By JULIUS PHIRI –
MKAIKA Constituency is situated in Katete District of Eastern Province and border areas such as Milanzi, Kasenengwa, Malambo and Sinda.
The word ‘Mkaika’ is probably derived from a venue of Mkaika Chewa headquarters where the Kulamba Traditional Ceremony is commemorated annually.
History has it that the constituency has of late been represented in the National  Assembly by various elected Members of Parliament (MPs).

. Phiri

The constituency has been changing  hands in terms of leadership and this time around, the current  area Member of Parliament is Peter Phiri of the MMD, also known as Kafunkha or 9-1.
The area is divided into wards namely,  Mphangwe, Chavuka, Kadula, Vulamkoko, Chimtende, Lukweta, Mkaika and Matunga.
Despite its vastness, the constituency  only has two traditional rulers and these are,  chiefs Mbang’ombe and Kawaza who pay homage to Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi who resides at Mkaika Palace.
It is not disputable that the constituency is predominantly inhabited by the Chewa-speaking people under the helm of Kalonga Gawa Undi who has his subjects spread in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
The Chewas are believed to have migrated from Mozambique in the year 1671.
The area is also rich in the preservation of traditional cultural heritage of the Chewa-speaking people such as the famous “Gule Wa Mkulu” also known as the Nyau dance.
Luckily, the district administration and most of the modern  infrastructure, is all found  in the constituency and the area cannot be fully described as a rural constituency.
Approximately, the constituency has the population of more than 50,000 people of which 34, 112 have been captured by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as eligible voters.
The population is concentrated mostly along the ‘Boma’ better known as town, which is a major trading place.
The trading place is famously known as Katete Stores.
Popular is the St Francis Mission Hospital owned by the Anglican and Catholic churches, Puma Filling Station, Omelo Mumba Primary School, Katete boarding and secondary schools and Katete Prison. Just like Lusaka, names such as Chibolya, Soweto and Ibex  Hill townships are also found in Mkaika Constituency.
The constituency is mainly composed of  the Christianity majority.
However, the constituency is faced with complex problems such as high illiteracy levels, early marriages coupled with escalating levels of poverty.
Mr Phiri said  the constituency is currently faced with the problem of poor road network which require  Government attention.
Among the  roads  that needs Government attention are Vulamkoko, Mnyamadzi, Chavuka, Mtetezi-Msoro and Chimtende-Lupande.
“The roads are in a bad state and we need Government attention as money from Constituency Development Fund  cannot do anything on these projects,” he explained.
He said Mnyamadzi Bridge which was washed away by the heavy current is also in a bad state.
The MP explained that the four kilometre stretch of the road leading to Mkaika headquarters must be upgraded to bituminous standards by the Government because  it is one of the vital roads in Katete District.
This is the road used by international and local dignitaries who drive through during  the Kulamba traditional ceremony in the month of August every year.
“I feel that to keep on patching this road is not helping matters but Government must fully rehabilitate the road leading to the palace of Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi because it is one of the important roads in Katete District, “he said.
He further said there was an urgent need to complete the tarring of a 15 kilometre stretch of the township roads under  the urban project in the constituency.
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing,  has engaged Nakangea Company to construct the township roads.
The MP wondered why the construction of the township roads had slowed down by the  contractor since he has already been awarded the contract.
On the Police station, Mr Phiri said,  it was unfortunate that the project which Skadi Investment Limited was doing had been terminated because of poor planning.
He said  the project should be re-advertised so that the building materials currently on site, are not stolen or destroyed.
“This project (construction of administration block) started well but the contract has been terminated by the Government and when I queried,  I was just told it was due to poor planning,” he stated.
Skadi owner Salatiel Moses Tembo said  his construction firm was told by the Ministry of Home Affairs to wait after being given a contract to construct the Police post.
The contractor had already constructed a foundation for  the Police administration.
The contract is yet to be re-advertised by the Government in order for the successful bidder to carry out the works on the project.
He says the construction of the National Registration Office and the rehabilitation of the magistrates court should speed up .
In 2013, Government, through the support from Germany,  awarded Plem Construction Company of Malawi a 9.9 million euro contract to carryout urban water supply and sanitation in Eastern Province.
Katete is one of the districts  which is a recipient of the project which Eastern Water and Sewerage Company is closely working on to ensure the project was completed on time.
The project has already cheered some residents who include Goodson Mbewe of Chithuza Village who remarked that ‘once the dam and water plant are completed by Plem,I including other people will start receiving clean water,”.
He was happy with the project on the construction of the dam and water treatment plant by a Malawian construction company.
Government  funds and money from Mkaika Constituency Development Fund (CDF), have since put up street lights on the Great East Road but the area MP says, crime still remains rife despite the existence of lights.
Walila, Nyembe, Mnyamadzi, Chankhanga, Lupande and Chikwanda primary schools which are in bad state, need Government effort to bring them to acceptable standards.
The MP appealed to the Government to ensure  that schools were rehabilitated as soon as possible in order to match with the current infrastructure developments.
“I am aware of the upgrading of Chimtende and Matunga into secondary schools but my appeal to the Government is to ensure that they assist in changing the face of Walila, Nyembe, Mnyamadzi, Chankhanga, Lupande and Chikwanda primary schools which are in a bad state,”Mr Phiri says.
He narrated that Chisale Day Secondary School which becomes a weekly boarding needs K500, 000 for Zesco to connect power.
Government needs to intervene in the  matter of electrifying Chisale Day Secondary School.
He also appealed to Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to connect projects such as schools and health posts in the constituency.
Government should also roll-out  the Social Cash Transfer Scheme to all the wards in Mkaika Constituency for the benefits of the needy.
Mr Phiri has also  managed to convince Oasis to put up a filling station in Katete to add up to the already existing Puma filling station.
He was sure that the district will not be running out of fuel once  Oasis completes the project.
Early marriages and cattle herding have all  become a common feature for most of girls and boys in the constituency.
Girls and boys have forgotten the importance of education and  a good number are dropping out from schools in preference to either marriage  or cattle herding.
Mr Phiri explained that it was unfortunate that girls and boys were opting for early marriages and herding of cattle.
“Early marriages and cattle herding have been  rife in my constituency. Most girls are currently getting married while boys are dropping from school in preference to herding animals such as cattle,” he says.
He appealed to churches and other stakeholders to intensify sensitisation over the disadvantages of early marriages and herding of cattle at the tender age.
He cited Zinaka as one of the primary schools which had recorded almost 15 school dropouts as well as  girls opting for early marriages.
He hailed Chief Mbang’ombe for embarking on a school project  near his palace, to start re-enrolling drop outs.
Mr Phiri, who came in September 2013 as an MP through a parliamentary by-election,  hopes to lobby for the development of the constituency.
Government is expected to construct a university  in Mkaika Constituency starting this year.
Mkaika Constituency has also emerged as an agricultural place due to its  fertility and proximity.
The constituency can only develop once the issue of the road network and other important infrastructure are looked at by the Government.
It is hoped that, Government and some non-governmental organisation (NGOs), will come to the aid of the people of Mkaika who are lacking a number of social amenities.