A TRADITIONAL leader in Kaoma district’s Kapili area in Western Province has vowed to punish any of his subjects found still practicing open defecation.
“I will personally go village to village to sensitize people on the dangers of ODF and the need for each household to have a pit latrine toilet. I will have those who resist to construct toilets arrested. I need sanity in my area and this is not a joke, I mean it,” Chief Mufaya said.
Chief Mufaya told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that he will take a leading role in sensitizing his subjects against the practice saying those found wanting will face the wrath of the law.
The Chief said he will implement the chief’s act to ensure that subjects who do not comply with the provisions of the law are arrested as open defecation leads to health complications.
Chief Mufaya added that using of the bush to answer the call of nature is a thing of the past as people should now be constructing pit latrines.
The traditional leader said he wants his chiefdom to be the first one in Kaoma District to be certified and declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).
Chief Mufaya is however, happy that most households in his chiefdom have constructed toilets according to recommended standards by World Health Organization-WHO and only a few individuals are remaining.
In a quest to encourage construction of toilets and hand washing facilities in villages, government with its cooperating partners has introduced some incentives to chiefdoms that will be certified and declared ODF.
– ZANIS
