Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Residents fume after DC drills borehole meant for the community on his plot

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Some residents of Kaoma are irked with their District Commissioner Joster Manjolo’s decision to drill a borehole on his plot in the district’s Kalukungu compound which was initially meant for vulnerable communities in the locality’s far-flung areas.

The incensed residents urged the Anti-Corruption Commission, which has no presence in the district, to move in and investigate the Kaoma DC for allegedly drilling a borehole and installing a hand pump worth about K30, 000 on his plot without paying for the service.

The enraged residents, who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the DC’s decision to instruct government officers from the Department of Water Affairs to drill a borehole on his plot was tantamount to abuse of authority of office which the PF government has been preaching against.

They said the drilling rig, which is one of the new fleet acquired by the by PF government at great cost, was in the area to sink boreholes for the vulnerable and needy communities but the DC seized the opportunity and diverted it to his plot.

The locals said they are infuriated because the borehole has been drilled in an area which already receives piped water from Western Water and Sewerage Company when the poor communities in the outlying areas are lacking the essential commodity.

They said the PF government meant well by bringing the rig in the area because it realised that the local community was in need, adding that it was distressing that a leader like the DC could be so selfish and counter-productive to divert it for his personal gain.

They said water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and eye diseases like trachoma, whose prevalence rates in the district are high, will continue to be on the raise in Kaoma as there is a lack of clean water in some distant areas.

They said that the PF government’s decision to sink the boreholes in Kaoma district could have been a deliberate intervention to curb the spread of diseases caused by a lack of clean water.

Efforts to get a comment from the Kaoma District Commissioner failed as he was said to be on leave and has since gone for campaigns in Zambezi West constituency while his phone went unanswered.

11 COMMENTS

  1. PF does everything with two intentions: ostensibly for the public good but in reality to enrich its supporters. Hypocrites!

  2. We are were constantly told that DCs are civil servants not to engage in politics! But why has this rascal abandoned his office to go and campaign in Zambezi?…

  3. Why are these chaps complaining? The DC worked hard in Mangango and needs to benefit. He should install an overhead tank and submersible pump; not this village hand pump. Chikwanda should send some additional funds to Kaoma for the DC’s house up grading.
    What are the other DCs doing before they get fired like Kabimba? This is PF guys, you eat while you can. Ask George Chellah.

  4. Within 90 days let Zambians see conviction of this small thief who thinks when his bosses career thieving can be cut copied. PF is a dangerous specie to the Zambian nation.

  5. Such rot should have stopped with the Department of Water Affairs people. Why didn’t they refuse to drill the borehole on the DC’s private property and report the matter straight away?

    Preaching against corruption (….just like 90-day promises) is meaningless unless there are genuine systems in place to stop corruption (or meet the “promise”). Shame that our politicians can’t walk that talk and people still fear “victimization” for reporting this kind of abuse!

  6. Don’t pretend either HH,Nevers e.t.c goverments won’t be pefect because Zambian we are still hungry lions.PF is trying but it can’t manage them because us the people we do suport them without knowing.

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