By SARAH MWANZA –
in Chipata
VUBWI District Council Secretary John Kamanga says the area has undergone massive infrastructure development since late President Michael Sata declared it a district in 2012.
Mr Kamanga cited the construction of the Vubwi District Hospital, administration block, civic centre, staff houses and a secondary school as some of the major infrastructural works underway in the area.
“Most of these projects I just motioned have reached an advanced stage and I am glad to inform you that very soon they will be handed over to Government by the contractors,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said the 75-kilometre road from Chipata to Vubwi was currently being constructed to ease the movement of goods and services as the road had been in a deplorable state for a long time.
He said the Government had also focused on improving water supply to the residents of Vubwi to uplift their living standards.
Mr Kamanga said Vubwi was a hilly place, hence making it difficult to find water but the Government had done everything possible to ensure the area was provided with enough boreholes in different places.
Mr Kamanga, however, said that some development projects in the area had stalled due to financial challenges.
“I am aware that there are also a number of development projects that have stalled in the area but as Government, we are doing everything possible to ensure the contractors are paid and move back on site,” he said.

Dad assaults boy (5)

By MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI –
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy of Kawama Township in Ndola has sustained multiple injuries after being beaten by the father.
The minor, identified as Martin Phiri, was awoken by the father Victor Phiri on October 10, 2015 around 22:00 hours who beat him up for not obeying his orders of staying at home.
A medical report has been issued and the matter has been reported to Kawama Police post.
When contacted for a comment, Copperbelt Police chief Joyce Kasosa said she had not received a report yet.
“I have not yet been informed about this matter,” Ms Kasosa said.
But Martin’s aunt Mahu Sakala with the minor’s mother Precious Kunda said they reported the matter to Kawama Police post on Sunday October 11, 2015.
“We have reported the matter to Kawama Police post and we are just waiting for the police to arrest Mr Phiri,” Kunda said.
She said they divorced with Phiri who decided to get custody of the child and now had turned the child into a punching bag.
Some neighbours who heard the boy’s yelling called the mother of the child and forced their entry into the house of its mother.
Martin was not able to walk after the beating and could not eat anything as his entire body was swollen.
Ms Kunda with her aunt Mahu rushed the child to Arthur Davison Children Hospital where he was treated.
She said the medical report confirmed the injuries the boy had sustained.

Lusaka sick of traffic jams

By PASSY HAACHIZO –
LUSAKA residents have bemoaned the unceasing traffic conjestion in many parts of the central business district and other parts of city.
Residents said it was unfortunate that the relevant authorities tolerated bus drivers who picked commuters on the road instead of the designated bus stations.
Vivian Siasulwe said it was sad that bus drivers did not heed to traffic rules even after a warning and instead resorted to using their own initiative, thereby causing congestion and putting the lives of the commuters at risk.
Ms Siasulwe was worried that bus drivers cared less as long as they picked enough passengers on the road to fill up the space on their buses.
“The problem is that the so-called traffic officers tolerate some of these bus drivers, which causes the increase in traffic jams in the city,” Ms Siasulwe said.
In a millennium radio programme, some residents said most of the bus drivers that were found committing traffic offences were let free because of the connections they had with the traffic officers.
Michael, a caller said many bus drivers who committed offences along Freedom Way paid money to a named police station before going on the road.
Others attributed the problem to the Road Development Agency (RDA)’s poor design of their programme by not considering creating enough lay-bys when they constructed the roads.
Chazanga, Kabwata, Jacaranda, David Kaunda, St Pauls, Interland, Woodlands, Mandevu, Chipata and others were cited for lack of bus stations.
Another caller, Mulenga said roads were supposed to have bus stops every after 500 metres.

Kampyongo pledges to tackle council problems head-on

By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Steven Kampyongo has pledged to work towards addressing some of the challenges  faced by the councils countrywide.
Mr Kampyongo, however, called for hard and team work in implementing various development programmes.
He was speaking in  an interview. Mr Kampyongo, who rose from deputy minister in the Vice-President’s Office, said he was  grateful to the Head of State for his trust and pledged to work with various councils and other stakeholders in contributing with the country’s development.
The minister said having worked in various Government ministries, it had given him an idea of how to address certain  issues and that he was confident that he would contribute towards the efficient operation of the ministry.
“I am humbled with the elevation because I did not expect it but, among other plans which I would like to address is with regard to the operational challenges faced by the councils, but this will require team work,” he said.
And some senior citizens in Kabwe have praised President Lungu’s move to promote Mr Kampyongo as minister of Local  Government and they are confident that he would bring sanity in the allocation of land by councils, especially in Kabwe.

Give us tractors, farmer urges Govt

By BRIAN HATYOKA –
A FARMER in Kazungula’s Kabuyu area in Southern Province, Veronica Mushupa Sianchenga, has appealed to the Government to consider hiring tractors to small-scale farmers especially those who have lost their animals from livestock diseases.
Ms Sianchepa said there was need for the Government to start hiring tractors to small scale farmers at an affordable fee to improve on their standard of living and their farming systems.
She noted that a lot of cattle, especially in Kazungula District, were still dying from the Corridor livestock disease commonly known as ‘Denkete’ among the Tonga speaking people.
Ms Sianchepa was speaking in an interview in Livingstone during the week during a consultative stakeholder meeting for various associations hosted by the Livingstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The meeting was called to get views, challenges and opportunities for the business community in Livingstone and come up with a document which could be presented to the Government and other stakeholders.
“Our animals are still dying from Denkete in Nyawa Chiefdom of Kazungula District.
“Small-scale farmers get money once in a year and they are not involved in any other business besides farming. If they are given tractors, they can improve their standard of living as well as improve on their farming systems and have something to help Zambia,” Ms Siachenga said.
She also noted that the effects of Climate change were affecting farmers in the country.
“As farmers, we need a lot of support for us to survive so that we help those who small to grow.
“Small scale farmers are the ones who feed the nation but they are suffering a lot. People in towns rely on farmers from rural areas for the provision of food in urban areas,” she said.
Ms Sianchepa noted that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) was not adequate for farmers to grow in their farming business.
“The FISP helps farmers in terms of food security but I can’t afford for business and income generation.
“In future, Government should increase on fertilizer packs under the FISP as four packs cannot take us anywhere,” she said.