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Nkana this afternoon snatched a late equalizer against Nchanga Rangers to gain their first point in two games.
A late goal from ex-Under-17 and Afrisports midfielder Mwila Kabwe earned Nkana a much needed point and some respite for caretaker coaches Fedelis “Josimar” Chungu and Fred “Schemer” Siame after two successive Faz Super Division defeats.
However, it might be too late to save the duo with either Kenneth “Bubble” Malitoli or Alfred Lupiya expected to be named as new coach before Friday although the duo is expected to remain as assistants.
Nkana move one place up the table from 11th to 10th place on 19 points from 16 games following their great escape act at their volatile home in Wusakile against Nchanga who opened scores through Floyd Phiri in the 24th minute.
Nchanga stay put in fourth place on 26 points from 16 games, five less than leaders Zesco United who are on 31 points with a game in hand after playing 15 matches.
And Zesco remain unbeaten in the league this season and remain at the top of the Super Division table after a 0-0 draw away to Choma Eagles in Maamba today.
Zesco enjoy a three point lead over second placed Green Buffaloes who exchanged places with Power Dynamos after a 2-0 away win over troubled City of Lusaka at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka.
Buffaloes collected the three points courtesy of goals from Kennedy Chola and Edward Museba in the 18th and 57th minutes respectively.
Power on the other hand drew 1-1 away at Konkola Blades after coming from 1-0 to share the points.
Felix Sunzu Jnr put Blades ahead in the 24th minute before Luka Lungu equalized five minutes before halftime.
Zambian student Emelio Mbozi at Kingston Maurward College has had an award created especially for himA ZAMBIAN student at Kingston Maurward College has received an accolade created especially for him, in recognition of his hard work and dedication.
Emelio Mbozi was presented with “The Principal’s Award for Dedication to Learning and Self Improvement” at the college’s annual prize-giving ceremony.
The 32-year-old has just completed a two-year National Diploma in Agriculture at the land-based Dorset campus and has returned home to Zambia for the first time since starting his studies.
“We have a range of prizes for our best students every year, but there wasn’t one that applied to Emelio under the current categories,” said Tim Stephens, head of agriculture, countryside and food at the college.
“But we felt his special qualities should be recognised so we created an award for him, and Novartis Animal Health kindly sponsored it.”
Emelio, who works as a government regional veterinary assistant in his home country, said at the ceremony he was looking forward to seeing his family again and hopes now to be promoted to livestock officer.
He travels between farms in southern Zambia administering vaccinations to cattle.
“I feel very honoured to get this award,” he said. “When I first arrived in the UK I thought it cold and the food strange.
“But I will miss Dorset and the friends I made here.”
Mr Stephens said: “Emelio impressed us because he came to an obviously very alien country to study in a foreign language, and took it all in his stride.
“He has been an inspiration to us and his fellow students.”
More than 115 further education students received awards at this year’s prize-giving ceremony.
Sports minister Kenneth Chipungu and his deputy Christopher Kalila going for the launch of the sports policy in Lusaka
Government says there’s need to enhance sporting infrastructure in the country in order to boost the morale of those involved in different sporting disciplines.
Sports, Youth and Child Development Minister Kenneth said lessons have been learnt from the just ended World Cup tournament in South Africa that it was only when the sporting infrastructure was conducive that the performance of footballers was excellent.
Chipungu was speaking in Kabwe this morning when he paid a courtesy call at Central Province Minister Ackimson Banda who was out of the Province on official duties but was represented by his Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama.
He said government was already making efforts towards improving the country’s stadia and that Ndola Stadium which was currently under construction was one such example of government’s commitment.
He said government was also considering rehabilitating Kabwe Railways Stadium because of its proximity and central location and funds allowing, construction at the site will kick off.
Chipungu further stressed that government could not do this huge task alone but that it needed financial support from cooperating partners and other well-wishers.
The Minister therefore called on NGO’s and other cooperating partners to partner with government in ensuring that the country’s sporting infrastructure was improved.
Zambia wasted the opportunity to host the 2011 All Africa games citing the financial challenges that dogged the country following the global economic clump down early in the year.
Neighbouring Mozambique has however taken up the opportunity to host the prestigious games that will attract more than a third of the continent’s nations.
And Central Province Permanent Secretary has welcomed government’s decision to construct and rehabilitate sporting infrastructure in the country.
Lumbama says the gesture would go a long way in not only improving the performance of different sporting disciplines but also putting the country on the world map in terms of sports activities.
He said the move will also motivate funs who shunned sporting activities because of dilapidated infrastructure.
He said he was aware that government was doing everything possible in ensuring that the environment under which sporting activities were undertaken was favourable.
The Permanent Secretary however reiterated Chipungu’s ’s concerns that government alone could not manage to construct and sporting activities in the country without the support of cooperating partners and other well-wishers.
He further said the improved infrastructure would help boost the efforts footballers and those in other sporting disciplines such as athletes, Boxers and Basket-ballers.
The permanent Secretary said it was the responsibility of every patriotic Zambian to ensure that the sporting infrastructure was eminent and conducive.
He therefore appealed to all capable Zambians to partner with government by making viable contributions towards the improvement of the country’s stadia.
A Lusaka female entrepreneur displays her textile products at Lusaka Club
By Wesley Ngwenya
On Tuesday, I took the day off and wanted to prepare for a presentation I was to make the next day. I walked across the street from where I live to buy the paper. One my way from buying the paper, I was stopped by a young man who made a comment that he liked my outfit.
I was wearing a Sean John casual outfit suit. I asked him why he liked the Sean John outfit. “It is cool. The clothes are strong and original. That is what rappers in America wear because it is a very expensive brand,” shared the young man. We talked briefly with the young man and learned that he was unemployed and looking for employment.
This got me thinking about branding. It is true that Sean John has become a world class brand–a brand that can be associated to rap and wealth even by a young man in Lusaka, Zambia. By the way, this young man has never been to the United States let alone outside Zambia. Personally, Sean John and Enyce are among my favorite brands in casual clothing. I remember during my Dillard’s days in Wichita, Kansas. I had stocked up so much on these brands such that Dillard’s upgraded my credit card to an elite client.[pullquote]Why is it that Zambia has no outstanding brands that can compete favorably and fair well within the continent of Africa or even within the country itself?
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Why is it that Zambia has no outstanding brands that can compete favorably and fair well within the continent of Africa or even within the country itself? There are probably many reasons, as outlined by many scholars that can be attributed to this. Personally, the first reason and perhaps most dangers is the “Foreign is Good” perception. Zambia today has very little it calls its own. Zamtel is Gone. Who’s next? Gone are the good old days when we manufactured clothes, blankets, bicycles, batteries, shoes, etc. Today we import toothpicks, toilet paper, cotton balls, nails, plastic bags, wires (even with the abundance of copper in Zambia) and the list goes on and on.
Our minds have been tuned to believe that foreign things are strong, better, reliable and make us feel good. Maybe this was true during the pre independence days. Maybe it was even true during the Kaunda days. But we have clearly seen and experienced that this is not true today. The many goods that flood our market today are poor in quality and yet expensive. Many of us will agree that one time or another we have bought something we thought was good quality but turned out to be the opposite. Don’t we have a word for that in Zambia? It is called Gon’ga—which pretty much means being cheated or undersold.
Because many of us have realized that foreign is not always good we need to turn to something local to meet our demands, but what can we find on the market that is local? This leads me to my next point; Zambia lacks vibrant local industries. Because we have not invested in the local industry, we have looked outside our borders. A well invested local industry is vital for a growing economy like Zambia. It is through this local industry that our goods will start competing with the foreign goods. These local goods will bring more revenue for the country than the foreign goods. Through the local industry more people will be in gainful employment and many people in our communities will benefit more.
What if Sean John set up a factory right here in Lusaka? Although, it will still be a foreign brand it will be within reach for the young man since he could get a job at the factory and be able to support his family. Better still, if our economy encouraged local entrepreneurship–we could set up our own local clothing company. This young man could be empowered with the right tools so that he can become his own boss. He could name the clothing line whatever he wanted. What is important is to create a brand that, firstly, will be appreciated by the local market the way Sean John is in the United States. Like we say here in Zambia local is laka.
The third reason why Zambia lacks vibrant brands is that we have poor policies by the government. Government is in charge of not only creating policies that are biased towards Zambians but also ensuring that those policies are adhered to. Government officials are, after all, the culprits in rushing for foreign goods. They take those luxurious trips to buy expensive brands of perfumes, clothes and shoes. If these people at the helm see Zambian goods as inferior how do we expect them to push policies that will enhance the image of our local goods?
The government needs to rise up and support the local brands both in policing and purchasing. It is time we had suit designers who are Zambians, It is time we had shoe designers who are Zambians. And it is time we had a perfume that is Zambian. These can only be achieved if the policies are placed in the right places by the right people.
The final reason why Zambia lacks vibrant brands is that we are not promoting the buy Zambia campaign. Buying Zambian goods not only empowers the seller but everyone involved in the process of bringing the product to the shelf–the supplier of raw materials, the transporter, the lawyer, the factory women, the shop owner and many others. Can you imagine the triple effect if each one of these people has at least six dependants? That is powerful. That is why we need our own Sean Johns in Zambia.
I remember during my employment at Dillard’s that there were Americans who will check at the tag before they bought clothing because they only wanted to buy what was made in America. Although, this was increasingly becoming a controversial issue then, I admired the fact that they wanted to support products that were local. I have been to communities in the United States where almost everyone drives an American car. I was very much out of place in my old Toyota Camry.
As a country, we need to get to a level when our local goods will be more appreciated than foreign ones. Personally, I am contributing in my own small way to the buy Zambia campaign. I look at the label “Proudly Zambian” if I am buying groceries especially. Next time you go grocery shopping look for this label and support our local products. There are many juices, biscuits, cereals, and fruits that are Zambian. Support Zambia and buy Zambian. After all local is laka.
Chinese Collum Coal Mine (CCM) in Sinazongwe district
Chief Sinazongwe has condemned the Chinese Collum Coal Mine (CCM) nationals for beating up Zambian workers which resulted in one them being admitted to Maamba Hospital.
The Chief bemoaned that it was unfortunate that the Chinese supervisors were still using the colonial system of beating up workers when they were on duty.
Last week four Chinese nationals at shaft three beat up two miners Kilian Chilindile aged 30 and Chipo Muleya who is 28 years old with sticks, spears, and anything they had in their hands.
“It’s a sad state of affair that colonial system is still being used when the country has laid down labour laws,” Chief Sinazongwe said.
He said Chinese investment is welcome in the country but they should follow the laid down procedures in addressing the workers’ plight.
The Chief noted that the Chinese government has invested a lot of money in the country but its does not amount to mistreating the Zambian workers and assaulting them with impunity.
Chief Sinazongwe appealed to the Mine Union of Zambia to ensure that they follow up the abuse of workers at the Chinese coal mine.
However, the Victim Chilindile said the four Chinese nationals that beat them up were detained at Sinezeze police post where they accepted the offense and paid K2 million each to the two victims.
Mr Chilindile said he was admitted to Maamba hospital after he was assaulted.
He narrated that trouble started underground where one of the Chinese supervisors detained them for allegedly failing to finish the target of 15 tones during their shift despite completing it.
Mr Chilindile said immediately they cam out of the tunnel they met a group of Chinese nationals and four of them started beating them up.
He said he has since quit his job because he could not afford to risk his life at the mine where human rights are not followed.
It is reported that the Mineworkers Union of Zambia may block attempts by government to bring Vale, a Brazilian mining company to operate in the country planned for this year because of its human rights record.
Mr Rayford Mbulu president of MUZ urged the government to draw lessons from the privatization of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines, which he said had left miners still going through turmoil and torment because the process had not been consultative.
Mr Mbulu said that based on the information, government is striking investment partnership deal with Brazil and about USD 600 million is supposed to be pumped into this country’s mining operations.
He said that the union had information that Vale has got the worst human rights records in relation to investment. Much as there had been massive attraction of investment in the mining sector, the question of credibility of the investors that were being brought remained unanswered. The other question that still lingered on concerned the workers and communities’ benefits from the investment.
Mr Mbulu argued that Vale, which had employed people under the United Steel Workers in Canada had subjected its employees to serious violations.
He said that much as it was important to attract investment, it was equally important to exercise caution and ensure that consensus was established through a consultative process before settling for any one investor.
The miners’ union was of the firm belief that the Brazilian investor that would be coming into Zambia was Vale because the company was also conducting prospective processes in Mozambique and Tanzania, and it wanted to grow its presence in the southern African region.
Meanwhile the chamber of mines said mining companies are not obliged to develop infrastructure in the areas they operate but they can do community social responsibility projects on voluntary basis in order to be viewed as good citizens.
Mr Frederick Bantubonse GM of Chamber of mines said while speaking during a public discussion discussion hosted by Caritas Solwezi in conjunction with CTPD on the subject that the mining tax debate: an endless tug of war on recently said there were no such conditions requiring mining firms to build developmental structures in their areas of operation.
Mr Bantubonse said that it was not clearly stated in statutory regulations whether the mining companies had a strictly assigned role in developing areas where they worked part from their core businesses.
Recently President Banda and his Brazilian counterpart, Lula Da Silva announced that two Brazilian mining companies planned to invest about USD 600 million in the mining industry through the opening of a mine in Konkola in northern Zambia.
[SteelGuru ]
(Filed by Mr Kapembwa Sinkamba SteelGuru Correspondent Zambia)
FLASHBACK Law Association of Zambia President Stephen Lungu (left) talks to Transparency International Zambia Executive Director Goodwell Lungu
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said it is premature and speculative to debate the proposed revision of section 37 of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act because the bill has not been made public.
LAZ president Stephen Lungu also urged the public and other stakeholders to stop debating the proposed amendments until the bill was made public or taken to Parliament.
Mr Lungu said in an interview that he was surprised there was much debate about something that was still unknown and described the statements made on the matter as premature and speculative.
He said there was a worrying trend in the country where debate on national matters was based on rumours and speculation, which he said, was dangerous for the country.
The LAZ president said the association would only comment on the merits and demerits of the ACC Act if they were formally informed about the proposed amendments.
He said LAZ would examine whether the proposed changes were in public interest or not and what mischief was intended to be cured by the amendments.
Mr Lungu also said the bill would also be taken to Parliament and it was expected that members of Parliament would adequately debate it before making any decisions.
Of late, there has been heated debate about the reported intention of Government to amend section 37 of the ACC Act,
According to section 37 of the ACC Act, the director general, the deputy director general or any officer of the commission authorised in writing by the director general may investigate a public officer where there are reasonable grounds to believe that such public officer maintains a standard of living above that which is commensurate with his present or past official emoluments.
Under the section, the ACC can institute an arrest on a public officer “who is in control or possession of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his present or past official emoluments.”
All the matches in this year’s Barclays Cup will be aired live on both ZNBC and SuperSport following a deal unveiled today between Barclays Bank Zambia and SuperSport.
The deal for an undisclosed fee was announced on Tuesday at the Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka by Barclays Bank Zambia Barclays Bank Zambia managing director Bret Packard and SuperSport head of Africa Gary Rathbone.
The deal will see Barclays Bank Zambia as the official brand sponsor for all live Faz Super Division matches including the Barclays Cup on SuperSport and ZNBC from August until the season ends in late November.
Dates and draws for this year Barclays Cup have yet to be announced by the tournament organizers.
Meanwhile, the development means SuperSport will now show a live game every weekend instead of their previous monthly transmission of Super Division matches.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Olympic team have been invited for a week-long 8-national youth football tournament that kicks off in Egypt starting this weekend.
Lucky Msiska’s 18-member team will gather in Lusaka on July 21 to begin a training camp ahead of the tournament that will run from July 24 to August 4 in Cairo.
The tournament will draw Under-23 national teams from Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Togo, Nigeria, Malawi, plus Zambia and hosts Egypt.
Team:
Allan Chibwe, Kenny Mumba, Chongo Chirwa, Derrick Mwansa, Christopher Munthali, White Mwanamwambwa, Steven Kabamba, Alex Ngonga, Chileshe Kangwa, Chakwa Lungu, Stanley Nshimbi, John Chingandu, Mwepya Kasongo, Andrew Nzala, Kondwani Mpezeni, Chidjoka Nyirenda, Jimmy Njovu, Innocent Mwaba
The 28 year old woman of Kabwe’s Chowa Compound who had part of her nose and lip sliced off on Saturday by her 37 year old husband Barry Chibale after a marital dispute is said to be in a stable condition.
Kabwe Mine Hospital Medical Superintendent Doctor Ronald Chola told ZANIS in an interview, today, that Rutendo Bobo was in a stable condition and is expected to be discharged this afternoon.
Dr. Chola said Bobo’s lip has been stitched and is expected to heal properly in the shortest possible time but however regretted that her nose was irreparable and because of this her only option would be undertaking plastic surgery.
He said the hospital failed to suture. Bobo’s nose on grounds that by the time it was taken to the hospital it was dirty and infectious adding that in any case, the nose was badly sliced and could not be sutured.
He said the injury that was caused by the victim’s husband was a life-changing experience and that she would need a lot of spiritual support and counseling from her family and friends in order for her to adapt to her new outlook.
Dr. Chola advised other women that found themselves in the same predicament such as that of Ms. Bobo to rush to the hospital immediately they have been wounded so that they can be attended to on time because the skin and any body part was delicate and it was not to be exposed to dirty once it was chopped off.
Chief Chipepo of the Tonga people in Gwembe District has with immediate effect ordered for the sinking of toilets per household in an effort to improve sanitation in his chiefdom.
Speaking during an annual general meeting in his chiefdom recently, the chief said having toilets per household would greatly reduce diseases and snake bite incidences.
Quoting scripture in the book of Deuteronomy 23 verse 9 to 14; Chief Chipepo said God intends that communities have toilets to maintain cleanliness.
He warned that any household that will be found to have no toilet by the on set of the rains will be severely punished.
“If you want snakes to stop biting you, stop defecating in the bush. That is why snakes bite you. Which one of you enjoys seeing his/her faeces?” Chief Chipepo asked.
Gwembe District is one of the districts in the country with good coverage of rural water supply, currently standing at 87.5%.
In addition, Gwembe District Council Secretary Fred Mooya has also expressed worry at lack of toilets at household level in the district.
Mr. Mooya noted that despite the district performing well in the water sector, the district is far behind in terms of sanitary facilities such as toilets.
He explained that there are few households that have toilets in the district, with Munyumbwe trailing at 14% toilet coverage.
“We should realize that if we dispose our excreta in the open, the chances of eating our own excreta through vectors like flies are very high,” the Council Secretary cautioned.
And Chief Chipepo has given his subjects six months in which to purge themselves of all witchcraft acts.
The chief expressed worry that his chiefdom will continue lagging behind in terms of development owing to witchcraft acts that scare away government workers.
He observed that schools and clinics in his chiefdom have continued to be understaffed despite government’s effort to deploy more qualified staff to his chiefdom.
Chief Chipepo threatened his village headmen and communities that he would make a follow at the end of six months to ensure that no witch exists in his chiefdom.
“This chiefdom does not belong to you. It belongs to God. I have a list of sorcerers and witches and I will chase you from my chiefdom if you do not cleanse yourselves of the dirty acts. I will send you off my chiefdom with an introductory letter stating that you are a witch so that you will have no place to settle,” he warned.
Kabompo District voter registration office has received 11 brand new Honda portable generators to replace the 11 Smartmatic portable gasoline generators which have been constantly breaking down causing interruptions of voter registration in the area.
Acting District Voter Registration Officer, Joyce Musachi confirmed the new development in an interview with ZANIS in Kabompo today.
Ms. Musachi said that the Honda generators were brought to Kabompo yesterday by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
She said all the 11 Smartmatic gasoline generators have been withdrawn from registration centers and would be taken back to Lusaka by the ECZ soon.
Meanwhile, Ms. Musachi said the turnout is still low in Kabompo as only 1,175 new voters have been registered so far while 959 have made replacements of their voter’s cards.
However she expressed optimism that with the arrival of the new generators the exercise would go on smoothly now and more people be registered than in the past since the exercise begun on June 21, this year.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
Government says it is hopeful that cooperating partners will soon start releasing money to the road sector following the suspended of the funds.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said government has been negotiating with cooperating partners on the funding to the road sector after they had withhold the funds earlier this year.
Dr. Musokotwane said government has agreed on a road map with cooperating partners who he said have responded positively.
He said no money has however been released by cooperating partners to the sector this year.
He has however clarified that that cooperating partners only suspended the fund to the sector and not cancelled due to the mismanagement in the auditor general’s report.
Recently, the country’s Road Sector Cooperating Partners hailed government’s decision to dissolve the Boards of the Road Development Agency and the National Road Fund Agency.
The Cooperating Partners namely the World Bank, the European Union, Denmark, Germany, Japan and the African Development Bank said they stand ready to support the government in its endeavour to strengthen the institutions responsible for managing and providing oversight in the roads sector.
They stated that remedial measures arising from the recent Audit findings, together with a realistic, affordable and sustainable road sector investment programme (ROADSIP II), would pave the way for the resumption of new road works which are still withheld.
Meanwhile, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister, David Phiri said cooperating partners have pledged over K400 billion to the road sector this year.
He also said out of the K620 billion cooperating partners pledged last year only K105 billion was released top the National Road Funds Agency (NRFA)
He added that government however released 99 percent of the budgetary allocation to the sector last year.
“He was answering a question from Kanchibiya MP Davies Mwango during the question for oral answer session in parliament today.
Mr. Mwango wanted to know much money was released to NRFA last year and how much was released by cooperating partners.
Itezhi-tezhi magistrates Munalula Mubita has ordered two men of Kalomo district in chief Chikanta’s chiefdom in Southern province to pay K1.4 million apiece or face a 13 months sentence for entering the Kafue national park with dangerous weapons namely an axe and knife.
This was in a matter in which David Muzyamba 57, of Chumina village in chief Chikanta in Kalomo village and Bedson Muyobozi, 51 of Nakalongwe village of the same chiefdom were charged with two counts of unlawful entry into the park and unlawful possession of weapons in the national park.
On count one the allegations against the duo were that on 5th May the duo in Itezhi-tezhi district jointly while acting together entered the Kafue national park without any permit from Director of Zambia wild life authority(ZAWA).
On count two it was alleged that the duo, while acting together in the national park were found in possession of an axe and a knife without authority from ZAWA.
Facts on the matter were that in May this year in Itezhi-tezhi at Itezhi-tezhi, while patrolling the Kafue national park, wildlife police officers came across Muyobozi and Muzyamba who run away upon seeing the ZAWA vehicle.
But the wildlife police officers chased them and managed to catch up with them, upon interviewing them it was found that they had two weapons a knife and an axe and they had no permit to enter the Kafue national park with the said weapons.
Magistrates Munalula convicted the two upon their confession and their pleading guilty to all charges.
In mitigation Muzyamba asked the court exercise leniency because he was married with 9 children and that he was looking after his aged mother while Muyobozi prayed for leniency saying he was married with 13 children.
He ordered each person to pay K1.4 million or go to prison for 13 months with hard labour and the two worn- out bicycles belonging to the convicts which were part of the exhibits in the court have been forfeited to the state.
Kabwe District Commissioner (DC) Jonathan Kapungwe has said it is unfortunate that people in the country looked at politicians and government officials as the most corrupt people and yet the scourge is rife at every stage of human life.
Speaking when he officially opened a two day Transparent International Zambia (TIZ) workshop in Kabwe today, Mr. Kapungwe said the fight against corruption should involve everybody.
He said the media was also involved in corruption through the alleged distortion of information and therefore there was need for the media to also check itself in its duties.
TIZ has invited community based organizations (CBO) to attend a two day corruption awareness workshop from Mumbwa, Serenje, Mkushi, Kapiri Mposhi, Chibombo and Kabwe at Namukuyu Lodge.
Mr. Kapungwe praised TIZ for such a workshop saying community leaders would play a vital role in their respective places in the fight against corruption to ensure that the scourge was stamped out at community level.
‘People should not think it is only politicians and government officials involved in corruption. It is not so because everywhere you go even in cooperative societies corruption is there. All it requires is a sense of responsibility by everyone to stamp it out where-ever it shows its ugly face,’ said Mr. Kapungwe.
He said it was imperative that the approach of combating corruption was changed from the legalistic approach though important, to community capacity building in order to empower them to engage policy makers and government institutions in demanding effective and enhanced social accountability.
Mr. Kapungwe hoped that the workshop would equip CBOs with skills on how local communities could engage policy makers on issues of resource utilization and accountability in various community projects and challenged participants to actively participate in the workshop.
He said sustainable development could only be guaranteed if communities were actively involved in the implementation of projects in their communities.
Mr. Kapungwe further noted that there had been several reports of poor control systems and lack of community monitoring capacity in some of the local community projects such that the individuals that failed to utilize and account for public resources went scot free.
He explained that this was because the communities were not empowered with the capacity to hold the individuals accountable and hoped the workshop would empower the participants effectively for them to monitor the projects.
