Chief Macha of the Tonga people in Choma has demanded to know the whereabouts of the new graders and other earth moving machines procured and sent to Southern Province by government recently.

Chief Macha said, while the feeder roads leading to agricultural productive areas in the district have deteriorated deplorably, the whereabouts of the new equipment sent to the province remain unknown.

The Chief said it is sad that the new graders and earth moving machines, where-ever they are being kept, are not being put to good use at a time when the rural road network is a sore sight.

He was peaking in Choma yesterday at the close of a three-day UNICEF sponsored workshop on sanitation that was also attended by all the chiefs and councilors in the district.

Chief Macha asked the District Commissioner, Laiven Apuleni who was present at the workshop, to explain why the provincial administration was holding-on to the graders and earth-moving equipment, when the damaged rural roads in the district need graded.

He described the attitude of the government officers charged with the responsibility of deploying the road repairing equipment to various districts as unbecoming and that it sad for them to keep the traditional leaders in the dark about their planned programmes and activities.

Chief Macha said such a situation send wrong signals as it might result into unwarranted negative criticism against government.

The traditional chief further expressed sadness over the slow pace at which the tarrying of the Choma-Namwala Road by a Chinese contractor is going.

He said have not seen any progress going on, although China Geo Corporation has been camping on site for a very long period of time.

In response, the District Commissioner, Laiven Apuleni informed Chief Macha that one grader is already in the district, which he said is grading the damaged Choma-Masuku Road.

Mr. Apuleni said all the roads leading to productive areas in the district will be worked on, as government has released adequate funds for the exercise.

ZANIS/CM/PK/ENDS

The Mpulungu magistrate court has convicted and fined two men K500 000 each on two counts of aiding a suspected drug trafficker to escape from lawful custody and destroying evidence, contrary to the laws of Zambia.

This was in a matter in which the two men, Alex Sikazwe and George Chonya, both of Mupata village, appeared before Mpulungu magistrate Miyato Muyambango for judgment.

On March 22nd this year, the duo, who are community leaders, whilst acting together allegedly aided Justus Sinyangwe to escape from lawful custody.The Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) in Mpulungu allegedly found Sinyangwe in possession of marijuana,in Mupata village by members.

The two, who were taking the suspect to police for detention, allegedly allowed him to escape.They have been slapped with two counts namely aiding a suspect to escape from lawful custody, contrary to section 120 of the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia and destroying evidence contrary to section 30, sub section (h) cap 96 of the laws of Zambia.

In their mitigation before a packed courtroom, Sikazwe said he was married and was looking after four orphans who would suffer if he was sent to prison.Chonya said he had eight children and currently took care of his aged parents and pleaded that if incarcerated, all these people were going to experience untold misery.

But magistrate Muyambango said in passing sentence, that the offences committed by the duo were very serious.
He said the second count of destroying evidence carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Magistrate Muyambango however noted that he had taken into account the mitigation given by the duo and the fact that they were first offenders entitled them to leniency.He noted that from the evidence adduced by the prosecutions’ team in court, it was clear that the duo had conspired to commit the offence although they were both claiming innocence.

Magistrate Muyambango said it was not disputable that the two men were assigned to take the suspect to police before he, together with the marijuana he had, suddenly disappeared.

He acquitted Chonya on the second count and fined him K500 000 or six months in prison with hard labour for aiding a suspect to escape from lawful custody.

Magistrate Muyambango said the fine was to be paid by 10th April, 2009.
However his colleague, Sikazwe was found guilty on both counts and ordered to pay K500,000 or six months in prison in default, adding that the fines were non cumulative whilst the sentences were to run concurrently.

Magistrate Muyambango also observed that the duo had abused their authority as community leaders in Mupata village.
He ordered that Sikazwe and Chonya be removed from their positions as CCPU member and village secretary respectively, with immediate effect.
ZANIS/EM/KSH/ENDS

Siavonga Member of Parliament, Douglas Syakalima, has bemoaned the poor state of most feeder roads in his constituency and said there is need to urgently improve them.

Mr. Syakalima noted that the poor state of the roads was affecting the social and economic development of the district.

He observed that it would be difficult for farmers in distant areas to have access to markets for their produce if the roads remained in a bad state.

“Currently farmers from chiefdoms such as Sinadambwe are finding it difficult to go to the market for their produce because the roads are impassable and cannot be accessed by any means of transport,” he said.

Mr. Syakalima added that it would be difficult to develop the area in terms of infrastructure because of poor roads.
He has since called on government to consider improving the roads in the constituency.

Mr. Syakalima observed that most roads in the country easily get damaged because of lack of maintenance.

He charged that it was wrong for government to neglect the roads for a long time, noting that the roads would only last if they undergo maintenance frequently.

Mr. Syakalima said government should allocate enough resources towards the maintenance of roads.

He observed that under normal circumstances, a road is supposed to last for a period of twenty years without getting damaged.

ZANIS/LL/KSH/ENDS

Police in Siavonga have arrested three men in connection with the murder of a 52 year old man, who was shot dead a month ago.

Both police and Siavonga District Commissioner Emily Striedl confirmed the arrest of the three men to ZANIS in Siavonga today.

Mrs. Striedl disclosed that the three men are suspected to have been behind the shooting and killing of Manlek Mwiinga of chief Sinadambwe last month.

The suspects, who were arrested last week, are currently in custody at Siavonga police station to help with investigations.

Mwiinga, who was a prominent farmer in Chaanga area of chief Sinadambwe, was shot and killed at close range by unknown people on 2nd February 2009 around 19 hours as he was walking home from his maize field.

Mrs. Striedl named the three suspects as Benny Mayapula 33, Richard Mayapula 37 and Robert Gumbelo 46, all of Hachiyuka village in chief Sinadambwe’s area.

The District Commissioner explained that the suspects had run away from the village after the incident.

However, police managed to nab them following information they received from some villagers that the three men were back in the village.

Police have since opened a docket against the trio, who are expected to appear in court soon.

ZANIS/LL/KSH/ENDS.