The Construction of 22 Dip tanks at a cost of over 2.5 million kwacha in North western province by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is progressing well.

Acting Provincial Veterinary Officer for North Western Province in the department of Veterinary Peter Banda says the construction of the dip tanks is impressive adding that five of them have been completed and will soon be handed over to the Government.

Dr.Banda was speaking in an interview with National Agricultural Information Services-NAIS in Solwezi after touring the construction and rehabilitation of Livestock facilities in the districts.

He further disclosed that about five dip tanks have been completed while others were they started late are still being constructed with some challenges such as the slow pace of funds for the contractors, rainfall and the bad state of the roads to various sites in some districts.

“The construction of these dip tanks are progressing well and 5 are already completed so far. The remaining ones are on various stages such 50 up 70 percent works especially that some of them started late due to differences in awarding the contracts, locations and others had challenges of the rainfall flooding the dip tanks which are under construction,” said Dr.Banda.

Dr.Banda said that out of the total number of 22 dip tanks under construction, 16 were new ones while six of them were old ones but under rehabilitation in the province.

“In North western province we are constructing 22 dip tanks. Out of the 22 dip tanks, 16 dip tanks are new while six are under rehabilitation. So far the works being done are ok and contractor are complying with our directions of how to construct these facilities especially that it is the first time contractors to do such works,” he said.

And one of the farmers of Chikonkwelo Agriculture Camp in Kabompo District Chris Sachingongo and Singtone Musanda of Mukangala Agriculture Camp in Ikeleng’i district have described the move by government to construct and rehabilitate dip tanks, Livestock Service Centers in the province as real development.

Meanwhile, Chidikumbidi Construction Company Managing Director Morgan Luvweyi of Kabompo District says the works are on schedule though with challenges of the rains and the slow pace at which government is releasing funds.

Mr.Luvweyi appealed to the government to work on the roads for easy access to the facilities and improve the payments of the funds to enable even other contractors to complete the projects within the stipulated period.

Another Contractor Universal Safety Solutions Director Banabas Matesu of Kabompo who is constructing a dip tank in Samununga Agriculture Camp was satisfied with the works and is expected to hand over the facility in 2 weeks time.

Mr.Matesu appealed to the government to expedite the funding to contractors to finish the projects in good time.

And Acting Zambezi District Agricultural Coordinator Emmanuel Ndonyo commended the contractor and the farmer’s cooperation during the ongoing of construction and rehabilitation dip tanks, Livestock Service Centers in the district.

Vice President Inonge Wina today visited the funeral house of the late veteran politician Lavu Mulimba in Lusaka West.

Mrs Wina paid tribute to the late Mr Mulimba for his contribution to the national development of Zambia since independence.

She further appealed to the mourners to remain united in love as they prepare to travel put Mr Mulimba to his resting place.

This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Vice President’s Senior Private Secretary Ambassador Sheila Siwela.

And Family Spokesperson Ronald Mponda has thanked President Lungu and the government for providing logistical support during the period of mourning.

Mr Mponda further thanked President Lungu for sending a message of condolences to the bereaved family.

He also thanked Vice Presdient Inonge Wina for personnaly visiting the funeral house to console the bereaved family despite her busy schedule.

The late Mr Mulimba will be buried in Sandwe village in Petauke district on Tuesday 7th April soon after the church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

The late Mr Mulimba, 77 died on March 31st after an illness.

He served as Defence Minister and Member of Parliament for Petauke Constituency.

He also served as Human Rights Commissioner.

ZATVA Director of Programmes Nakiwe Simpungwe says it is also gratifying that no issues of tribalism have been reported in the run up to the three parliamentary by-elections.

Ms. Simpungwe says the stance by Republican President Edgar Lungu to condemn tribalism should be embraced by all well meaning Zambians.

She has since urged political players to avoid violence and tribalism as it results in voter apathy.

The ZATVA Director of Programmes has since urged Zambians to turn up in numbers to vote for leaders of their choice.

Ms. Simpungwe has also urged players to stick to issue-based campaigns as opposed to character assassination.

THE Auditor General’s report has revealed that about K52 million given out to University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) students has not been recovered.

The loans are expected to be recovered from the graduated students, and subsequently deposited in the bursaries revolving funds account to assist other vulnerable students.

The unrecovered money was paid to 4,088 students from the two public universities.

The report further states that the non-recovery of students’ loans has been outstanding since 2004.

This came to light when Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education permanent secretary Patrick Nkanza appeared before the Public Accounts Committee during the week.

“It is, however, regrettable that recoveries had not been effected as of August 2014,” Dr Nkanza said.

He said that the ministry is in the process of migrating from the old system, which had no properly defined modalities of recovering the loans.

Dr Nkanza said that the new system will ensure loans paid out to various students are adequately tracked and fully recovered.

“Structures and the loan recovery system will be developed once the loans board is put in place,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General’s report has also revealed that about K19 million paid as allowances to students abroad has not been acquitted.

The money was paid to 1,108 students abroad through Zambian embassies.

The report revealed that no acquittal sheets were availed for audit to verify whether they were received by intended beneficiaries.

IT is surprising that some people in Western Province have continued to vote for opposition parties despite the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) initiating developmental programmes that are resulting in job creation and improvement of people’s livelihoods, Minister of Education Michael Kaingu has said.

In separate meetings with marketeers and PF cadres in Limulunga Ward yesterday, Dr Kaingu said the people of Western Province have benefited a lot in terms of decentralisation through the creation of nine new districts.

“ADD won’t take you anywhere. You should appreciate what the PF is doing, we have the first female Republican Vice President and we have new districts meaning that people no longer access services in far places.

This is a sign of total commitment from this government which loves you and you vote for it in 2016,” Dr Kaingu said.

“I am MMD, the minister here is UPND but we have seen that this is a working government and people should not tell you lies that President Edgar Lungu will not deliver.”

Earlier, Western Province minister Poniso Njeulu suggested that contractors that abandon government projects after receiving down payments must be severely punished.

He also said that usage of prefabricated materials should be encouraged in the region since the area lacks stones for construction.

Dr Kaingu was in the region to drum up support for PF candidates that are contesting by elections in Mabumbu, Katongo and Namushakende wards on April 14.

He is also scheduled to inspect school infrastructure projects being undertaken in the province.

President Edgar Lungu, has sent messages of condolences to the families of late former Minister of Defence in the UNIP government Lavu Mulimba and Chief Jumbe of Eastern Province who both died this week.

This is contained in statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda in Lusaka today.

President Lungu regretted the passing of Mr. Mulimba, 77, who died on Sunday at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital following an illness.

“It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Mr. Mulimba when I was on official duties abroad. Mr. Mulimba represents a fine generation of politicians who have taught us the great lessons that leadership is about public service and not about personal aggrandizement,” President Lungu noted.

He said when a country loses such gallant men that people tend to come face to face with the reality that this fine generation will not be with us forever.

“It is for this reason that the current generation of politicians must quickly pursue the values our pioneer politicians have bequeathed us.” He said.

The late Mr. Mulimba has been granted an official funeral on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, the burial date when national mourning takes place.

He will be buried at Sandwe village in Petauke where he once served as Member of Parliament.

Meanwhile the Head of State has consoled the family of the late Chief Jumbe of the Kunda people of Mambwe, who died on April 2, 2015 on his way to Chipata General Hospital following an illness.

The President notes with regret that the passing of Chief Jumbe robs the country of an outstanding traditional ruler who always sought to serve his subjects to the best of his abilities.

Chief Jumbe was among the Chiefs who the President met in a closed-door meeting in February this year when he was on a working holiday at the Chichele Lodge in Mfuwe.

“He provided wise counsel to me and promised to be part of my initiative to increase Zambian ownership of the tourism resource in South Luangwa National Park. It is with a deep sense of sadness that our beloved Chief has now passed on.” President Lungu lamented.