Porous Zambia-Malawi border a challenge - PS
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thu 29 July 2010, 04:00 CAT
EASTERN Province permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye yesterday said the porous border between Zambia and Malawi is a challenge.
Speaking when members of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI) and their Luapula counterparts paid a courtesy call on her at her office, Syamujaye, however, said there were some opportunities that came with the challenges posed by the porous border between Zambia and Malawi.
“We have a porous border in the sense that you can hardly tell who is a Zambian and who is a Malawian because we share quite a lot of things. We share names, we share the culture, you know the way of living is very similar, even the language. So we have our own challenges but within the challenges we have our opportunities,” Syamujaye said.
She said the government was very dependent on the private sector.
“Right now we have a very big programme, Chipata-Mchinji railway line which is going to be a conduit for very good trade and a lot of business among our three countries. We are going to provide the shortest route to the sea through the Nacala Port which is in Mozambique through to Malawi and into Zambia and very shortly Zambia is going to have its own dry port anchored in Chipata,” Syamujaye said.
She said the EPCCI would have a lot of work once the railway line became operational.
“We are starting from the scratch, this is a railway line that has been idle for the last 25 years…a white elephant and suddenly the government started from three to four years ago to reactivate the project and the project now has been completed they are just waiting for the inauguration. This is going to be a very serious conduit for commerce and trade,” Syamujaye said.
She said Eastern Province was a highly motivated and industrialized province.
Syamujaye also said the launch of the simplified trade regime would work to the benefit of many people.
She said the Zambian and Malawian governments were in the process of defining the border.
“When the border line is done despite the fact that its porous, we don’t have a physical feature like you have the great Luapula River it will still be very easy for us…at least will be able to… and also when the country is accounting for it has done its important that we account for what we have done as Zambia,” she said.
Syamujaye said it was gratifying that the people on the border had co-existed for a long time.
And a member of the Luapula Chamber of Commerce and Industry Adams Sekeleti said it was good that Syamujaye explained about border issues because Luapula was also a border province.
“I thought we have many things in common because we are also a border province. I think we have a problem with our neighbouring country (Congo DR) in terms of trading because it (trade) has not been simplified so I think from there will also know how to handle trading between our province and the Congo because these are very big markets,” said Sekeleti.
The Luapula chamber was in the Eastern Province for an exchange visit.
Labels: BORDERS, EULARIA SYAMUJAYE, PERMANENT SECRETARIES
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ZNFU accuses FRA of being insincere on maize purchase
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sat 26 June 2010, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIA National Farmers Union (ZNFU) executive director Ndambo Ndambo has accused the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) of being economical with the truth in saying that the purchase of maize has delayed to start due to the purported moisture content.
During the Chipata District Farmers Association (CDFA) annual general meeting at Crystal Springs Hotel on Thursday, Ndambo said the issue of moisture content was not the correct position that had prompted FRA to delay in opening the maize marketing season.
“Last year FRA announced that it would start buying maize on 1st June. What we saw was that they started buying in July, this year again FRA announced that they would start buying on the 1st May but it appears they would start buying in July. Having worked for farmers I know that farmers are very intelligent people. I have never seen such an intelligent cadre of people and I know they know why FRA had delayed,” Ndambo said.
“They know the correct position as regards to the problems FRA is facing in maize marketing. If the market is not opening, the people are going to sell to briefcase businessmen at low prices.
So FRA should be sincere by telling us the truth because we in the union believe that the issue of moisture content is not the correct position. I think now FRA should just tell us because we know that they don’t just have the money. FRA should not be economical with the truth.”
Ndambo called on the government to help add a voice so that other players in the maize marketing sector could provide good prices.
Earlier Chipata district commissioner Moses Nyirenda said the government could not stop other maize buyers from buying the crop because the market was liberalised.
Nyirenda encouraged farmers not to rely entirely on one crop but to grow other crops as well. Provincial FRA coordinator Godfrey Munyoro said FRA had already started dispatching marketing requisites to various marketing centres.
Munyoro urged farmers to make sure they clean their maize before taking it to the market so that they do not spend much time at the satellite depot.
He said the maize moisture content was still high in Chipata district.
“Our current moisture content in Chipata is 13.2, Chama they have already reached the recommended 12.5 because it’s about 12.3 now so we have already started buying in Chama. The moisture content is relatively low in Lundazi at 12.8, Chadiza 14.3, Katete 13.4, Sinda 12.7, Petauke 12.8 and Nyimba 13.4. In my opinion I think in the next two weeks, we will be able to start buying,” Munyoro said.
And Eastern Province permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye said the government appreciated the partnership with CDFA, whose overall aim was to address the structural causes of poverty, to increase food production, eradicate poverty and promote good governance in Chipata.
CDFA coordinator Virgil Malambo said the association managed to implement activities as planned in the annual work plan.
Labels: CHIPATA DISTRICT FARMERS ASSOCIATION, EULARIA SYAMUJAYE, FRA, MOSES NYIRENDA, NDAMBO NDAMBO, ZNFU
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Ex-Chipata mayor urges MMD cadres to leave Syamujaye alone
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 15 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
FORMER Chipata mayor Sinoya Mwale has said the reasons advanced by some MMD cadres in calling for the removal of Eastern Province permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye are baseless.
Commenting on MMD cadres' appeal to President Rupiah Banda to fire Syamujaye after they accused her of de-campaigning the ruling party, Mwale, who is also Chipata district MMD vice chairperson, advised the cadres to differentiate between a civil service line and a political line.
"Those who are calling on the President to fire the permanent secretary should know that we have a civil service line and political line. When you talk of a permanent secretary, this is someone who is a professional. Even when inviting people she has to know which line she should invite.
"I don't know why they should be complaining of not being invited because if they had been invited, they would have differed among themselves, so the best thing was not to invite them because they would have brought confusion. We (MMD) have a scenario where we have two chairmen, two secretaries, so do they expect to be invited?" Mwale asked.
He said it was sad that the cadres were even claiming that they were not invited to the Independence Day celebrations.
"You know people (MMD leaders) who are at provincial level, we were with them there. Personally I was not invited but I was there at the Independence Day celebrations and I was happy that the party was represented by some of the provincial leaders even at the occasion to witness the arrival of the first train bringing ballast using the Chipata-Mchinji railway line. MMD and some of the opposition leaders were there," Mwale said.
He urged the cadres to leave Syamujaye alone because she was executing her duties well.
"As far as I’m concerned she has done the best and she deserves to be supported. A PS is not a politician so if they (cadres) have grievances, they have to approach the minister’s office so that they sort out these difficulties. And if they are saying they want to meet the PS they will meet the PS on what capacity?" he asked.
Mwale said MMD should put its house in order and not heap the blame on Syamujaye.
Labels: CADRES, CHIPATA, EULARIA SYAMUJAYE, MMD, SINOYA MWALE
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No fuel should be sold in large quantities - E/Province PS
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 14 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
THE Eastern Province administration has instructed service stations in Chipata not to sell fuel in large quantities to cushion the fuel crisis that had rocked many parts of the country.
According to a memorandum that was sent to all the service station managers and signed by Eastern Province permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye, the provincial administration stated that no fuel should be sold in large quantities such as 210 litres drum without permission from herself.
"Following the meeting we had with the provincial minister on 7th December, 2009 regarding sell of fuel, the following needs to be observed: (1) No fuel should be sold in plastic containers as it poses danger to the buyer and where it is stored due to its being highly inflammable. (2) No fuel should be sold in large quantities such as 210 litres without permission from the PS. (3) No GRZ vehicle should be allowed to fill beyond tank or tanks in case of those that have two tanks unless with permission from the PS," Syamujaye stated.
The provincial administration office urged the service stations to adhere to the measures.
"Be informed that these measures are to be adhered to without fail for they are meant to curb rampant smuggling of this commodity that has been going on in the past," stated Syamujaye.
The letter which was dated December 8, was also copied to Eastern Province minister and provincial police commanding officer.
Some people who wanted to buy fuel in containers were seen being turned away at one of the filling stations in Chipata last Thursday afternoon.
Labels: EASTERN PROVINCE, EULARIA SYAMUJAYE, FUEL
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Sandwe royal family seeks govt’s intervention in chieftaincy wrangle
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sunday, July 05, 2009 4:21:41 PM
THE Sandwe royal family in Petauke district has appealed to the government to order former chief Sandwe, Shadreck Malamula Zulu, to stop masquerading as chief.
But Eastern Province permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye said the government cannot do anything on the matter saying it is only waiting for the royal family to present the rightful chief for recognition.
In an interview, Javan Ngulube who claims is the rightful heir to the Sandwe throne, said Zulu was still masquerading as chief even after the report of the House of Chiefs showed that he was not supposed to be chief.
Ngulube who calls himself chief Sandwe (8) Nyayokwe (111) said Zulu’s act might disturb peace in the area.
“I have already started performing as chief and I'm at Sichilima village but Zulu does not accept and he just wants to bring confusion in the area now we are worried because we are not going to continue tolerating him. You know it’s not a good thing to take each other to police or to drag each other to court. Our appeal is that government through the Ministry of Local Government should write to him so that he could stop masquerading as chief,” Ngulube said.
He said it was sad that Zulu presented himself as chief Sandwe during the installation of chief Nyamphande when he was not invited.
Ngulube alleged that at the moment, Zulu used an illegal date stump because the government withdrew a retainer, flag and a date stamp.
He said Zulu sent his sister and a group of people to disturb his meeting at Sichilima village where he wanted to explain to the people what was contained in the House of Chiefs report on the findings of its tour of Petauke.
Ngulube said the biggest problem at the moment was that the Tumvi, a person who was supposed to crown him as Chief and introduce him to senior chief Kalindawalo and later to government for recognition, was refusing to perform his role.
“This man is refusing even if the royal family has chosen me but he is saying he does not recognise me, his preferred chief is Zulu, the former chief,” claimed Ngulube.
But Syamujaye said the government was only waiting for the Sandwe royal family to introduce the rightful man who was supposed to be chief.
She said at the moment, the government took it that there is no chief in the chiefdom.
“At the moment we have no mandate to say or do anything. They should sit down as a family and choose a person who will be introduced to government. There is no line of communication between those people and us now and again he can’t talk to us through The Post, our offices are open to anybody,” said Syamujaye.
Among the main contenders for the Sandwe throne are Shadreck Malamula Zulu, Javan Ngulube and Love Mulimba.
Labels: CHIEF SANDWE, CHIEFS, EULARIA SYAMUJAYE, PETAUKE, SHADRECK MALAMULA ZULU
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