.Mukanga

By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –

SHANG’OMBO is one of the most popular districts in Zambia although the popularity is synonymous with poverty and under-development due to its remote geographical location.
Despite enjoying district status, Shang’ombo lacks basic social services such as health, telecommunication, education among others.
However, the perception would soon fade because of the steady development projects taking place in the area which some people a referring to as a sleeping giant.
Zambia and Angola have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to construct a canal in Shang’ombo District to link the two countries.
The construction of the US$ 40 million Shang’ombo-Rivungo Canal has started and is aimed at enhancing trade in the province and the neigbouring Angola.
The project is expected to be operational within the next two to three years.
The construction of a canal would have multiplier effects as more economic activities would be simulated in the two countries.
Zambia will build 10 houses in Shangombo while Angola will also build a similar number of houses as well as offices for customs and immigration.
Works, Supply, Transport and Communications, minister Yamfwa Mukanga said the project that would cover 10 kilometers would create a new trade route between Shangombo and Rivungo.
Shang’ombo is scheduled for electricity connection to the national power grid under the Rural Electrification Authority (REA).
This was in line with REA’s mandate and its efforts to electrify the newly-designated districts in Zambia.
The connection project was estimated to cost K70, 000 to undertake the construction of a 240kilometres grid extension project.
Electricity will be supplied to Shang’ombo by teeing-off from the existing 66 kilovolts power line which runs from Victoria Falls Power Station in Livingstone to Mongu through Senanga,” he said.
REA plans to construct a 55kilometre overhead line from the teeing-off point to Matebele where a 66/33 Kilovolts substation would be set up.
The purpose of the substation was to introduce 33KV distribution network for schools and health centres along the route Shang’ombo.
He said from the substation at Matebele, the authority would then construct another 140km of 33kV overhead line to Shang’ombo District.
The immediate beneficiaries of the power line from Matebele to Shang’ombo would include load centres namely, Nzilu, Nalwashi, Beshe, ,Mengo, Ng’andwe and Libala basic schools.
Others were Natukoma Centre, which has a health post, police post, school of agriculture and a local court.
State Ranch Basic School, Mulangu, Siwelewele, Mbowa and Matunda basicm schools are other points to be connected with power.
Plans to construct the Sioma-Shangombo road earmarked for 2015 under the Link Zambia 8000 road project are underway.
A Non-Governmental organisation has allocated about K2 billion for a 15-year sugar cane plantation project in the area.
The sugar cane plantation would be located between the Zambezi River and Kuandu river of Angola as the plant would be drawing water from both rivers.
The first Radio One and Two Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation transmitters have been launched.
The launch of the transmitters covering a radius of 70 kilometers isexpected to unlock the vast investment potential in the area becausecommunication and information are important tools to promotingdevelopment.
Shangombo has not had access to radio since Zambia’s independence in 1964 compelling people to listen to Namibia and Angola radio stations.
The Zambia Information and Communications Authority (ZICTA) has come up with a pilot project to name streets and number houses in an effort for easy access to communication among various things.
The project will also enable emergency responders have a clear landmark to locate a place in an event of a fire or when crime takes place as this will result into accurate physical address of citizens. ZICTA in conjunction with the Zampost has come up with another pilot project to establish public access centres in five major Post Offices in the country.
Shang’ombo is a beneficiary of the five establishments that are under the same agreement.
This is the first time the area has a modern post office which not only added beauty to the district but will also contribute to its social and economic development.
The company will connect the people of Shang’ombo to the rest of Zambia and the world through the provision of internet, electronic money transfer services and other services provided by the corporation in its partnerships with other strategic service providers.
Mr Mukanga said Government has prioritised the development of the postal sector in the area because it has the potential to foster socio-economic development.
“This is true for the rural areas where a great number of our people still have access to vital services and information, which is essential to the development agenda of Government for economic sustainability,” he said.
The Post office will also provide internet, electronic money transfer services and host of other services which the corporation will provide with other strategic service providers.
In line with its diversification portfolio Zampost has introduced a Bureau De Change, Money Transfer, Letter and Parcel post service, Express Mail Services and E-post among various things.
In addition, Zampost has embarked on a countrywide exercise to refurbish postal offices and postal infrastructure as the current ones had not been attended to for decades as part of its rebranding process.
ZICTA Board Member Ythulu Liwanga is happy that Shangombo is one of the sites under the ZICTA and Zampost programme in bridging the digital gap.
He said the public access centres were being set up to provide a functional business office for consumers, members of the public and small scale entrepreneur as well as facilitate ICT literacy in the communities.
“The centres will allow consumers and members of the public interact with the authority on complaint management, obtaining feedback and enquiries or queries using public access terminals.
“The authority recognizes that an informed consumer is an empoweredone and thereby plays a critical role in the development of the ICT sector,” he said.
Angola is putting up a railway line between that country and Zambia closer to the two country’s border at Jimbe.
Zambia wants to work hard and connect to Jimbe so that minerals and other products are exported to and through Angola.
However, some residents talked in the area expressed happiness over the recent development taking place in Shang’ombo because their living standards would significant improve.
Mwiya Sumbwanyambe of Matebele area said he could not wait to see the completion of the projects Government has started in the area becausethey are poised to stimulate growth in the district.
“It is good that signs of real development are showing now, perhaps after 10 years down the line, Shang’ombo will be a better place to in,” Mr Sumbwanyambe said.
Mabuku Mukelabai, who shared similar sentiments, however, added that there was need to improve on the health and education sector becausethese sectors are critical to human development.
It is, however, anticipated that with the completion of these projects and those that are underway, Shang’ombo would be no longer be synonymous with poverty and under development.