The Jesuit Center for Theological reflection (JCTR)  has bemoaned that  its unacceptable for  North Western province to  remain underdeveloped when it it is the largest contributor to  national treasury.
In Press Statement, The JCT pointed that the poor state of township roads has been a major hindrance to the economic growth, with increasing population and business opportunities created by huge investments in the mining industry.
The statement stated that a good road network is is required in Solwezi.
It further notes that the  the township roads are in is deplorable and they are the source of dust and mud that characterises townships during the dry and rainy seasons throughout the year.
JCTR says it is grossly unacceptable for a region like North Western Province to be subjected to the the deplorable environment.
“With all the huge Mining activities happening in the province and large contributions to the treasury the people of North Western Province expect basic social services to be available to at least justify this cost but it is not the case as school infrastructure and access to education, health service delivery and clean water remains a huge challenge to local communities.”
It added, “The May 2017 JCTR Basic Needs Basket (BNB) for a family of five living in Solwezi stood at K4,058.55 which is K24.55 higher than the April Basic Needs Basket which was at K4,034.00.”
“The increase in the BNB could be attributed to increased costs in some food items which include; Kapenta which increased from K142.20 per kg to K144.60 per kg, Beef also increased from K40.05 per kg to K42.50 per kg, Tomatoes also increased from K4.04 per kg to K7.22 per kg and Onion increased from K12.55 per kg to K417.61 per kg. Non-food items like and Electricity increased from K175.00 to K200.00.”
It said that the increasing in prices of commodities is attributed to high transportation costs of good into Solwezi owing to poor state of roads.
“The Basic needs basket still remains high for most families and the high cost of commodities continues to deprive families of the required basic needs and nutritious meals they are required to have in a day in order to live a healthy life,” it added.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections has demanded that the Mineral Revenue Sharing Mechanism be reinstated.
However, the JCTR says it recognizes that the 2015 Mines and Mineral Development Act does not include the Mineral Revenue Sharing Mechanism which provided that the communities retain a certain percentage of mineral revenues.
The organization is now demanding that this clause is returned to ensure that mining host communities benefit from the significant mineral development and exploitation taking place in their localities.
It is further demanding that guidelines be provided for its implementation.
“The North Western Province is home to three large mines; Kalumbila Mines, Lumwana Mines and Kansanshi Mines respectively of which Kansanshi Mines is the biggest mining tax payer in Zambia. According to the EITI 2015 report the FQM was responsible for more than a third of government income from mining sector in 2015 accounting for 3.3 Billion of revenue to the state,” it says.
“The analysis by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) ten companies contributed approximately 88 percent of total government revenues from the extractive industries sector in 2015, with FQM’s Kansanshi Mining accounting for almost 23.60 percent of the total extractive revenues for the year from mineral royalties, income tax, pay-as-you earn (PAYE), VAT, customs duties and other taxes and fees.”
Family of 5….
We are trying for or first baby and I know we won’t have more than two what’s point ?
Thanks
Bb2014,2016
@Mushota, you are a barren whore. And even your PhD in Erections does not help you to know that you put the erection in your pussi and not mouth to get pregnant.
Give NWP time. It has only become a net contributor to the economy in the last 10 years. The mines are still being set up. Lumwana township is still being developed. It has taken more than 60 years for Copperbelt towns to get to where they are today. Things do not just happen overnight. Furthermore, the mines in CB were owned by the government for some of that time, therefore money could be channelled into helping the people. NWP mine owners are foreigners.
PF will not punish North Western Province just because they voted for opposition. That’s what we call democracy. Why use the term if you are not ready? If you want a one party state say it than teasing Zambians. Credit to people of North Western for balancing the political cycles of Zambia. It’s a shame that the president has also accepted advice from wrong people like Mulusa. It shows no leadership.
If I were Lungu I would develop these areas that did not vote for PF?? to show I am a president of all people and not PF cadres only.
They themselves do not like development… they deny it ask anyone!!
As long as NWP produces losers like Mulusa and Kapita who are just concerned about their pockets, there will be no development in that Province.
For once buck teeth Kalusa Hichilema has spoken sense.
Development doesn’t come overnight, for sure the province will be developed.
the tax payer’s funds and loans are being pocketed in the pockets of Chakolwa Chagwa Lungu and the entire pf elite…lol
A good person is one whose values are fairness ,compassion, courage, integrity, empathy, humility, loyalty ,and courtesy.
Mushota set high ethical standards for yourself. Avoid being petty, greed, and never act with low self esteem
WHEN TIME COMES FOR REACTION, THESE NW PEOPLE ARE TOUGH AND ALL SHALL BE DONE. DONT PUSH THEM TOO MUCH WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE GETTING THEIR FUNDS AND PUTING THEM INTO YOUR POCKETS.
MWANAWASA IS TO BALME FOR OPENING THE MINES SO THAT THESE THIEVES CAN STEAL AND TAKE WEALTH TO THEIR PROVINCES. IF ONLY MWANAWASA STAYED NW WOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED GREATLY.
@5 Sena, Point of correction! This is where most of YOU MISS IT: INVESTMENT MINES STARTED WITH CHILUBA, MWANAWASA JUST INHERITED THE INVESTMENT AT THE POINT OF READINESS and then CLAIMED ALL CREDIT FOR IT! He even failed to use the mines to re-plan Solwezi!WHAT was MWANAWASA’s PLAN FOR NW for us to believe this assumption?
Yes, NW deserves better! They have not been treated fairly in some cases! HOW DOES A SENSIBLE GOVERNMENT MAKE AN EXPENSIVE ROAD IN DAMBOS TO APPEASE SECESSIONISTS WHO NEVER APPRECIATE AT THE EXPENSE OF NW WHICH IS PRODUCING WEALTH AND ITS PEOPLE ARE MORE DIVERSE AND WILLING TO BE WITH THE REST OF ZAMBIA?! That is one of the reasons UPND uses to fan the tribal divisions! HOWEVER, NW started producing copper under Mwanawasa’ MMD. They FAILED TO EVEN REPLAN SOLWEZI!
Or spend more on savage kawalalas in laupula whos only contribution to the economy and country is corrution and theives.
@6.1 Mana from.. THERE IS NO GREAT EXPENDITURE ON THE HATED LUAPULA that is why it is now the POOREST PROVINCE despite its potential. WESTERN has even a CASHEW PROJECT going on for them TO END HOUSEHOLD POVERTY while LUAPULA with MINING,AGRIC and HYDROPOWER GENERATION POTENTIAL is lagging behind! DO YOU THAT CORRUPTION AND THIEVING IN ZAMBIA IS PERVASIVE, AFFECTING ALL LEVELS ALL ETHNIC GROUPS!
Equitable development is what is required. As long as you have begoted people who feel that they deserve special treatment for the villages they come from or the way they vote then equitable development will forever elude this country.
How do you have two new universities being built in one region in a short space of time? How do you explain this? This is a classic case of the most primitive form of bigotry.
Ba mujibiyepi naba nyenga yami ma fontini. Bayishibafye ukutwela mwipunzya yaba nyenga. Ecl promised development they chased him with insults. If hh will qualify for presidential candidate in 2021 and IF he wins then he should take development to nwp because thise batocks will never vote for pf.
Like it or not N/W people can not be bought with chitenges .we people with integrity .we are not people who support blindly even when have seen the wrong being done
The first group of people to be blamed for lack of development in NWP is the Civic Leaders in that area. Councillors, Mayor, Council Employees and MPs are the first people to blame. This is the problem in this country where every time you want to blame the central government. If you check the responsibility and duties of these local civic leaders, you will get your facts correct. The Council has so much responsibility in the development of every district. BUT the problem is that these guys have no passion let alone initiatives of how to develop there areas. Central Government is far and also busy with many policy issues. Honestly, do you need the voice of PS for LGH for Solwezi Council to grade roads in Solwezi? Do you know how much money is paid to Solwezi Council for example by Mines?…
There is a serious need for a change in local leaders attitude towards development. Simple issues like creating a Memorial Park Cemetery in Lusaka. A burial space of 1.2m x 2.0m (2.4m2) is costing at least K4 000.00. Firstly, that land was given out to these guys by LCC. LCC has a team called Parks and Gardens. Why didn’t they think of creating a Memorial Park in the first place and create both wealth and jobs for themselves?. In a worst case scenario, in a Hectare of land the LCC would be making K16million at K4000 per burial site. And that is the minimum charge used. These are the ideals that are lacking within these Civic Leaders. I hope the other Councils have different approaches and wealth creation ideas.
Uneducated reasoning above by someone called Uncle Charles! What is your level of understanding my brother? These mines do not need to be owned by GRZ, they pay huge taxes that contribute to the treasury which JCTR is referencing here!
What loads of trash from you, keep your mouth shut, if you have little education! Even if its hatred of one people, honestly?
You should expect food items to cost more as long as they are bought from far away places – irrespective of the road conditions. People of NWP should take advantage of the high demand for food to produce and make money for themselves. The culture of depending on government on everything including tomatoes and other vegetables is absolutely the prime reason people will continue to suffer like that. The JCTR should try to look at the other side of the coin – instead of crying for them please educate people to be productive. Yes, they can not build good roads on their own but for sure they can grow their a lot to feed themselves. As food is a basic need, please lets emphasize on it instead of making the situation look like the province was far better off before the current government. NWP…
We are massaging their balls until such a time that they start voting for us, then we shall develop. In the meantime we are busy developing Northern and Eastern using jimbongo from nwp.
What kind of grammar is this????
The Jesuit Center for Theological reflection (JCTR) has bemoaned that its unacceptable for North Western province to remain underdeveloped…….
The increase in price of essentials is because of high salaries by employees of the new mines in the province..Gone are the times when everyone trecked to solwe.zi for cheap beans
The province should receive the lion’s share of dividends, rather than to be channeling bid money to the east, where only mopane worms are mined, it is thiefty of the highest order.
Theres Nothing Like Channeling Money To The East.
Easterners Are Hard Working, They Work To Their Talk. People Used To Laugh At Chipata At The Expense Of Poor Places In Zambia Bt Look At Where They Are Now. Chipata Is Even A City.The East Has Small Scale Farmers In Its Every Corner Who Produce Millions Of Metric Tonnes 4 The Country. NWP Can Only Develop If They Flash Out Corrupt Leaders And Thieves Like Mulusa Who Wants To Make A Capital City In Ngambwe Leaving His Area Solwezi Undeveloped. And NWP People Should Open Up Their Eyes And Be Productive Not Waiting 4 Basic Foods Like Tomatoes And Rape To Come Frm Other Provinces.
And Development Takes Time. CB Did Not Develop Overnight After Taking Mines There. Give Yo Province Time It Will Develop.