Maravi

W/Province feels it’s Time for change - Bishop Duffy

W/Province feels it’s Time for change - Bishop Duffy
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wed 13 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

MONGU Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy yesterday said there is a growing feeling among people in the Western Province that time to change government has come following vivid leadership failures by the Rupiah Banda administration.

And Bishop Duffy said political entities that threaten citizens who use their intellect to express opinions on issues of national interest are only showing that they are weak.

In an interview, Bishop Duffy said the people in the Western Province had not felt President Banda's leadership influence because he seemed to be giving too much attention to one part of the country, the Eastern Province where he hails from.

“The feeling that I get from people who speak out in this area is that they think it is time for change. They do not think that Rupiah has a chance in the Western Province. He needs to show some real achievements,” Bishop Duffy said when asked to rate President Banda's government ahead of the 2011 polls.

“We have not seen too much that he has accomplished. I do not know, maybe he has concentrated on other areas. I understand he is from the Eastern Province. He has done much for Eastern Province. As for us, we are concerned this side. We have not seen much of his influence. He needs to show that he is a government for all people, not only a President for one area of the country and that he wants to put us on equal stand so that one area is not favoured.”

Bishop Duffy said President Banda's government had also paid much attention to the mines in North Western and Copperbelt provinces.

“His concentration has been on the area of the mines in North-Western and Copperbelt, as well as Eastern Province,” he complained.

Bishop Duffy said the Western Province still rates as the poorest in the whole country.

“We are still waiting to see promises fulfilled. Of course one of the issues is the Mongu-Kalabo road, which has been in that state for several years. We keep hearing promises but we are waiting for action,” Bishop Duffy said.

He said despite assurances that the road between Senanga and Sesheke would be worked on, it was still in a horrendous and terrible state.

“It is a poor excuse for a road,” he said. “Last year they said the road from Kaoma to Lukulu was going to be paved but we have not seen that happen. That road again is very treacherous. We just wonder when is government going to fulfill their promises?”

Bishop Duffy further bemoaned the poor state of the roads within Mongu town.

“We figure that Mongu Central has been robbed because of the fact that our member of parliament was a deputy minister in other parts of the country,” Bishop Duffy said.

“The people here feel cheated because of the fact that the Mongu Central MP had other responsibilities and he has not been able to give full attention to his constituency.”

And commenting on the action by MMD cadres to kill Ndola Diocese treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa over his comments on President Banda's endless travels, Bishop Duffy said such acts showed failure to argue matters logically.

“It's too bad that people threaten other people,” Bishop Duffy said. “It is a sign that they are weak themselves and they therefore resort to something that they know is wrong.”

He wondered if by eliminating Fr Mwewa's life, the MMD cadres' problems would cease.
“I think that each citizen has a right to their opinion regardless whether others like their opinion or not. We are all free individuals and we are all capable of using our intellect,” said Bishop Duffy.

Labels: BISHOP DUFFY, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 6:58 AM