Maravi

Levy visits 'Levy bridge'

Levy visits 'Levy bridge'
By Chibaula Silwamba in Mansa
Friday May 23, 2008 [04:00]

President Levy Mwanawasa yesterday said the people of Luapula Province are too lazy to exploit the abundant water resources for irrigation farming. And President Mwanawasa said his reconciliation with Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata would be meaningless if it did not affect the attitude of Zambians. Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa revealed that he had always wanted to build a bridge across Luapula River since the time he was a small boy.

Speaking on his arrival at Mansa Airport yesterday, President Mwanawasa observed that there was a lot of water in Luapula Province but people were not properly utilising it.

"I remember the last time I went to Chiengi, I mentioned that 'there is plenty of water here but you the people of Luapula Province are too lazy to exploit this water for irrigation'. There is plenty of water, fish has been taken away; are you going to leave this water unattended to?" he asked.

President Mwanawasa directed the Minister of Agriculture to speed up the implementation of the irrigation fund and its distribution to the people.

"Here, it can work wonders if people were encouraged to produce food through irrigation," President Mwanawasa said. "I am pleased to improve agriculture production."

He also said he was happy that there were a number of developmental projects that had been implemented in Luapula Province.

And on his reconciliation with Sata, President Mwanawasa said the duo had done their part and it was up to the rest of Zambians to change their attitudes.

"That reconciliation is nothing if it cannot mean a thing to the attitude of the Zambian people. We have done our part and what is your part? Are you going to continue to be at each other's necks? Are you going to be insulting and wasting time instead of investing it in hard work so that this country develops?" he asked.

President Mwanawasa said his message to Zambians was that the country was in a hurry to develop hence the need to stop quarrelling and concentrate on development.

"When I look back six years ago and what we are today, I can see that we have made a number of strides. But I am not satisfied with where we are. There is a lot of work required to be done before I can say 'yes, we were there' and 'we are here'.

At the moment I can only say we ought to be there," President Mwanawasa said. "Over the coming three years, you will see me visiting developmental sites; commissioning some of them and launching others. This will be my way of demonstrating that we are a working government. It will be my way of demonstrating that there is a lot which we can do if only we can stop quarrelling and insulting each other."

President Mwanawasa also said the government would support the private sector to start hydropower generation projects in Luapula Province, which had many waterfalls.

"Instead of calling upon the government to work on this water to provide hydropower I would encourage the private sector to exploit this under the facilitation of the government. We will give them every possible support; there is plenty of water for hydropower," he said.

President Mwanawasa also said he was happy that tourism was being encouraged in Luapula Province. He said the purpose of his visit to Luapula Province was to check on the work done on Chembe Bridge.

"I remember when I was a small boy; we were living in Mufulira, travelling all the way to Kashikishi to buy fresh fish. I was with my late father and we had to cross the pontoon at Chembe on coming and on going back. We did that so many times; I remember asking my father that 'why can't you behave like Biblical Moses and just crack a whip and the river will split and then we can cross?'

My father said, 'my son, miracles have stopped happening. We need a pontoon unless somebody constructs a bridge then it will be easy for people to cross on the bridge.'" President Mwanawasa recalled. "And from that time, it had been my ambition that I should be educated enough so that I can train as an engineer and help build a bridge across the Luapula River. Now little did I realise that the engineer which God had in mind was that I will become the President of Zambia and help influence decisions to construct a bridge."

President Mwanawasa said from the time he became President, he worked hard to ensure that the construction of the bridge started.

"I did not care where the money came from. We tried Japanese, it couldn't work, I tried Indians, it couldn't work, finally we brought in Chinese and the bridge is being constructed. It's a nice piece of engineering and to me I feel extremely privileged, extremely happy that I am the third President in this country. My colleagues did not manage to get this bridge but I have... you don't know how I am happy," President Mwanawasa said.

He said the bridge would promote trade. President Mwanawasa said he would now look for money to tar the Pedicle Road, which links Luapula and Copperbelt provinces.

"The distance of less than 90 kilometres; I am sure where there are men they don't fail. I am sure we will do it," said President Mwanawasa.

On April 6, 2008, Luapula Province minister Crispin Musosha announced Mansa municipal council's resolution to name the bridge being constructed across the Luapula River at Chembe after President Mwanawasa.

Musoha said the unanimous resolution by the councillors who sat on April 3, 2008 was also endorsed by some traditional leaders.

Musosha said that nobody other than President Mwanawasa had ever thought of constructing a bridge at Chembe to lessen the problems people faced in crossing Luapula River.

He said the councillors debated the many accidents and great inconveniences people witnessed when crossing the river by pontoon and unanimously resolved to name the bridge after President Mwanawasa in recognition of his efforts.

"This is what all councillors debated, both from the opposition and ruling party; they unanimously agreed that the bridge be given the name Levy Mwanawasa Bridge. There was no dissenting views," said Musosha.

But the announcement received angry reactions from some people with dissenting views with former provincial minister Kennedy Sakeni describing the development as the most foolish thing one could think of. According to Sakeni, President Mwanawasa did not use personal money to warrant the bridge being constructed at Chembe to be named after him.

He said those pushing for the idea were bootlickers who wanted to please their master.

But yesterday, chief Kasomalwela, in whose chiefdom the bridge is being constructed told President Mwanawasa - on behalf of other chiefs in the area - that the naming of the bridge after him was not debatable. He said they were already unanimously decided on the matter and would not entertain any debate because the matter was closed.

Chief Kasomalwela said the decision to name the bridge after President Mwanawasa was a sign of appreciation for the work he has done in the area. He said the bridge will without doubt improve people's way of life and that of doing business.
Chief Kasomalwela also thanked President Mwanawasa for the market being constructed in the area and for upgrading a basic school to a High School.

President Mwanawasa thanked the chief for the kind gesture and said he saw a lot of hope for development in Luapula Province. And Musosha said the Zambian and Finnish governments had embarked on an agriculture project, worth about K50 billion. Musosha appealed to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to complete the geological survey in the province.

Musosha said Luapula Province had huge deposits of minerals that would help improve the economy of the province and the country.

Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 4:28 AM