Nickson Chilangwa at Mansa airport shortly before his departure for
Lusaka. This was after
concluding his tour of the Province on Saturday.
According to Mr. Chilangwa, the indaba which is scheduled to take place today at Mansa’s Teja Lodge has drawn all MPs and Chiefs across the Province.
The Minister who will officially open the gathering has said a wide range of issues concerning the development of Luapula Province would be tabled at the Indaba.
He revealed that legislators and Chiefs were expected to discuss matters on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, infrastructure, water, early marriages among many other issues.
The Provincial Minister was also hasty to mention that the working relationship between MPs and Chiefs would be harmonized to avoid confrontations in the delivery of the services in Luapula Province.
He noted that proposals on development from the two parties would be considered on an equal basis.
“Members of Parliament and Their Royal Highnesses will meet to confer on a number of issues to do with the development of Luapula Province. Our Chiefs are key stakeholders in the development agenda of our Province hence the need for this meeting. Development will dominate our discussions; nothing else,” Mr. Chilangwa said.
And Mr. Chilangwa noted that it was in the interest of both MPs and Chiefs to see to it that Luapula was taken to another level.
Mr. Chilangwa said MPs were expected to give updates on achievements recorded so far and areas that needed urgent attention in the Province.
“For example, we have been grappling with depleting fish stocks in our fisheries; we are trying to propose to our Chiefs so that if we agree we can increase the number of months to be observed when the fish ban is enforced” Mr. Chilangwa said
Way to go… BUT PLEASE AVOID GENERALITIES which make meetings mere talking shops! LOOK AT WHAT PROJECTS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WHICH IS ONE THE REASONS FOR OVER FISHING AND EARLY MARRIAGES? Your friends in Western have cashews growing to address household poverty in the coming years! WHAT DO YOU PLAN IN LUAPULA ON A SIMILAR SCALE? During the UNIP(KK) era we had trial projects to encourage growing of PALM TREES(OIL),RUBBER,TEA, COFFEE AND REARING OF GOATS. SURELY, WE CAN PICK ONE OF THESE OR ALL OF THEM AND ENSURE THAT EACH DISTRICT BECOMES A MAJOR PRODUCER! DON”T ONLY EXTEND THE FISH BAN WITHOUT SCIENTIFIC PROOF TO INCREASE BREEDING- ENCOURAGE FISH FARMING!!
Yes chiefs need some tea too.
Great Stuff Honorable way to go when are we ever going to have a similar INDABA in Lusaka Province????
Bwafyaa, i appreciate your comments and agree, but if the projects in unip days were successful where are those industries today.
Are you aware that the cashew project will take 4 to 5 years to reach commercial yields.
With your knowledge of the unip era can you please explain how pipo will survive for 5 years and how they will pay for inputs or will they go the way of the unip projects,
What you say is correct but we must provide projects that will give pipo quicker zccess to money.
Boer goats grow to 15 kg within 3 months is that a better idea thsn 5 years for cashews. Market for goats is there
@3 Masalamuso, thanx. The issues I brought out are just examples of what can be tried. They were tried and neglected when government changed in 1991.Certainly in solving a problem like poverty which leads to many social ills we need to have a number of strategies. There can be short term,medium term and long term solutions. An example of cashews is a medium term to long term in that cashews can take 3-4 years (new varieties if well managed start to produce at 3 years) to bear fruit and bring in an income.In the meantime people can be encouraged to produce other things that can have market like rice,fish. Even if we have to start with goats, it would require time to build the breeding stock. In the meantime people can make some living from cassava,maize,and fish etc!
HAS THE POLICE SANCTIONED THAT MEETING? PLEASE CANCEL IT THESE PEOPLE WILL JUST TALK TALK NO ACTION ALSO WHO WILL PAY FOR ALLOWANCES FOOD ACCOMMODATION PLUS UCHENDE? ALL THESE DISCUSSION POINTS ARE NOT NEW ISSUES TO US SO WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR SUCH AN INDABA? LUAPULA IS NOT UPND HOW WILL THE VIEWS OF UPND BE INCLUDED IN THIS SO CALLED INDABA?He noted that proposals on development from the two parties would be considered on an equal basis. WHICH PARTIES IS IT OBVIOUS BY DEFAULT ITS PF AND UPND? WHAT ABOUT UPP,FDD,RP,HERITAGE ETC