By Henry Kyambalesa
I was personally delighted by the relatively peaceful parliamentary by-elections held in Luena and Chifubu constituencies on August 5, 2010. I hope the forthcoming Mpulungu parliamentary by-election slated for October 28, 2010 will be peaceful as well. We need to refrain from the savage behavior that was exhibited by some political cadres during the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election held on April 29, 2010.
We need to ensure that the campaigns in support of our respective candidates are conducted in a civil manner. After all, the individuals who are going to be selected by political parties as candidates in the by-election are not enemies; rather, they are all members of the Zambian family seeking to serve their fellow citizens as Members of Parliament.
We should, therefore, insist on having each of the candidates to explain to the voters in the Mpulungu constituency what his or her role would be as their representative in the National Assembly, and/or the development agenda of his or her political party in Northern Province.
There are a lot of important projects and programs which need to be pursued in Northern Province, such as the following:
(a) Upgrading of the transportation infrastructure to facilitate and expedite the ferrying of agricultural produce, inputs and machinery and equipment by providing for an inter-modal network of all-season feeder roads, trunk roads, and bridges—including the Mbesuma Bridge in Chinsali district on the Chambeshi River that has already been earmarked for construction.
(b) Introduction of widely accessible credit schemes, and provision of incentives for the establishment of privately owned facilities for processing, packaging and canning agricultural produce—including beans, carrots, cabbages and other kinds of vegetables, cassava, coffee, fish, fruits, groundnuts, maize, millet, potatoes, pumpkins, sorghum, sugar cane, and tomatoes.
(c) Provision for seed and fertilizer subsidies at 50% or more in order to facilitate the growing of crops that are currently being grown through the citemene system mainly due to the high cost of agricultural inputs.
(d) Provision for the construction of a magistrate’s court on Chilubi Island so that the police will not have to transport suspected law breakers to Samfya for court sessions.
(e) Upgrading of resettlement schemes by providing financial and material resources for constructing and/or rehabilitating boreholes, water wells, irrigation dams and canals, feeder roads, culverts, low-cost houses, clinics, basic schools, police posts, and other essential public services and facilities. Such resettlement schemes include the Lufubu Resettlement Scheme near Luwingu; the Lukulu South Resettlement Scheme in Kasama district, the Kanchibiya and Mufubushi schemes in Mpika district, and the new scheme based in Chief Katyetye’s area in Isoka district. And
(f) Provision of material and financial support to facilitate the construction and maintenance of irrigation canals, dams, furrows, and boreholes throughout the Northern Province. Successful irrigation schemes are an important element in efforts aimed at reducing poverty nationwide, as demonstrated by the Ngulula Village scheme situated 25 km from Kasama—which was initiated in 1955 and has continued to sustain local households through the growing and selling of beans, cabbages, carrots, fruits, groundnuts, maize, potatoes, sugar cane, tomatoes, and other crops.
Eventually, one would expect the agricultural schemes at Phillip Village in Chinsali District, the Kabila Village in Kasama District, the Bulunda Village in Chief Mukonge’s area along the Luwingu road, and other similar sites and communities in the Province to be as productive as the Ngulula Village scheme.
There is also a need to ensure that the tourism potential in the Northern-Luapula Circuit is fully exploited through projects and programs like the following:
(a) Improved airport infrastructure at the Kasama Airport, the Kasaba Bay Airport, the Samora Machel Airport, and other airfields in the northern region, and the opening up of the Samora Machel Airport to civilian aircrafts;
(b) A network of well-maintained roads leading to waterfalls, lakes, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries in national parks, and other heritage sites—including the Chishimba Falls National Monument in Kasama, Kalambo Falls and the Moto Moto Museum in Mbala, the Ntumbachushi Falls in Kawambwa, the Lumangwe Falls in Mporokoso, the Nachikufu Cave in Mpika, and the Mwela Rock Art site in Kasama; and
(c) Inducement of private investments in the establishment and maintenance of tourism camps, lodges and hotels mainly through the Tourism Development Credit Facility (TDCF).
These kinds of projects and programs can be funded through financial and material resources which could be saved by getting rid of top-level sinecures in government, merging some of the government ministries and agencies which have similar functions, reducing the number of foreign missions, reduction in the number of foreign trips and the size of delegations, and so forth. Similar projects and programs nationwide can be funded by creating a government that is smaller, a government that would live within its means, and a highly innovative government that would do more with less.
There no issues to be addressed. The die is cast MMD must lose
Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has suspended Kasama MP Geoffrey Mwamba from the party’ central Committee.
Mwamba, known as GBM, is facing possible arrest on a case at the Woodlands police where he is accused of assaulting his wife.
Mwamba has also been suspended from his position as chairperson for elections in in the PF.
Good analysis Henry, but that can only happen in your dreams, sorry!
that is what RB is exactly doing.you think like him
firstly the chifubu elections wher not non violent……..i remember the mmd candidates daughter was hacked…….but that aside if that is what is needed then the opposition will lose………………the late mp for mpulungu did alot for that community and by ur ascersion then it goews that mmd is the best for them………………..the problem is that you will eventually find that the best candidate is with the mmd but will still lose…..point and case GBM “aka “Mayweather” is victory
We shall vote enmass and send most of these pretenders packing…Jean Kapata, GBM, Nsanda, Lucy Changwe, Luibinda Given, Masebo, Siliya, Shikapwasha, Mwansa..we have a list of all the losers ..MMD to rule until 2016 then by that time the PACT will have matured with Sata and HH out of the picture..maybe Nkombo heading UpND and PF under a solid youngman…..for now no more experiments
I expected the author of this item to be knowlegeable, well, I dont know. The aothor ought to know that the issues listed above can only be EXECUTED by the EXECUTIVE wing of govt for they are the ones who collect and chew our taxes. MPs belong to the LEGISLATIVE wing of the govt and have neither the means nor the authority to do what is being suggested.
MPs can only offer supplimentary leadership by virtue of being community leaders, otherwise its unfair to for example blame Lubinda for the floods in Kamwala South, or Nsanda for the Potholes in Garneton. Its unbecoming for the govt to shy away from its responsibilties of governing and start blaming harpless MPs. Its equally unforgivable ignorance for MPs to promise the moon when their role is only to make Laws and not bringing devpt.
Those issues are government funded, the MP needs just to work with people on the developmental issues that may arise from time.The MP has no resources to fund all those projects his role is to work with the government in office so that development can reach the people.
7 Well observed. These are the issues that need to be clarified to people, Mps have the responsibility for advocating development programs for the country and their specific areas but ultimately the implementation is the responsibility of the government. This Zambian system of abrogating government responsibilities and apportioning blame to MPs just indicates how GRZ is inept and how ignorance of people is manipulated in holding on to power. We need to educate our own relatives to open their eyes to the kind of mistreatment they are getting from people they put into power. Things will only change once the powers of the presidency was reduced and a clear separation of powers between the different areas of governance was made clear. Must be frustrating to be a professional in GRZ.
This writer does not tell the readers why he has limited his article to Northern Province. **==**==
Kasama Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba has resigned as Member of Parliament.
Mwamba, known as GBM is said to be upset by party president Michael Sata’s decision to strip him of his position as chairman for elections and member of the central committee.
He has since written to Sata informing him of his resignation.
Mwamba says he only regrets that he has resigned without consulting the people of Kasama. He claimed that he will soon travel to Kasama to go and explain to his voters. He said that he wants to concentrate on his businesses which he said have suffered due to his involvement in politics.
Kibakimani (#7), Walubita Liyungu (#8) and Mwana Ka Kalunda (#9) … I believe you did not read the entire article. I also sometimes have no time to read everything Kayambalesa writes because his articles are often too long. But by saying the following, I believe the author is not suggesting that the “projects and programs” should be pursued by the elected MP: “We should, therefore, insist on having each of the candidates to explain to the voters in the Mpulungu constituency what his or her role would be as their representative in the National Assembly, and/or the development agenda of his or her political party in Northern Province. There are a lot of important projects and programs which need to be pursued in Northern Province, such as the following: …”
In other words, all the issues that the current MMD government neglects.
#7 that’s the biggest reason to change the constitution.Such monumentous decisions such as spending or war are never left to the executive alone.They may abuse it like mobutu,moi or mugabe to punish their opponents regions.In effect you’re telling us that mp’s are just rubberstamp with no authority.Mp’s need to be independent to check against executive excesses which they can’t do now as some are in cabinet with no clear separation of powers.Do as they did in kenya and have 15% of budget devolved to the regions to decide their own priorities.
are ball the water falls that the author knows in northern province?