Tonga’s will not produce a President without networking with others – Kanyama
By George Zulu in Monze
Sat 25 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
CHIBAMBA Kanyama has said the Tonga speaking people will not produce a Republican president for as long as they do not see opportunities in networking with others.
During a workshop for youths organised by Matantala Rural Integrated Development Enterprise (M-RIDE) in Monze on Wednesday, Kanyama, a Lusaka economist, told the youths that he wanted to whisper something although he did not want to be misunderstood as a tribalist.
Kanyama, a Tonga from Chikankata, said politics among Tongas of not wanting to network with others had killed their opportunity of becoming presidents.
“The politics in the UPND that is what ‘killed’ Anderson Mazoka’s dream, because of not wanting to network with others, no strategy,” Kanyama said just before his presentation.
“We talk anyhow with hatred for others. When Mazoka died some people just spoke anyhow and injured many people in the process.
[Like Ackson Sejani's brainless statement that "It is time for a Tongan president". What was even more unforgivable, is that HH didn't not immediately distance himself from Ackson Sejani. That is what fed the tribalism rumours. - MrK]
Some of those who were injured could have been their supporters. You have to climb on the back of others for you to succeed even the ones you don’t like as long as they are useful to your success.
”If that is the strategy then no Tonga will ever become president of this country. So start networking, for our friends from other parts have done that before and have succeeded.”
Kanyama advised the youths to start networking in order to achieve their goals in leadership and business.
“Start networking because it is an important tool. You see opportunities in networking and use them wisely. We live in a changing world where there is demand for anything with value. Change requires discipline,” said Kanyama.
Over 400 youths from chiefs Hanjalika, Chona and Mwaanza areas gathered at Kasaka Basic School, 50 kilometers east of Monze, to get tips on how to become successive entrepreneurs.
Labels: CHIBAMBA KANYAMA, M-RIDE, POLITICS, TRIBALISM, UPND
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Chona cites the pitfalls of exploitation, corruption
By George Zulu in Mazabuka
Tue 13 July 2010, 14:30 CAT
EXPLOITATION and corruption will not help resolve high levels of poverty the country is experiencing, Matantala Rural Integrated Development Enterprise (M-RIDE) board chairman Mark Chona has observed.
Addressing traditional leaders and other stakeholders in chief Hanjalika’s chiefdom, Chona said he was saddened by the high levels of exploitation and corruption in the country especially during the purchase of maize from small scale farmers in rural areas.
“It is sad that people have surrendered their rights for few pieces of silver. The exploitation and corruption in this country will not help resolve high levels of poverty, hence the need to invest in education and infrastructure development and skills empowerment for many Zambians to benefit,” Chona said.
“I think there are so many things that need to be done to address problems faced by our people in rural areas. We need serious investment in education in rural areas, we need serious investment in roads and marketing of farm produce in rural areas in order to address high levels of poverty which are very undesirable.”
Chona challenged headmen and other stakeholders to look after the resources, which M-RIDE through the Norwegian government gives out.
“Zambians are drivers for change and the development that you seek every day can only become a reality if you accept change and that change lies in you. Development is not taken but done by you, so you must not be cheated by people who come and preach development because the power of change lies bare in your hands and you have the power to drive change,” said Chona.
Labels: AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARIANS NETWORK AGAINST CORRUPTION, M-RIDE, MARK CHONA
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Chona observes major crisis in education system
By George Zulu in Monze
Mon 28 June 2010, 04:30 CAT
MATANTALA Rural Integrated Development Enterprise (M-RIDE) board chairman Mark Chona has observed that there is a crisis of major proportions in the education system in the country especially in rural areas, which needs critical attention.
In an interview in Monze after touring three chiefdoms namely Hanjalika, Mwaanza and Chona in Mazabuka and Monze districts to check on the infrastructure built by Matantala with the support of the Norwegian government, Chona said the progression of education in rural areas was not encouraging.
He said the progression of pupils from grade one to grade nine was very disappointing and certainly showed the collapse of the system.
“The reality on the ground is that there is need for quality education at every single level. We should not merely look at quantity but quality from what is happening in classrooms. Look at the number of children who pass from grade seven to eight and nine to 10. It is very discouraging and disappointing. It only confirms that there is a crisis in the system,” Chona said. “Just look at those who are squeezed out of school at grade seven; there are so many.
We need to work together even with those who think they can go to Parliament, we need to work with them. There is nobody who is useless in addressing this problem, and a girl child is a critical issue especially when you look at the figures, which we have seen in each of the schools we had visited. It shows how critical the issue of education is in rural areas. These figures speak volumes, too many girls are squeezed out of school at a very tender age and exposed to early pregnancies ending their careers.”
However, Chona expressed gratitude over the realisation by some parents, teachers and pupils of the need for education.
“With improved infrastructure development, many people would like to get back to school. At Nkonkola High a 52-year-old grandmother has gone back to school and she is doing grade nine. Hamudonga Community School 29-year-old mother has gone back to school and she is in grade six, a 33-year-old man at Moomba is in grade nine,” said Chona. “This is due to improved infrastructure. People can no longer feel ashamed to enter classes because they have desks and better classes.”
During its three years of existence in three chiefdoms in Choma and Monze, Matantala has constructed 86 classrooms, 20 teachers’ houses, six clinics and rehabilitated existing houses, schools and dip tanks.
Labels: EDUCATION, M-RIDE, MARK CHONA
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