Caleb M Fundanga: Campaign to keep Zambia clean and healthy
Opening remarks by Dr Caleb M Fundanga, Governor of the Bank of Zambia, at the review
walk of the "Keep Lusaka clean, green and healthy campaign project", Lusaka, 17
September 2009.
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The Acting Minister of Local Government and Housing, Hon Bradford Machila
His Worship the Mayor of Lusaka, His Worship Robert Chikwelete
The Chairman of the BAZ, Mr Saviour Chibiya
Chief Executive Officers of Commercial Banks
Distinguished Invited Guests
Members of the Press
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am honored to officiate at this important occasion at which banks have undertaken to
conduct a review of the "Keep Lusaka Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign".
Hon Minister, as you are aware, the "Make Zambia Clean and Healthy" campaign was
launched by the Government in 2007 and was aimed at keeping our surroundings clean and
green in order to improve the health standards throughout the country.
You may wish to know that the banking sector through the Bankers Association of Zambia
and the Bank of Zambia commenced work immediately after the national launch. A project
committee was formed and each bank including the BoZ embarked on implementing the
campaign by making financial contributions. To ensure a uniform landscape on all islands
along Cairo Road, a single company was employed to carry out landscaping and
maintenance works including maintaining and keeping the pavements and gardens clean
and green. The programme also included placing dustbins along the pavements and
ensuring that the street lights were repaired and lit. It is highly gratifying to see how much
work has been accomplished and I am sure that the results are clear for all of us to see
today.
This initiative, Ladies and Gentlemen, is one sure way of inculcating and promoting a culture
of cleanliness amongst our people. It is also an effective way of expressing our Corporate
Social Responsibility. Beautiful and clean surroundings also go a long way in complementing
Government's efforts of developing tourism. In fact another dimension of the initiative
required that all banks including the BoZ maintain and keep their offices and surroundings
clean at all times. In this regard, we at the Bank of Zambia have introduced regular
inspections of offices while ensuring that all staff are aware of their responsibilities towards
the clean campaign.
Furthermore, by keeping their premises or business environment clean, banks provide the
satisfaction that customer need. You would all agree with me that a business done in a clean
environment leave the customer totally relaxed and in good spirit, prompting another visit in
future.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in line with "Goal 8" of the Millennium Development Goals on
"Environmental Sustainability", we are all expected to work together and reverse the losses
of environmental resources. I am glad to report that the financial sector has taken the bold
step and has become one of, if not the first, to contribute positively towards achieving this
goal. In this regard I would like to call upon other corporate entities and business houses in
Lusaka and other cities around the country to emulate the efforts of the financial sector and
help keep Zambia a beautiful, clean and healthy place to live in. I must hasten to mention
here that, by undertaking such initiatives, we are in no way trying to take over the
responsibility of the local authorities but merely supplementing their efforts of keeping the
country clean and healthy.
Hon Minister, allow me to make an earnest appeal to the local authorities through "His
Worship the Mayor" to assist in the maintenance of the islands by providing security to
minimize the rampant vandalism, theft and destruction of plants and other essentials that
occur on a daily basis. We also make a humble request to the Lusaka City Council to
consider working on the water reticulation system, as this is one area posing a great
challenge in the maintenance of the islands.
Furthermore, there are still a number of places, which require urgent attention in the City.
Your Worship, we have observed that a number of incomplete buildings have been
abandoned posing a danger to the lives of many while others remain without a colour wash
for years giving an unattractive sight to our beloved capital city. We would like to request
your good office, "Your Worship" to issue mandatory directives to all business houses in
the country to complete construction sites within a stipulated period and to ensure that all
buildings are properly maintained and where necessary repainted on a regular basis.
In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to commend the Bankers Association of Zambia
and in particular the Project Committee for the effective and efficient manner in which this
initiative has been implemented thus far. My hope is that the initiative will not only be
confined to Cairo Road but to all areas of the country.
Finally, I would like to urge all of us present here today to extend this initiative to our homes.
Let us keep our homes, communities and the country clean as cleanliness is next to
godliness.
I thank you.