Feasibility studies on Tazara,Mpulungu link begin
By Gift Chanda
Thu 13 Oct. 2011, 12:50 CAT
FEASIBILITY studies into the construction of a railway linking TAZARA railway line to Mpulungu port in Northern Province have commenced, says transport permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga.
Sichinga said experts from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a firm contracted to study the possibility of building a railway line in Northern Province, were currently on the ground accessing the terrain.
The government early this year signed three agreements with CCECC with one meant to facilitate the extension of Chipata-Mchinji railway line to Mpika via Petauke to be linked to TAZARA.
The other MoU was for a railway line covering a stretch of 1000 kilometres from Solwezi to Kasempa, Kaoma to Katima Mulilo up to Walvis Bay, Namibia.
The third agreement was for a railway line to cover Nseluka near Kasama in Northern Province link to Mpulungu port.
"By March we should have a report on whether to proceed with these developments," Sichinga said in an interview.
"We believe these are projects that will enhance the economic potential of our country."
He said the railway line in Northern Province once fully developed would open up the Mpulungu Port to greater trade volumes were low.
"Mpulungu is a gateway to the Great Lakes region...the port is the only navigable port we have in Zambia and it is shared by four other countries," he said.
"We believe this project will have benefits for Zambia and we would like them to be feasible."
Labels: DOMINIC SICHINGA, MPULUNGU, RAIL, TAZARA
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PF to petition Mpulungu by-election results
By LusakaTimes
Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 7:09
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has accused the ruling MMD of producing about 500 votes from “imaginary” polling station in order to win Monday’s parliamentary by-election in Mpulungu.
The opposition PF lost the closely contested seat through its candidate Freedom Sikazwe who polled 4,419 votes against the winning MMD candidate Given Mung’omba who got 5003 votes.
Mr Sata has told journalists that his party was not accepting the results and would petition Mr Mung’omba’s victory through the courts of law.
“We are not conceding defeat, the constitution allows us to recount the votes if we are not satisfied but the ECZ refused, so we will petition the results,” he said.
Mr. Sata charged that the ruling party produced 9 ballot boxes from without after all the 60 polling stations had already been counted.
He further accused the party of distributing money and foodstuffs to the electorates prior to voting.
“The MMD produced nine imaginary ballot boxes from nine imaginary polling stations, they stole our votes and that is why we will petition,” Mr Sata said.
And MMD chairman for elections, Mike Mulongoti urged the PF leader to mourn the defeat in Mpulungu with dignity.
“The constitution allows them to petition if they are not satisfied with the results but petitioning does not mean that they won the election. Also I would like to advise the PF to mourn the loss in Mpulungu with dignity,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Others contestants in the Mpulungu race were NAREP with 331, UNIP 112 and ADD with 62 votes.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MPULUNGU, PF
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MMD stole our votes - Sata
By Chibaula Silwamba and Mwala Kalaluka
Wed 27 Oct. 2010, 04:10 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday charged that the MMD stole his candidate’s votes in the Mpulungu parliamentary by-election and that the party will petition the results.
And a consortium of civil society organisations that monitored the Mpulungu by-election have noted with great concern that the electorate in the area were being promised to vote for the MMD on the basis that it controls the country’s national resources.
Meanwhile, the MMD’s campaign manager in the Mpulungu by-election, Kapembwa Simbao, yesterday said the string of losses that the MMD suffered in the previous by-elections around the country is not healthy for a ruling party.
In an interview in reaction to the electoral victory of MMD candidate Given Mung’omba against PF’s Freedom Sikazwe, Sata said the PF had overwhelming evidence that the ruling party was involved in electoral malpractices.
“Those are our votes, they have just stolen it (the election). We have requested for a recount and whatever will come out of the recount, we are going to petition the results. They have swapped the results. We are going for a recount and will petition the results,” Sata vowed.
“The Minister of Community Development Michael Kaingu was openly distributing foodstuffs and money. That will be our ground to petition. We are not going to spare them.”
The MMD candidate Given Mung'omba was declared winner after polling 5,003 against the PF's 4,419. Others in the race were NAREP with 331, UNIP 112 and ADD with 62 votes. Sata accused the Zambia Security Intelligence Services (ZSIS) and Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of stuffing “fake votes” in the final nine ballot boxes.
However, Sata said the ECZ had blocked the PF’s attempts to seek a recount and verification of the votes, contrary to the provisions of the law.
“We have already hit the first obstacle; Mpulungu council secretary said we need a court order to do a recount and yet the electoral Act says the candidate can apply for a recount. The ECZ said they don’t want any recount but if you want any recount, go and petition,” said Sata.
“We are fighting; we will even go to the High Court because we have overwhelming evidence to prove that the MMD stole the vote, and we are going to get it back.”
And the Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP), Caritas Zambia and SACCORD, observed in a press statement yesterday, that they had noted several concerns in the just-ended Mpulungu by-election. They stated that the decision by ECZ to change the date from the initial October 28 to October 30, 2010 had caused a lot of uncertainty among key stakeholders.
The organisations noted that although the campaign period was generally peaceful, it was characterised by a number of electoral malpractices and that it was a terrain heavily contested by the MMD and PF. They noted further that there were accusations and counter-accusations of fraud and corruption during the electoral campaign and that the electorate were deprived of issued-based campaigns, which would have inspired them to go and cast votes. The organisations also noted with concern that on polling day itself, two MMD cadres were arrested for violating electoral laws.
“We note with great concern that a named candidate went around intimidating electoral officials trying to force them to sign party agents’ letters of oath at polling stations,” they stated in part.
“The turnout was generally low, especially in the rural areas. It was also observed that there appeared to have been high illiteracy levels, leading to many voters requiring assistance when voting.”
The monitors stated that the ECZ still had a lot of challenges to transport results from far-flung areas.
“The Electoral Code of Conduct was observed in breach by participating political parties and their candidates,” they stated.
“There was also a lot of abuse of GRZ vehicles by the District Commissioners.”
They stated in part that although the police enforced the public order Act in a professional manner, there was a notable shunning of opposition parties’ rallies by the police. The organisations again noted that media coverage still remained a great source of concern.
“It was noted with great concern that traditional leaders were openly siding with the ruling party,” they stated.
“It can be stated that the elections reflected the will of the electorate. However, we note with great concern that voters were being promised development if they voted for the MMD because they have control of national resources.”
Meanwhile, in an interview after Mpulungu by-election returning officer Charles Nyirongo declared MMD’s Mung’omba winner of the by-election at Mpulungu Civic Centre around 11:26 hours yesterday, Simbao said the people of Mpulungu had broken the MMD’s losing jinx. National Restoration Party (NAREP) candidate Alex Mwazya came third with 331 votes, while UNIP’s Germanico Simusokwe tallied 112 voters and the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) candidate Chilowela Sinyangwe got a paltry 62 votes.
The declaration of the winner in the by-election was delayed to late morning because of results that were being awaited from Fundamali and Chipako polling stations across Lake Tanganyika. Simbao said the MMD was relieved by its victory in the parliamentary poll following the string of losses that the party had suffered in previous by-elections around the country.
In Chilanga, UPND’s Capt Cosmas Moono was elected area member of parliament after he polled 3,702 votes, beating his nearest competitor Keith Mukata of the MMD, who got 2, 339 votes. Others in the Chilanga parliamentary polls were UNIP’s Henry Silumesi with 131 votes while NAREP’s Valarie Bwalya only managed 50 votes.
Earlier on Monday night, a contingent of about 100 police officers manning Chilanga Basic School, which was the tally centre for the Chilanga parliamentary by-elections, barred journalists working for the private and state media except ZNBC from covering the totaling of the results at the instigation of the ECZ on claims that they were not accredited.
Journalists from The Post, QFM, Muvi Television, Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail and Hot FM among others were kept at the roadside for at least seven hours on Monday night under tight police guard after they were blocked from entering the tally centre. Efforts by the journalists, Siavonga member of parliament Douglas Syakalima, UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa and pro-media freedom members of the public to reason with police officers to allow media practitioners to enter the tally centre were unsuccessful.
When contacted by phone, ECZ spokesperson Chris Akufuna was not of help to the journalists, insisting that they would only be allowed entry if they produced accreditation cards issued by the ECZ, and later his phone was off. Syakalima charged that it was unethical and tyrannical for ECZ to bar journalists from covering totaling of results.
Syakalima wondered why the ECZ and Zambia Police had barred journalists. “You are supposed to observe and write about what is obtaining there. Now, you are going to speculate and I can see so many police officers sleeping here hungry. The police should allow you to go and do your work,” Syakalima said.
“All these things we are seeing now are actually signs of a failed state. The Electoral Commission of Zambia, out of this act, because they have failed to do what they wanted to do, they are trying to stop you from reporting what is happening.” He said the conduct of ECZ officials against journalists was a tragedy to Zambia.
“I would call upon ECZ chairperson judge Florence Mumba, with the due respect that I give her, let her step down out of what has obtained here,” said Syakalima.
“I know this will look like demanding for too much but you as journalists; even Florence Mumba herself should be ashamed if she hears this, because I don’t think she is involved in all this nonsense of refusing journalists to go and report what you can see. The results are plain. Even in the midst of cruelty and dictatorial countries, they have allowed journalists to move around and report.”
After the announcement was made in the tally room by the returning officer, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma came to the roadside to avail the results to the barred journalists and UPND supporters.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CORRUPTION, DOUGLAS SYAKALIMA, GIVEN MUNG'OMBA, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, MPULUNGU
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UPND scoops Chilanga, as MMD takes Mpulungu - Full results
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 26 Oct. 2010, 03:10 CAT
THE ruling MMD has taken the Mpulungu seat following a tightly contested two horse race with the opposition Patriotic Front (PF). The MMD candidate Given Mun'omba was declared winner after polling 5,003 to the PF's 4,419. Others in the race were NAREP with 331, UNIP 112 and ADD with 62 votes.
And the UPND has scooped the Chilanga parliamentary seat following the elections held on Monday. Earlier during the counting the PF had started off with a slender early lead from 27 polling stations counted so far out of 60 but has since been overtaken by the MMD who are leading by an over 500 vote margin.
UPND candidate Captain Cosmas Moono was declared winner at 01:59 by returning officer Alfred Chipoma with 3,702 votes after beating the closest rival MMD candidate Keith Mukata who polled 2,339 votes.
Others are UNIP’s Henry Silumesi with 131 votes while NAREP’s Valarie Bwalya only managed 50 votes.
The polls in Chilanga were characterised by a low turn-out earlier in the day.
And in Mpulungu results are still being awaited as counting continues.
Keep checking for more updates.
Read the earlier story below.....
Voter apathy characterises Chilanga by-election
By Salim Dawood and Chibaula Silwamba
LOW voter turnout today characterised the Chilanga parliamentary by-election.
A check at various polling stations revealed that very few people had voted by midday.
At Parklands polling station, presiding officer Albert Hamayanda said only about 100 voters out of the registered 403 had cast their ballot between 06:00hours and 11 hours.
A voter, Hebert Songolo said it was unfortunate by-elections were being held so often, consuming a lot of money that could be used to improve the social sectors like water supply and rehabilitation of roads.
At Munda Wanga polling station stream one and four, presiding officers Sitali Muwela and Peggy Phiri respectively bemoaned the poor turnout.
Electoral officers in various polling stations had to wait for several minutes, and in some cases as much as an hour, before attending to voters that were getting to polling stations in small numbers.
Although some presiding officers could not give the exact number of people that had voted by the time of the visits, police officers manning the polling stations confirmed that the voter turnout had been low compared to past elections. The number of voters was expected to increase later on in the day.
And no major incidents were recorded in the various polling stations except at Kalundu Basic in Lusaka West where police officers averted a near fracas involving ruling MMD and the opposition UPND cadres.
A police officer told The Post that a group of MMD cadres in Kalundu compound near Kalundu Basic School went round threatening UPND cadres that they would be beaten if their candidate, Captain Cosmas Moono, won the election.
“And in turn the UPND cadres started making phone calls and organizing buses to ferry more of their cadres so they could come and help their friends, but we warned them that we would deal with them if they continued. We sent them away and ordered them to do whatever they were doing very far from the polling station and we are also sending away voters just as soon as they vote,” said the police officer.
Meanwhile, some voters talked to said they felt like they were wasting their time voting in the election because the people they had voted for in the past had not brought any real development in the area.
“I don’t know who am voting for but it’s definitely not the MMD they caused this by-election by their intolerance so if I vote for their candidate we could have another by-election once he has a little difference with his president,” said one voter who was just arriving to vote at Kalundu Basic School.
Four candidates namely Keith Mukata of the MMD, Captain Mono of the UPND, Henry Silumesi of UNIP and Valarie Bwalya of the New Restoration Party (NAREP) are contesting the by-election.
The Chilanga seat fell vacant after the MMD expelled Ng’andu Magande and his Kafulafuta counterpart George Mpombo accusing them of indiscipline and disregarding party regulations.
But Mpombo has since contested his expulsion in the courts of law.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MMD, MPULUNGU, PF, UPND
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Red Cards irritate Rupiah in Mpulungu
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mpulungu
Sun 24 Oct. 2010, 04:50 CAT
File Picture: A PF supporter flashing a red card againts the MMD government in Kitwe
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda on Friday asked why a group of young Mpulungu residents had been allowed to stand in a small corner of the town and flash their “silly” red cards at him and his motorcade.And before addressing his last campaign rally in Mpulungu town, President Banda called for a minute of silence in honour of the late Mpulungu MMD parliamentarian, Lameck Chibombamilimo, whom he unceremoniously sacked and expelled at a State House MMD rally last year.
Meanwhile, Mpulungu’s Stella Maris Catholic Church parish priest Fr Chisanga Takuyamabwe said he is of the view that President Banda’s MMD did not do its homework when it sacked the late Chibombamilimo.
Addressing a rally at Muzabwera Grounds in Mpulungu town, President Banda said he had observed that whenever he passed through a certain point of Mpulungu on his way to campaign, a group of people usually flashed red cards at him.
President Banda was referring to the area around Mpulungu’s Chamuluzi Guest House, where the PF have mounted a symbolic boat along the road, which they guard for the better part of the day with or without police watching them.
The cadres take advantage of the spot to jeer and flash red cards at the MMD and government leadership.
President Banda described the group as ba mambala (crooks).
“You know we have got four, three or four days before the voting on the 25th for the new member of parliament for Mpulungu. Ourselves from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy since I came here, since my colleagues have come here our business is to go round,” President Banda said.
“You don’t see us standing in corners and waving red cards as if we are from a football match. Why are you flashing me your silly red card? Why are you allowing young people who have been given tujilijili by the leaders of the other opposition party to be waving red cards to people who are campaigning?”
President Banda said he was surprised that the young people were flashing red cards at him when he did not even vote in Mpulungu but in his hometown, Chipata.
“I don’t want my colleagues, my party to go anywhere where Mr. Sata is campaigning,” President Banda said. “Leave them alone and please leave us alone as well.”
President Banda, who described PF leader Michael Sata, as a chisilu (a mad man), said campaigning was not about castigating somebody else but telling the people what you were going to do for them and how.
“Let them (the opposition) tell you the truth whether we haven’t built anything for the benefit of the people here. How can they come here and say as they call me, to say Rupiah, RB has done nothing. Is that nothing? Are you not the people who said to me in 2008 that you want the road from Mbala to here to be fixed.
Didn’t you want this road to be fixed? Is it a bad thing that we have built a road?” President Banda asked. “I know you are happy and I am happy that this happened under my leadership.”
President Banda said he was happy that Sata and him were not young people anymore and both would be judged on their current and past records.
And President Banda said he had realised how important it was that the MMD majority should continue in parliament. He said for as long as he was President, Mpulungu Harbour, which the government repossessed recently, would never go back to its previous owner, as he was claiming.
Meanwhile, Fr Takuyamabwe said President Banda’s government should have consulted the people of Mpulungu before sacking the late Chibombamilimo.
“I think this by-election was unforeseen in the sense that we lost the area member of parliament in the name of Honourable Chibombamilimo and the Honourable was quite loved by the people. You would see how the masses voted for him,” Fr. Takuyamabwe said in an interview.
“I think as a church and as a church leader, I wouldn’t be in a position to state why the Honourable was fired but the sacking came as a shock to the entire citizenry in the constituency,” Fr Takuyamabwe said. “Maybe the man spoke his mind and maybe we can’t speculate. We leave that to the politicians.”
He said at the end of the day it was up to the people of Mpulungu to choose their best candidate in the by-election.
“People are crying for change not because they are fed up of the system but because we have turned the system. They are talking about personalities and not issues,” Fr Takuyamabwe said. “We don’t want people who come here to castigate others, to insult others.”
Fr Takuyamabwe said the MMD government was talking about the road that had been resurfaced, the high school that was being built in Mpulungu, as pointers to the development it had brought.
“If that is the development they are talking about but we need programmes that are pro-poor,” Fr Takuyamabwe said. “Programmes that trickle down to people and the community. We have got a lot of poverty in Mpulungu.”
Labels: MPULUNGU, RED CARD CAMPAIGN, RUPIAH BANDA
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Mpulungu seat aspirant advises MMD against adopting Sikasote
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 21 Sep. 2010, 14:10 CAT
OUTGOING Mpulungu council chairperson George Tembo has warned that the MMD will stand a big disadvantage if they adopt the party’s Northern Province chairperson Griever Sikasote in the Mpulungu by-election. In an interview on Monday, Tembo warned that the MMD would stand a big disadvantage if they adopted Sikasote in the Mpulungu by-election.
Tembo, who is MMD Mpulungu-Central ward councillor, said Sikasote was elected Mpulungu member of parliament in 1996 but there was nothing satisfactory in his performance.
“There was nothing. That is why another person should be given an opportunity. In fact, in 2001 he stood and he lost. So people had lost confidence in him. So he is just trying to bulldoze,” he said.
Tembo said there was no way Sikasote could continue holding meetings when he had applied to contest the Mpulungu election.
He said many people in Mpulungu held late area member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo in high esteem, warning that adopting Sikasote would not augur well because he did not relate well with the late parliamentarian.
“And being a person who was so close to Chibombamilimo, all the programmes, all the development which was being initiated, we were together. I think you know to say the relationship between Sikasote and Chibombamilimo was not all that. It was sour,” Tembo said.
He said he had served as youth and council chairperson for a long time and now was the time to graduate.
Tembo said Sikasote should not use his position to suspend him and others for expressing their views on his activities.
“That petition which we submitted, I think it was in the right frame, so there can’t be any reason why he should slap us with a suspension…people should get the views from what people are saying. What matters is for one to have a clean record because as you are aware Sikasote was once a member of parliament for Mpulungu in 1996,” said Tembo.
The Mpulungu by-election is slated for October 28, this year and Sikasote is said to have applied to be adopted to contest the seat on the MMD ticket.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GEORGE TEMBO, GRIEVER SIKASOTE, MMD, MPULUNGU
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Pact resolve to field one candidate in Mpulungu polls
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 20:40 CAT
THE PF–UPND Pact have agreed to field a single candidate under the PF ticket in the Mpulungu by-elections both parties have confirmed. PF general secretary Wynter Kabimba said the decision was arrived after looking at the votes that PF polled in the that area in the 2008 elections.
“We can’t say Mpulungu is not a stronghold for PF. We agreed after looking at the figures that each party got in that area during in the 2008 presidential elections and it is based on those figures that the decision was taken,” Kabimba explained.
“We hope that we don’t experience the confusion that was experienced during mayor elections where members of both parties decided to contest against each other after an agreement that the PF vies for the position of mayor and the UPND vies for the position of deputy mayor.”
The Pact has faced numerous challenges in adopting candidates to stand on various positions during national elections as witnessed in the Chadiza and Kaoma local government by-elections as well as the recent mayoral elections.
On the Chilanga seat which fell vacant after the expulsion of MMD member of parliament Nagndu Magande, Kabimba said that the two parties were yet to discuss who would contest.
“Right now the PF has advertised the position and I can tell you that a total of seven applications from members of the party who want to be adopted have been received. But we are yet to discuss the seat with the UPND leadership,” he disclosed
And UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma also confirmed that his party had agreed to back the PF in Mpulungu in accordance with the agreement entered into when the two parties went into a Pact.
Meanwhile both Kabimba and Kakoma both also confirmed that the Pact was making new guidelines to resolve future impasse in fielding candidates .
Kakoma who admitted failure for the two parties to coordinate the recently held elections said the new guidelines would among other things include sanctions that shall be imposed by those that defy them.
“In the mayoral elections the Pact decided to field a PF candidate for the position of mayor and the UPND the position of vice mayor but we had more than one candidate from each party contesting the election,” he explained.
“So probably people decided to exercise their democratic right. But there will be sanctions for those who defy the agreements.”
Kakoma admitted that it was obvious that there may be hiccups when two political parties came together but this did not mean failure.
“We don't expect everyone to agree with what is going on in the alliance. It is for this reason that in the spirit of commitment towards the Pact, we have a joint committee on elections currently sitting to come with new and fresh guidelines which will be used when fielding candidates to stand on either party,” he explained.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set October 28 as polling day in the Mpulungu by-election .
The seat fell vacant after the death of its member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo after suffering from renal failure.
Labels: MPULUNGU, PF-UPND, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Mpulungu seat dicey for MMD – insider
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thu 09 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
A SENIOR MMD insider has revealed that the Mpulungu parliamentary seat could either go to the ruling party or the opposition, describing the situation as dicey for the MMD. But Northern Province MMD vice-secretary Jairus Simunyola on Tuesday said claims that the opposition would win the Mpulungu seat were just political talk.
The insider admitted that chances to win the Mpulungu seat, which fell vacant after the death of MMD parliamentarian Lameck Chibombamilimo, were fifty-fifty between the ruling party and the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).
“Anybody can win this seat. For now we can’t say we are going to win. It’s dicey for us. In politics there are no underdogs, especially this time,” the insider said.
“Even our provincial chairman Griever Sikasote is eyeing the seat. He has shown some signs that he wants to stand, but he is still canvassing for support before publicly announcing his intentions.”
But Simunyola said the MMD was looking to the grassroots to see which person could help the party win the election.
“Everybody is popular; even those who are not contesting claim to be popular,” he said.
Asked about reports that Sikasote wanted to bulldoze the selection process so that he is adopted as the MMD candidate in Mpulungu, Simunyola said every party member was free to apply to be adopted, including Sikasote.
“We have left it open to anybody. We can’t stop any member of the party from contesting. If the chairman wants to contest, we will wait to get his application. It will happen when the MMD national executive committee advertises for people that want to stand,” Simunyola said. “If he applies, we will scrutinise every application.”
Simunyola said it was not true that Sikasote wanted to bulldoze the process.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MMD, MPULUNGU
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Lack of gravel stalls Mpulungu-Kasaba bay road works
By Moses Kuwema in Mbala
Sat 26 June 2010, 17:20 CAT
ROAD Development Agency (RDA) regional engineer for Northern Province Chapwe Tumelo has revealed that construction works on the Mbala-Mpulungu-Kasaba Bay road have stalled because of gravel challenges.
Speaking on Friday when he inspected the road, Tumelo said the contractor, China Giangxi, who are working on the road were still looking for a gravel pit.
"The challenge we have on this road is the issue of gravel pits so as a result of that, works have stalled but I think we should be starting in two weeks time," he said.
Tumelo said out of the 146 kilometers stretch to Kasaba Bay, 20 kilometers had been cleared up of which five kilometers had been gravelled.
"There are three access routes to Kasaba bay, there is the Mporokoso-Kaputa-Chitundu and Chunga but the road which is better is this one, that's why government embarked on the programme to develop it because they want the Nsumbu National Park to become a fully-fledged tourism resort and of course we have the Kasaba Bay," he said.
Tumelo said the project was supposed to be completed in March 2011 and that the contract amount was K40 billion.
"Works on this road started on January 4 this year and are expected to be completed in March 2011, it's a 15 months contract," said Tumelo.
Labels: CHAPWE TUMELO, GRAVEL, MPULUNGU, RDA, ROADS
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Mpulungu council to demolish poorly built structures
By Emmanuel Kapampa in Mpulungu
Wed 12 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
MPULUNGU district council will soon demolish all poorly built structures, council chairman George Tembo has said.
The council has since given businessmen whose structures are in a poor state 60 days to beautify and properly construct them according to acceptable standards, failure to which they would be pulled down.
In an interview, Tembo said the exercise was in line with the council’s quest for cleanliness and to enforce the ‘Keep Mpulungu Clean’ campaign.
He said restaurants and bar owners who were not adhering to health standards would also have their premises closed.
Tembo said he was extremely disappointed with the dilapidated state of some premises offering goods and services to residents in the township and blamed the proprietors for the negligent manner in which their places were run.
“In this demolition exercise, in which we have the full backing and support of residents, we shall start with five structures located to your left just as you enter the township. And these include shops, the police club, bars and those lodging shelters at the back of these filthy structures,’’ he said.
Tembo said the structures were making the township look dirty and untidy.
In the programme, Tembo stated that the council would work in collaboration with state police.
He said he was equally not happy with the way Ngwenya market (the trading centre for fish and Kapenta on the shores of Lake Tanganyika) was being run.
“There is a lot of dirt in that market, restaurants are operated in unsanitary conditions and as council we want to ensure that cleanliness is brought there even if it means closing the market altogether. Moreover, that is the place where cholera mainly originates from in this town,’’ he said.
He said Mpulungu district council was committed to raising the standards of cleanliness in the township.
Labels: CONSTRUCTION, COUNCILS, MPULUNGU
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Agriculture has potential to grow economy, says Mpulungu DC
By Emmanuel Kapampa in Mpulungu
Tue 11 May 2010, 03:20 CAT
MPULUNGU district commissioner Willie Simfukwe says the agriculture sector has the potential to grow the economy and raise the standards of living for thousands of people, when seriously ventured into.
Addressing hundreds of farmers during a field day held at Kasimango agriculture camp in Mpulungu on Friday, Simfukwe said countries like Malawi and Tanzania were doing well in agriculture and there was need for Zambia to turn to the sector for economic emancipation.
‘’Mostly here in Mpulungu, our people have always depended on the lake as a major source of living but every day we are hearing stories of depleting fish stock in Lake Tanganyika. So this is the time to diversify, move away from fishing and go into crop production,’’ he told the farmers.
He assured that the government would provide an enabling environment for people who wanted to venture into the growing of crops as a business and source of income.
Simfukwe said the onus was on the farmers to work hard and grow enough crops to ensure household food security in the nation.
‘’ As we are seeing, this area is now opening up meaning that there will be a lot of activity in trade, agriculture and tourism. My appeal to you is grow enough crops and sell to Kasama, Mbala, Mpulungu and Kasaba bay and raise money to improve your lives,’’ he said.
And district agriculture coordinator Boniface Mwalongo advised the farmers to make use of natural fertilisers, saying that industrial fertilisers and other agriculture inputs were not always enough to benefit all the farmers.
He noted that farmers must also be visionary and exercise thrift spending after selling their maize to FRA this marketing season.
He advised them to save some money to spend on farming inputs in the next farming season to allow for continuity.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, BONIFACE MWALONGO, FARMERS, LAKE TANGANYIKA, MPULUNGU, ORGANICS, WILLIE SIMFUKWE
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Mpulungu MP buys 2 ambulances with CDF
By Sandra Lombe
Tue 09 Mar. 2010, 05:20 CAT
MPULUNGU MMD member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo has said two ambulances worth K157 million have been procured using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for people in the area. Chibombamilimo yesterday said the 4x4 ambulances were for Vyamba and Chitimbwa zones, which were far from the district hospital.
He said the move to buy the ambulances was aimed at helping to reduce the number of deaths that occurred due to the long distance that people covered to get to the hospital.
“After consulting the people and stakeholders, we found that people needed ambulances. The 4x4 ambulances are ideal for the Mpulungu terrain. They were bought for K157 million both using CDF, they are tax-free. They are almost new vehicles. They were got from Durban, South Africa," he said.
"We are grateful to ZRA because they are tax free. The ambulances will go a long way to help save the lives of people especially pregnant women, who at times use bicycles to get to the hospitals.”
Chibombamilimo said Vyamba zone comprised Vyamba ward which was about 40 kilometres from town where the district hospital is located, Chisha-Chinakila 81 kilometres and Isunga ward 191 kilometres.
“The Chitimbwa Zone comprises Katwe 75km, Mumila 108km, Itumbwe 120 km and Iyendwe 120 km wards,” he said.
He said he would buy another ambulance for Mpulungu Central.
Chibombamilimo said he did not expect the health workers to abuse the ambulances.
Chibombamilimo also said the people of Kapembwa mountain area did not want to move to safer areas.
“The situation is quite calm now. There was another earthquake tremor but people noticed it early from afar and left the place. Only houses were damaged,” said Chibombamilimo.
Labels: CDF, MPULUNGU
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Muzabwera water scheme a failure, says Simbeya
Written by Emmanuel Kapampa in Mpulungu
Sunday, August 09, 2009 9:20:57 PM
MPULUNGU district planning officer Jonathan Simbeya has said the Muzabwera water reticulation scheme in Mpulungu is a total failure because it has failed to live up to the peoples' expectations.
Briefing a team of evaluators on the Muzabwera water scheme from Care International, Simbeya pointed out that though the water project was well intended, the engineers overlooked one aspect of procuring machinery for the expansion of the water intake at the source, for a steady supply of water in Muzabwera compound.
Simbeya said currently, only three hours of water was supplied in a day to the residents of Muzabwera on a system that was initially meant to supply water on a 24-hour basis.
He outlined that this was because the machinery which was currently used at the source was static, outdated and outmatched by the increase in population in the district.
Simbeya said the machinery was put in place in 1984 to cater for 1,000 people, a sharp contrast to the 44,000 Mpulungu residents which the equipment is forced to supply currently.
Simbeya said because of this situation, the system was overloaded and highly inadequate to supply enough water to residents of Mpulungu.
He said that it was a scandal to experience water problems in Mpulungu district which had a huge expanse of water in Lake Tanganyika.
Simbeya told the evaluators that the remedy to the problem would be for government and the donor community to inject capital in Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company to enable them procure modern equipment and machinery that would match the demand and adequately supply water for the people of Mpulungu.
He said that even the water kiosks that had been built in Muzabwera were merely white elephants because they did not adequately serve the purpose for which they were intended.
He was however quick to point out that the little water which was supplied in the three hours had in a small way helped to reduce cases of diarrhoea in Muzabwera area because people initially used to draw water directly from the lake.
And D.Washe member Evelyn Mwanza said vulnerable people like the old and those suffering from HIV and AIDS were allowed to draw water from the 26 kiosks in Muzabwera for free.
Mwanza said the Residents Development Committees (RDC) had employed vendors who man the kiosks and charge a figure of K25 per 20 litre container and emphasised the need to improve the water supply at the intake.
She said although people were willing to pay for the service, they were disappointed by the low water supply they got daily.
But some Muzabwera residents connected to the water project dismissed Simbeya's assertions that they received water for three hours a day, saying to the contrary, they only received water for less than 15 minutes per day or none at all.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the residents said the Muzabwera water projected, though constructed in good faith, and could only be best described as a flop, because the local people are not benefiting from it.
They said the 26 water kiosks constructed in the peri-urban compound to serve the 14,000 Muzabwera residents, are just mere decorations and a source of daily conflicts and free for all fights that usually end up at the police station.
They said people in the area were geared to pay for the water service but were disappointed because mostly the water taps were dry and sometimes only produce foam, instead of water.
The Muzabwera water scheme is a multi-million-kwacha water project which was funded by Irish Aid and implemented and coordinated by Care International and Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company.
Labels: JONATHAN SIMBEYA, MPULUNGU, WATER MANAGEMENT
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Mpulungu residents demolish building for road works
Written by Emmanuel Kapampa in Mpulungu
Saturday, March 07, 2009 10:13:21
THE demolition of buildings, stores and other structures built along the main road in Mpulungu has reached an advanced stage.
A snap survey conducted yesterday revealed that most shop owners and businessmen whose structures have been earmarked for demolition had engaged people to bringing down their structures.
The works have intensified in order to beat the Road Development Agency (RDA's) ultimatum to the businessmen to have the buildings demolished by March 31 in order to pave way for the tarring of the main road by Raubex Contractors.
Last week, district commissioner Willie Simfukwe informed the businessmen that government through RDA has allowed that the period for the demolition of the structures built in the road reserve area is extended to March 31, 2009.
This was after the traders complained that they were not given enough time to carry out the exercise because they were unprepared.
Simfukwe however reminded the traders to be through with removing their valuables by end of March, adding that no further extension would be allowed.
He warned that the contractor, would remove any other structure remaining on the road reserve area by force if necessary, on April 1.
The government has awarded a multi million-kwacha road contract to Raubex Contractors to work on the Kasama-Mpulungu Road.
The works, expected to be completed by the end of this year, involve resurfacing, shouldering, pothole mending and general road maintenance.
Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, MPULUNGU, ROAD DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ROADS, WILLI SIMFUKWE
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