SIYUPWA

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA-
DEFENCE Minister Edgar Lungu has warned non-performing District Commissioners in Western Province that they risk having their contracts terminated if they continue to fail to perform.
Mr Lungu said it was incumbent on District Commissioners to monitor developmental projects in their respective districts.
Mr Lungu said this in Sesheke when he inspected government projects in the area at the weekend, during his tour of projects in the province.
He said that District Commissioners should be proactive and ensure that developmental projects were effectively undertaken and constantly monitored.
He was prompted to echo the sentiments following lack of information by Sesheke acting District Commissioner Siyupwa Kabisa on the progress of rehabilitation works on the Sesheke-Livingstone Road.
This was after Mr Kabisa complained about the poor state of the road, and had no clue on plans that Government had for the road.
“We have appointed you to manage the affairs of the District on behalf of Government, it is your duty to follow up these matters with the central Government frequently, if you don’t push for the projects to be funded it might take longer,” Mr Lungu said.
He said Government was not interested in leaders who were only interested in keeping their positions but that they needed to perform and deliver for the betterment of the country.
“If you fail to perform, there are many people out there, who can take up the challenge. We who are employed are privileged and we should execute our duties diligently,” said Mr Lungu.
He said Zambians were interested in seeing development that would benefit them.
He also advised the district to put in place a project that would discourage deforestation in the area to avoid further depletion of trees.
“We should guard our natural resources by discouraging deforestation, we cannot continue creating employment for our friends in the neighbouring countries with our natural resources,” he said.
Mr Lungu who was in the province to check on military officers manning border areas also visited government projects in Shangombo, Lukulu, Mitete, and Sikongo districts.
He said his visit was an eye opener that Western Province was the least developed in the country and that Government would ensure that it takes development to the region.