Kasama Archdiocese Caritas Zambia Director, Father Nicholas Kaliminwa has called on public service workers to conduct themselves responsibly in order for them to deliver their services more effectively.

Father Kaliminwa said it is disheartening to hear of Government Ministries being embezzled by selfish and uncaring public service workers at the expense the poor.

He said stringent measures must quickly be put in place to deter public services workers from stealing public resources meant for national development.

Father Kaliminwa called on all Christians to be principled and live decently, as they are the salt of the nation.
He advised all Christians serving in the public service to remain faithful to God and be a good example to the rest of the people in society, so that national resources can be utilized in enhancing national development.

He appealed to the Government and the general public to strengthen the fight against corruption and other social vices if national development is to be sped up.

Father Kaliminwa was reacting to the on-going case in which billions of Kwacha were allegedly pilfered by named public service workers in the Ministry of Health.

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CHIEF Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka district in Southern province has called for immediate resolutions over a land dispute between himself and chief Hamusonde of Bweengwa in Monze district.

Briefing the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Southern Province, Aaron Zulu and other government officials in Monze yesterday, chief Mwanachingwala said the land that chief Hamusonde is claiming does not belong to his chiefdom, as the map clearly indicates that it is in Mwanachingwala’s chiefdom.

He said he knows the boundary clearly because he was born and grew up in the area being disputed, adding that the 14 headmen who had occupied the land for many years under his reign can testify to that.

Chief Mwanachingwala said a meeting should be held at Nyimba fishing camp regarding the land in question and that officials from relevant government departments and other traditional leaders should see the boundary for themselves according to the map.[quote]

He appealed to government to ensure that other traditional leaders including Bright Nalubamba who is chairman for the royal foundation in southern province, Chief Moono, chief Monze, Chief Shakumbila, Chief Mwezwa and chief Choongo all attend the meeting because their chiefdoms share boundaries with Chief Mwanachingwala chiefdom.

Chief Mwanachingwala said chief Hamusonde has for a long time been claiming that Nyimba Island is in his chiefdom, contrary to what is indicated on the map, which clearly shows that the land actually lies in Mwanachingwala’s chiefdom and that even the people occupying the land are under his reign.

He expressed disappointment that chief Hamusonde failed to show up for the meeting because he was one of the national constitutional conference participants in Lusaka.

Chief Mwanachingwala said that the meeting to resolve the land issue is equally important and that chief Hamusonde should have requested for permission not to attend the NCC meetings.

And Southern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Aaron Zulu agreed that the meeting be postponed to a later date, as he too would be attending the NCC meetings in Lusaka.

He said it is imperative for chief Hamusonde to attend the meeting to resolve the land issue, as involves him and chief Mwanachingwala.

Mr.Zulu said the matter should be resolved amicably, to ensure that the cordial relationship between the two chiefdoms continues in order not to retard social economic development in the two areas.

The meeting was postponed to 29th June, 2009.

ZANIS

A traditional leader in Luwingu district in Northern Province has released over 40 hectares of customary land to spearhead the construction of a new high school in Lupososhi constituency.

The land is earmarked for the construction of school infrastructure to include classroom blocks, staff houses, science laboratories, office block among others at an estimated cost of over K30 billion.

Chief Chabula of the Abena Mukulu clan in Lupososhi constituency released part of the land to spearhead the construction of a school in his area.

This came to light when Government officials among them, Luwingu District Commissioner, George Mwamba were in the area to monitor and inspect government projects being implemented in Lupososhi constituency.

He expressed happiness with the manner in which the traditional ruler has acted to see to it that a portion of land for the construction of the school in the area has been released.

“I am a proud man to see that this land has been released for the construction of second high school in my district and that the contractor has also started mobilizing materials and work force. This is encouraging,” he said.

And the District Commissioner said the school infrastructure which will be built adjacent to Nsombo (A) Basic School will cost the government over K30 billion for the construction of class room blocks, staff houses, science laboratories , office block and other buildings such as ablution blocks.

Mr. Mwamba said that the facility will be also connected to a thermal electric power supply which will be constructed on the same site.

He however appealed to the Government to consider linking the area to the national grid because it would be much cheaper as compared to thermal power which uses fuel to operate.

Others who were in Lupososhi constituency included, District Administrative Officer, Mwape Mumbi, District Education Standards Officer (DESO), Oscar Emmanuel Ntenga and the District Livestock Officer a Mr. Musenga.

Meanwhile the project has cheered many Lupososhi constituency residents saying the construction of the school will go a long way in alleviating transport costs when schools open, incurred by pupils to and from Luwingu and other districts where the high schools are situated.

And on the site where the project is earmarked for construction, senior chieftainess Chungu, Chief Katuta and Sub-chief Mutondo expressed disappointment for the area which has been chosen for the project.

The three chiefs suggested that the school should have been constructed in chieftainess Chungu area which is more central in Lupososhi constituency as this would have catered for pupils from chief Katuta, Tungati Mwenda and Chabula respectively.

Meanwhile, the people in Nsombo area said they are happy with the Government for embarking on developmental projects in the area especially in the education sector and the rehabilitation of Luwingu – Nsombo and chaba road

And the DESO, Mr. Ntenga said Government has funded a total of 14 community school projects with a committment of over K2.1 billion in both Lubanseshi and Lupososhi constituencies of Luwingu district.

He said the three (3) schools namely Chifumo, Sokontwe, Kabala, have received K180 million each for the construction of one by three class room block while Masonde, Muchishe, Matafwali, Chisense and Sakeni have been allocated with K120 million other are Witwishika and Chambo respectively.

Mr. Ntenga said what the community needs to do is to contribute upfront materials such as moulding of bricks, ferrying of both building and river sand, crushed stones, gravel and water delivery to site.

He said the construction of good and habitable schools in remote areas will greatly improve the learning environmental by the pupils and improve standards of education in the projects catchments areas.

He said the team visited the projects as part of their normal duties of backstopping development programmes in the district.

Meanwhile, the team retrieved the keys from the casual workers who locked up a one by three class room block (1×3 CRB) following non-payments of their dues after completion of construction works.

The casual workers locked the class rooms and demanded to be paid K4, 250, 000 for the works done at Nsombo (B) middle basic school which the office of the district board secretary has failed.

It took the senior government officials a tough time to convince the casual workers who strongly opposed surrendering the keys until their demands were met. The DC cautioned the casual workers that their action was tantamount to espionage and carried a stiffer penalty.

The casual workers had to hand over the keys despite not been paid their money but threatened to use witchcraft to eliminated who ever is still holding on to their dues.

ZANIS

Government has called on farmers not to abuse the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) and other food security programmes as they are meant for the farmers’ benefits.
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Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister, Kenneth Chipungu, says farmers should take advantage of such programmes to grow more crops for household and national food security.

Mr. Chipungu, who is also Rufunsa Member of Parliament, was speaking when he officiated at the Bunda-Bunda block agriculture and commercial show in Chinyunyu today.

He said government officials are saddened that a number of small-scale farmers, especially those in rural areas, where selling the agricultural inputs provided to them through programmes such as the FSP and other food security programmes.

Mr. Chipungu said it is also unfortunate that some farmers were selling agricultural inputs in exchange for beer.
He said it is regrettable that such farmers experience a food deficit and end up appealing for relief food from government.

Mr. Chipungu has also asked the farmers not to sell their entire farm produce as there is need to keep enough for domestic consumption.
He however said those wishing to sell their farm produce should sell to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and avoid being swindled by unscrupulous businessmen.

And speaking earlier, Bunda- Bunda Show Society Vice Chairperson, Andrew Daka, lamented that farmers in the area were being exploited by commercial grain buyers.

Mr. Daka called on the FRA to introduce satellite depots in the area so that farmers can sell their crops at a reasonable.

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