— Govt. directs Northern Province based DCs to address disasters

Govt. directs Northern Province based DCs to address disasters

Kasama, July 9^th,  2013,  ZANIS —  Government  has directed District Commissioners (DCs) and District Disaster Management and Mitigation Committee (DDMMC) officials in Northern Province to provide means of resolving challenges in the implementation of relief operations.

And  Luwingu District Commissioner (DC) Mambwe Katontoka has appealed to DDMMU under the office of the Vice President to fund districts to enable them address urgent needy areas which affect the lives of people in rural areas.

And Northern DMMU Provincial Coordinator Paul Muyongo on his called on DDMMC officials to account themselves as Government has provided policies to enhance their operations.

Northern Province Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika says all District Commissioners  in the province as chairpersons of DDMMCs should work tirelessly as disasters occur in their respective areas at any given time and urged them to provide link for relief to people.

Mr. Nkunika made this directive during a two day orientation workshop for DCs and members of the DDMMC held in the Northern Provincial conference room yesterday.

He said it is important that DCs as chairpersons of DDMMCs should work tirelessly as disasters occur in their respective areas at any given time and urged them to provide link for relief to people.

The PS urged DDMMC officials to be proactive and channel the available human and financial resources towards strategies in dealing with disaster prevention, Mitigation and preparedness as opposed to wait until the disasters happen.

Mr. Nkunika said the workshop is expected to discuss and enhance the operations of DDMMC and strengthen coordination of DMMU in order to save vulnerable communities in a prudent manner saying the DDMMC should be a solution seeker and provider of the needs to the affected communities.

Meanwhile, Luwingu District Commissioner (DC) Mambwe Katontoka has appealed to DDMMU under the office of the Vice President to fund districts to enable them address urgent needy areas which affect the lives of people in rural areas.

Mrs. Katontoka revealed that DDMMU only provided funds to her district once in January this year and provided hope for better service delivery to people in remote areas of Luwingu district.

She added that in her district districts some roads and bridges as well as some School and health structures needed urgent attention but due to non-availability of funds such concerns cannot be worked on.

And Northern DMMU Provincial Coordinator Paul Muyongo called on DDMMC officials to account themselves as Government has provided policies to enhance their operations.

Mr. Muyongo said district teams should work hard and plan adequately to prevent disasters and the suffering of people in disaster prone areas.

The workshop was attended by district officials from the nine districts and will wind-up its work today.