECZ Headquarters in Lusaka, brought together opposition parties including The Zambia We Want, the Socialist Party, and the United Liberal Party among others. It was chaired by the ECZ Chairperson and attended by senior officials from the Commission. Speaking shortly after the meeting, Muhabi Lungu, Secretary General of The Zambia We Want, said the engagement was constructive and aimed at promoting transparency and mutual trust between the Commission and political parties.  “We met with the ECZ to share our concerns, particularly on voter registration, and to discuss how we can ensure the process ...
Read more

Consortium Challenges Health Bill

Image
Health groups reject reforms, warn against increased private sector influence in regulation, call for revisions to protect integrity of health regulation and demand meaningful consultation and representation By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia — (13/04/2026) A consortium of seven health professional associations representing over 86 percent of Zambia’s regulated health workforce has challenged the proposed Health Professions (Amendment) Bill No. 23 of 2026, rejecting the reforms and warning that they risk increasing private sector influence, undermining regulatory integrity and excluding practitioners from meaningful participation. Speaking during a joint media briefing, Clinical Officers’ Association of Zambia (COAZ) Secretary General Dr. Musonda Kamfwa said the consortium opposes the bill in its current form because it seeks to alter the governance structure of the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) by reducing the role of health professionals while expanding non-practit...
Read more