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Dora Siliya greets MMD cardres before addressing first press briefing as MMD spokesperson in Lusaka
THE MMD says it abhors politics of violence and insults and has called on opposition political parties to avoid verbal assaults against their political opponents.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said Zambians are more interested in politics of development and not mud-slinging and name-calling.
Ms Siliya said the MMD is a party that believes in democracy but that it will not condone indiscipline from members that have gone wayward.
Ms Siliya condemned alleged threats by MMD Lusaka Province youth chairperson Chris Chalwe that youths would gang-rape Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi for allegedly insulting President Banda. Ms Siliya said the statement is unfortunate.
She said this in an interview on Zambezi FM radio in Livingstone on Saturday.
“Let us play politics of development and not politics of electioneering all the time. There must be a time for politics of development. The MMD believes in democracy and dialogue.
“We are not for violence, insults and name-calling. What the people of Zambia want to hear is what kind of developmental agenda we have and not who can mouth out the worst insult,” Ms Siliya said.[quote]
She said it is important that the country’s political space be filled with issues affecting people rather than insults and violence.
Ms Siliya said the MMD youth are forced to make certain statements because some opposition political leaders are always insulting President Banda.
She said every leader has a following and that when that leader is insulted or carelessly spoken about, his or her followers are bound to respond negatively.
“What people should realise is that President Banda, as leader of the MMD, has a lot of followers. So, when you begin to insult or speak negatively about him, you are inciting his followers to respond in a negative manner.
We should not forget that there are people who are so passionate about President Banda and respect him. However, two wrongs do not make a right, so we must at all times avoid violence and insults,” Ms Siliya said.
She said her prime occupation as the ruling party’s spokesperson is to market the vision of the MMD and attract as many members as possible.
Ms Siliya denied assertions that she is President Banda’s ‘blue-eyed girl’ who is above reproach and untouchable.
She said people are free to make their own opinions about her, adding that she has always added value to the party.
Ms Siliya said the MMD appointed her as the party’s spokesperson because it believed she has qualities apart from being hard-working and a team player.
She said she was humbled to have been considered for the position of spokesperson for the MMD, adding that it is a sign that the ruling party is moving with time.
Ms Siliya also endorsed the expulsion of MMD Livingstone Constituency chairman John Mwamulima, saying even when the party is committed to democratic principles, there is need for members to be disciplined.
She said President Banda believes in dialogue and discipline and that it is important that members respect rules and regulations governing the MMD.
Over the weekend Professor Clive Chirwa announced his decision to join opposition UPND-PF after quitting the ruling MMD. Below is his full statement.
REF: DECISION TO JOIN THE UPND
The resignation from MMD was a great relief and has opened up my route to joining Zambians who are serious about moving our people out of poverty for good. Based on the goals and policies for the regeneration of our country, I hereby decide to join the UPND in the struggle to liberate our people from the current inert government.
Yesterday afternoon the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UPND headed by President Hakainde Hichilema and I had a tele-conference meeting in which I opened up to them and gave them my reasons for joining their esteemed party. The UPND NEC welcomed me with open arms and the warmth they transmitted gave me great hope that at last I have joined a team that is committed to solving Zambia’s problems, a fundamental ethos of my campaign.
Today is a great day for me and my ambition to see Zambia occupy a place at the high table of international society where it dictates its future, where its people have ample food, good schools, best hospitals, best infrastructure and an economy magnetized by industrialization. That day is quickly approaching as UPND helps Zambia achieve that. The policies UPND is pursuing are right for Zambia and they are in keeping with what I have always said to my fellow Zambians in lectures, speeches and writings.
The pact between UPND-PF is strong and I joining them under the umbrella of UPND will strengthen it further. I believe my contributions to the pact will augment the already successful campaign strategy that is already bearing fruits. I believe the pact will scoop all nine provinces come 2011 and I am glad to be part of that.
May I therefore thank President Hakainde Hichilema and all the National Executive Committee members of UPND and assure them that I will do whatever is in my power to necessitate our victory in 2011.
Microbicide Development Programme (MDP), Mazabuka Community Liason Officer, Kennedy Mundia has described as unfortunate claims by a Microbicide participant that women were subjected to having sex during trials.
Mr Mundia said during a heated District Development Coordinating Committee ( D.D.C.C ) meeting chaired by district commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba that the claims are false and meant to tarnish the image of the organisation.
Ms. Annety Maluma, 37 of Nakambala township, testified before the District Commissioner, Hamaamba that a named MDP would phone her and give the phone to an opposite sex to arrange for a sex encounter.
Ms. Maluma told the meeting she was ready to pin point the man and officer from MDP who used to telephone her.
But Mundia wondered why Ms Maluma did not raise the concerns with his office when such things were happening.
He told the meeting he would not say much because the participant stopped visiting MDP in 2008.
All participants were married and aged above 18 as a condition to be enrolled.
Management at Microbicide Development Programme (MDP) in Mazabuka has dismissed claims by the University of Zambia Biomedical Research ethics committee that none of the women contracted HIV and AIDs during the failed clinical trials.
MDP Project Coordinator, Rose Kasonde said when she presented the results for the failed clinical trials during a district development coordinating committee chaired by district commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba that 46 women contracted the virus contrary to claims by the ethics committee.
The University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee during a press briefing in Lusaka said there was no cause to believe that the 46 women out of the 1,332 were infected as a result of their participation in the trials.
Dr Kasonde explained that the 46 contracted the virus at different levels.
She was responding to a question by Chief Mwanachingwala who wanted to know whether or not some women contracted HIV during the failed trials.
Chief Mwanachingwala commended MDP management for clearing his name because the ethics committee in their story that appeared in the Post edition of 11 January,2010 suggested that none of the women contracted HIV during the trials.
Last week, Chief Mwanachingwala said in a statement to ZANIS in Mazabuka, five doctors from the University who visited him at the palace pleaded with him not to attack MDP in the press.
He said the doctors failed to convince him on the outcome of the failed clinical trials but was shocked to learn that they misinformed the nation on the number of people that contracted the virus.
President Rupiah Banda says Zambia’s economic revival plan is on course contrary to negative reports being circulated within and outside the country.
Mr. Banda says he is aware of some people who have been spreading false statements that the country’s economy was headed for doom.
The President says the country’s economic performance is impressive as evident in the many programmes that his administration has put in place which were now bearing fruits.
He highlighted the different achievements with respect to the economy adding that his government had made a lot of progress in stirring economic development countrywide.
The President said in his address last night at a gathering of Zambians living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mr. Banda called on all Zambians to remain united and work towards developing the country.
He said all those who were spreading false statements and wishing his government failure were bent on dividing and destroying the country.
Mr. Banda urged all peace loving Zambians to condemn such people.
The President said his government will continue to develop the country on the foundation left behind by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
And speaking earlier, Chairman of the Zambians living in Ethiopia Cosmas Mumba commended President Rupiah Banda for the quality leadership he has exhibited so far.
Mr. Mumba said President Banda’s good leadership skills were evident in the manner the country’s governance record has improved in the past one year.
He also commended the President for setting up a desk at State House charged with the responsibility of dealing with issues of the Zambians living in the diaspora.
He said Zambians living in the diaspora will now take advantage of the desk to invest back home.
The President is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 14 th Ordinary Session of the African Union which opened this morning.
The three day summit is going to witness the change of guard between outgoing chairperson Colonel Muhammar Gaddafi of Libya and Malawian president Dr Bingu Wamutharika .
Apart from political issues related mostly to the resolution of conflicts on the continent, the heads of state and government are expected to unpack the theme of the summit which has been widely viewed as one of the areas that holds a lot of potential for development on the continent.
The summit is also expected to discuss the report of the commission on unconstitutional changes of governments before considering adopting various reports, among them, the peace and security situation in Africa.
In addition, the summit will discuss the report of the ministerial meeting on the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The summit will also launch the AU flag and present awards to two African scientists who won the continental science prizes before climaxing into the 14 th ordinary session of the heads of state and government summit.
The Anti Voter Apathy (AVAP) says it is not possible for the MMD to rig elections through the ongoing mobile issuance of national registration cards (NRCs) exercise.
And AVAP has expressed shock to learn that government has allowed opposition political parties in Mazabuka to go round and carry out mobile announcements instead of the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) to undertake the programme.
AVAP Director, Bonnie Tembo said this in reaction to callers when he featured on a live phone in programme at Mazabuka’s community radio station dubbed Live Wire.
Several callers accused government of planning to rig elections through the mobile issuance of NRCs which they said was being done without the knowledge of the community.
Callers complained that they are aware of the programme as the department of national registration has not publicised its programme to rural communities.
But Mr Tembo challenged callers to take an active role and get involved in ensuring that they obtained necessary information about the programme to clear suspicion of rigging elections.
And Mr Tembo has urged home affairs minister, Lameck Mangani to seriously address the challenges facing the department of national registration in Mazabuka if potential applicants are to obtain NRCs and participate in next year’s general elections.
He said the situation where all political parties are asked to ferry their supporters in trucks to obtain the cards is a danger to national security.
Mr Tembo said government should also protect its officers as the development could lead to chaos.
He said registration officers should be directed to visit rural areas and not to sit in their ofices to issue NRCs.
Mr Tembo said government has allocated K 22 billion for the programme adding that there is no justification for officers to conduct the exercise at the BOMA.
ZANIS
Unknown people have broken into and set fire to one of the bedrooms at the house of Mpulungu Member of Parliament Lameck chibombamilimo.
There were no casualties in the fire and only a security guard Isaac Mushima was at the house at the time of the fire incident.
In an interview with ZANIS, today, Mr.Mushima said the incident happened on Thursday night around 23:00hrs as he was outside the house trying to catch some fresh air.
Mr. Mushima said as he was outside, he suddenly noticed that some smoke was emanating from the house, adding that when he entered the room he uses for his bedroom, he found it engulfed in flames.
He said he then started struggling to put out the flames that were now almost reaching the ceiling boards and confirmed that when the fire incident happened, he was alone at home.
Mr. Mushima noted that had it not been for his quick action, the whole house might have been completely gutted.
He said in the inferno, he lost his mobile phone, a radio, personal documents including his NRC and several other personal effects worth thousands of kwacha.
Mr. Mushima who suspected foul play suspected some unknown people to be behind the fire as there was no evidence to indicate that the inferno could have been caused by an electrical fault.
Mr Chibombamilimo was a former Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development until he was fired by President Rupiah Banda last year for allegedly failing to show allegiance to his party and government.
ZANIS
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives”
(John 12:24, NLT)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
It’s good to be passionate about your dreams, but did you know a dream can become an idol? If that’s all you think about and you’re not going to be happy unless it happens your way, that’s out of balance. The fact is, sometimes you have to put that dream on the altar.
Are you frustrated because you’re trying to force things to happen on your timetable? Sometimes we hold on to things so tightly, but actually, when we let them go, that’s when God can bring them to pass. If you’ll release that frustration and not let it become the center of your attention, but instead use that same time and energy to thank God that He’s directing your steps, you open the door for God to give you the desires of your heart.
We have to remember, God already knows what we want and what we are in need of. He’s the One who put those desires in us. We shouldn’t be consumed by trying to make things happen. Instead, a greater act of faith is to be happy right where you are; to stay open and trust God because He has good plans in store for your future!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, today I release my dreams, my desires, my “wants” like a seed falling to the ground. I know that You have a good plan for my future, and I trust You to bring it to pass in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Pictures are telling the story… a little girl, bandaged up with a swollen face and blood drooping across her splintered cheeks…bloodied bodies of dead little boys and girls…a body of a woman being pulled out of what appears to be a collapsed house…a man being carried on a wheelbarrow with legs amputated by a falling roof.
Calgary Herald reports that several Canadians have been killed in this earthquake and so have several Americans.
CNN reports that Geo-Physicists are comparing this devastation to the damage several atomic bombs would cause!
All this is as a result of the devastation caused by an earthquake which hit the island nation of Haiti.
Where then was a loving God when all this was happening?
First we must begin with victims: who they are, what is their story, and how they themselves have taken their suffering.
I cannot begin a discussion of this devastation from our own personal perspectives. I was not there.
I have only seen the devastation on TV. And so it is just fair that we look at this devastation from the perspective of the victim.
We must listen to their pain, and their sorrow. We must not theologise or find an explanation.
Our primary duty is to listen. To hear them cry, and complain, and lament.
Without speaking our thoughts or pronouncing our judgments, we need to hear them say what they have experienced, and to hear them talk about the meaning they attach to their suffering.
Let us hear an innocent little girl, who just had a small lunch that day, retires to sleep and suddenly the ground begins shaking and her little shack collapses on her, and cuts her little legs…what has she got to say?
Let us hear a woman in labor, who was just about to give birth, and the shudder of her childbirth was laced with an earthquake…let us listen and feel her fear and consider her heartache.
Let us listen to that man who looks at his crushed family and property, point a finger at heaven and complain bitterly…where was God?
Let us feel for all those 100,000 who have silently died at the earth gave way! That victim of the earthquake is as human as I am.
He is created in the image and likeness of God; that victim may in fact, even belong to the household of faith with me and as such I need to listen to their story!
The Bible answers the problem of evil and suffering from the perspective of the victim.
It never hides the pain of those that are suffering. People who suffer in the Bible have a voice.
They speak their minds. They dialogue with their pain. They complain and lament to God.
They complain to God, and God never shuts them up. As a Christian leader, my duty during these difficult moments is to let the victims speak for themselves, to hear their story.
When Job suffered, he cried, he lamented, and God heard him! When David suffered, he cried and lamented, and God listened to him. When Jesus suffered he cried, and he wept.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because of the laments he took over the desolation and devastation that his nation faced.
He was very candid in describing the pain he felt about his suffering: I am distressed…I am groaning with pain…there is only death…etc.
He also did not attempt to defend God. He expressed his feelings before the Almighty.
He described how he felt about God honestly. He also expressed trust in God regardless of the challenging situation he had faced.
In Lamentations 3:21—24, he remembers that the LORD’s compassions never fail, even when we are faced with death and devastation. David was also honest with his suffering.
He cries out to God when he is faced with tragedy and death. In Psalm 23 he says the Lord is his shepherd, and he will walk with him even in the valley of the shadow of death.
He latter asks God, why he had been forsaken. He says exactly how he feels.
But where was a loving God? God was still there. He cared for each and every life that is lost.
He cares for each and every child that died that day. But the problem of evil and suffering is a reality of our fallen humanity and an unfortunate part of our universe.
Bad things do happen to good people, and bad things do happen for no good reason at all.
But all these bad things do not negate the presence or the loving nature of God.
At the same time we need to be satisfied that this loving God did permit this calamity to befall us and the people of Haiti. For nothing happens without his permission.
He is the sovereign ruler of the universe. And there must not be a reason for things to happen the way they do.
God may never tell us why he allowed that Earthquake…this is where we balance our perspective of his loving nature and his sovereignty.
God is a sovereign ruler…and so questions we have about why bad things happen will only be answered on the other side of heaven.
But for now we need to listen to the story of pain of His people in Haiti, pray for them and rebuild with them.
We need to do all we could to make their burden lighter. God is still concerned about their welfare and the welfare of all his people.
So whom shall I blame? Most of us would want to find someone to blame for the suffering.
We somehow believe that suffering such as Haiti devastation should have been caused by somebody.
Some blame God, some would blame the devil, and some would blame fate—whatever fate is.
However, as believers we should be satisfied that there are things in this life that we will never adequately know or understand on this side of heaven.
Again, evil is real and it is an unfortunate part of our fallen humanity and our universe.
We should not be on a witch-hunt for the cause of this Haiti catastrophe, but instead we must acknowledge our limitation with total knowledge about its origin.
I will process this pain, by simply acknowledging its reality. I will not try to justify it, or explain it away. It is a real suffering, it is real pain.
As such, I may not know why the earthquake happened, and maybe I do not even need to know.
I am satisfied in my ignorance, but one thing is for sure, I will hurt and mourn and lament with the people of Haiti, and submit my finite mind to God’s infinite wisdom.
In these difficult moments, all I may need to say is “Thank you God for hearing me and for bearing my pain”!
Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba yesterday threatened to use Police to lock up the husband to a woman who participated in the failed microbicide clinical trials.
This was after he used threatening words when he testified against the injustice his wife suffered during the trials.
Mr.Roy Halumba threatened to sort out a named staff from MDP for allegedly disturbing his marriage through the illegal recruitment of his wife to participate in the failed clinical trials.
The irate Halumba who said this during a heated district development coordinating committee meeting saying he has lost 10 kilogrammes of hiw weight since the failed results of the clinical trials came out.
But Mr. Hamaamba warned Mr Halumba to stop issuing threats on MDP officials because he would unleash police officers who were in attendance to arrest him for threatening violence.
Mr Hamaamba said while he appreciated the amount of anger he has on MDP, it was wrong for the aggrieved husband to start issuing threats.
He said using threats on MDP officers would not find a solution to the problem he and his wife are going through.
However, Mr. Halumba had to tone down his language and the DC asked the wife to continue testifying.
Meanwhile, MDP Project Coordinator, Rose Kasonde yesterday revealed that 1,235 women only attained education up to Grade Seven while others did not even enter any classroom.[quote]
Dr Kasonde told a DDCC meeting co- chaired by Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba and Mayor Shadreck Mwiinga that only 88 attained grade 12 and tertiary education.
This was during a meeting in which MDP released the findings of the clinical trials to the district leadership.
During the same meeting, a woman who participated in the failed clinical trials revealed that she was subjected to having sex with male participants after being telephoned by a named MDP official who equally attended the meeting.
Ms. Annety Maluma, 37 of Nakambala township also said MDP gave allowance of K 50,000 that women used to buy lotion and other necessities.
But MDP Project Coordinator, Dr Kasonde dismissed the claims by Ms Maluma.
She however said it was unfortunate if such a thing happened.
Dr Kasonde said the clinical trials were conducted in a transparent environment as the participants were not subjected to any unethical practices.
The Food Reserve Agency ( FRA ) spokesperson Mwamba Siame says the agency has begun conducting Community sales of grain in rural communities in the Country.
Mrs. Siame in an interview with ZANIS, today, said the FRA was selling maize and rice to the general public including millers in the country.
She stated that consumers especially in rural areas will be able to easily access the commodity through their Districts commisioners’ offices.
Mrs Mwamba noted that the DC office will scrutinize requests for approval and dispatching the maize and rice will be done by FRA respectively in the rural Communities.
She said that the FRA management had put the price of the commodities at a market price of K 70,000 and k 85, 000 for a 50 kg bag of maize and 40 Kg bag of Rice, respectively.
Mrs Siame stressed that sales the two commodities are part of the Agency’s Core business aimed at stabilizing Mealie meal prices and meeting local shortfalls, during this period prior to the harvest in May.
She said that FRA has projected that the millers will service the urban Consumers and the agency estimates to sell 50,000 to 80,000 metric Tonnes of maize and 900 metric tonnes of paddy rice.
Education Minister Dora Siliya with Ngombe Open Community School student Rita Nyangu after she launched a children’s rights study report in Lusaka
EDUCATION Minister Dora Siliya says the importance of education cannot be over emphasized because without education, there can never be social economic transformation in the country.
Ms Siliya said only education can make it possible for economic development to take root in the country but noted that in order to achieve this, there must be consistent investment in the education sector.
She said it was because of this reason that government has spent K500 billion on the construction of schools countrywide.
She observed that the Ministry of Education was not a social ministry but a ministry at the centre of economic development because the future of the country squarely lay on it.
Ms Siliya was speaking in Livingstone last night when she officiated at the 6th Annual Conference of the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) held at Fairmount hotel.
She said investment in education was a direct investment in the economy adding that there was need to grow the economy so that more money could go in investing in the education sector.
Ms Siliya observed that government has been trying hard to reduce the pupil teacher ratio and that it was for this reason that government had employed 23,000 over the last five years.
She noted that the ministry was currently seriously engaged with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the outstanding K20.5 billion is released so that the matter could be brought to rest.
”We want to strive and bring back the motivation in the teaching fraternity,” she said.
Ms Siliya however took a swipe at the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) offices for failing to handle administrative issues relating to confirmations.
‘What concerns me most is not money but administrative issues such as confirmations. Even transfers is like you want to go to the moon.
” The DEBS office is very important at the district level and so let us not frustrate teachers,” she said.
And BETUZ President Victor Mwanza expressed concern that there was a huge gap between the pupil teacher relationship.
He said one to one relationship between the teacher and the pupil had become a challenge because teachers were teaching like they were addressing rallies.
Mr Mwanza said unions should criticise where criticism is needed and with sense instead of just standing on the pulpit and talking about things without solution.
Luena Independent Member of Parliament, Charles Milupi
Luena Independent Member of Parliament, Charles Milupi has charged that if only some groups and individuals did not boycott the National Constitution Conference NCC, the ruling MMD would not be taking advantage of the people of Zambia in the constitution making process.
Mr. Milupi says while those opposing some of the clauses the MMD selfishly wants to include in the constitution might have a strong voice, it is only backed by a few individuals willing to see the people of Zambia have a constitution that will stand the test of time.
He says there are those in the NCC like himself who are willing and determined to put up a good fight and ensure that the views of the people of Zambia are reflected in the new constitution.
He adds that while it would have been better to have more people fighting for what the people want, the few already in the NCC will ensure that they give the ruling party a good run for their money.
Meanwhile, Mr. Milupi has argued that it is illogical for the MMD to push for a simple majority system when everywhere in the developing world they are using the 50% + 1 vote.
He says the 50% +1 vote clause will protect the country from allowing illegitimate people into power and ensure that democracy remains the cornerstone of the nation.
Club football is slowly roaring back to life ahead of the 2010 league season and for the first time in years with a smile on something to look forward to in the midst of Zambia’s quarterfinal euphoria.
Champions Zanaco are will be the first Zambia club to return to full-time action this year with an official international commitment in a fortnight’s time.
Zanaco will face Uganda Revenue authority (URA) during the weekend of February 13-14 in the CAF Champions League in a preliminary round 1st leg match.
Wedson Nyirenda’s side will be away in the first leg before hosting URA in the return leg a fortnight later.
Zanaco will be hoping to emulate Zesco by also reaching the group stage of the CAF Champions League group stage mid this year and become the second Zambia club to qualify to the lucrative round of Africa’s elite club competition.
Meanwhile, have a tentative 10-day training camp set for South Africa prior to leaving for Kampala.
2009 league runner-up Zesco United, who are having a low profile pre-season training in Ndola with new recruits and former Zambia internationals Billy Mwanza and Clive Hachilensa, only kickoff their continental engagements in March when they enter the CAF Confederations Cup in the 2nd round.
Chief Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka has asked Microbicide Development Programme (MDP)’s management to stop any further clinical trials on the prevention of HIV/AIDs in the district as they are helping the situation.
The Chief said during a heated District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) co-chaired by District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba and Mayor, Shadreck Mwiinga that MDP should consider conducting the trials elsewhere and not in Mazabuka.
This was after the chief asked MDP officials to tell the meeting whether there is a microbicide that is currently effective to block the transmission of the virus on women.
The Chief said it was wrong for the MDP to continue conducting clinical trials when the drugs are not helping in blocking HIV transmission but increasing its incidence rate as the poor and illiterate women think the drugs would help in blocking the transmission of the virus.
A number of HIV/AIDS negative women volunteer became positive after being the MDP injected them with the microbicide believed to be potent against the virus.
The development has caused an up roar in sections of society with the traditional leader being in the lead against the campaign.
Meanwhile, various stakeholders took MDP to task to explain what mechanism have been put in place to compensate the women that contracted HIV and AIDs during the failed clinical trial.
The stakeholders observed that it would be unfair for the organisation abandon the victims without helping them.
But MDP Project Coordinator, Rose Kasonde said the organisation would not abandon the victims.
Dr Kasonde said all the victims would receive counselling services and would be refered to the government health centres offering Anti Retroviral Therapy.
ZANIS
Chongwe District Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (CDDMMU ) Chairperson Japhen Mwakalombeh has urged government to urgently rehabilitate the Lukoshi and Lwimba Agriculture camps in Chongwe district.
Mr. Mwakalombeh says in his report issued during a council meeting yesterday, that the need for government to repair the two camps follows the CDMMU’s recent visit to the area.
He said the CDDMMU established that a total of 189 households had their fields destroyed by heavy rains which left 39 houses severly damaged.
It was further established that a total of 115 households had their crop affected in lwimba and several trees damaged by the heavy storm.
Mr. Mwakalombeh, who is also the District Commissioner, said the CDDMMU has recommended that there is need for government to interven into the two critical areas and to consider the affected farmers for any agricultural support.
Among other recommendations were the promotion of tree planting and assistancing of Mulalika basic school in the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and construction of staff houses through the ministry of education.
Chongwe District is divided into 5 agricultural blocks that are further sub-divided into 28 agricultural camps.
Lukoshi and Lwimba camps are in Nkomeshya block under her Royal Highness Chieftainess mukamambo the 2nd.
On 25th January 2010, the block extension officer informed the CDDMMU secretariat that heavy rains had struck the area on 23rd January 2010 and that extensive damage had been caused to both crop and infrastructure.
