MOTORISTS in Northern Province have called for the construction of a filling station in Luwingu to ease fuel shortages and stabilise the price of the commodity in the remote district.

The area has no filling station and is currently dependant on Kasama as the main source of fuel.

The absence of a service station has sparked illegal business of fuel with petrol and diesel being sold in retail shops along side other commodities such as sugar, cooking oil and tomatoes.

A survey by ZANIS in the tiny district revealed that petrol was being sold at K220 per 20-litre container while diesel of the same quantity was fetching K180.

Apart from the fear of contamination, the boom in illegal fuel trading in Luwingu has also generated fear that the inflammatory fuel could be a danger to human life, especially that it was being sold in homes.

“The situation is serious and it is important that the Government and business men and women consider extending fuel business in Luwingu District,” said Chinda Mwila, one of the residents.

“The district will soon be open to the rest of the country following the Link Zambia 8000 road project being carried out by the Patriotic Front Government,” he added in apparent reference to the ongoing tarring of the 164-kilometre Kasama-Luwingu Road.

Several roads are earmarked for upgrade and tarring to connect the remote district with other areas in Northern and Luapula provinces.

Council secretary Jovax Goma said the tarring of Luwingu-Mansa Road, Luwingu-Kawambwa Road, Luwingu-Samfya Road as well as Luwingu-Kaputa Road and Luwingu-Nsombo-Chilubi Road would bring massive developments in the district.

He said vehicles would require re-fuelling in Luwingu, adding that there was need for the business community to invest in Luwingu District.

Transporters from the Copperbelt, Western, North-Western and Lusaka provinces as well as those from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would be passing through Luwingu to get to Mpulungu Port and Tanzania.

“All these vehicles will require to fuel from here in Luwingu and the district has an opportunity to grow economically to change people’s livelihood,” Mr Goma said.

He also said that business persons should consider opening up a milling plant in the district to avert the increasing price of mealie meal in the area.-ZANIS/Sunday Times

Shiwang’andu District gets new market

THE newly-constructed market shelter in Shiwang’andu District has finally been handed over to marketeers in the area.

Officiating at the hand-over ceremony last weekend, Shiwang’andu area Member of Parliament Steven Kampyongo said the project, which had been constructed at K45,000 was funded using 2011 Constituency Development Funds (CDF).

Mr Kampyongo said he was happy that the cry of the women in the area had been answered. He was impressed with the quality works the constructor had done and for finishing the project within the stipulated time frame of two months.

Shiwang’andu-based contractor, Chinkumba General Dealers director, Lewis Mulenga said the project, which started early this year, had benefited the local people as the company used local labour.

Mr Mulenga said 12 people were employed and empowered with different skills.

Meanwhile, marketeers in the area expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying since independence the area had never had a market shelter to trade from.

The marketeers said during the rainy season, business came to a halt, adding that the new market shelter would enable them to conduct their business throughout the year. –ZANIS

FQM uplift gives School new face

By Correspondent –

FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) gave the pupils of Nkenyawuli Basic School in Chief Sailunga’s area in North-Western Province a Christmas cheer – the much-needed new roof.

The school had been without a roof since it was blown off eight months ago, and this month FQM decided to come to the rescue of the school.

“For eight months the pupils endured harsh conditions during classes,” Nkenyawuli Basic School head teacher Joseph Mbaya said.

“Therefore, it came as a huge relief when Kalumbila Minerals swiftly responded to our plight.”

Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML) is a wholly-owned FQM subsidiary that will operate the US$2 billion under-construction Sentinel Mine, 150 kilometres west of Solwezi .

Alex Mapapayi, KML community engagement officer said: “The Kwacha investment of K54,000 by the company was insignificant to the huge benefits arising from ensuring that Zambian children are provided with quality education, an ingredient we firmly believe holds the key to creating a more prosperous Zambia.”

The rehabilitation of the school was also indicative of the unprecedented CSR investment made by KML in and around the surroundings of its under-construction Sentinel Mine.

“The investments are not philanthropic gestures, but were anchored in the business of FQM because we believe that the business can only succeed if the communities in which we operate fare better as a result of our presence.”

Katete Council under fire

MKAIKA Member of Parliament Peter Phiri has accused Katete District Council of failing to spearhead development in the area.

Mr Phiri expressed disappointment in the manner the local council had been carrying out development projects in the district, saying it was unfortunate that people mandated to spearhead development were being selfish and untrustworthy.

He told ZANIS in Katete in a walk-in interview that it was sad to note that the Government was spending a lot of money which was not yielding intended results because of a few individuals bent on frustrating Government’s developmental agenda.

Mr Phiri said as a member of Parliament elected to represent the people of Mkaika Constituency, he would not allow his people to suffer at the expense of selfish officers.

Mr Phiri, who for the first time attended a full council meeting, wondered why the local council had been paying contractors in full as opposed to the community development fund guidelines which stipulated that a contractor was supposed to be paid once work was done.

He said recently he carried out checks on some projects in the district where he discovered that many projects had been abandoned.

Mr Phiri said not long ago, he met the Local Government minister who informed him about Katete District receiving funds meant for rehabilitation of the market but that to his surprise, he discovered that the local council had diverted the money to other projects.

Mr Phiri was not happy with the works at the market.

He said that the current market structure was too small to accommodate traders, forcing others to trade in grass-thatched stands which could end up in a disaster any time.

The member of Parliament said such uncontrolled expenditures were a clear waste of taxpayers’ money which could meaningfully be directed to more needy areas in the district.

Mr Phiri said it was sad that people in some villages were drinking dirty water while the local council had continued paying contractors who could not complete the works.

Mr Phiri alleged that it was possible that some people within the local council had been conniving with some contractors to benefit from Government funds at the expense of development.

He said development could not be achieved single-handedly but that concerted effort ware needed from all stakeholders.

Mr Phiri named some of the projects that had been abandoned in his area as Magobo health centre, Munyamazdi bridge and 42 boreholes funded with support from UNICEF and the CDF.- ZANIS

East road works cheer residents

By JULIUS PHIRI –

SOME residents in Lunageni Constituency in Chipata District are happy with progress made on the maintenance of the 14.5-kilometre stretch by Brut Engineering Zambia Limited.

The Ministry of Local Government and Housing through Chipata Municipal Council (CMC) no August 17,2013, signed a one-year project with Brut Engineering Zambia Limited valued at K4.3 million to cover a stretch of 14.5 kilometres.

However, the Lusaka-based construction company moved on site 10 days later after the signing ceremony.

Staff Daka of Jenda Road said he was happy with the progress made by the contractor on the rehabilitation of the road network.

He said the road had been impassable for a long time, adding that motorists going to Feni sub-centre were facing difficulties driving on the Jenda Road.

“Let me commend the Government through the line ministry for awarding Brut Engineering Zambia Limited, and for the smooth rehabilitation of the Jenda Road,” Mr Daka said.

Charles Wilson Phiri of Lunthwele Farm Block said that Jenda Road was one of the worst roads, saying he was happy with the construction company that was doing good road works.

Brut Engineering directors Chrispin Siingwa said appealed to the local authority to revisit the variation on the road.

He said the current bill of quantity only contained one culvert instead of 18.

Zesco hiccups blamed on Kabwe water crisis

By SYLVIA MWEETWA –

LUKANGA Water and Sewerage Company (LWsC) has attributed its failure to efficiently supply water to various  Kabwe townships recently dut to low electricity voltage.

The water utility company was unable to pump water due to low power voltage  but assured Kabwe residents of its commitment to ensuring adequate water supply.

Several townships were last week hit by a critical shortage of water following power outage out which lasted for three days.

Some residents had to walk several kilometers to search for water.

Lukanga Water Managing Director Wencyslouv Makondo apologised to the customers and said that failure to supply water was as a result of low voltage of power supply.

Mr Makondo said the company was committed to ensuring efficient and quality supply of water to its customers.

He said the company would continue to strive  to ensure it improves its services but appealed to the residents to ensure that they report vandalism of water installations.

He said  thefts and  vandalism of its water installation was a setback on its determination of provision clean water to its people.

Supply of water has since been normalised.