Zambia suspends passport issuance in capital amid cholera outbreak

LUSAKA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Tuesday announced a temporary suspension on issuance of passports and national identity cards in Lusaka, the country's capital, following an outbreak of cholera.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo said the suspension has been necessitated by the escalating cases of cholera in the city and in line with the government's ban on public gatherings in some parts of the city.

He said the issuing office will only attend to emergency travels.

"There is no need to panic as this will be temporal to allow for efforts to prevent the spread of cholera," he told reporters during a press briefing.

The cholera outbreak since October last year, which mainly affects Zambia's capital, has prompted the government to ban public gathering and defer opening of schools.

According to figures from the health ministry, cholera cases in Zambia have surpassed 2,800 while the toll currently stands at 64.

On Tuesday, Zambian President Edgar Lungu expressed optimism that the measures put in place by the government were adequate to contain the water-borne disease but highlighted need to clean up cities to improve hygiene. Enditem