Newly installed Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa says the Lusaka City Council Police need to be better equipped to help restore order and cleanliness in the capital. Mr. Mwewa, who is the son of Lusaka’s first Zambian indigenous mayor, the late Simon Mwewa, has taken up office after…

Newly installed Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa says the Lusaka City Council Police need to be better equipped to help restore order and cleanliness in the capital.

Mr. Mwewa, who is the son of Lusaka’s first Zambian indigenous mayor, the late Simon Mwewa, has taken up office after winning the mayoral election.

Speaking during his investiture ceremony yesterday, Mr. Mwewa said the council police are an important part of his administration’s efforts to make Lusaka cleaner, better organised and safer.

He said the unit needs greater capacity to effectively carry out its duties and support the council’s enforcement work.

Mr. Mwewa said adequately equipping the council police would enable them to perform their duties more effectively for the city and its residents.

The Mayor said his administration would focus on restoring order and cleanliness through proper systems, infrastructure and enforcement.

He said his office has already embarked on Operation Clear Path, an initiative aimed at restoring order and cleanliness in Lusaka.

Mr. Mwewa said the capital has lost much of its cleanliness over the years and needs more than calls for residents to keep it clean.

He said the council must first put systems in place to make Lusaka clean before residents can be expected to maintain it.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe, who graced the event, said Government supports efforts to improve the cleanliness and functionality of Lusaka.

Mr. Haimbe said residents expect clean streets, efficient waste management, reliable street lighting, safe markets and functioning drainage.

He said keeping Lusaka clean is a shared responsibility involving Government, the council, businesses and residents.

Mr. Haimbe assured Mr. Mwewa that Government would work with the Lusaka City Council to strengthen service delivery and modernise urban infrastructure.

He also urged the council to ensure that public resources are used transparently and provide value for money.

Mr. Mwewa was yesterday sworn in and later installed as Lusaka Mayor during an investiture ceremony held at Lusaka Civic Centre.