. Chisopa

By SYLVIA MWEETWA –

A CHINESE Proverbs says, “A Journey of thousands miles begins with one step”, so is the journey for the newly elected Mkushi South Member of Parliament (MP) Davies Chisopa.
The election of Mr Chisopa during the just-ended September 11, 2014 marked the beginning of his journey aimed at fulfilling the campaign promises in line with the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto.
The people of the newly created Luano District are fully aware of what they want the new district to look like considering that it had remained undeveloped for  years and their answered prayers lie in Mr Chisopa and the Government as a whole.
Clearly, the journey for the parliamentarian would not be an easy one looking at various developmental challenges faced.
But for the people of Luano, they are interested in seeing to it that the district is developed like other districts in infrastructure and other areas which are key to attracting investors.
Mr Mulenga Musonda, a resident of Luano said the newly elected MP should immediately start works and lobby the Government in ensuring the rehabilitation of  roads which connects Luano to Kabwe, Mkushi and Kapiri Mposhi districts are worked on before the onset of  rains.
Mr Mulenga said as a farmer, the biggest challenge is the poor road network when delivering his produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
“If only the roads which connects Kapiri Mposhi, Kabwe and Mkushi can be worked on, it will help a lot because as it is, the issue of  bad roads in the area is a nightmare,”he said.
Another small-scale farmer, Mary Mumbi said there is need to improve the provision of water by drilling boreholes and that currently, people  walk several kilometres in search of clean water to drink.
Ms Mumba is aware that all the problems faced cannot be addressed in a day but appealed to the newly elected leader to develop a culture of visiting the people who elected him.
Mr Chisopa emerged winner after beating two other contestants.
Returning officer Kelly Mwebe declared  Mr Chisopa winner after polling 2,268 while Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) got 1,458 and UPND’s Agnes Ng’andu got 1,012 and 68 were rejected.
The just ended elections were being contested by Mr Chisopa, Sydney Chisanga of MMD and Ms Ng’andu of UPND.
Of the 12,793 registered voters only 3,784 voted, while 9,009 did not vote and immediately after Mr Chisopa was declared winner, there was jubilation among party cadres while the wife of Mr Chisopa broke down uncontrollably.
Mr Chisopa pledged to use his position to improve road network, water and sanitation which he said are top on his agenda adding that, he would dedicate his victory to the president who showed confidence in him.
Mr Chisopa said Luano would develop just like any new district and would work towards ensuring the projects are achieved and implemented in line with Government programmes and commended the people for voting for him.
He said the people of Luano are into agriculture and have continued to contribute to the food basked of the nation and that good road network was key to safe delivery of farming produce and inputs.
He assured that he would ensure that he lights up the constituency making use of the Lunsenfwa hydro which was currently generating power.
And Mr Chisopa’s  camapign manager Philip Kosamu who is also Lusaka Province Minister,  said the peaceful elections and campaigns was a clear testimony that PF was a non-violent party who sold its manifesto to the people hence its victory.
Mr Kosamu maintained that the PF means well in taking development  to all parts of the country including the newly created Luano District.
He has since appealed to all well-meaning Zambians who want to see development to join the ruling party
The losing UPND candidate Ms Ng’andu conceded defeat but was confident of winning the elections in 2016 and maintained that her failure was not final but a stepping stone to continue selling herself.
“The elections were free and fair but for me the campaign starts right here and I will ensure to reach especially those areas in the valley where we had a challenge,” she said.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo said as part of his commitment to the newly created district, the Government was in the process of constructing a police station and 10 houses whose works are expected to commence next month.
Mr Kampyongo said the tender process has already been concluded and that,  what was remaining was to sign the agreement with the contractor who would  later move on site.
Mr Kampyongo who was in the area drumming up support for Mr Chisopa said looking at the vastness of the area, his Government was interested in seeing to it that security is granted for all citizens including investors.
He said apart from the construction of a police station, the Government also intends to put up a police post so as to carter for the community and paid tribute to the public for working hand in hand with police in fighting crime.
“I can confirm that the tender process has been concluded already and  what is remaining is the signing of the contract before the contractor could move on site. For now I cannot disclose how much would be spent on the construction of the police station until the contract is signed, “he said.
He added that the construction of the police station would also act as a morale booster for the police officers who would be deployed in the area.
He said the works done so far can speak for itself and reaffirmed its commitment of ensuring that development is taken to all corners of the country and commended the people of Luano for voting for the ruling party.
Central Province Commissioner of police Standwell Lungu commended  political parties who took part in the election for the peaceful campaigns but was however, concerned with the new strategy of campaigning  door to door and wondered what could happened if a political party were to go to a house who supported a different political party.
It is clear that the interest of the people of Luano is to see to it that the area develops just  like  any other area, but the development of the district would require involvement of all.