Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Chipata meets the these requisites required to be called a City-President Lungu

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PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, speaking when he conferred Chipata Municipal Council with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, speaking when he conferred Chipata Municipal Council with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS

President Lungu has said that Chipata meets all these requisites required to assumes the city status. In a speech during the the proclamation ceremony of the city of Chipata, the president said that Chipata has, among other requirements, a population of Chipata was 500,000 which is way above the 200 000 required for a city status.

The President further said Chitata has a well-defined central business district with modern amenities and facilities including shopping malls, financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies and pension funds.

Below is the full Speech

 

I am delighted to officiate at this very important ceremony at which the municipality of Chipata is to be proclaimed the City of Chipata.

I should hasten to say that achieving such a status is no mean achievement. I am sure there are many at this august gathering who are aware of the history of Chipata.

Chipata was established as an outpost for the british empire way back in the late 19th century after the conquest of the ngoni by the british around 1895. Surrounded by the hills, they made it a fortress and named it Fort Jameson in honour of Leander Starr Jameson, a 19th-century politician and adventurer.

In about 1906, Chipata golf course was developed, becoming the fourth golf course to be established in africa.

Following the establishment of colonial rule in Northern Rhodesia, Chipata was made the capital of North-Eastern Rhodesia until the unification of the two rhodesias. It is important to note that this was at the time when Kalomo, in Southern Province, was the capital of Northern-Western Rhodesia.

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

From these humble beginnings, Chipata occupied an important position in the growth of this country. It positioned itself as a major trading center to provide supplies to the rural population in the whole of eastern province. It is a link to Malawi. For those seeking leisure, it is an entry point to the south Luangwa national one of Zambia’s tourist destinations.

Chipata is today a multi-cultural metropolis with a population comprising people from different backgrounds including all tribes in Zambia, zambians of asian origin and those who have made Chipata their home.

Chipata provides the shortest route, (800 km) to the indian ocean deep port of Nacala in Mozambique. It is, therefore, an important nexus for our country’s socio-economic development.

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The economy of Chipata is largely dependent on trading, agriculture and tourism. Therefore, there is great potential for agro-based manufacturing industries for commodities such as groundnuts, cotton, tobacco and vegetable oil processing to mention but a few.

In this regard, I call upon investors to seize these investment opportunities to invest more crops that are produced here. To the local authorities, I urge you to make land available for investors who will be willing to establish manufacturing industries here.

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

For a town to graduate from a municipality to a city, it must fulfill the following:

  1. It must have a population of not less than 200,000. The 2010 census of population and housing shows that the population of Chipata was 500,000 thereby passing the threshold;

  1. It must have a well-defined central business district with modern amenities and facilities including shopping malls, financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies and pension funds. Currently, Chipata has over 11 banks with all the major banks represented in town;

  1. It must have improved road infrastructure where safety for the travelling public is guaranteed. With the modern road network which has provided for the commuters and cyclists safety, Chipata qualifies to attain a higher status;

  1. The level of other key services such as hotels, lodges, restaurants, and conference facilities, must meet some international standards, Chipata now has the three star protea hotel;

  1. It must have well-developed public services. Chipata currently has seven public secondary schools, a general hospital, a district hospital and other key institutions.

With all these requisites met, it is only proper that Chipata assumes the city status.

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The implications of attaining the city status are far reaching. For the new and latest city in the republic of Zambia, Chipata, it means that:

  1. The profile of the municipality of Chipata has been raised to a standard where Chipata should be able to attract investment in areas where the district has comparative advantage. Therefore, its status as a nucleus for growth has been greatly enhanced;

  1. There will be improved public service delivery, both municipal as well as other public services to the residents of Chipata and the province as a whole; and

  1. Chipata can take advantage of its locality in relation to malawi to ensure that there is close and enhanced cross-border trade, through the Chipata mchinji railway.

Distinguished invited guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

What we are witnessing today is a response to the numerous appeals presented to me since two years ago from the people of Chipata demanding city status. Therefore, I implore all of you to play your part in ensuring that Chipata succeeds as a city.

Chipata is among the provincial capitals that are proactively striving to improve their local economies.

That is why a number of organisations, including other councils, have undertaken study tours to Chipata to learn innovations and strategies that the authorities here are using in their daily operations and service delivery to the people.

I, therefore, wish to encourage both the provincial administration and Chipata city council to carry on with this momentum.

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is now my singular honour and privilege to exercise my powers contained under section three and four of the local government act, cap 281 of the laws of Zambia, to proclaim that the status of a city, is hereby, conferred on the municipality of Chipata: the municipality shall henceforth be known as the City of Chipata.

This proclamation shall come into effect tomorrow, 25th February, 2017 in accordance with Statutory Instrument no. 13 of 2017, the city of Chipata proclamation, 2017 issued under my hand.

Congratulations to the people of Chipata and to all partners who have helped transform this vision into reality.

May the almighty god bless the city of Chipata and its people,

May god bless our country, Zambia,

I thank you and God bless us all.

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, being welcomed by Councilors at Chipata Civic Centre where he went to confer the district with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, being welcomed by Councilors at Chipata Civic Centre where he went to confer the district with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, being welcomed by Councilors at Chipata Civic Centre where he went to confer the district with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, being welcomed by Councilors at Chipata Civic Centre where he went to confer the district with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, Chipata City Council Mayor, Sinoya Mwale and Eastern Povince Minister, Makebi Zulu at at the Council before it was conferred with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, Chipata City Council Mayor, Sinoya Mwale and Eastern Povince Minister, Makebi Zulu at at the Council before it was conferred with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu inspects a guard of honour mounted by the fourth battalion of the Zambia Army where he went to confer Chipata Municipal Council with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu inspects a guard of honour mounted by the fourth battalion of the Zambia Army where he went to confer Chipata Municipal Council with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
MAYOR of Chipata City Council, Sinoya Mwale, delivers his speech during the conferring of the District to a City Status by President Edgar Lungu on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
MAYOR of Chipata City Council, Sinoya Mwale, delivers his speech during the conferring of the District to a City Status by President Edgar Lungu on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu releases balloons in the air after conferring Chipata Municipal Council with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu releases balloons in the air after conferring Chipata Municipal Council with a City Status on Friday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS

30 COMMENTS

  1. I have never seen the kind of tribal hate I’m seeing in the Zambian history. I’m so worried that I do not know where we headed to. In places of work it becoming so rife. Why now my beloved Zambia.

    • UPND under HH started this by declaring that only a Tonga can be UPND President. When other well meaning and responsible Zambian complained, the HH and his UPND instead began to play the tribal game saying those who complained were against the Tonga people. this was and is not true. What was being complaibed about was the tribal declaration by HH and UPND leadership. This is the genesis of this ribal talk. HH caused it.

  2. What warrants him to say Chipata qualifies to be a City other than his origins?

    It would have have been more appropriate for him to declare Solwezi a city than Chipata!

    Solwezi may not have the infrastructure but with booming mines it is developing faster despite deliberate frustrations by PF leadership to lopsidedly take road & other infrastructure developments to nonproductive provinces.

    God is always wise to plant minerals in certain areas so that no matter how much you hate such areas your will still flock there for greener pastures – Kanshanshi, Lumwana & now Kalumbila.

    What is there in |Chipata other Mbeba & Mwenye shops?

    • Typo error in a hurry to catch last bus to beat night travel ban!

      What is there in Chipata other than Mbebas & Mwenye shops?

    • UPND under HH started this by declaring that only a Tonga can be UPND President. When other well meaning and responsible Zambian complained, the HH and his UPND instead began to play the tribal game saying those who complained were against the Tonga people. this was and is not true. What was being complaibed about was the tribal declaration by HH and UPND leadership. This is the genesis of this ribal talk. HH caused it.

  3. Lusaka, where the drunkard is supposed to work and live is one vast squatter camp, very filthy, a pig would be ashamed to call it a sty.

    • When people of Chipata were open minded, allowed development to take root, some people were still herding cattle in their dirty roads. You will die of living in defeat and denial while others are moving on. You can go to hell!!!!!

      Harry Nkumbula was drinking while KK was signing for Independence. ECL defeated HH who is drunk with being over puffed-up on self esteem. Zambia is lucky these dogs did not get power. Zambia would be a filthy place. they cannot even clean their homes and back yards. they all look like cattle kraals. You go hang with you dirty hate!!!

  4. Depending on one’s standards, Chipata is a city. In most civilized places it does not qualify to be called a city. Congratulations his excellence the president of Zambia on this wonderful development. Laughable!!

  5. Please note again in your grease head that this declaration of Chipata has nothing to do with HH. Just comment on the story. Some of you were born negative but please don’t politicise this city thing. I don’t like Edgar Lungu but I have been to Chipata and I think Chipata surely qualifies.

  6. Kikiki am currently now visiting in Stratford upon Avon in UK which is classed as a village here and yet it is more developed than Lusaka. And this rat wants us to believe that chipata has city characteristics. Please can some one slap that rat into sense

    • You cow herder, you are not a British but a squatter. You belong to your filthy village somewhere in SP. It is not the comparative level of development, but meeting the minimum requirements for a city standards, country specific. You are in UK, tell the Brits that they are stupid for declaring Lusaka and Livingstone cities during the colonial. You are just lousy loser who have no good to offer apart from tribalism and thinking that only SP and HH matter in Zambia. You can go and hang and continue washing cow asses there in UK to make a living.

      No matter how much you hate ECL he walloped you and you rich fool, thief HH. You thought tribalism will win. Bastards you lost fortunately. You HH and UPND will never rule Zambia. You made to be governed because you are sick in the head!!!

    • Kikiki asigai to correct you I am visiting the UK on business and pleasure. You are indeed right that under pf we have seen many Zambians become economic refugees in other countries. Just recently that fat useless south African high commissioner mwamba stated that many Zambians in south Africa are on asylum visas. So who has failed the people? Is it not your party with that dog called lungu? You go on to sabayila about tribalism and yet you are the only one here using tribal hate. You can go on living in utopia of a stolen Victory but it is not enjoyable because just other day lungu was forcing people to recognise him as president. How can anyone do that when the elections were marred with irregularities which you saw fir yourself. Learn to be objective and take that head of yours out of…

    • Different countries have different standards and he the president has given the reasons qualifications for his actions. Maybe our arguments should be that we raise the standards period. He the president did not write those standards anyway!

    • Ba NEZ under the same PF you are able to do business and travel for pleasure. Learn to appreciate your country. Do not comment on RSA zambia issue without data. Most of the Zambians on asylum in RSA is because there are married to Congolese men. These men ran away from war and got Asylum in RSA. When they got married to Zambian women, the women became one with them and upon expiry of the Zambian women permits, the shortest route was to obtain asylum using their spouses. Children followed suit. Chipata is a City and leave with it! This is exactly the same way you are recognizing ECL as President but the country moves forward.

  7. I wish Presents lungu mentioned the lamba people in his speech.
    One of the riches, unselfish, generous and unrecognized tribe in Zambia.

    When our forefathers needed work they used to ran to Lamba land and got work and educated us, now it’s time for us to go back and build our cities.

    We are Zambians when it’s convenience for us.

    • Mypoint have ever been to Chipata? The lives of those guys have experienced massive changes in the past 5years. You continue hallucinating

  8. Zambia needs to adopt a federal type government and let all provinces turn into states with own chosen names so that each state government will from resources therein drive own development agenda! The deep division the country is experiencing will not go away easily in the near future or another 50 years and forget prayers for these are as good as whats in the heart of the one praying!

  9. Makes no difference to the locals whetherChipata is a Municipality or so called City. The Council will continue to exploit and enforce exorbitant Owners Rates. A calculated programme to secure council employees their terminal benefits and all sorts of allowances instead of channeling such income towards beneficial development.

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