No lockdown – Cabinet

By AARON CHIYANZO THE country will not go under lock despite the surge in Covid-19 cases, cabinet has said. Chief Government spokesperson, Dora Siliya said in a statement yesterday that Cabinet had agreed that the country would not be under lockdown but that all citizens must strictly follow the health guidelines. Ms Siliya said Cabinet also agreed that sensitization on COVID-19 must be scaled up. Cabinet, she said, observed that the numbers of positive cases have continued to rise because citizens had relaxed on wearing face masks, social distancing, washing hands and sanitizing. “Cabinet called for all Zambians to be agents of change in the protection of lives,” Ms Siliya said. Ms Siliya also disclosed that the remaining school classes that had not re-opened, including colleges and universities, shall remain closed and that Government would assess how the pandemic evolves before a decision was made on re-opening. Ms Siliya said Cabinet further approved “The Banking and Financial Services (Amendment) Bill, 2020” for publication and introduction in Parliament during the next sitting. She said the Banking and Financial Services Act was being amended to revise the definition of insolvency in relation to a financial service provider. Ms Siliya said the implementation of the Bill, when enacted, would provide for the repayment of funds collected by an unlicensed person. Also approved at yesterday’s cabinet is, “The Public Procurement Bill, 2020” for publication and introduction in Parliament during the next sitting which seeks to enhance legislation on public procurement. Cabinet, Ms Siliya said also approved the appointment of   an 11 member Board for the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA), 14 member Council of the Mulungushi University Governing Council and 12 member Board of the Copperbelt University Governing Council. She said the revision and extension of the implementation of the New Financing Strategy for the three public universities for the period 2021 to 2025 was also agreed to. “Cabinet approved the ratification of the Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States in order to promote academic freedom,” she said.