Catholic Church eager to fight corruption - Bishop Mulenga
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 20 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT
KABWE Catholic Diocese Bishop Clement Mulenga says he will not distance himself from issues of human development and hopes to meet President Michael Sata to discuss the social and economic challenges facing Central Province.
And Bishop Mulenga says the latest Pastoral Letter by the Zambia Episcopal Conference is an indication that the Catholic Church leadership is eager to fight corruption using its social justice platform.
Bishop Mulenga also said tackling corruption head-on is part of the fight for a just society.
In an interview from Kabwe on Friday, Bishop Mulenga said he had been going round the newly-established Kabwe Diocese to acquaint himself with the socio-economic issues in the area.
"What I have been doing is to go round the Diocese and see what we have, what we don't have," Bishop Mulenga said. "To do anything, you need to know what you already have and what the people are lacking. So that is what I have been doing and then from there what we need is now to establish some sort of an office block, which we are lacking at the moment."
Bishop Mulenga said there were also other sticking points that require attention in the area, among which was the urgent need to have a boys school in the Diocese.
"There are still many other issues that will come out for sure, also talking about maybe, this Mulungushi Textiles and things of that sort, for which I will try and meet the President to talk to him and see what is there," he said.
"That is one of the hot issues at the moment but there are many other issues. For instance when you talk of the road network, it's really pathetic, the drainage system of Kabwe is a disaster. It's a big disaster in any case. And of course you talk about the issue of jobs, that is what the people lack."
Bishop Mulenga said although the above issues do not fall directly under the Church, they were in line with human development.
"Although I still need time to meet some of them, discuss some developmental issues, to see what they have in mind, to see where they think our province is going and things of that sort," he said.
And Bishop Mulenga said the reason ZEC published its January Pastoral Letter was because the Church body believes that fighting corruption was part of fighting for a just society.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, CENTRAL PROVINCE, CLEMENT MULENGA, CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA
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PF ‘takes control’ of Central Province
By Ndinawe Simpelwe in Chibombo
Tue 03 May 2011, 04:06 CAT
THE PF has taken control of Central Prov-ince, according to party officials in the province. And PF general secretary, Wynter Kabimba has said that the fact that the PF had taken over Central Province was testimony that the party was now a national party.
PF Central Province chairman Benson Chali revealed this to Kabimba, after meeting district officials in the province. Chali said the party was controlling 10 out of the 14 districts in the province, adding that before the end of this month all the districts would be under the PF.
“We are satisfied with the work that we have done so far and we are now in control of almost all the districts in the province. The party membership has grown and if elections were held tomorrow, we are confident the PF would emerge winners in Central Province,” Chali said.
He said the MMD was losing ground every day because the people in the province were tired of empty promises and were ready for change. “When Rupiah Banda says he is going to win the elections, we don't understand because people want change.
Where are they going to win elections? Let him dissolve Parliament and announce the date for elections so that he knows that people are yearning for change,” he said.
And Kabimba said that the fact that the PF had taken over Central Province was testimony that the party was now a national party. Kabimba said Zambians had now appreciated the ideals and cause of the PF hence the increase in membership.
“The vicious propaganda that the MMD has embarked on against the PF just shows you how strong (Michael) Sata is. He is the strongest candidate we have for this year's elections and the MMD will try to do anything to stop him,” Kabimba said.
He also advised the people of Keembe Constituency to vote out Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha because of his lies. He said it was shameful for a Reverend to be telling lies in order for him to remain in power.
Labels: CENTRAL PROVINCE, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
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High rate of deforestation worries C/Province extension officer
Written by Justin Katilungu in Kabwe
Sunday, September 06, 2009 7:02:32 PM
ACTING Central Province principal extension officer Moses Mwabunga is saddened with the high rate of deforestation the province continues to experience.
During a workshop on forestry policy review in Kabwe yesterday, Mwabunga said that Central Province should take the lead in making meaningful contribution to the review of the forestry policy to curb the high rate of deforestation.
Mwabunga urged participants to the workshop to provide strong points to formulate a sound forestry policy that would curb deforestation.
Earlier, when he officiated at the workshop, Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama said the reviewing of the Forestry Policy of 1998 was cardinal in addressing environmental challenges such as climate change and global warming.
He said that since the Forestry policy was formulated in 1998, a number of challenges and issues had emerged.
"Prominent among these is the issue of climate change and global warming and the role of forests in mitigating impacts from this phenomenon. There is also the business side of the climate change and mitigation known as carbon trading which is not emphasised in the policy but presents great opportunity for the forestry sector," said Lumbama.
Labels: CENTRAL PROVINCE, DENNY LUMBAMA, FORESTRY, MOSES MWABUNGA
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Central Province chiefs remember Mwanawasa
BY CHRISTETER MACHA
“FELLOW countrymen, with immense grief and sorrow, I inform the nation that our President, Dr Levy Mwanawasa SC, has passed away this morning at 10:30 hours at Percy Military Hospital,” announced Vice-President Rupiah Banda on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation radio and television on August 19, 2008.
To most Zambians, the news was the least expected. For the people of Central Province,this news was a sharp and deep cut into their hearts. For the death of President Mwanawasa was to them a death of a ‘child of the house.’
The Central Province is where the late president ’s father and mother were born, in Chief Chamuka’s area in Chibombo District and Chief Chipepo in Kapiri-Mposhi district respectively.
On August 28, 2008, the more than 20 Chiefs paid a courtesy call on Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama, a few hours before they paid their last respects to President Mwanawasa in Kabwe.
Their grief over Dr Mwanawasa’s death could be read on their faces. The loss of a dear son was painful, hard to accept and agonising.
Among them were Chiefs Chamuka, Mungule, Chibale, Senior Chief Mukuni, Chieftainess Chitanda and Chief Shakumbila.
Others were Chief Muchinka, Mailo, Kabamba, senior chiefs Mboroma and Muchinda, Chief Chitina, Chikupili, Shaibila and Kanyesha, Chieftainess Serenje, Chief Liteta, Chief Mukonchi a representative from Chief Chibuluma, Chief Mulungwe and Chief Shaibila.
Mr Lumbama said: “For the province, it’s a great loss. At least, we had done it as a province to produce such a reliable and quality leader. He did his part and brought pride to the province and the nation at large.”
Mr Lumbama noted that it was unfortunate that when President Mwanawasa came into power, there was a lot of opposition, saying he did not have an easy time.
“But he did not get discouraged. The achievements he has scored speak for themselves. Sadly, people are appreciating him now when he is gone,” Mr Lumbama said.
He thanked the traditional leaders for sparing their time to pay their last respects to the late Dr Mwanawasa.
The traditional leaders described President Mwanawasa’s death as a disaster to the province and the nation at large.
“It’s a disaster to me and my people. I feel bad, I have nothing much to say. It’s a disaster,” Chief Chamuka lamented.
“We learnt with shock the death of the president. We were praying for his recovery when he was in hospital. Zambia has lost, Africa has lost. Even those who interacted with him are crying with us. We have lost indeed, he was a true son of Africa. A leader who stood for quality leadership,” Chief Shakumbila said.
He noted that the late president had rare qualities difficult to replace
“I can’t find better words to describe him. The way he handled us chiefs, will always remain with us and we do not know whether we shall find another person who will look after us the way Dr Mwanawasa did,” Chief Shakumbila added.
His sentiments were echoed by Senior Chief Mboroma of Mkushi who pointed out that in all his life he had never come across a leader who loved and respected chiefs the way Dr Mwanawasa did.
“He loved chiefs. Those aspiring to take over from him should emulate him and indeed should humble themselves. Dr Mwanawasa improved the standard of living of the people by building and rehabilitating schools, health centres, roads and many other sectors,” Senior Chief Mboroma said.
He pointed out that the Mulungushi University in the Central Province was a memorable gift which the late president had left.
Like Senior Chief Mboroma and Chief Shakumbila, Chief Shaibila said was difficult to accepting Dr Mwanawasa’s death.
“It’s a great shock. We thought he would come back to continue his good programmes. He is one leader who has brought respect to chiefs. He provided us with loans to buy vehicles and by the end of this year all chiefs were going to be driving and reaching all parts of their chiefdoms, thereby enhancing development,” Chief Shaibila said.
He said that Dr Mwanawasa had also increased chiefs’ subsides, a thing he said would be remembered by all chiefs in the country.
Chief Mulungwe said he would remember Dr Mwanawasa’s commitment to the welfare of traditional leaders.
“The death of Dr Mwanawasa has been a blow not only to us chiefs but all the people in this country. His successes were tremendous. Talk about education and health improvement, equipping hospitals with drugs and equipment,” said Chief Liteta of Chibombo District.
Chief Liteta recalls how poor the agriculture sector was before the late president got into power but small-scale farmers now had enough food to eat and sell, thereby improving their living standards.
Another memory that Chief Liteta has of the late Dr Mwanawasa was his effort to unite chiefs around the country.
“We chiefs have known each other now and our traditional ceremonies have improved tremendously. He had a generous heart, never segregated any one but loved all, even those who injured his feelings,” Chief Liteta recalled.
Chieftainess Chitanda also noted that the vehicles which the late Dr Mwanawasa provided for the chiefs were a memorable farewell gift.
“We are sad and in problems. We are mourning the death of Dr Mwanawasa. He is one leader who loved even those who hated him. And he has left us a gift of vehicles as a rememberance,” the chief said.
Chief Kabamba too could not be left out in lamenting Dr Mwanawasa’s death, saying a great man who devoted his life to the betterment of all Zambians was gone.
“If he lived to finish his second term, Zambia would definitely have been a better nation, looking at how he found it and how he had worked hard to put it on the economic track,” Chief Kabamba said.
The traditional leader pointed out that it was uncertain and unlikely that the country would never have a leader like the late President Mwanawasa.
“Politicians should sit down and think twice before they offer themselves to take up the role which Dr Mwanawasa has left. They should emulate him, sacrificing for the people of Zambia and not just enriching themselves,” he said.
Chieftainess Mungule said the death of President Mwanawasa was painful and distressful.
Her counterpart, Chieftainess Serenje noted that Dr Mwanawasa was a good leader who gave encouragement and support to female traditional leaders.
House of Chiefs representative, Chief Chibale described the late President Mwanawasa as a hardworking, focused and humble leader.
Chief Chibale said: “I remember him when he used to tell people to rally with him and not to be behind him. As a province, we shall see how we can honour him. He brought a lot of projects in the province.”
And Chief Chitambo said the only way to honour the late Dr Mwanawasa was for people to follow what he believed in and fought for.
“He was development oriented. He had a vision for Zambia. It’s hard to accept he is gone. For the province, this is a big blow,” Chief Chitambo said.—ZANIS
Labels: CENTRAL PROVINCE, CHIEFS
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