Chief Chitamo the 4th of Serenje District has encouraged couples in his chiefdom to have at least a minimum of 10 children.

Chief Chitamo says this because there is plenty of idle land in his chiefdom which must be utilized for production.

He was speaking during the commemoration of World Malaria Day at Gibson rural health center yesterday.

Chief Chitamo said the population in his chiefdom was too low hence the need for his subjects to produce more children fill up the land.

“I have got 26 children and I am remaining with four to make 30. So you should also work hard and produce more because my policy is to have a minimum of 10,” he said amid applause from his subjects.[quote]

And Chief Chitambo has urged people in his chiefdom to pursue adult education so that they could learn how to read and write.

Chief Chitambo has since said he will not appoint illiterate people as Indunas.

He said those seeking to be appointed an Indunas should be able to read and write.

“How do I communicate with such a person or in case I receive a letter from higher offices or even when one is called through a letter. One can not wait for somebody to read for you. So if you can not read or write and you want to become a Induna, forget it,” he said.

ZANIS/KC/CMM/AM/ENDS

Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba has ordered the demolishing of the new structures at Itebe clinic due to poor workmanship and use of sub-standard materials.

The structures have been condemned by engineers from the ministry of works and supply and Mazabuka Municipal Council.

Mr. Hamaamba has since directed health authorities not to pay the contractor until engineers and building inspectors are content with workmanship and the quality of materials used.

He said the named local contractor who was awarded the K150 million contract should demolish and restart the construction of clinic at his own expense.

Mr. Hamaamba also instructed government engineers and building inspectors to closely monitor and supervise the contractor.

He said as leader of government operations in the district, he would not allow any contractor to do shoddy works as government was spending colossal sums of money to invest in infrastructure development.

He said it was disappointing and frustrating to note that while government is putting much emphasis on empowering local contractors by awarding them contracts, the workmanship of some local contractors was poor.

Mr. Hamaamba said government would not hesitate to blacklist poor performing contractors.

And Contractor, John Kantumoya told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that he would abide by government’s directive to demolish the structures.

Two weeks ago, Magoye Member of Parliament, Bennie Mweemba also called for the razing down of the of the structures due to poor workmanship.
ENDS/HC/AM/ZANIS

Chikankata Member of Parliament, Munji Habeenzu has pleaded with farmers in Mazabuka’s Mapangazya area to stop selling maize at give away prices because government will in the next few days announce the floor price of maize.

Some farmers in the area are selling a 50 kilogramme bag of maize at K 18,000.

Mr. Habeenzu said selling maize at low prices would make it difficult for the farmers to buy farming inputs during the next farming season.

He told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that farmers have ignored calls to stop selling maize to unscrupulous maize traders who have invaded Chikankata constituency.

Mr Habeenzu noted that the prices being offered to farmers by the unscrupulous businessmen are far below the reasonable price.

He said the high influx of briefcase maize traders in Chikankata would result in some farmers being swindled if the trend was allowed to continue.
ENDS/HC/AM/ZANIS

Government has appealed to labour leaders to desist from misleading workers in the country that government is insensitive to their plight.

Northern Province minister Charles Shawa says it is unfair for union officials to use public events such as the Labour Day to issue unwarranted attacks on the government.

Mr. Shawa was during the Labour Day celebrations held in Mbala yesterday.

The celebrations were held under the theme “economic recovery through respect for workers’ rights, good governance and job security.”

Mr. Shawa said contrary to claims by the labour movement, the government was determined to improve the welfare of the workers.

He was reacting to Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) representative James Zulu who accused government of paying lip-service to the suffering of workers in the country.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Zulu also complained that that due to weak labour laws, foreign investors especially in the mining sector have continued to abuse workers’ rights without government intervening in the matter.

But Mr. Shawa advised Mr. Zulu to be honest and truthful in his statement in order to avoid creating unnecessary tension between government and workers.

The minister also urged the labour movement to foster cordial relations with employers in order to sustain peace and unity in the country.

The minister however, commended union officials in the province for successfully hosting Labour celebrations.
ENDS/WS/AM/ZANIS

CHIEF Macha of the Tonga of Choma has threatened to expose government officers in Southern Province who are bent on frustrating a programme on sanitation being sponsored by both government and UNICEF.

Closing a one week provincial workshop on Community Led Total Sanitation, Chief Macha warned that he would report all any government officers failing to support sanitation programme to higher authorities so that they are disciplined.

The workshop was also attended by chiefs Sekute and Moomba of Kazungula district as well as chieftainess Bedyango of Chief Mukuni’s area.

He said the Community Led Total Sanitation Programme is not a UNICEF programme but a government one which must be embraced by all government institutions.

Chief Macha, who is chairperson for the Choma Joint Monitoring Team on Sanitation, reminded provincial heads of departments who shunned the one week workshop held at Zambezi Altima hotel in Livingstone that as government officers they were duty bound to support the programme being implemented under the ministry of local government.

He said him and government officers from Choma had travelled to Livingstone specifically to share experiences and knowledge on the success story of the Community Led Total Sanitation programme in Choma.

Chief Macha said the sanitation revolution in southern province will not be frustrated in any body.

He said it was disappointing to note that only two out of the 25 departmental heads had managed to attend the workshop.

The workshop had been convened to constitute a provincial joint monitoring team on sanitation that will spearhead sanitation activities in the province.

But southern province UNICEF monitoring officer Leonard Mukosha said the Choma district Joint Monitoring Team on Sanitation will have to be elevated to provincial status so that the thrust on sanitation activities that already been achieved is not lost.

And speaking earlier, UNICEF specialist on sanitation, Dr Gibson Zulu disclosed that the UNN agency has procured vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles to scale up the sanitation campaign in Kazungula district.

Dr Zulu said transport will be given to the district as soon as the Choma district team on sanitation builds capacity in institutions in Kazungula.
ZANIS/CM/AM/Ends