Chief Macha of the Tonga speaking people in Southern Province has scooped an African Sanitation Leadership Award in South Africa.
The award follows the traditional leader’s outstanding commitment to promoting good sanitary standards in his chiefdom.
The event took place during the Second African Week Conference on Sanitation at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Chief Macha attended the conference and received the award.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula has commended the Chief for being the first recipient to be awarded an African Sanitation Leadership Award for his role in promoting good sanitation and hygiene practices among his subjects.
Mr. Mbula says Zambia is humbled by Chief Macha’s recognition beyond Zambia’s borders and that government feels extremely proud.
He thanked the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) for nominating the traditional ruler to receive the top prize in the leadership category.
Mr. Mbula said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today signed by his Second Secretary for Press Phillip Chirwa.
Mr. Mbula made the remarks at the occassion on Wednesday.He urged other royal establishments not only in Zambia but through out the African continent to emulate Chief Macha.
He stated that the recognition of Chief Macha was not about prestige but a call to duty and service for the betterment of the welfare of the people who had entrusted their leaders with the responsibility to preside over their affairs.
“Zambia remains committed to implementing the February 2008 Thekweini Durban Declaration that seeks to assist African countries to accelerate and achieve national and regional goals on water, sanitation and hygiene. These efforts deserve commendation because they are in the best interest of improving the living standards of our people,” Mr. Mbula said.
And the organizers of the award described Chief Macha as a major force and driver of change in the implementation of community-led Total Sanitation not only in his chiefdom but also attained Open Defecation Free status which authorities in Choma district and the province as a whole appreciated.
Chief Macha’s efforts on sanitation coverage doubled from 50 to 100 percent at household level in less than two years. He came up with a deliberate slogan, “One Family, One Toilet’ that saw government adopt the Make Zambia Clean and Healthy campaign that is designed to improve sanitation across the country.
In receiving the award, Chief Macha said he is humbled and privileged to see his efforts in championing good practices in his chiefdom being recognised beyond Zambia’s borders.
“This award does not belong to me alone as a traditional leader, I only played an influential role and I thank my people and all those who helped and supported me for without them I wouldn’t be getting this award today,” Chief Macha said in a statement.
ZANIS
What do you expect from a Tonga?? Results
First Tonga chief to impress me, well done badala…
Well done My Chief, Well done people of macha. Let us keep on shining. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. The Munyimba Family.
Some of these awards I’ve never ever heard of…
am not a Tonga but married from in the macha clan.
CHIEF CHIEF (As the niger will say)
Well done
iwe Nine chale, just give credit were its due ala
A Real Chief, not those who parade themselves one minute supporting this party the next another, just looking for political favours.Crooked chiefs without morals. Wonderful Chief Macha, you are the real Chiefs Zambia needs, teach some of your neighbours like dat Nalubamba some cheifly manners. Your people must be proud.
Mwami wangu!!!! product of macha day secondary!!!! 1996….. kwa Gideon!!!
Mwami wangu!!!! i come from mwanambiya village next to Macha mission!!!!! Tonga Breeder!!!!
#1 MY FRIEND…i have worked with Tongas and a whole lot of different people across the country…this award is lovely and unique…but to say this is so because the good chief is a Tonga is really unfortunate, purely because people are different-many a Tonga fellow i have met in my life are ordinally folk, others are clean while others, i dare say, are dirty, lazy, bla bla bla…very much human! This chief is a distinguished gentleman making a difference…not because he is Tonga…you make us Zambian thinking Tongas look bad with comments like, ‘what do you expect from a Tonga? RESULTS!!!’ YOU OLD FASHIONED BASTARD!
#10 Dojo…..breeder is just excited about his chief, forgive him…..there is no need to let out your hatred for Tonga’s now. Your emotions are giving you away. So let breeder celebrate his tribe….okay dojos
I suppose this chief is a modern educated guy. I would like to invite him to our blog – if he is not yet here. Well done chief!
well done chief
Well done ba Chief. Next time, it should be another Chief to win an African Award in the fight against HIV and AIDS not ati ni mukoola, titengamo chabe
Good show chief Macha. I know this chief is very critical where there’s no development. He is very active. Well done. Twalumba kapati ba Mwami Macha Leza abe andinwe.
well done chief macha i hope the other chiefs can follow, i don’t know y pipo r really concerned about tribal issues maybe pipo on this blog r really old bcoz there are really very few young pipo in zed who r “exclusively” from one tribe so pliz let’s move with the times
#11Tonga Cow My lovely cow…how unfortunate that you cant tell between (actually written) the lines that am Tonga…that you didnt really understand what i was putting across in very simple english…but yet again it tells me alot about you my man…enjoy!
#10 Dojo, you son of gun!!! shallow mind animal
#17 Dojo do…..go back to #10….your emotions gave you away my man!!! Its clear for all to see, am sure #18 sees it too.
Well done Macha.. You showed your work not words hence the reward u got. Keep it up. Old Munali Sec Sch 1987 The Tonga from Chaanga
well done, may other follow in your foot steps!
‘One Family, One toilet’….. I wonder what Chief Mukuni would say to that…..!!