President Rupiah Banda has reiterated his government’s determination to develop the road infrastructure in the Western province despite the bad terrain in the area.

Speaking on arrival at Kalabo air strip this morning president Banda told hundreds of Kalabo residents that his government will ensure that the Mongu-Kalabo road is worked on.

He said although some remarkable developments have taken place during the MMD administration, he was not satisfied adding that government will work hard to continue developing the area.

The President has since directed Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane to find money to commence the construction of the Mongu-Kalabo as soon as possible.

“The Minister of this province has said there is a lot of development that has taken place here but we are not satisfied and we would like to do more. We are determined to provide people of Kalabo with good roads,” he said.

President Banda said once the Mongu-Kalabo road is in good condition, it will be easier to link Kalabo to Angola by road.

The President also called on the people of Western Province to remain calm in order to create an enabling environment for social, political and economic development.

He said development can not take place in the absence of security, peace and stability.

Mr. Banda assured the people that government will also build more schools and health facilities in order to improve the education and health standards in the area.

He said government will also ensure that it creates a lot of employment opportunities for Zambian youths.

President Banda who is in the Western province on a two-day working visit is accompanied by Finance and National Planning Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala.

He was received on arrival at Kalabo airstrip by Western Province Minister Mwapela Sikwibele, Works and Supply Deputy Minister Mundia Ndalamei, Western Province Permanent Secretary Ekanuke Noyo and Seth Muleya and other senior government and MMD officials.

ZANIS

Lamba chiefs on the Copperbelt province have distanced themselves from a statement attributed to Mpongwe Member of Parlaiment Gabriel Namulambe alleging that the Lambas are not happy with the way late Republican President Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy was handled.

Chairperson of the Copperbelt Chiefs Association Chief Mwinuna of the Lamba people in Mpongwe District says the Lamba traditional leaders will not accept to be drawn into the political statement made by Mpongwe Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe.

Chief Mwinuna says the Lamba chiefs like all chiefs in the country are custodians of the people and as such cannot be drawn into political quarrels.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Kitwe today that Lamba chiefs will not support statements which they do not understand by engaging in unnecessary quarrels with politicians.

“We are traditional rulers, all the Zambian people are our subjects so why should we be drawn into petty politics’’ said Chief Mwinuna.

He said traditional rulers in the area do not understand the context under which Mr. Namulambe uttered the statements attributed to him in the Press and that they could only issue a comprehensive statement on the matter after meeting Mr. Namulambe.

The traditional leader added that there were so many Lamba Chiefs on the Copperbelt and that he did not know the chiefs that Mr. Namulabe was talking about hence the need to consult him.

He disclosed that he would telephone Mr. Namulabe before he could issue any statement on the matter.

Mr. Namulambe is alleged to have said Lambas feel hurt, insulted an injured by constant attacks on late President Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy.

He is also alleged to have demanded that LAmbas be respected both in government and the MMD.

Some sections of society have since described the statement as being tribal.

And the Copperbelt Traditional Rulers have called on the ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy to hold a party convention before 2011.

Chairperson Chief Mwinuna says it would be undemocratic for the ruling Party to refuse to hold a convention before the 2011 tripartite elections.

Chief Mwinuna observed that the MMD was founded on Democratic Principals which must be upheld at all times.

He added that if calls by some sectors of society that the Party should not hold a Convention are sustained the top leadership in the Party would be exposing the people to acts of dictatorship.

ZANIS

Energy and Water development Deputy Minister Hastings Imasiku has appealed to residents in Mongu and Kalabo districts to remain calm as government and ZESCO are doing their best to restore power in the two Districts.

Mr. Imasiki said ZESCO is currently working on moving a bigger transformer from Sesheke to Mongu and another one from Lusaka to Sesheke.

He told ZAINS in an interview that ZESCO is working around the clock and that power will be restored by Tuesday next week.

And Mr. Imasiku has said a back up system would be connected to the water and sewerage company to supply water to the residents.

ZESCO Mongu main transformer was damaged by lighting on Wednesday this week leaving residents in Mongu and Kalabo districts in a power blackout.

The power blackout that began on Wednesday afternoon has affected Mongu, Kalabo, Senanga and Kaoma, also resulting in erratic water supply in the affected towns.

[ZANIS]