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are all affected by AIDS pandemicZESCO says power outages in Monze will be history by May
By Vanessa Nchimunya (3rd February 12)
ZESCO says power outages in Monze will be history by May
By Mweemba Nchimunya
Power utility, ZESCO limited has assured the people of Monze that constant power outages will end in May this year.
ZESCO director of distributions and customer care services, Kenneth Muteto said Monze only has one line of supply from Mazabuka but plans are under way to connect it to another line.
Mr Muteto was speaking Thursday when he featured on “The Platform Debate dubbed power outages in Monze’’ at Monze Youth Project Hall.
The debate which was attended by people from all walks of life in Monze saw the people quiz ZESCO on the power outages, especially the failure by the power utility to duly inform them before interruption in power supply.
The debate was organized by Chikuni Community Radio station with support from the BBC Media Action, Zambia Council for Social Development and Simalelo Aids Peer Education Project.
Mr Muteto also said the rehabilitation and uprating works at the Kariba north Bank will boost the current generation capacity and reduce the constant power outages countywide by 2015.
He maintained that power outages are driven by increasing demand outstripping existing supply owing to large scale investment in the mining and other sectors of the economy.
He said currently, Zambia has a power deficit of 150 megawatts.
Another panelist, Funcis Gondwe, representing the Monze Business Association, appealed to ZESCO to improve its operations and serve the public better, saying power outages have proved costly to business houses.
Kwali Mfuni, the Energy Regulations board (ERB) communications officer, advised the public to seek redress from ZESCO when they have complaints.
And Monze District Agriculture Officer, Justin Ngosa, who was representing the District Commissioner, Josephat Sianchapa, said government is aware of the challenges consumers of electricity face due to the constant power outages.
Zambia applauded for its achievement in the fight against Malaria
Jyde Hamoonga
An international Organisation involved in the fight Malaria in Africa says Zambia has made tremendous progress in the fight against the disease.
The Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MASEPA) says over the few years, Zambia has been held as Sub –Saharan Africa‘s model in the fight against the disease.
MASEPA communications Officer Todd Jennings told Radio Chikuni news that the various interventions against malaria by the Zambian government has shown the world the way to combat the disease.
MASEPA is currently spearheading the malaria Test and Treat initiative in Gwembe District, where community health workers and enumerators visit households to test and treat people.
MMD condemns internet rumor suggesting President Sata has been assassinated
By Charles Moonga
The MMD in Mazabuka has joined in condemning an internet story suggesting President Michael Sata has been assassinated.
A member of the former ruling party has condemned people circulating the rumor on the internet that President Michael Sata has been assassinated.
Maxwell Mwiinga says people behind the false internet story must be punished as they will bring confusion in the country.
In a statement, Mr Mwiinga said the story is a recipe for disaster as it can lead to lawlessness in the country.
He has urged Zambians to support the Patriotic Front government for its cost cutting measures, saying the new government has shown its commitment to improving the welfare of the people through the many pronouncements it has made so far.
State house has dismissed internet reports that the head of state has been assassinated.
Government releases maize for sale to vulnerable households
By Mweemba Nchimunya
Government has given 60 metric tonnes of Maize to Monze District for sale to vulnerable households.
Monze district commissioner Josephat Sianchapa told Radio Chikuni News the maize will only be sold to food insecure households.
Mr Sianchapa maintained that there are strict guidelines to ensure only the targeted people benefit from the maize.
He said a family can only buy up to 5 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize
The DC said the price has been pegged at k35, 000 per 50 kilogram bag of maize.
And Monze Central Member of parliament Jack Mwiimbu has called on vulnerable families in his constituency to take advantage of the gesture by government and buy maize for consumption.
Zambia Qualifies to the Quarter Finals
By Charles Moonga
Zambia National Soccer Team on Sunday evening humiliated Equatorial Gunea by a lone goal to secure a place in the Quarter finals of the African cup of Nations hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
A goal by team Captain Christopher Katongo in the 66th minute made Zambia Qualify to the Quarter finals.
This is a second time the Chipolopolo Boys Qualifies to the Quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in the hands of the French man Herve Renard.
In 2010 the Chipolopolo boys were knocked out in the Quarter Finals by the Super Eagles of Nigeria which remained as unforgettable history for the nation.
Zambia faces Sudan in the quarter finals Saturday.
Speaking to Journalists after the match in Malabo, Chipolopolo Team Trainer Herve Renard said the team is eager to make it to the semifinals of the tournament after the Quarter final which kicks off this Saturday.
Accumulating Plots
By Vanessa Nchimunya (6th February 12)
Selfish individuals accumulating plots in Monze –Council Secretary
By Mweemba Nchimunya
Monze District Council Secretary, Namukolo Kalufyanya says corrupt individuals are frustrating the local authority’s efforts to ensure transparent and equitable sale of plots in Monze.
Mrs Kalufyanya was speaking Saturday, when she featured on a live discussion programme “The Platform on Chikuni Radio.
Mrs Kalufyanya said some individuals are acquiring plots dubiously but maintained that the local authority is looking at mechanisms to fight the problem.
“You find that you advertise plots, and you think you are selling to individuals and later you discover that it was one person who gave money to five individuals to buy those plots”, she said.
Mrs Kalufyanya admitted that the system being used to sale plots has serious flaws which makes it prone to corruption.
“I have to admit that the system we are using is not perfect, it has challenges but suffice to say new guidelines are coming to ensure that certain individuals don’t take advantage and accumulate plots at the expense of the majority.
Meanwhile, Mrs Kalufyanya has assured people displaced from their land due to lack of proper demarcation and mapping of Monze and Gwembe districts that the problem will be sorted out amicably.
Chief Ufwenuka of Monze and his counterpart Chief Munyumbe of Gwembe are engaged in a protracted feud over the encroachment of the latter’s subjects on the former’s land.
Chief Ufwenuka accuses Chief Munyumbe and the Gwembe district council of going beyond the original boundaries drawn in 1958 and encroaching on his land.
And speaking during the same programme ,Monze District Council administrative assistant, Benson Bweenje assured the people that the local authority will do all it can to fight the corruption that has marred the sale of plots.
PF says it will not be intimidated by southern fundamentalists
By Charles Moonga
The Patriotic Front says it will not tolerate threats against Southern Province Minister Miles Sampa.
Mazabuka District Commissioner Eugene Munyama told Radio Chikuni News that the PF government is disappointed by the alleged fundamentalists who are threatening the provincial minister, saying it will deal decisively with such people.
He disclosed that the Minister who was threatened in a three paragraph letter is capable of handling the affairs of the UPND dominated province.
Mr Munyama says his government has no time for politicking but is in a hurry to bring development to the people of Southern Province, and will not allow tribal politicks to derail development.
A group of Nineteen (19) alleged Tonga fundamentalists recently wrote to the Southern Province Minister instructing him to leave the Province as they wanted to protect what belongs to them and their children.
Corridor Disease claims 1000 cattle in Nega –Nega
By Charles Moonga
Corridor disease has broken out in Nega -Nega ward of Mazabuka district.
Over 1000 have reportedly died following the outbreak of suspected corridor and lump skin diseases.
Nega-Nega ward councilor, Skinner Tantamujulu confirmed the outbreak to Radio Chikuni News.
Mr Tantamujulu has called on government to immediately send veterinary officials to the area before all the cattle is wiped out.
And when contacted for a comment, Mazabuka District Commissioner Eugene Munyama told Radio Chikuni News, government will do everything possible to contain the outbreak of corridor disease in Nega -Nega .
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