Mansa Central a must-win for PF, says Kambwili
By Prince Chibawah in Mansa
Sun 22 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
CHISHIMBA Kambwili says it is impossible for any reasonable government to develop the country within the first 90 days of administration.
And Kambwili says losing the Mansa Central seat would be a tragedy for the entire PF because this time even President Michael Sata will weep.
During a live phone-in programme on Radio Yangeni in Mansa on Thursday, Kambwili, who is youth and sports minister, said only a dull person could believe that the ruling PF could fulfil all its promises within a period of 90 days.
"Surely, can you successfully complete constructing a university or hospital in 90 days? Let's try to be reasonable enough," said Kambwili.
He clarified that the issue of developing the country within the first 90 days of administration was a proverb and that it should not be taken for direct interpretation as was the present scenario.
"Unless if one is dull; can (he or she) reasonably think that this country can be developed within the first 90 days or two years of administration. That was just a political slogan. It was part of our party campaign strategies," Kambwili said.
Kambwili, however, said the government had made tremendous developmental achievements in its two years in power.
"There are so many developments taking place countrywide. We have just facilitated a contract which will see 650 health centres constructed in all the ten provinces of Zambia. And to be precise, Luapula Province will have a share of about 50."
He said the increased salary scale for public service workers was unprecedented development that the government had scored.
"Imagine the lowest paid civil servant will now be getting K3,000. Now which government has ever made such an increment?" Kambwili asked.
Kambwili added that the government had also recruited 5,900 new teachers countrywide.
"My PF government is not only concentrating on a single sector. We are constructing new infrastructure, rehabilitating old structures, we're also creating job opportunities and so on. Even the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, I challenged him, when he was busy fabricating on UNZA Radio that he could create jobs for all the youths in the country within 90 days. I asked him how? But he failed to respond," Kambwili added.
He said it was unfortunate that the opposition was succeeding in what he termed misinforming the general public on the government's developmental will.
"Yes, I can admit that some of our deputy ministers and MPs are reluctant when it comes to explaining the government polices to their respected people and I want to challenge them for that," Kambwili added.
He expressed optimism that the government could sustainably develop the country in ten years time.
"By 2016, most of the developments will be tangibly recorded but the issue of fulfilling all the developmental promises, we need about 10 years," he said.
And addressing the PF leadership at Mansa Lodge on Thursday, Kambwili said the Mansa Central seat was a must-win for the party.
"I can assure you that losing this by-election will be a tragedy for the entire PF. Believe you me, we will weep," said Kambwili, who is also PF national youth chairman.
Kambwili added that the PF was anchored on Luapula, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces and that allowing the opposition to scoop the forthcoming Mansa Central by-election was unthinkable.
Kambwili, who noted Luapula Province as being a cardinal factor for the PF's strength, urged the local party leadership to remain united and foster teamwork.
"The PF's progress lies in this area (Mansa) because the entire Luapula Province gave us 99.9 per cent of the total votes. So my colleagues, let us work hard because should we fail to retain the Mansa Central seat, I am sure this time even President Sata will weep," he added.
He said the PF national leadership would be more careful when adopting a candidate for the seat.
He said candidature adoption had always being a difficult stage resulting in the ruling party losing certain seats in some areas.
"We have lost some seats because of the very stage. Somehow it appears like a source of confusion. Even here in Mansa, when that time comes, you will experience a similar thing. Some people will be frustrated because their preferred candidates will not be considered," he said.
Kambwili said the adoption of a candidate would be based on recommendations effected by local leadership.
"The national leadership will try by all means to lower its hand when it comes to adopting the candidate for Mansa Central; instead we'll make resolutions based on what you will recommend for," he added.
Kambwili further appealed to the people of Mansa Central Constituency to render the PF a second chance in order to continue with its developmental agenda for the area.
Meanwhile, Kambwili has with immediate effect suspended the selection process of applicants for youth development funds in Luapula Province due to alleged corrupt practices.
Kambwili, who was in Mansa for official duties, said he had been receiving information suggesting corrupt activities by some of those responsible for the implementation of YDF in the province.
He added that in order to enhance transparency, his ministry had engaged independent experts from Lusaka Province to evaluate the applications, including the rejected ones.
"If the reports I am receiving are factual, then I do believe some applicants were not genuinely rejected. So we shall facilitate for a reselection to ensure that the funds are accessed by only the eligible applicants," said Kambwili.
Labels: CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, MANSA DISTRICT, PF
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State loses millions in illegal Mansa mining
By Judith Hara
THE Government is losing millions of Kwacha in revenue per annum through illegal manganese mining in Mansa, Luapula Province, Town Clerk Brighton Mbaimbai has disclosed.
The local authority has since appealed to the Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources to help curb the vice and compel the mining firms in the region to start paying taxes.
Mr Mbaimbai, who could not say exactly how much the Government was losing, said the situation was due to the failure by manganese extraction firms in the province to formalise their operations with the relevant authorities.
In addition, the mining companies did not even appear in the Mansa Council Valuation Roll to compel them to pay the taxes through the local authorities.
In an interview from Mansa yesterday, Mr Mbaimbai disclosed that seven mining companies had so far been issued with large-scale mining licences but that, they had not formalised their operations with the council,leading to the loss of revenue.
Manganese mining firms in Mansa were supposed to be the largest contributor to Government and council revenue in terms of taxes but they were not paying anything.
“These mining companies are currently mining without leaving anything for the Government and the council. This is so because the mines are not appearing anywhere in our valuation roll and deeds records, although some of the mining firm’s activities are legal,” Mr Mbaimbai explained.
The town clerk named some of the legal mining companies operating there as Genesis, Taurian, Tycoon and Amanita, while others were operating illegally.
All these were not paying any revenue to either the Government and the council.
Mr Mbaimbai said the Ministry of Mines had awarded large-scale mining licences to the companies but the council had no proof of ownership of the land.
He said the council wrote to the mining companies asking them to formalise their businesses but they had not done so, forcing the local authorities to write the Ministry of Mines to compel them to start paying taxes but even the ministry has equally not responded to date.
Mr Mbaimbai said the mining companies must realise that they had a duty to pay taxes to authorities as it was from the mines where the Government and the council would generate revenue.
Labels: MANGANESE, MANSA DISTRICT, MINING
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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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Sata brings business in Mansa to a standstill
By George Chellah in Mansa
Sun 11 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT
PF leader Michael Sata on Friday brought business in Mansa to a standstill. Sata, who was in the district to attend the burial of David Chibombwe - the first MMD and PF Luapula Province chairman and founder member - touched down at Mansa airport around 11: 45 hours.
Upon arrival, Sata was driven in a convoy to the house of mourning in Senama Compound where a huge crowd of party supporters, sympathizers and mourners waited for him.
Scores of chanting residents lined up the streets as the PF leader made his way to the house of mourning.
"Pa Bwato! don't kubeba! Abesu! Uno mwaka tuleyabuka This year we are crossing!" some people shouted as they waved PF flags.
Sata immediately joined mourners in the body viewing procession when he arrived at the house of mourning.
During the body viewing procession, some mourners were heard saying: "Omo achili Sata, uyo very fit nomba ninshi Rupiah Banda alebepela ubufi? Uno mwaka ni do or die iyi tufikilepo nomba Sata is still very fit so why is Rupiah Banda lying (about his health)? this year it's do or die affair," some mourners remarked as Sata walked past the coffin.
After the body viewing process, Sata went into the house of mourning where he briefly met the women that had gathered.
Sata was then asked to address the mourners before accompanying them to the burial site, which is situated about 28 kilometres away from Mansa town.
"Mwalosheni po bose mukwai. Kuno nshikokele ama politics njishile mukulosha bululu wandi. Abantu abengi tabaishibe ukuti ba Chibombwe niba bululu wandi. Namitotela sana bonse mwebeshile pano. Natotela sana mukwai tapali efyo ningalanda ifingi," said Sata as the crowd cheered.
After burial, Sata drove into the central business district causing a jam as scores of residents jostled to catch a glimpse of the PF leader.
Sata visited Mansa Shoprite where he was mobbed by scores of shoppers.
"Abesu baisa! Bakateka ni don't kubeba!" shouted some people.
Sata, who wanted to buy fish at the main market, abandoned his plans and was later whisked away as the crowd around him became larger and difficult to control by his security and local party officials.
Later in an interview, PF provincial chairperson and Mansa-Central parliamentary candidate Kennedy Sakeni said his party would produce a resounding victory in the province.
"We are alright. I wish elections where tomorrow. So far our party is receiving overwhelming support from the people. They are just waiting for the voting day so that they can usher in a new government and Michael Sata as head of state," Sakeni said.
"Everywhere we go in the province, the response is overwhelming. No wonder our colleagues in the MMD are now extending their campaigns across the borders, in the DRC because no one is willing to listen to them."
And Sakeni, who is a former senior intelligence officer and former deputy home affairs minister, warned that the current misinformation and propaganda being peddled by the MMD through the public media might backfire.
"We wish to warn the reckless managers and editors at ZNBC that if they are not careful they will have themselves to blame when their irresponsible reporting backfires. To be honest with you, ZNBC's reporting is now a threat to national security and I hope those responsible are aware of this and are ready to take full responsibility of what may follow thereafter," Sakeni said.
"They are inciting PF supporters, sympathizers and members countrywide and they have to be careful. It's undeniable that Michael Sata is now a national asset and any irresponsible, alarming or misinformation passed about him directly affects or concerns a larger population of this country and thereby becoming a security issue in itself.
"Let those with ears listen to our timely advice because they are risking a lot through their irresponsible actions. It's a fact that if my president Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata or indeed myself made similar remarks about Rupiah Banda, we would have been arrested for criminal defamation and we would be languishing in prison."
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, MANSA DISTRICT, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Mansa residents welcome Kunda with PF symbol
By Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Thu 08 Sep. 2011, 14:01 CAT
MANSA'S Senama residents on Tuesday evening welcomed Vice-President George Kunda with the PF's symbol and pabwato slogan as he entered town from the airport.Vice-President Kunda arrived from Chilubi Island at about 17:15 hours and was received at Mansa airport by a handful of MMD cadres and some civil servants.
Several people who lined up along the road from Senama compound and Mansa town centre raised their fists and shouted "pabwato" as Vice-President Kunda's motorcade headed for Teja Executive Lodge.
Vice-President Kunda is in the province to hold a series of campaign rallies in Chiengi, Pambashe in Kawambwa, and Bangweulu and Luapula constituencies in Samfya.
Surprisingly, Vice-President Kunda's campaign programme does not provide for a rally in Mansa Central.
Sources said the MMD top officials were scared of holding rallies in Mansa for fear of embarrassment because it was a stronghold for the Patriotic Front. Meanwhile, Vice-President Kunda told Mansa residents who welcomed him that the Patriotic Front does not have any agenda for Zambians.
He said the PF's only agenda was promotion of homosexuality once they assumed government leadership.
He also accused the Patriotic Front of practicing violence by giving youths catapults.
"Let the ballot box determine the future of the country not violence," he said.
Vice-President Kunda said because the PF had no programme for the country, its candidates had even started shunning ZNBC television programmes.
"They cannot tell people why they wanted to be voted for," he said.
Vice-President Kunda said Luapula residents want industries because the province had minerals, water resources and other infrastructure challenges that the MMD government was addressing.
He also noted that Luapula Province had a problem of low voltage which was being addressed by the government.
"Ask Mr Sata how he is going to address these problems since he cannot tell you why you should vote for him; he is just saying ‘Don't kubeba,' what Don't kubeba? Tell them your plans'," he said.
Vice-President Kunda said the MMD government had eliminated hunger through bumper harvest.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, MANSA DISTRICT, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Spare Luapula people from cheap politicking - clergy
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 07 July 2011, 03:59 CAT
A MANSA clergyman says the dignified burial and mourning of late second Republican president Frederick Chiluba should not be interpreted as development for Luapula. In an interview, Rev Kelvin Mwitwa, who is also former Mansa Central MMD member of parliament, said the people of Luapula should be spared from cheap politicking because they needed real development.
“People gave an honourable burial to Dr Chiluba because he worked for it when he was in office. And so everyone who mourned him did that to honour him for the office he held and what he did for this country. But that gesture should not be interpreted as development for Luapula, no!” said Rev Mwitwa.
“Just yesterday Wednesday last week, I saw Lupula Province minister Mr Besa Chimbaka on ZNBC evening news where he was connecting Dr Chiluba’s burial to developments in Luapula. This is wrong because there is still no development here which he can boast about. It is wrong for him to politicise Dr Chiluba’s death and tie it to development in this province.
In any case, how does the burial of a former head of state translate into development of a particular region? I think the people of Luapula should be allowed to rest. Dr Chiluba is not here with us, so he should also be left to rest.”
Appearing on ZNBC’s main evening news last Wednesday, Chimbaka said the people of Luapula mourned Chiluba with dignity because they had seen development in the province brought about by the MMD government.
Labels: FREDERICK CHILUBA, MANSA DISTRICT, POLITICS
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Ex-Mansa town clerk ditches MMD, joins PF
By Kabanda Chulu and Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 05 July 2011, 03:40 CAT
FORMER Mansa town clerk Bwanga Kapu-mba has withdrawn his bid to stand as MMD Mufulira Central Constituency member of parliament following Sylvia Masebo’s resignation from the ruling party. Kapumba, who resigned as town clerk for Mansa last week, said many public service workers and cabinet ministers are trapped in supporting MMD because of protecting jobs.
He narrated that people had advised him that meaningful contribution towards national development could only be done if he stood on the PF ticket. He said the reality is that PF is forming the next government.
“As leaders, we must listen to people and I have followed their advice in order to lead them properly and all my family including my elder brother Mumba Kapumpa are PF, so I did not want to create an impression that we have differences,” Kapumpa said.
He said PF has laid enough ground work to form the next government because the party has become a progressive force.
“People will wonder why I applied for adoption under MMD but it is because of what I describe as smart politics and to some of us close to Hon Sylvia Masebo, we knew a long time ago that she has left MMD though she went ahead to contest at the convention,” said Kapumpa.
“Many government workers are trapped because of work and other factors even ministers are just waiting for an opportunity since, politics is about right timing hence I have escaped this trap. Of course, MMD will say ‘we didn’t even want to adopt him’ but that is their right and it is my choice to become PF.”
And more than 600 UPND members together with senior officials in Mufulira district have defected to the PF, saying they want to be part of the process of change of government.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former UPND Mufulira vice-chairperson Bwalya Chinda said the PF and its leader Michael Sata has become stronger and popular than ever before.
He said there was need for every Zambian to appreciate and join the root for change of government.
“We want to see a united opposition to be led by a popular candidate to take on the corrupt MMD in this year’s general elections and it is undisputable that the PF is a popular party and people want change.
The PF is not popular for nothing, it is popular because its values and ideas of running government have given hope to Zambians especially here on the Copperbelt,” said Chinda.
Among the officials who led the defectors include district chairman for propaganda Simon Banda, publicity secretary Trywell Ndhlovu and Justine Chisenga who was the district secretary and women’s secretary Annette Chewe Lukonde.
Labels: MANSA DISTRICT, MMD, PF
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Court orders health checks on Mansa riot remandees
By Mwala Kalaluka in Samfya
Thu 19 May 2011, 04:01 CAT
A SAMFYA Court has asked the State to implement a court order that a medical doctor examines the health status of several remandees at Mansa State Prison charged for riotous conduct.
Magistrate Patson Chiluba, sitting as a magistrate in Samfya, on Monday reinforced the order that was issued by another Mansa-based magistrate hearing the same matters after several of the suspected rioters raised health-related complaints during their detention.
Magistrate Chiluba made the order during a plea hearing of a case where 46-year-old Vincent Kalaba of Mansa’s Chikotwe Village was in the first count charged with riot and in the second count charged with house breaking and theft.
Kalaba is in count one alleged to have taken part in a riot with others unknown in Mansa between 18 and 20 April, 2011.
Kalaba leaded not guilty to the charge.
In the second count, to which he also pleaded not guilty, Kalaba on April 18, 2011 broke into the dwelling house of Ibrahim Sanaula in Mansa and stole one air gun with serial number 74181184, one water container and other goods all valued at K1,350,000 belonging to Sanaula.
The matter was adjourned to May 19, 2011 for trial.
Kalaba asked for bail because the police were failing to locate the person who had committed the offence for which he had been brought to court for.
“It is better the police find the one who stole instead of making me suffer like this,” Kalaba pleaded.
State prosecutor Victor Choongo objected Kalaba’s application on grounds that being a Mansa resident, he had not advanced any suggestions of how he would find money to travel to Samfya to attend court sessions.
Choongo said although Kalaba was charged alone, the indictment read that he was acting jointly with others unknown.
“These are the others the police are pursuing to bring to book,” Choongo said.
“The accused person in the dock...is likely to regroup with others who the police are still pursuing to commit various offences as the court has observed.”
Choongo said some of those that had escaped the police dragnet during the Mansa riots were still committing offences.
Kalaba did not say anything in reply to the State’s objection.
Magistrate Chiluba said the bail application was rejected because Kalaba might encounter difficulties travelling from Mansa to Samfya to attend court.
But Kalaba, still in the accused box, said he was sick.
“Even the doctor has not come to visit and even the way we are remanded has affected my right hand,” said Kalaba.
Magistrate Chiluba then asked Kalaba if he had informed the State of his illness and he said that he did.
He said he had not seen a doctor since 25th April when he was detained.
Choongo told the court that prison authorities informed him that a Dr Phiri was unable to attend to all accused persons because he went to the prison late.
Choongo assured the court that further arrangements would be made to recall the doctor so that he conducts medical examinations on all those that he failed to see during his last visit. Hearing in the matter continues.
Labels: MANSA DISTRICT, PRISONS
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Police seal off Mansa town
By Chibaula Silwamba in Mansa
Sat 23 Apr. 2011, 11:00 CAT
Police have sealed off routes out of Mansa in a bid to capture suspects involved in the four-day riots that led to about eight deaths, destruction of properties and looting.
Police officers are searching vehicles and identity cards of passengers in all vehicles leaving the town.
Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, MANSA DISTRICT
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Mansa residents oppose Chiluba’s visit
By Chibaula Silwamba in Mansa
Sat 15 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
SEVERAL listeners to Mansa's Radio Yangeni on Thursday opposed Frederick Chiluba’s visit to the area this weekend, arguing that he did nothing for Luapula Province during his 10-year reign.
During a special programme on the ‘development’ meeting of chiefs and parliamentarians from Luapula Province to be addressed by former president Chiluba today, the listeners sent text messages denouncing the discussants - Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima, Kawambwa PF member of parliament Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka and Mansa Central MMD parliamentarian Chrispin Musosha.
Chitika-Mulobeka was the hardest hit with people accusing her of being dishonest.
“Mulobeka, you used Sata to get Kawambwa in 2006 and now you want to use Chiluba in 2011,” presenter Mumbi Mumbi read some text messages.
“We are not supporting Mulobeka because she is a crook, she is chameleon. That lady is irritating. Madam Mulobeka you must be honest. Don’t you think that Chiluba supported the PF because he was afraid of Mwanawasa? …To realise that Chiluba is in the MMD because he needs protection from the MMD? Chiluba must stay away from active politics. Madam, you have not been consistent in your relationship with Chiluba.”
The listeners accused Chiluba of spoiling the MMD.
“Hon Chitika, what value can Chiluba add to the people of Luapula when he failed to do this when he was president? I feel by inviting him to your meeting, it is a minus on the MMD because the big man has already proved himself a failure to the people of Luapula. The chiefs you are parading will not force us to vote for Rupiah Banda,” another text message read. “You know Dr Chiluba could be a factor but your timing of your tailored meeting is misplaced. Your meeting will yield zero, just like the last national indaba.”
Another listener Jimmy Kapanda stated that Chiluba should stay away from active politics although he was born and bred from Luapula Province.
Patrick Mwewa stated, “Gordon Brown resigned because he understands seasons, Chiluba is not a season of today.”
“Let Chiluba be a preacher, he ruled this country, it’s over,” another text message read. “For as long as the London High Court judgment stands, Chiluba remains convicted. Thanks to Honourable George Kunda for prosecuting successfully.”
Another listener wrote, “Be careful with FTJ; he formed PUDD, joined PF then rejoined MMD. Can you trust him? Be careful Honourable Musosha, FTJ is slippery. He may contest Mansa Central. Lucky you he is not Ushi, he may fail on one qualification you set.”
Another text message read, “count what he did in Luapula during his 10 years rule, not Shoprite. You did not pay retrenchment packages to Sparks’ employees, can they buy things from Shoprite? Be ashamed! Imwe kuyabebele in 2011.”
Another message stated, “Why come to the province at this time? It’s a very big threat to the peace of the province. We stayed alone without any development since 1991. We are fine and we are not complaining. Please leave us, we know when our development will begin, we will welcome you after 2011; these are the kicks of a dying horse. Please leave.”
But Mbulakulima remarked: “I am aware that these text messages are stage managed, so we are not worried.”
Mbulakulima, the co-organiser of the meeting, said Chiluba and President Rupiah Banda would soon be heroes for their contribution to the country’s development despite the scorn being poured on them.
“I believe, I tell you, we can bet, Dr Chiluba will be a hero a few years from now. He contributed to the free economy, free market, the media, democracy, everything; all these he did play a role. He does not need to build a house in his own village to be a hero,” said Mbulakulima, who is also Chembe MMD member of parliament.
“Dr Mwanawasa, starting on a shaky note if you want, and people called him all sorts of names and then they realised he is a steel metal. Rule of law was bright, this was a man focused on the economy and the economy started growing tremendously. Equally today, they are calling our President Mr Rupiah Banda all sorts of names but I can tell you when he leaves office he will be a hero. So in short, you cannot rise to the position of president and come out zero.”
He said former president Dr Kenneth Kaunda was denounced but he was now a hero.
“In 1991, if we were not careful we would have killed Dr Kaunda. We all hated Dr Kaunda. After cooling down we realised Dr Kaunda was a great man. Lucky enough we did not eliminate him. But we called him all sorts of names in 1990/1991. But today, Dr Kaunda is a hero,” Mbulakulima said.
When Mumbi asked whether people were against the development meeting or Chiluba’s presence at the meeting, Mbulakulima said he was at pains to answer the question.
He said people should not think the discussants were contradicting each other in their explanation about the meeting.
“You are at pains to ask that question; equally we are also at pains to answer that question because definitely the same question that you are asking is the one that is on the ground. People are asking, ‘this has raised a lot of issues and concerns’. One wonders, ‘why?’ hence the reasons for you to ask that question,” Mbulakulima said.
“But definitely I will tell you and if you want and people want to be malicious, they can say: ‘Mbulakulima, Musosha, Mulobeka contradict each other on the reason why they haven’t invited more people’. But I am going to say, adding on what my two colleagues have said, honourable Mulobeka has said, supposed we had to engage the chiefs on any other issues, what would they say?”
He accused the PF of disliking Chiluba.
“I ask the people out there, what is their reaction, especially the Patriotic Front in regards to Dr Chiluba? We have seen the reaction that they don’t want Dr Chiluba to be part of them. We know that their PF’s approach to Dr Chiluba and our approach are not compatible,” Mbulakulima said.
“What is the relationship between the Patriotic Front and their royal highnesses in Northern, in Luapula and out there? We don’t want to be arbitrators in this regard, we are competitors. It’s a fact. At certain stage, we are not compatible.”
He said people had unnecessarily raised dust on Chiluba’s invitation to the meeting.
“I don’t see a reason why we people of Luapula should be fighting,” said Mbulakulima.
At least 44 chiefs from Luapula and all but two parliamentarians from the province will attend the meeting which Chiluba will open, while Vice-President George Kunda is expected to officially close it on Sunday.
And Chitika-Mulobeka dismissed opposition to the invitation to Chiluba to the meeting.
“Mr Chiluba was president of this country for 10 years and he comes from here, so we don’t really understand the concerns that these people are raising. I believe that they are raising these issues purely on hate. If they are saying Chiluba is not a factor, in the development of this country, why are they so scared about this development meeting, just a one-off arrangement?” she asked.
“So the point is he is an interested party; he comes from this area. Some people were actually saying, ‘what did he do for Luapula?’ I am shocked that a man was president for 10 years; some people did not see what he did for this country and what he did for Luapula. Dr Chiluba was not a provincial president, he was a national president. …the resources that were in the nation had to be shared in the nine provinces.”
She said the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was an initiative of Chiluba and must be credited for it.
“Right now there are projects in each and every constituency being implemented using the CDF. Where did CDF come from? It was because of Dr Chiluba. He knew that, ‘the only way I am going to help the people of Zambia and people of Luapula is by getting an amount direct into the constituencies’,” Chitika-Mulobeka said. “We invited him as a serious stakeholder, he was president for 10 years, he has a lot of experience, he has a lot of knowledge and that we are meeting our royal highnesses. And since, you know, 2001 he hasn’t been in the province officially like to interact with all of us; so for us this is an occasion that we expected him to come over into Luapula so that we are able interact we him. Dr Chiluba will come and add value to our meeting.”
She said Chiluba built the foundation for Zambia’s development and it would be naïve for anyone to argue that he did nothing for the province and Zambia as a whole.
Chitika-Mulobeka also said there would be nothing wrong with parliamentarians to discuss matters that are not development oriented with the chiefs.
“Just in case Mumbi Mumbi, if we engaged our chiefs on any other thing other than development, is that a problem? I am just asking the people of Luapula, just in case, we are not talking about development, as MPs we decided, ‘okay we needed to engage our royal highnesses on something else’, is that your problem? Would that be a problem?” Chitika-Mulobeka asked. “You know there are people that have come into this province, they have engaged, they were able to hold rallies and do everything that they could think of but no one raised a hand that, ‘this is wrong.’ Just in case we didn’t talk about development, is there anything wrong?”
She said when Chiluba supported PF leader Michael Sata’s presidential candidacy in the 2006 elections, he was a darling of the PF members but it was shocking that they were vilifying him Chiluba now.
“We PF went to all the rallies saying, ‘Dr Chiluba has never stolen! Dr Chiluba will be released once I Sata become president’. But now what has happened? These are the questions that the people of Luapula Province should be able to reflect on. What has changed because it was just the other day that because Dr Chiluba supported a particular political party he was a darling but now that he has decided to go back to his original political party now he is something else and we should be able to encourage the thuggery that has never been known to be part of the people of Luapula Province,” Chitika-Mulobeka said. “We are a very peaceful lot. Now this thuggery that is coming through, when your friends are doing something else you want to disrupt and when you are doing something else you want to be let free. It is not fair.”
She said the parliamentarians only invited the chiefs to the development meeting because of the limitation of funds.
Chitika-Mulobeka said the parliamentarians donated the money to transport, accommodate and feed the traditional rulers during the meeting.
Chitika-Mulobeka said the parliamentarians would organise another meeting for church leaders and other interest groups.
And Musosha called for harmony among politicians in Zambia.
“Can we allow each other to co-exist? It is our Zambia. Remember the motto that we have always lived with the ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ it means we want to be all inclusive irrespective of who is doing what,” said Musosha. “PF, yes it is a party, but can we allow them, can we love them, they are our brothers and sisters after all. We belong to two political parties, to three different political parties but we have only one country Zambia. But today if we want to spoil what our friends have built and you call that development because you will need that same foundation which your friends started to come and build on whatever you may think of tomorrow.”
Labels: CHILUBA, ELIZABETH CHITIKA-MULOBEKA, MANSA DISTRICT, MWANSA MBULAKULIMA, RADIO YANGENI
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Mansa farmers castigate FRA for failure to pay small-scale farmers
Written by Florence Bupe
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:08:17 PM
MANSA District Farmers Association (DFA) chairperson George Mwila has castigated government for failing to pay small-scale farmers for the grain supplied to FRA.
In an interview, Mwila said most farmers would be denied the chance to acquire farming inputs on time because they did not have the financial resources to do so due to government’s inefficiencies in settling what was owed to them after selling their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
“The situation on the ground is not good at all. Farmers who sold their produce to government through the FRA have not been paid to date. The outcry of our members is for government to improve the marketing systems,” he said.
He complained that most small scale farmers would be denied the right to participate in various farmers’ schemes that required them to pay in order to access services.
Mwila also said there was need for improved market access and increased fund allocation towards the maize purchasing exercise as the district in particular, and the nation as a whole, was expected to continue having increased yields.
“As farmers, we are in a dilemma. It’s easy for people to talk, but what is on the ground is different, we are suffering. Most of our farmers are still stranded with their produce because the money that was released is just a drop in the ocean, especially considering the increased production that we’ve had,” he said.
Mwila urged the government to devise programmes that would promote the production of other crops than maize, such as beans and cassava.
He said Luapula Province had massive potential to contribute to the country’s food basket through the cultivation of cassava and beans, but observed that there was little interest invested in promoting the growing of these crops.
Mwila noted that regions such as the Copperbelt and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offered a lucrative market for other crops produced in the area, but that there were no supporting systems and infrastructure.
Labels: FARMERS, FRA, GEORGE MWILA, MANSA DISTRICT
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