The K30 billion Manyonyo Irrigation Scheme being constructed by a Chinese contractor in Mazabuka has stalled due to alleged political interference and refusal by a church organisation to relocate to another area to pave way for the construction of a main dam.

And Manyonyo Water Users Association (MAWAUSA) has called on government to move in quickly and resolve the wrangle that has slowed down progress on the government-sponsored project before the contractor pulls out.

MAWAUSA Chairperson, Boniface Lundah, told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that the Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Chikankata Member of parliament, Munji Habeenzu, was behind the problems in Manyonyo.

He alleged that Mr Habeenzu has unconstitutionally dissolved his legally elected committee and replaced it with suspected UPND cadres on tribal lines.

Mr Lundah accused Mr Habeenzu of waging war against non-Tonga speaking people by inciting the settlement committee to rise against his committee.

He explained that the church leadership has refused to shift from the area designated for the construction of the dam claiming they can only do so after being compensated.

But Mr Habeenzu dismissed the claims of tribalism and political interference describing them as mere lies.

Mr Habeenzu said as area member of parliament he had the right to dissolve a committee in the event that the community is not happy with its operations.

He accused the Lundah-led committee of allegedly personalising the project.

Mr Habeenzu also denied claims by Mr Lundah that the newly constituted committee was composed of UPND cadres.

Mr Habeenzu said the committee was chosen by the community itself who demanded the removal of the Lundah-led executive.

And Mazabuka District Project Manager in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alex Nonde, also confirmed the stalling of the project.

Mr Nonde, who attributed the problem to weather pattern and wrangles amongst the community, said his office is concerned with the wrangles and has since sought the intervention of the District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaambo.

He explained that the community, which is suppose to help in surveying farm boundaries for the construction of field canals, cannot do so because they are embroiled in wrangles.

The dissolved committee has since refused to surrender office documents claiming it cannot succumb to a politically installed illegal committee.

The committee has also soughty the intervention of Registra of Society to arbitrate in the dissolution of the committee.

ZANIS

Government has released K690 million for the rehabilitation of feeder roads in Northwestern province.

Northwestern Province Permanent Secretary, Eustern Mambwe said the K690 million that has been released was part of the K2 billion meant for the rehabilitation of feeder roads in the province.

Dr. Mambwe disclosed this when he addressed Provincial Heads of government department in Solwezi today.

He said the rehabilitation works on the roads commenced last month in Solwezi and would continue until all targeted feeder roads were done but stressed that this would be done within the stipulated period of three and half months.

Dr. Mambwe said the works would be done in three groups, with Group A, which would led by Solwezi District Commissioner, covering Solwezi district.

He said Group B, which would cover Kasempa, Mufumbwe, Zambezi and Chavuma districts would be led by Kasempa and Chavuma District Commissioners respectively while Group C that would cover Kabompo and Mwinilunga would be led by Mwinilunga District Commissioner.

Dr. Mambwe said contractors in this project would start by rehabilitating roads that lead to chiefs’ palaces before other feeder roads would be worked on.

ZANIS

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) says inadequate funding has slowed down its rural television expansion project.

ZNBC Acting Director General Juliana Mwila says the corporation is in need of funds to enable it complete the rural expansion project which it has embarked on in its bid to cover the whole country.

Mrs. Mwila said this when she led a ZNBC delegation that appeared before the parliamentary committee on information and broadcasting which was chaired by Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka in Lusaka yesterday.

She said adequate funding will also help enhance the operations of the national broadcaster in its quest to disseminate information to the nation.

Mrs. Mwila also said that there is need to replace the old analogue equipment at mass media complex with the modern digital equipment.

She said there is need for the corporation to move in tandem with modern trends in order to operate efficiently.

Mrs. Mwila however, said government through the ministry of information and broadcasting has assured the corporation of funding to further improve its operations and coverage.

And the ZNBC Acting Director has dismissed suggestions from quarters of society that the national broadcaster is biased in its coverage.

Mrs. Mwila said ZNBC has continued to endeavor in ensuring that all stakeholders and political players are given adequate coverage.

She also explained that it is within the corporations mandate to ensure that government policies and programmes are given enough air time to ensure that they are effectively explained to the nation.

Mrs. Mwila added that it is also important that the head of state is given adequate air time to enable him explain government decision, policies and programmes.

ZANIS

The High Court sitting in Mansa has sentenced a 42-year old man to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a six-year old girl.

Before High Court Judge, Muyinda Wanki, was Charles Mboshi of Chiyemfya village in chief Chisunka’s area in Mansa district who was convicted of willfully and unlawfully having canal knowledge of a minor on February 6, 2009 contrary to Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Facts before the court were that on the fateful day the six-year old girl was on her way to school around 07:00 hours. As she passed Mboshi’s house he called her and asked her to get inside the house.

Mboshi undressed and had sex with the girl who shouted for help and he later pushed her out of the house.

The girl reported the matter to her mother who took the her to the clinic for examination where it was discovered that the child had bruises on her private parts though the hymen was intact.

Mboshi, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement, was arrested on February 8, 2009.

In mitigation Mboshi pleaded for the court’s leniency, saying he was a first offender who did not have a wife and children.

However, the court sentenced him accordingly.

And a 31-year old peasant farmer, Justine Mwewa of Kamuleta village in chief kashiba’s area in Mwense district, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour for indecent assault contrary to Section 137 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mwewa, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was arrested on September 24, 2008, for willfully and indecently assaulting a grade one pupil aged 12 on September 22, 2008 in Mwense.

The court heard that the girl knocked off from school and got home around 10:00 hours but later decided to go and visit her father’s brother Pardon Kaunda.

On her way, as she passed behind Mwewa’s house, who stood on the door way of his house, called the girl three times but she refused to go to him.

Mwewa persuaded the girl by telling her that he wanted her to collect fire for him so she agreed to go to him before Mwewa grabbed her by the left arm and pulled her into his house and before she could shout for help the convict closed her mouth with his palm.

Mwewa threw the girl on a pile of clothes and tore the the minor’s pants and undressed himself and put his penis on the virginal area and the thighs where some watery fluid was released.

Mwewa then wiped the thighs of the girl with one of the clothes where the minor lay then the girl was allowed to leave.

The girl later went home and told the mother what had transpired.

The mother reported the matter to Kaunda who took up the matter and reported to the police who later arrested Mwewa.

In mitigation Mwewa pleaded for the court’s leniency, saying he was not married, was living alone and was looking after his aunt’s house and that if sent to prison thieves would break in and steal household goods.

In passing judgment High Court Judge Wanki said that cases of defilement and indecent assault were serious as they involved touching of private parts of victims and should therefore attract stiffer penalties to deter would-be offenders.

ZANIS