Scott pledges to develop North Western Province

Scott pledges to develop North Western Province
By Kombe Chimpinde in Mwinilunga
Mon 17 Sep. 2012, 10:19 CAT

Vice-President Guy Scott says he will not rest until North Western province is developed to significant levels. Vice-President Scott said President Sata had assigned him to concentrate on Northern Western Province to see if they could make the province grow.

"We need more mines, electrification, communication and more infrastructures. We mean business," he said.

Attending a ceremony hosted by North Western Province chiefs, during which a number of initiates physically expressed their discontent, Vice-President Scott reiterated the need for peace and unity and called for an end to sporadic tribal conflicts.

And chief Kanongesha said he had confidence in President Sata because he had shown that he had a heart of accommodating everyone.
And chief Mumena of Solwezi said chiefs were agreeable to the PF's concept of decentralisation.

"We are looking forward to this concept to be put in place so that we can quickly access development. The people are thirsty for development. We need infrastructure. We are looking at access to hospitals and schools especially with resources in lower levels of our country," he said.

Chief Mumena said it was time that the traditional leadership assisted politicians to bring peace and unity for the common good of the tribes and politics and everyone else.

Chief Mumena asked government to halt the constant changes at permanent secretary level for the province.

Meanwhile, there was security scare at the ceremony when one of the initiates ploughed through the security cordon towards the Vice-President with a bow and arrow. The overzealous initiate was restrained by North Western Province deputy police commissioner Bonny Kapeso.

Earlier, an axe which was thrown by one of the initiates at the Vice-President landed on one of his bodyguards.

Immediately after Vice-President Scott finished delivering his speech, about three initiates followed him as one of them almost pushed him to the ground.
This incensed chief Kanongesha who later counselled one of the initiates.
Chief Kanongesha later apologised to Vice-President Scott saying such acts were not unusual at a ceremony.