Maravi

Govt is not fair in resource distribution, says Ishindi

Govt is not fair in resource distribution, says Ishindi
By Namatama Mundia
Tue 02 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT

SENIOR chief Ishindi of the Lunda of Zambezi has said the government is not fair in distributing resources as is evident in its failure to finish tarring the controversial Mutanda-Chavuma road.

In an interview, chief Ishindi said the 600-kilometer road, which he said is highly political, has a long way to go.

“The K39 billion allocated in the budget to tar the road is not enough because according to the current rate, only one kilometer of the road is tarred in K5 billion, so here they are talking about just tarring about 8-kilometer out of 600-kilometers of the road, it’s very disappointing,” he said.

“The Chipata-Mfuwe had more allocation which shows that there is no fair allocation of resources.”

Chief Ishindi urged President Banda to look for resources from outside the budget so that the road could be tarred.

He said once the funds were found, the government should have two contractors one starting from Chavuma to Zambezi while the other contractor should start from Zambezi to Kabompo to ensure that the road is tarred by December 2010.
He added that it is imperative that the road be tarred now that there is discovery of oil in Zambezi.

“Government has to scout for money to tar the road because it will enable big oil companies to access the road, those companies have big machinery and they can’t move on a muddy road; they (investors) will be motivated to move on a tarred road,” chief Ishindi said.

He said former president Frederick Chiluba’s government started tarring the road but it has now taken over 15 years.

“That road is very important and strategic. It’s not true that the road has no economic benefits,” chief Ishindi said. “It just shows that there is no political will to bring development to North Western Province. There is no road apart from the Mutanda-Chavuma where three sitting presidents have failed to finish tarring.”

Chief Ishindi has bemoaned the power blackouts which have persisted in Zambezi district due to a generator which broke down.

“And the sad thing is that there is no decline in terms of bills so we are just paying for the service which is not given to the people,” he complained.
Chief Ishindi urged the government to source for funds to construct a hydro electric power station in Chavuma.

“It may look as a huge investment but it will cover Zambezi, Lukulu, Chavuma, Mufumbwe and Mwinilunga,” he said. “The government should also consider an alternative of connecting power from Mongu coming down to Lukulu and Zambezi because it would be faster than wait for a Hydro Power Station which would take another five years to be constructed.”

Labels: CHIEF ISHINDI

posted by MrK @ 11:29 AM