Prostitution in Luapula pains Sata
By Misheck Wangwe, Roy Habaalu and Prince Chibawah in Mansa
Thu 21 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says it pains him that a lot of women in Luapula have turned to prostitution due to poverty and underperformance of members of parliament in the province. And education minister Dr John Phiri says there is no PF without President Sata.
And President Sata yesterday asked the people of Luapula to give him individuals to stand as members of parliament if the current ones fail to perform.
Addressing a huge rally at Muchinka Primary School grounds in Mansa where he went to drum up support for the PF candidate in the Mansa Central parliamentary by-election Dr Chitalu Chilufya, President Sata said it was shameful that a lot of women had resorted to prostitution just to feed their families and all the leaders were watching.
President Sata who ordered all PF members of parliament from Luapula, including the candidate Dr Chilufya, to kneel before the crowd shortly before his address, said he wanted everyone to work hard to end poverty and deliver on the promises of the PF.
"You MPs, you can't feel ashamed that 49 years of independence some of these children have never seen even a pair of shoes? They are barefooted and you Chilufya you are here, nobody called you to come and stand as MP, you came on your own asking for a job. Look, at independence, 49 years ago people were using pit latrines and they are still using pit latrines as toilets. People die when these pit latrines collapse and you are there saying, 'we are MPs'. You must be ashamed," President Sata said.
He said it was sad that his members of parliament were not taking pride in representing the people of Luapula that had over the years produced some successful businessmen.
And President Sata threatened that he would get rid of all the members of parliament from Luapula because they were not performing.
"Mubamone bonse aba. Uyu mwaka uleisa 2014, Mumpeleko ba MP abakwata amano, fyonse ifi tufitanfye (look at these MPs. This coming year, 2014, give me MPs with senses. All these must be fired)," President Sata said while pointing at the MPs that were made to kneel before the crowd.
"Natukwata ama plans nomba ngatukwete fi MP ifipuba, ama plans tukatwala kumbi. Tupeniko ba MP aba champuka (we have plans of development but we will take our plans somewhere else because we have foolish MPs. Give us MPs who are clever)," President Sata said.
He said the PF had serious plans for development such as building of secondary schools.
President Sata said he was not happy that his MPs in Luapula were not clever.
He said even the former MP for Kawambwa, Elizabeth Chitika, was busy misleading the people but did nothing to develop the constituency.
"Uyu Davies Mwila (Chipili PF member of parliament) said the late Kennedy Sakeni was a Ng'umbo by tribe and they have adopted another Ng'umbo in the name of Dr Chilufya to inherit him. Now when I was a young man in Mufulira, people that brought public transport were from Mansa. I remember Nselemukila, Costar, Kapesha and the Mwense brothers. They all came from here and the fish that we used to enjoy on the Copperbelt came from here. Now you people, what kind of MPs are you? Nobody came to you that come and be our MP; you applied on your own and you must work," President Sata said.
He said his MPs from Luapula must work more than the opposition MMD member of parliament for Chembe, Mwansa Mbulakulima, because he was just alone in the province.
President Sata urged the people of Mansa Central to vote for Dr Chilufya adding that his adoption was temporary and if he does not perform, he would be gotten rid of.
"There is no water in Mansa. You should feel embarrassed as MPs; look at the suffering of the people. Where are we going as a nation if there is no water in Mansa? I want boreholes at each and every village. If you fail to do it, I will do it myself," President Sata said.
Notable among President Sata's entourage were education minister Dr John Phiri, community development minister Dr Joseph Katema, local government minister Emerine Kabanshi, PF deputy secretary general Bridget Atanga, Davis Mwila and other senior party and government officials.
President Sata flew back to Lusaka after the rally.
And Dr Phiri said there was no PF without President Sata.
"PF is synonymous to one name and that is Sata. PF is Sata and Sata is PF. So (Dr Chilufya) when you join us, don't start bringing nonsense you start saying the President is about to die; does he look like someone who is about to die? And I know you can contribute positively to our party," Dr Phiri said.
He said the government would in 2014 lay a foundation stone for the construction a university in Luapula Province. He said the government was in the process of upgrading 22 basic schools to secondary schools.
"Because of the archaic procedure in procurement, the foundation stone for the university I will ask you in 2014 to come and lay the foundation stone," he informed President Sata.
PF campaign manager for the Mansa Central by-election Nickson Chilangwa said the party was united and working as a family. Chilangwa told President Sata that the people in the province were against confusion.
"Luapula is peaceful; the campaigns have been very peaceful. The party is well organised and we are working as a family. People of Luapula love peace," said Chilangwa.
Tomorrow Mansa residents vote for their member of parliament.
The MMD is fielding their provincial chairperson Alfred Malama Kapolyo, UPND has Rosemary Mwiche, UNIP has Charles Mwelwa and FDD has Alfred Mwape.
Labels: JOHN PHIRI, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, PROSTITUTION
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Luapula changing for the better - Sata
By Godfrey Chikumbi in Mwansabombwe
Mon 29 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says Luapula is now on its way to becoming a shining example of real development in Zambia as his government is providing necessary infrastructure. Meanwhile, Mwata Kazembe has appealed to President Sata to revitalise parastatals in Luapula Province.
In a speech read on his behalf by chiefs and traditional affairs minister Nkandu Luo during Umutomboko traditional ceremony of the Lunda people in Mwansabombwe district on Saturday, President Sata said through allocation of resources to strategic projects in Luapula, the province would become a shining example of real development in Zambia.
President Sata observed that lack of a proper road network in the province had cut the people off from markets for their produce as well as capital investment.
He noted that due to a poor road network, the people of Luapula had been unable to transform the abundant natural resources into improved living standards.
President Sata said Luapula was changing for the better due to various developmental projects that the government was currently undertaking.
"Time has come for all of us to bid farewell to the days when Luapula used to be a sleeping giant. Through careful allocation of resources to strategic projects, Luapula is on its way to becoming a shining example of real development in Zambia. Luapula is certainly a destination of all would-be local and foreign investors," President Sata said.
He explained that the entire road network in Luapula had been earmarked for rapid construction, pothole patching, edge repairs, road markings, road signs installation and construction of rumble strips.
"Luapula has a total road network of 4,073 kilometres. Today, I am proud to mention that the entire road network has been earmarked for rapid construction," President Sata said.
He said the government, under the Link Zambia 8000 road project, was constructing the Kawambwa-Mushota-Luwingu, Pedicle,
Kashikishi-Chiengi-Lunchinda-Kaputa and Chembe-Milenge roads.
Other roads are Kasanka-Mansa-Luwingu road, Kawambwa-Mporokoso road and the road linking Mununga, Kawambwa, Mwenda and Kashiba.
"As I speak, these road projects are underway and will uplift the face of the entire Luapula Province for many generations to come. Hundreds of jobs have already been created and hundreds more jobs will continue to be created as these major road projects unfold," he said.
President Sata also noted that the Luena sugar farm bloc, the Chishinga cattle breeding centre in Kawambwa and the palm oil production in Mwense were among many other development projects that government was undertaking in Luapula Province.
And Mwata Kazembe lamented that parastatal companies in Luapula had not benefitted the people as expected.
Mwata, who spoke through his spokesperson Criticles Mwansa, during Umutomboko appealed to the government to devise ways and means of revitalising parastatals which would help create employment.
He named Kawambwa Tea Company, the defunct Mununshi Banana Scheme and Mansa Batteries as some of the parastatals that needed government attention.
"I want to appeal to the government of the day to devise ways and means of revitalising these entities if we are to move in line with the desire to create jobs for the local people. We stand ready to provide all the support as the people," he said.
Meanwhile, Mwata Kazembe lamented that there was little progress in fully realising the development of Mwansabombwe following its declaration as a district by President Sata last year.
Labels: CHIEFS, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, Mwata Kazembe, PF
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PF suspends 13 Luapula officials
By Prince Chibawah and Lloyd Chibale in Mansa
Tue 05 Mar. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE PF provincial executive in Luapula has suspended 13 officials from the party for, among other things, pushing for the removal of provincial chairperson Kennedy Sakeni..
PF provincial secretary James Kabwita, who confirmed the suspensions in an interview yesterday, named the suspended officials as Mansa district PF vice chairperson James Nyenjele, district secretary Obino Chipanta and his vice Tascious Chaikatisha.
Others are district information and publicity secretary Joseph Songolo, Mansa central constituency chairperson Stephen Chenda together with his secretary Elijah Sinfukwe and Mansa Central constituency youth chairperson Victor Kapasa.
Albina Chiyambi, Chaala Lwimpa, Danny mulenga, Shamende Mpundu, Alice Chipulu and Katebe Wilson from Bahati and Mansa Central constituencies, respectively, have also been suspended.
Kabwita said the suspended officials were also in the habit of holding illegal meetings and issuing press statements without the consent of the provincial secretariat.
"We have decided to suspend these officials because of their indiscipline within the PF party, so they will remain suspended until after three months when we shall assess them and if they are not going to reform, another disciplinary action will be slapped on them," said Kabwita.
The suspended officials refused to comment on the matter but promised to issue a comprehensive statement at a later stage.
Labels: JAMES KABWITA, KENNEDY SAKENI, LUAPULA PROVINCE, PF
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Mwila gives Mansa hospital ultimatum on sanitation
By Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Wed 19 Oct. 2011, 14:10 CAT
LUAPULA Province minister Davies Mwila has given management at Mansa General Hospital two weeks to improve the sanitary condition in the wards and hospital surroundings. Mwila paid a surprise visit to the hospital at 06:30 hours on Monday to tour the institution.
The minister had to wait for about 40 minutes for the hospital acting executive director Dr Consity Mwale, who is also head of clinical care, to come before he inspected the Out Patient Department (OPD) and some wards.
Mwila inspected the male and female wards and was surprised to see that some patients were sleeping on the floor because of lack of beds.
He found that toilets were dirty and flooded due to leaking pipes, while some cisterns were not functioning.
Hospital administrator Webster Chisaka had difficulties explaining why the wards and toilets were kept in such a bad state.
"The hospital looks very dirty, management has to improve on cleanliness of the hospital," Mwila told Mwale.
And some patients and people who are taking care of their ill relatives complained to Mwila that the diet the patients were receiving was not good.
They also complained about inadequate manpower in the wards.
Labels: DAVIES MWILA, HEALTHCARE, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MANSA DISTRICT
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Poverty in Luapula worries Fr Chabu
By Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Wed 19 Oct. 2011, 08:20 CAT
LUAPULA Province Caritas coordinator Fr Nicodemus Chabu says poverty levels in the province are still rated high despite the province being heavily endowed with a lot of natural resources.
Speaking during commemoration of the Civil Society Day on Monday, Fr Chabu said poverty levels were higher among female-headed households. He appealed to the government to address the issue of poverty in the country.
Fr Chabu said civil society organisations working with the grassroots had noted with dismay the extreme poverty that citizens continue to wallow in especially in the rural areas.
He appealed to the government to urgently address the problem of inadequate resource allocation to rural poverty reduction programmes.
Fr Chabu also said the CSOs were concerned at the loss of taxes through illegal mining activities in the province and reports of poor people being displaced.
He said people in the area were not seeing the benefits of having mining activities.
"There have been reports of poor people being displaced, the benefits of having mining activities leaves much to be desired and it calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to curb this vice," he said.
Fr Chabu thanked the government for decentralising the Ministry of Mines by opening an office in the province.
Mansa mayor Ackson Miyambo said the government was committed to improving people's living standards.
He said the PF government would promote tourism, mining and agriculture programmes as a way of creating wealth for people in the province.
He said that according to statistics from the living conditions monitoring survey of 2006, poverty levels in Zambia dropped from 68 per cent in 2004 to 64 per cent in 2006 while in Luapula Province, the levels stood at 73 per cent compared to 79 per cent in 2004.
Miyambo said that the PF government would work very hard to reduce the poverty levels in the province and the nation as a whole.
He said Luapula Province was endowed with a lot of natural resources like waterfalls, minerals, lakes, wildlife and white sand beaches and that the tourism sector must be effectively marketed.
Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE, POVERTY
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Rupiah is bidding goodbye - Sakeni
By Patson Chilemba in Mansa
Thu 01 Sep. 2011, 12:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda came to Luapula to say goodbye as he retires to his farm because the mood in the area is hostile towards him, says Kennedy Sakeni.
Commenting on President Banda's failure to hold a rally in Mansa, the headquarters of Luapula Province, Sakeni, who is PF provincial chairperson and Mansa-central parliamentary candidate, wondered why the President failed to address a rally, or conduct any civic or political activities despite spending two nights in Mansa.
"Mr Rupiah Banda knows he has no support in Luapula and you can tell from what has gone on. His trip is a total failure. It is simple logic, MMD has no support in Luapula," Sakeni said.
"Actually he came to say bye to the people of Luapula as we retire him to his farm. We were told he would visit the markets and our people were waiting to receive him there. It's a pity he didn't turn up, I am sure he was informed. I thought since they claimed Luapula had become their stronghold, Rupiah should have at least held a rally in Mansa or even just taken a mere walk or a tour of the place just to prove to us how popular he had become."
Sakeni said President Banda hid himself like a scared child from the people in Mansa because he feared being embarrassed. He said the President failed to address a rally in Mansa or conduct any political activities for obvious reasons.
Sakeni said he was sure President Banda had seen that the reality on the ground was harsh, especially that his own parliamentary candidates were asking the people to shout the PF slogan during MMD rallies.
He challenged President Banda to point at one major development achievement his administration had achieved in Luapula Province, rather than just mentioning the construction of new classroom blocks, which did not even have teachers.
"He even feared to commission his own mobile hospitals which have been parked at Mansa General Hospital and they are now growing rust," he said. "You can imagine for months they have been saying the mobile hospitals would be commissioned when he visits the area. Now since he has visited and gone, what will happen to his mobile hospitals?"
Sakeni said the MMD kept on ferrying paid-up cadres from far-flung areas to the rallies because they did not have the people on their side.
During his campaign trail to Luapula, President Banda addressed rallies in Mambilima, Nchelenge, Chembe and Mwansabombwe as well as addressing MMD cadres who were ferried to Mansa Airport to welcome him when he arrived in the Province on Monday.
President Banda was scheduled to tour UB and New Site markets in Mansa, but could not do so.
The advance party motorcade which had rushed to the markets in anticipation of President Banda's arrival from Chipili were forced to make quick U-turns after encountering hostility from the PF-dominated markets.
A check at the two markets, found PF cadres had assembled in huge numbers anxiously waiting for President Banda's arrival.
Some senior MMD sources said the President was advised against conducting any political activities in the area because they feared the PF would make political capital on the hostility he was going to receive from the people.
Labels: KENNEDY SAKENI, LUAPULA PROVINCE, RUPIAH BANDA
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PS urges accountability in public service
By Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Fri 19 Aug. 2011, 10:30 CAT
A GOVERNMENT official in Luapula Province has urged the heads of government departments in the area to promote transparency, accountability and efficiency in the delivery of public services.
Provincial permanent secretary Stephen Bwalya said all the government heads of department in Luapula should take a leading role in developing programmes that would enhance transparency and accountability in the exercise of public authority.
Bwalya made the remarks during a workshop on the National Anti Corruption Policy organised by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) in Mansa.
He said all departmental heads must be able to facilitate the mainstreaming of anti-corruption interventions in their respective areas of operations.
He said the government placed the fight against corruption high on its agenda because its far-reaching negative efforts on the citizenry were well known.
Bwalya said if left unchecked, corruption would lead to poor governance, underdevelopment and would affect the people, especially the most economically disadvantaged.
He said the government realised the need to significantly enhance anti-corruption efforts by approving the National Anti Corruption Policy (NACP) which was launched in August last year by the President. Bwalya said the policy enabled all stakeholders to actively participate in the fight against corruption.
“This is a significant departure from the past where the anti-corruption challenge was perceived to be the responsibility of the Anti-Corruption Commission alone,” he said.
Bwalya said the policy would be implemented within the its five-year period, from 2010 to 2014, and all stakeholders including the departmental heads would be expected to take up an active role in the programme.
He urged the provincial government leaders to take responsibility to facilitate the implementation of institutional reforms that deter corruption especially at service delivery points where the public office interacts with the citizenry.
Bwalya said the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Policy had been achieved by the enactment of the Public Interest Disclosure - Protection of Whistleblowers Act, which would protect the people who submit reports on corruption.
And ACC regional manager, Chola Kasongo said the National Anti-Corruption Policy was very important to the lives and welfare of the people as corruption was an impediment to economic development. Kasongo said corruption was a vice that could not go unchecked, and concerted efforts in the implementation of the policy was important.
Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE, PERMANENT SECRETARIES, TRANSPARANCY
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Luapula is ready to teach Rupiah a lesson - Sakeni
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 23 July 2011, 14:00 CAT
THE people of Luapula are ready to teach Rupiah Banda and the MMD an unforgettable lesson in this year’s general elections, says Kennedy Sakeni. And Sakeni wondered why the majority of Luapula PF ‘rebel’ members of parliament have been rejected for adoption on the MMD ticket when they claimed that Luapula was a no-go area for PF.
In an interview, Sakeni, who is PF’s Luapula Province chairman, said facts on the ground in the province were that people were more than determined to change government.
“I think it’s time for Mr Rupiah Banda and his government to just say ‘we are leaving, we have failed our people’. And that is why the people of Luapula are saying they can’t be cheated and they are going to vote in large numbers against MMD,” Sakeni said.
“In Luapula we (PF) are more than ready to face them even if elections were held tomorrow. We will carry all the 14 constituencies. And we are challenging Mr Rupiah Banda to just announce the day. Why is he so scared? Why is he buying time? We are ready for him.”
Sakeni said while government leaders were busy visiting chiefs and giving them fat envelopes, the PF had assured the traditional leaders to just get the envelopes but apply ‘don’t kubeba’ (don’t tell) policy.
“They chiefs know the truth in their hearts that the people want change. So even to the chiefs mukwai ‘Don’t Kubeba’ is our policy and they appreciate as well. It is even immoral for them (government) to be parading our chiefs. If they were popular why not just call for elections?” Sakeni asked.
“They are actually embarrassing our traditional leaders, putting them before television cameras every now and then. At times they don’t even know these things are going to be published. They are innocently talking because even us as PF when we go there they tell us their feelings, but we can’t come to you the press to say ‘this is what they have told us’.”
He laughed off President Banda and MMD’s claims that they had achieved unprecedented levels of development when people were faced with acute poverty in the province.
“I don’t know which development government can talk home about when you look at the Congo Peddicle Road, Mansa-Luwingu road, Kashikishi-Lunchinda road; when you look at the potholes on Mansa-Kashikishi road, the potholes on Mansa-Chembe road, as for the feeder roads, you can’t even describe what status they are in,” Sakeni said.
“When you talk about the level of energy we receive, it is low voltage. There is no industry anybody can put up and depend on Zesco energy. There is not enough energy in the province. People’s electric appliances are getting damaged every day because of the low voltage and unexplained power outages.”
He said farmers were spending sleepless nights at depots because there was no one to buy their crops, and did not even know when the exercise would start.
He said school desks were lying idle at District Education Board Offices because they could not be distributed.
Sakeni cited the health sector in Luapula as being in shambles
“When you look at the development they are talking about, it is development in their own pockets. Most people, as chief Chisunka recently put it, are roaming the streets because of unemployment,” Sakeni said.
“So what type of development are they talking about and what is the interpretation of the so-called growth in our econo my if people can continue wallowing in poverty?”
And Sakeni said it was shameful that five, out of the eight PF rebel members of parliament in Luapula had been rejected to stand on the MMD ticket which was not as popular in Luapula.
“Even if MMD knows that they are going to lose all the seats, they would rather risk with their own members. As for Machungwa’s standing in Lusaka, it simply shows that the man has lost popularity in his own Luapula Constituency and Mr Rupiah has just got to sort of appease him by adopting him in Kabwata in Lusaka,” said Sakeni.
“He Rupiah Banda knows that he is just using him as a sacrificial lamb.”
Labels: KENNEDY SAKENI, LUAPULA PROVINCE, PF
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Pule sees landslide for PF in Luapula
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 23 July 2011, 14:00 CAT
DUNAMIS Church Pastor Dan Pule says there will be a landslide victory for the Patriotic Front (PF) in Luapula following the party’s increasing popularity. Giving an overview of the political situation after touring the province for 10 days, Pastor Pule said everyone, including traditional leaders, was resolved on voting for PF leader Michael Sata.
“I have been in Luapula in last 10 days and I can tell you that all the chiefs are saying a popular PF slogan ‘don’t kubeba’ because they have seen that their people are for president Sata. They don’t want to be left behind in this wind of change. In short what I’m saying is that Luapula is ready for elections,” said Pastor Pule on Wednesday.
“In terms of adoption of candidates the PF has a wonderful and vigorous process. And I want to commend the leadership for this great achievement because in the past, MMD critics were feasting on that aspect.
But this time around they have nowhere to hammer, in fact, the PF has conducted the most democratic adoption process. Apart from the central committee, I want also to commend the provincial chairman Mr Kennedy Sakeni who has organised the party in Luapula. There has been overwhelming response because for the 14 parliamentary seats available in the province there are 97 applicants. This is an indication of how popular the party is.”
Pastor Pule said there was an exciting atmosphere among the voters as everyone looked forward to changing the government this year.
Labels: DAN PULE, DEMOCRACY, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Luapula is decided on Sata, says Dan Pule
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 04 July 2011, 04:04 CAT
A Lusaka clergyman says the government should not politicise Frederick Chiluba's funeral by parading chiefs from Luapula to gain political mileage. Commenting on some chiefs from Luapula who were paraded in Lusaka last Wednesday to endorse President Rupiah Banda's candidature, Dunamis Church overseer, Apostle Dan Pule, who also served as finance deputy minister in the Chiluba administration, said it was shameful that chiefs could be paraded in that manner.
“Our chiefs came for a good cause, to come and mourn our brother and second Republican president. But for them to be paraded in a manner that they were so that they can come and campaign for President Banda is not right,” Pule said.
“I respect their royal highnesses, and as a man from Luapula, I am disappointed that some of our brothers could do such a thing as to parade our royal highnesses to campaign for President Banda,” Apostle Pule said. “On the other hand, in as much as it's good to give gratitude where it is due, it should also be put in the right context that Dr Chiluba as former head of state was entitled to the burial and funeral that he was given by the government.
So it's not as if it was a favour done to him and the family and to all of us from Luapula. It was expected and an entitlement.
And all future heads of state will expect the same because it's their entitlement. It should not be used for political gain as if President Banda or the government were not supposed to do it on our second Republican president.”
And commenting on deliberate attacks on PF leader Michael Sata that he did not mourn Chiluba, Apostle Pule said that would not win the MMD a vote in Luapula. He said the people from Luapula were already resolved on voting for the opposition Patriotic Front.
“The fact is that all of us were mourning. President Sata actually went to Mulungushi to give the last respects to the second Republican president, his brother. This is why I'm disappointed that our royal highnesses from Luapula were used to come and attack president Sata. It is not right and that will not win them the vote,” Apostle Pule said.
“I want to say to the people of Luapula Province and indeed the whole nation that they should ignore what their royal highnesses were made to say about Mr Sata. The people of Luapula have made up their minds, they are not going to vote for MMD this year; they are going to vote for PF. Whatever political gimmick the MMD government will try and do is not going to change their minds.”
And Apostle Pule has challenged President Banda to allow the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) system if he is truly a strong candidate. He said with PVT, everyone would have confidence in the credibility of elections when the winner is announced.
“I believe that also the Electoral Commission should listen to the views of the people. And President Banda, if he wants to fight on a level ground, he should simply say like Dr Kaunda said ‘let's open it up; let's go for the PVT’, which is now what people want. Obviously, we do know that in rural areas results delayed because they were being manipulated so that the ruling candidate could win the election,” said Apostle Pule.
On Wednesday, confusion characterised the endorsement of President Banda's candidature by some Luapula chiefs in this year's election.
Some of the chiefs who were led by chief Nsamba of the Unga people from the Bangweulu swamps in Samfya district to announce the endorsement openly expressed ignorance about the event held at Lusaka's Longacres Lodge.
Labels: CHIEFS, DAN PULE, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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PF in Luapula accuses MMD, ECZ of collusion
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 04 July 2011, 04:00 CAT
THE Patriotic Front in Luapula Province says MMD and the Electoral Commission of Zambia have connived to reject a resumption of the voter verification exercise so that people from opposition strongholds can be disenfranchised.
In an interview, provincial secretary Samuel Chitonge said it was clear from the numerous errors on the voters register that the errors were not a one-off thing but rampant. Chitonge, who is also Mwansabombwe PF member of parliament, said the numerous irregularities appearing in the details of many voters would multiply at voting time.
He said a lot of pro-change youths in the nation would be left out simply because ECZ and the MMD wanted to continue abusing public resources together.
“I appeal to our party leadership at national level to buy many copies of the voters register from ECZ so that we can conduct our own voter verification.
We want to do it so that we can expose ECZ and its hypocrisy. This problem has affected mainly new voters, the majority of whom are youths. And MMD knows that most of the youths in this country are supporting the opposition, especially PF. Here in Luapula there are a lot of errors on the register…,” said Chitonge.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, ECZ, LUAPULA PROVINCE, PF
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Luapula chiefs ‘endorse’ Rupiah
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 30 June 2011, 04:01 CAT
CONFUSION characterised yesterday’s endorsement of President Rupiah Banda’s candidature by some Luapula chiefs in this year’s election. The briefing which was supposed to start at 07:30 hours only started at about 08:17 hours at Lusaka's Longacres Lodge.
Earlier, upon noticing that time was running out, convener of the briefing who was also the speaker, chief Nsamba of the Unga people in the Bangweulu swamps of Samfya district was busy calling other chiefs on his mobile phone to come and attend.
When chief Nsamba finally sat and called other chiefs to sit with him, some of them expressed surprise at the event as they dragged their feet.
Chief Lukwesa was the first to openly express surprise when he was invited by chief Nsamba to sit with him in front of cameras.
"Efinshi ifi? Finshi filecitika? Tamwacitwebako, ifi fintu ine nshififwaya [What is this? What is happening? You did not tell us anything about this, I do not like these things cameras]," chief Lukwesa said.
Chieftainess Kanyembo and chieftainess Kasomalwela were equally surprised, as they reluctantly tagged along with chief Lukwesa to take their seats, about two meters away from chief Nsamba.
Chief Nsamba finally managed to persuade chiefs Kasomalwela and Lubunda to sit on his right hand side after constantly begging them to sit.
When journalists demanded for a group photograph from all the chiefs after the briefing, some of them refused and walked away.
Among those who refused were chief Lukwesa, chieftainess Kanyembo and chieftainess Kasomalwela.
Later, chieftainess Kasomalwela went and sat at the reception where she complained that she did not like the arrangement.
“Ine nacibeba ba chief Nsamba ati ifi fikatuletelela ku bantu ngabatamba pa TV. Bakamona kwati ubuteko nabutulipila ama K20 million (I told chief Nsamba that this arrangement would put us in trouble with the people when they see it on TV. They will think that the government has paid us K20 million each for endorsing President Banda).” chief Kasomalwela said.
And addressing the media earlier, chief Nsamba thanked the government and all Zambians for mourning late second Republican president Frederick Chiluba.
Chief Nsamba said the gesture he saw from all the people showed their appreciation of Chiluba’s contribution to the nation.
During question time, Times of Zambia reporter Patson Phiri asked chief Nsamba for a comment on Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’s alleged shunning of Chiluba’s funeral.
In response, chief Nsamba, who did not even realise that Sata mourned Chiluba on Sunday at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre where the latter’s body lay in state for two days, said it was an unfortunate thing.
Phiri also asked for chief Nsamba’s message to the people of Luapula Province following Sata’s alleged shunning of Chiluba’s funeral.
At this point, chief Nsamba who spoke ill of Sata, finally endorsed President Banda's candidature.
He said he had seen a lot of development from the MMD government and it would not be right to call for change.
Chief Nsamba referred to the Ugandan experience where people wanted change from Milton Obote’s rule, but ended up having a dictator in the name of General Idi Amin.
When reminded that the example he gave was wrong since Amin never underwent an election but assumed power through a military coup, chief Nsamba who was visibly unsettled by the question, maintained his example.
“But that is the only example I have,” he said.
Asked if his position to endorse President Banda represented that of all the chiefs in Luapula Province, chief Nsamba could not give a categorical answer.
“There are 39 chiefs in Luapula, and there are eight of us who attended the funeral,” said chief Nsamba.
Labels: CHIEFS, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA
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Sata mocks Rupiah, Chiluba over their popularity claims in Luapula
By George Chellah in Nchelenge
Thu 10 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT
Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has mocked President Rupiah Banda and Frederick Chiluba over their claims of popularity in Luapula Province. Addressing a public rally at Kashikishi in Nchelenge district on Tuesday, Sata advised the MMD and Chiluba not to cheat people about the situation in Luapula.
“They MMD have said, in Luapula it’s a no-go area for PF. Yes, we are grateful it’s a no-go area, we have seen it for ourselves,” said Sata mockingly as the crowd burst into laughter. “We thought it was truly a no-go area but we have seen if for ourselves.”
He said there was nothing President Banda could learn from Chiluba because Chiluba failed to develop the province.
Sata said without Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s leadership, the current road infrastructure in Luapula would not have existed.
“When we go to Chinsali they will show us Shambalakale Farm Dr Kaunda’s farm, in Ndola they will show us Teka farm the late Levy Mwanawasa’s farm. I was at Musangu Chiluba’s village and there is nothing,” Sata said. “Mr Chiluba must assist the people of Luapula by saying the truth but you should not come here to cheat people. He should look at these people who are suffering.”
He challenged people to show the development that Chiluba took to Luapula Province during his 10-year rule.
“People from Luapula should show what Chiluba left here. If he Chiluba can’t show what he did here including in his own village Musangu, what can he tell Rupiah Banda?” Sata asked. “I am grateful I have found you, just work hard. This is our country. Chiluba found you, Rupiah Banda found you and I found you and I will leave you.”
Sata wondered where the people of Nchelenge could have been going for medical treatment had the Catholic Church and the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) not built St Pauls and Mbereshi hospitals.
He said Nchelenge member of parliament Ben Mwila who is also National Democratic Focus (NDF) president had neglected the people that voted him into office.
“Your MP Mr BY Mwila, he is a president for nashalaneka party. You have elected Mr Mwila but does Mr Mwila even know that this road to Chiengi ends here?” Sata asked.
He told the crowd that President Banda, who was just co-opted from UNIP to replace Mwanawasa was even failing to look into the welfare of police officers.
“Currently, the police have no vehicles or transport. We are suffering together with the police and even when you look at the new uniform they have given them, our police officers now look like plumbers,” he said.
He said the PF rebel parliamentarians were just like the biblical Judas Iscariot.
“The people who are betraying you are your own children. They are lying that there is development here. Where is the development?” he asked.
Sata dismissed claims that he insulted Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people in Northern Province.
“They came here claiming that Sata had insulted Chitimukulu. But they have not told you how I insulted Chitimukulu or what I said. I can go and beg Chitimukulu and ask for forgiveness but they are not saying how I insulted him,” he said.
He advised civil servants in the province against being partisan and frustrating PF activities.
“I want to warn the district commissioner that only the police have powers to allow us to have a meeting and not the DC,” Sata said. “The DC went to the Catholics and said that ‘PF should not hold a meeting there Catholic hall’. But they told him to just leave. That DC and Mulobeka don’t know which government is coming in August.”
Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA
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PF must sweep Luapula – Sata
By George Chellah in Nchelenge
Wed 09 Feb. 2011, 04:02 CAT
The Patriotic Front (PF) must sweep all the seats in Luapula Province this year, says Michael Sata. During the official opening of the 6th Luapula provincial conference, Sata urged the delegates to make 2011 a decisive year.
“I want to see PF sweep all the seats in Luapula Province this year. We must sweep all the seats but it won’t happen on its own; it starts with this conference, the leaders you will elect, your own commitment to go out and campaign for the good of your province and for the good of our entire country,” Sata said.
“For us in PF, we respect all tribes and ethnic groups in our country. As far as PF is concerned, we are all Zambians, and that is what should matter most. We all want to see development not just in the leaders’ pockets, but in our localities. Those of you who will be elected to leadership at this conference, I want you to commit yourselves to a lot of hard work in the campaign to ensure everyone that is eligible is registered as a voter.”
He said PF required everyone’s vote to win decisively.
“So that no vote rigging will even be contemplated by MMD,” he said.
He said PF would like to extend its hand of friendship to all trustworthy opposition parties.
“I say not all opposition parties, but trustworthy opposition parties and encourage them to come forth and let us join hands to remove MMD from power. Not for its sake but so that we can bring about equitable development to our provinces and the whole country,” Sata said. “So that we can bring about a serious people-driven constitution, reform the electoral process, decentralise power to the people and overcome Banda’s corruption, greedy and selfishness.”
He said since the last tripartite elections a number of important events have occurred in Luapula.
“I am referring to matters affecting your elected members of parliament. Most of those who in 2006 came begging to be adopted as PF parliamentary candidates have abandoned you who enabled them to go to parliament in Lusaka,” Sata said. “They did not only abandon you all together but abandoned their constituencies, their districts and the province and went and settled in Lusaka.”
He said in 2006 the people of Luapula trusted their own children and decided to entrust them with their wellbeing and that of their children’s future.
“The following are your children you trusted and employed as messengers to represent you during the sharing of the national cake; BY Mwila Nchelenge, Jacob Chongo Mwense, Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka Kawambwa, Benard Chisha Pambashe, Ernest Mwansa Chifunabuli, Joseph Kasongo Bangweulu, Peter Machungwa Luapula and Besa Chimbaka Bahati,” Sata said. “They are on it again they are now telling you that 2011 they are going to contest their constituencies on MMD ticket. They do not care about the MMD cadres who have built the party they want to use. Chimbaka is already a big beneficiary.”
He said President Banda and Vice-President George Kunda thought PF was scared to hold party provincial conferences.
“How and what can we be scared of meeting our own members? Let these conferences shame them,” Sata said. “I challenge Rupiah Banda and his lame-duck Vice-President Kunda that if what we are doing here in Luapula today is not intra-party democracy at work, let them tell us what else it is then.”
On development, Sata said Dr Kenneth Kaunda took development to Luapula by building roads, the Tuta Bridge among others.
“Mwanawasa also built the long awaited bridge at Chembe but Chiluba only introduced cell phones,” he said.
He said once in power the PF’s plans for Luapula include infrastructure development such as roads, tourism, industries and mining. He said PF would also seek to encourage citizen economic empowerment by creating champions among the locals.
Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Chief Chisunka is leading the way, let’s follow
By The Post
Thu 03 Feb. 2011, 04:00 CAT
“This is an election year and it is very important for the whole country. We, as traditional leaders, are encouraging the people to think carefully before elections. Our subjects will not be cheated because you buy them tujilijili and Shake Shake.
We will insist that politicians come up with good manifestos on which they will deliver. The people of Luapula Province will not be deceived by politicians who try to entice them with money to win their votes.
The electorate in Luapula Province will ensure that they usher into office political leaders who will show the ability to deliver on election campaign promises. Traditional leaders in Luapula Province are sensitising their subjects not to be lured into electing leaders based on gifts.
We don’t want divisions in the country. We are One Zambia, One Nation and we should do everything possible to discourage tribal differences. The country needs to get back to the core of the One Zambia, One Nation slogan which had united the country for a long time since independence. Political leaders should dwell on issue-based campaigns and desist from politics of insults.”
These are the views of chief Chisunka of the Ushi people of Luapula Province. It is said that “a skilled craftsman is admired for the things he makes, a leader’s wisdom is proved by his words” (Sirach 9:17).
And “show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people. Show me a wicked ruler and I will show you a miserable people” (Proverbs 29:2); “When the king is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will ruin his country” (Proverbs 29:4).
And truly, as we have stated before, the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles, standards, common aims and values.
We shouldn’t cheat ourselves that democracy is an easy form of government.
It isn’t.
Democracy is a demanding form of government, and neither leaders nor common citizens are naturally prepared for it.
A long process of moral and civic education is required in order to understand and implement a real participatory democracy.
And it is pleasing to listen to traditional rulers like chief Chisunka giving moral and civic education to his people, to all our people.
This is what good leadership entails.
These are the ethics our leaders, traditional or otherwise, should be inculcating in our people instead of corrupting them with money, tujilijili, Shake Shake, chitenge materials, mealie-meal and sugar, bicycles and so on and so forth. Ethics must begin at the top of our society. It is a leadership issue and our leaders must set the example.
A leader of real character is consistently courageous and imbued with a basic integrity and a firm sense of principle.
Good leaders motivate and inspire their people to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.
One can’t lead anyone else further than oneself has gone.
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision.
You can’t play an uncertain trumpet. And it is said that those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.
And we shouldn’t cheat ourselves that having multiparty elections every five years guarantees us anything.
Multi-partism can indeed further democracy but cannot always guarantee it.
Democracy, like any other human institution, is vulnerable and fragile.
Authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law and on the basis of correct conception of the human person.
A fundamental condition of democracy is, therefore, the recognition of the rights of the person and social groups, be it children or adults, men or women, rich or poor, without any social, tribal or racial discrimination.
A real democracy has to be built on the basis of justice and moral values and has to look to the common good.
And this common good is not simply the addition of particular individual interests; rather it involves an assessment and integration of those interests on the basis of a balanced hierarchy of values; it ultimately demands a correct understanding of the dignity and rights of a person.
The advice of chief Chisunka needs to be heeded because good elections require the intelligent and responsible participation of all.
You can’t have intelligent and responsible elections where votes are being exchanged for money and where tribal politics dominate.
Ours is a nation where we may freely choose those who will represent us, where we may now review the performance of our present representatives, weigh them in the balance of truth, justice and unselfish service, and if we find them wanting, reject and elect others in their place. This is our inalienable right.
But this gives rise to another issue, namely, the character of the candidates themselves.
Our vote can help eliminate the unworthy and improve the quality of political leadership in our country.
Once every five years, the law puts this power in our hands.
Let us use it wisely and bravely and in line with the values and standards chief Chisunka is advocating.
Our vote is a powerful weapon for unity, an instrument of liberty, justice and peace. For this reason, our vote should never be exchanged for money, tujilijili, Shake Shake, mealie-meal, sugar, chitenge materials, bicycles, fertilisers and so on and so forth.
Our vote should never be given to anyone on the basis of their tribe, region of origin but solely by consideration of which of the conflicting issues for candidates is better for the community, for the nation.
We should select our candidates strictly according to the good we think they can do. The interests of the political parties should be kept subordinate to the public good.
As chief Chisunka has advised, let’s not allow character assassination and insults to dominate our election campaigns.
Campaigns must be carried out in a peaceful and honest way, devoid of any violence and slander of other opponents.
We must all be guided by the truth, integrity and justice which are anchored on God’s commandments.
We shouldn’t forget that the primary purpose of our votes is not the political survival of any individual or political party but the good of all our people and our country.
Candidates must be evaluated on the basis of their political parties’ manifestos and their own personal vision.
Those who offer themselves for re-election ought to be evaluated against the record of what they have or have not achieved.
As chief Chisunka has correctly put it, we should ask ourselves: did they fulfil their promises? Did they offer quality service to all our people and not only those who voted for them into power?
Were they available to listen to the concerns of the people and were they selfless in responding to the needs of all, especially the poor?
Those who have not yet held office should be evaluated in terms of their competence and their reputation for honesty and self-dedication of the common good, courage to speak out the truth, disposition to use power for service, especially service of the poor and underprivileged, openness to dialogue, good moral standing, transparency and accountability to the electorate.
No one should be voted for on the basis of the money they dish out, of the gifts they give out. Doing so will be a serious crime and betrayal of our country.
We say this because it is the duty of every voting citizen to choose leaders who will serve the country with justice towards all.
We should be conscious of the crucial role which each individual citizen should play in choosing the leaders who will create the Zambia we want to live in.
We therefore urge all our traditional leaders and other civic leaders to educate our people on the lines being advocated by chief Chisunka so that we can have good elections.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, LUAPULA PROVINCE, VOTERIGGING
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Luapula votes are not for sale - chief Chisunka
By Florence Bupe
Thu 03 Feb. 2011, 03:59 CAT
THE people of Luapula Province will not be deceived by politicians who will try to entice them with money to win their votes, says chief Chisunka of the Ushi people.
In an interview, chief Chisunka said the electorate in Luapula Province would ensure that they ushered into office political leaders who would show the ability to deliver on election campaign promises. He said traditional leaders in the province were sensitising their subjects not to be lured into electing leaders based on gifts.
"This is an election year and it is very important for the whole country. We, as traditional leaders, are encouraging the people voters to think carefully before the elections," chief Chisunka said. "Our subjects will not be cheated just because you buy them 'tujilijili' and Shake Shake a local opaque beer. We will insist that politicians come up with good manifestos on which they will deliver."
Chief Chisunka reiterated calls for political leaders to dwell on issue-based campaigns and desist from politics of insults, which he said had the potential to divide the nation.
He said there was need for the electorate to embrace politics of unity and peace.
Chief Chisunka denounced tribal politics and said the country needed to get back to the core of the 'One Zambia, One Nation' slogan which had united the country since independence.
He said ascension to political leadership positions should not be based on tribal inclinations.
"We don't want divisions in the country. We are One Zambia, One Nation, and we should do everything possible to discourage tribal differences," said chief Chisunka.
And chief Chisunka said the government should improve the implementation of the farmer input support programme if it had to impact meaningfully on the productivity of the agriculture sector.
He said although the support programme was a good initiative, its unsatisfactory implementation hindered the targeted growth in the agricultural sector.
Chief Chisunka cited the late distribution of farming inputs as a challenge that had not been addressed over the years.
Labels: CHIEF CHISUNKA, LUAPULA PROVINCE, VOTERIGGING
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Kawimbe, Chikwakwa have failed - Musosha
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 04 Dec. 2010, 04:01 CAT
BONIFACE Kawimbe and Jazzman Chikwakwa must go because they have deliberately failed President Rupiah Banda in Luapula Province, says Chrispine Musosha.
In an interview, Musosha, who is education deputy minister and Mansa-Central MMD parliamentarian, said he agreed with PF ‘rebel’ members of parliament who have called on President Banda to remove Luapula Province minister Dr Kawimbe and provincial permanent secretary Chikwakwa from their portfolios.
He said Dr Kawimbe and Chikwakwa had failed to spearhead development in Luapula Province.
Musosha said Dr Kawimbe and Chikwakwa had failed to utilise the six graders and fully trained grader operators under their control to develop feeder roads in the province.
He said the productivity ratio for each grader was supposed to be four to six kilometres per day, meaning the six graders the province had could have achieved an average of 30 kilometres per day.
Musosha said Dr Kawimbe and Chikwakwa had only worked on 80 kilometres.
“So what productivity ratio is that? That government sent enough money last year, no single road was handled. This year they sent K5 billion, it is in the account today. Does it make sense, somebody has already prepared the food for you and you fail to eat it?” Musosha asked.
“The government has even put food in the mouth of both the minister and the PS and the entire provincial administration, and no road is being attended to. Does that make sense? So all those that are calling for the removal I am sorry I must join them.”
Musosha said President Banda should not be blamed for deploying Dr Kawimbe and Chikwakwa to serve in Luapula.
“It is just that they chose to fail the President and the entire MMD administration. They chose to do that unfortunately because one would be crying for money for diesel and other things. Money has been in the account,” Musosha said. “It means we are paying for nothing…it’s unfortunate. I urge my brothers to work up and start working.”
Musosha said fertiliser was released to the farmers earlier, but it was being taken to the farmers on rough terrain.
“Meanwhile, equipment has been sitting idle the whole year,” he said.
However, Musosha said he was ready for anybody that would want to challenge him.
Earlier during the debates in Parliament on the estimates of expenditure for Luapula Province, Kawimbe said he was aware of several calls from the rebel members of parliament for his provincial administration to step down but maintained he would not.
This is however, the first time that a fellow party member has called for his dismissal.
Labels: BONIFACE KAWIMBE, CHRISPINE MUSOSHA, JAZZMAN CHIKWAKWA, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MMD
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Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe bemoans indiscriminate mining
Monday, August 2, 2010, 8:19
Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people in Luapula province has bemoaned the indiscriminate mining of manganese going on in the province. And the Mwata has implored government to accelerate the assembling of the pontoon at Kashiba across the Luapula River to boost trade between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Mwata appealed to government to counter-check the uncoordinated and rampant illegal mining in Luapula province. Mwata Kazembe said this during this year’s Umutomboko Traditional Ceremony for the Lunda people in Mwansabombwe yesterday.
He said a number of investors in the mining sector are going to the province with exploration licenses but instead end up carrying out full scale mining activities.
He said the mining companies and individuals are flouting the exploration mining facility and government should look into the issue and intervene immediately.
The traditional ruler said there is need to devise a legal framework to regulate and formalise mining activities for the government and its people to reap from the mineral.
The Mwata noted that as a result government was losing out on revenue because of the haphazard mining going on in the province as it does not collect any returns for the benefit of the people in the province and country as a whole.
He said the people of Luapula want investors in the mining industry to invest in long term and large scale mining that could create employment for them.
“
There is need to improve power supply in the province in order to support creation of large scale mining in the province because at present the power supply is so low and it is affecting the improvement of infrastructure needed for value addition to the minerals being mined,” The Mwata said.
The Mwata also observed that large scale mining could only take place in the province if the area was provided with adequate power supply for mining companies to set up processing plants.
He said once provided with adequate power supply the province can attract big companies to venture in mineral processing for value.
“ There is need to improve power supply in the province in order to support creation of large scale mining in the province because at present the power supply is so low and it is affecting the improvement of infrastructure needed for value addition to the minerals being mined,” The Mwata said.
The traditional ruler, therefore, called on government to utilize water falls, such as the Kabwelume, to generate electricity as this will attract large scale mining companies to the province.
And Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe has implored government to expedite the provision of a pontoon at Kashiba to link Zambia with the northern corridor trade arrangement.
The Mwata said Luapula is expected to benefit from the northern corridor once the pontoon is provided at Kashiba across the Luapula River as it will link the province to the DR Congo.
[ ZANIS ]
Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE, MANGANESE, MWATA KAZAMBE
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Luapula: sleeping giant
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe in Mansa
Tue 06 July 2010, 18:00 CAT
At the risk of being misunderstood to be championing religious cynicism or tribal fascism, I can say that the natives of Luapula Province will, one day, have to answer before the Creator for allowing the province to be so poor and desperate despite its vast natural resources endowment.
Perhaps, the first person to take issue while agreeing with my statement would be Charles Kabamba, a local businessman of Luapula, who declared that “now is the time for Luapula to start moving.”
To lay my case bare and probably preaching to the already converted, the profile of Luapula Province reads as follows: The province is located in the Northern part of the country and covers an area of 50, 567 square kilometers, about six per cent of the total area of Zambia.
Luapula shares its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the south, South-Western and North, in the east with Northern Province and in the South-east with Central Province.
From Lusaka, the province can be accessed either through Central Province via the Tuta Road or through the Copperbelt via the infamous Pedicle Road – our modern ‘Hell run.’
The four major physical features of the province include the valley along the Luapula river, the plateau running parallel to the river in the north-south direction, then lake Mweru in northern Chienge and Nchelenge districts and Bangweulu in Samfya district. The last characteristic feature of Luapula Province is the swampy areas to the east and south of Lake Bangweulu. And the beautiful and clean white sand makes the Samfya beach on Lake Bangweulu one of the best beaches in the world, a prime area for any type of resort facilities.
In fact, 30 per cent of Zambia’s water resources are in Luapula…talk about abundant water resources, one would be excused to state this water haven has been nothing but a curse in some countries who boast high aqua concentration. Zambia is a case in point because despite the country boasting 40 per cent of water resources in Southern Africa, this advantage continues to be a mere piece of statistics, at worst, a curse.
Perhaps Luapula is not very different from Zambia if viewed from that perspective.
The vast water resources of Luapula provide potential for all economic activities associated with responsible or is it sustainable water usage, apart from, of course, excessive plunder of fish species.
The province is estimated to be sitting on hydropower potential of 950 megawatts, thanks to its large number of rivers and numerous waterfalls.
Name them…the Lumangwe water falls in Kawambwa, affectionately called the Young Victoria Falls due to its stark resemblance to the mighty Victoria Falls in Southern Province. There is also the Kabwelume waterfall just a few kilometres downstream. This piece of divine architecture is another spectacle of natural gift which has gone begging for attention and investment. In-between the two waterfalls is a natural typical Savanna grassland which can compete with all the tourism hot spots in the entire Africa…but alas, it is deserted, neglected and poached to the bone!
One only needs to stand in-between the two waterfalls to appreciate the rhythmic sounds emanating from both ends as the Lumangwe waterfall pours its excitement into the Kalungwishi river while the three powerful cascades at Kabwelume, each spilling into the next fall in tune. And there is the Ntumbachushi Falls, also in Kawambwa…
Apart from providing hydropower potential, these beautiful sceneries could easily be transformed into tourism hot spots – only if there is will from the Luapulans.
Despite the heavy poaching that has depleted most game parks in the area, Luapula boasts some animal sites in Lusenga National Park in Kawambwa: the Black Lechwe of Bangweulu Wetlands and the Shoebill stock of Bangweulu Wetlands.
According to the locals, some animals found in the game parks in Luapula include Zebra, Sable, Anetlope, and Elephants…the monkeys of course. I certainly did not get a chance to verify this ‘good news’ as time was not my best ally on this trip.
Lest we forget, the internationally renowned Umutomboko Ceremony of the Lunda people is also found in Luapula.
Away from tourism potentials, the province also boasts huge reserves of mostly base metals, as well as semi-precious minerals. Luapula has enormous reserves of copper ore deposits and several other mineral deposits. Among the prominent minerals in the areas are copper, iron, gemstones, silver, gold, iron, ruby, emerald, green tourmaline, blue sky among others while manganese seems to be trailblazing the growth of the mining sector in the region.
Already, Luapula Base Metals Limited and Genesis Group of Companies, two local Zambian companies have jointly invested US $3 million to develop 3 manganese mines in north-eastern Zambia with a projected annual output of 60,000 tonnes and boost exports to its main market of China.
This is the work of Willie Crook, the managing director of Genesis Group and Kennedy Sakeni, the chief executive officer of Luapula Base Metals Limited.
Crook MD says the JV project wants to ramp up output at its three mines at Kansambo, Kabulu and Kabasa mines in view of the improving global metal prices in the aftermath of the global economic crisis.
Against the backdrop of the activities by JV of Crook and Sakeni, Indonesia's Earthstone Metals Group last April started mining for manganese after it acquired mining rights for three manganese concessions in Luapula Province with a total combined area of 140,000 hectares, and planned to peak production at 1 million tonnes a year within three years.
Simply stand at Mukuku bridge on Tuta Road every late afternoon and watch the number of 60-tonne trucks exiting Luapula and laden with all sorts of mineral ores. Then you will fully appreciate the extent to which mining has developed in the area.
“The mining sector is yet another sleeping giant that needs to be tapped in order for the province to contribute to economic development of the country,” are the words of provincial minister Dr Boniface Kawimbe.
“However, the mining activities need to well coordinated to avoid loss of revenue to the government as well as environmental degradation,” he adds.
Plenty of water, tourist spots and mineral deposits…perhaps Luapula is the only province which can brag about having enough potential to effectively spearhead the development of this country from three fronts: tourism, agriculture and mining.
Despite this seemingly beautiful picture on paper, the reality on the ground for the over 784, 613 dwellers of Luapula province is harsh.
The province is one of the poorest in the country with extreme poverty levels estimated at 69 per cent, the HIV prevalence rate is at 16.5 per cent whereas national rate is at 14 per cent…an experience on the ground reveals hopelessness and despair.
On my latest tour of duty to the province, I joined other journalists from different media houses as we accompanied Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) on its sensitisation tour and interaction with the business community in the area.
The problems retarding development in Luapula province are in the public domain. However, they are not insurmountable. According to Dr Kawimbe, the growth of Luapula is inhibited mainly by poor and weak connectivity infrastructure and lack of power infrastructure.
Although the provincial minister laboriously tried to peddle the issue of attitude among the inhabitants of Luapula, to a large extent, the mighty choir of Luapulans has continued to sing for a long time – at least for current dwellers there.
According to the government and its praise singers, agriculture development in the province has been prioritised with the establishment of the Luena Farm bloc to house large-scale agriculture activities in sugar growing, palm oil growing and banana plantation among other things.
But as Dr Kawimbe would confess: “Just the Luena alone needs about 40 to 60 megawatts to be fully operation and yet as a province, we only produce 13 megawatts...”
Thanks to the indiscriminate plunder of the water bodies of the province, the need to diversify from mono-dependence on the fishing industry has never been more urgent. After all, even if the natives wanted, where would they find the fish in abundance any way? Those days are certainly long gone.
If you are to measure growth of the tourism sector in Luapula by the number of lodges – I mean classic lodges springing up in the area, especially in Mansa which boasts two classic lodges: Teja Executive Lodge and Henry Courtyard with a combined investment of over US $3 billion, one would certainly think the ‘Visit Luapula campaign’ is taking shape.
But as the owners of the exclusive lodges confirm separately, most room occupants are business travellers, prospective mine investors, and of course, government officials on official duties.
Very few are flocking to Luapula for tourism. At least if the statistics from the two lodge owners are anything to go by.
The potential of the province needs to be harnessed as a matter of urgency and to achieve this, it will require pragmatism and realism…no room for fantasies and praise singing.
“The first thing is the decision by the business community in Luapula to exploit this potential in the province and then wealthy creation will happen,” Kabamba says. “There is always time for everything and now is the time for Luapula…”
According to sources on the ground, apart from the mineral resource-hungry Asians pouring into the province, the Russians are touting to pour their Ruble into rubber plantations and also hydropower developments.
Granted, Zambia’s growth in most sectors has been characterised by poor planning and lack of leadership from our ‘able’ leaders as everything is left to the whims of foreign capital in the name of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). Luapula should pioneer the shift from this ill-conceived economic theory which any first-time visitor to Zambia would be forgiven to think is the only topic taught at economics schools.
As Kabamba rightly put it, “Since we have got people interested in investing in Luapula…then once we cement all these relationships, then we can turn all these potentials into reality.”
FDI is okay but for a change, let the people of Luapula take full responsibility for their own course of development.
I know of enough Luapulans from within and in the Diaspora who are capable of spearheading development in their province.
The time is now.
Failure to act immediately will have grave consequences. It may be just a matter of time before you realise that your right of ownership to the province does not go beyond the information on your green National Registration Card (NRC)!
While most of the time the province is in the media for ‘wrong reasons,’ foreigners are taking possession the province’s most critical area... and single handedly so - not in partnership with locals.
No wonder the province is so insanely highly politicised despite non-activity on the ground… ask the Patriotic Front where the bulk of ‘rebel MPs come from.”
The need for Luapulans to partner with investors going into the area will certainly need a proper incubation machine and a platform.
“We are holding these sensitisation workshops to get the people understand what foreign direct investment means and local participation because…it’s all about partnerships and if the people don’t understand, they don’t accept and that investment won’t be successful, so, there we need to do some work,” says Margaret Chimanse, ZDA communications manager.
According to Chimanse, the seminar drew participation from 148 Luapula-based entrepreneurs. It also attracted input from Investrust Bank Plc, Zanaco Plc, Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and Bank of Zambia.
“For us, it was a successful seminar,” declares Chimanse.
The government support, through agencies like ZDA, will be crucial in providing a platform for harnessing investments in the area but ultimately, the people of Luapula will need to take full charge of their own destiny.
The talk of establishing a northern corridor, a link from Dar es Salaam to DRC through Luapula and not Copperbelt; the establishment of a stable and lucrative mining sector to contribute to making a dent on high poverty levels in the province; the development of the Multi-Facility Economic Zones at the Levy Mwaanawasa Bridge and subsequent development of the Luena farm blocs to take advantage of the 12.5 million market in Katanga province will forever remain a fantasy and fleeting illusion if the basic fundamental bottlenecks are not immediately dealt with.
In this case, I am talking about power blues and the poor road network linking the province to key markets.
Already, Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has shown willingness to put up a power line from Copperbelt to Luapula through the pedicle stretch. Certainly, CEC need to be encouraged in this vein while at the same time foster efforts to make Luapula Province self-reliant in power supply – the 950 megawatts the province is sitting on!
By the way, Pedicle Road is only a 68-kilometre stretch which sadly takes two and half hours to be cover in good weather and using a roadworthy vehicle.
For sure, in the abundance of water, only a fool is thirsty…maybe, it is too early for me to take this position?
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Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE
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MMD in Luapula will not accept imposition of PF ‘rebels’ - Chanda
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 22 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD members in Luapula will not accept the imposition of PF ‘rebel’ parliamentarians to be adopted on the MMD ticket, party provincial youth chairperson David Chanda said yesterday.
Commenting on the recent reports that chiefs in Luapula Province had endorsed the re-election of PF rebel members of parliament, Chanda said ‘rebel’ parliamentarians were not guaranteed automatic adoption on the MMD ticket.
“You know the former head of state is an experienced man, and he knows the danger of that imposing rebel PF parliamentarians on the MMD. When you are measuring an irregular object, the volume of water which is displaced is equal to the volume of that irregular object,” Chanda said. “Meaning if we can impose on the party, the other colleagues may be frustrated and leave the party, and it will not solve any problem…therefore, imposition will not be accepted.”
Chanda said the rebel PF parliamentarians should submit themselves to the norms and rules of MMD.
“The concerns are that as I take it and the other party leadership in Luapula, there can’t be an imposition on the party. They rebel parliamentarians are very much alive that where they are returning to, they will find people in that house,” said Chanda.
“They have to submit themselves to the norms and rules of the party. And anyone who is talking about parallel structures, if anyone is creating parallel structures that is a danger to the party because parallel lines can never meet.”
Recently, there were assertions that chiefs in Luapula Province, except Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people had endorsed the re-election of PF rebel members of parliament.
And MMD sources in Luapula Province revealed that Chiluba’s ploy to force PF parliamentarians on President Rupiah Banda to adopt them as parliamentary candidates in next year’s election would lead to fallouts among party stalwarts.
The insiders said parliamentarians want Chiluba to secure them adoptions in the MMD hence their recent alignment with him, the ruling party and president Banda.
The insiders said Chiluba was trying to form parallel structures within MMD to regain his political clout in the province.
Labels: CADRES, DAVID CHANDA, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MMD
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