The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in the southern province says the decision to move the provincial headquarters from Livingstone to Choma was done prematurely.
MMD southern province chairman Oliver Pelete has since called on President Michael Sata to rescind his decision and relocate the provincial capital to Livingstone.
Mr. Pelete attributed his party’s stance on the matter to lack of infrastructure in Choma.
He said this in Livingstone today during a press briefing held at the MMD Party offices.
“Choma is not ready to receive so many government officers as there is inadequate office and housing accommodation,” he said.
He said it was unacceptable for most officers to be squatting in other people’s offices while others operated undesignated buildings and structures that were meant to be workshops and store rooms.
“We feel this is a definite cause of low morale among civil servants who are supposed to be the engine of development in our province and the country as a whole,” he said.
He stated that this development could negatively affect service delivery.
“We are also wondering why the civil servants unions have allowed this when they are there to ensure their members operate in a conducive environment,” he said.
Mr. Pelete, a former district commissioner, further said the decision to move the provincial headquarters to Choma had left behind huge infrastructure that government spent a lot of money to put up.
“Currently this infrastructure is underutilized with very little care and maintenance taking place. We have in mind the Provincial Administration office block, Office of the President Special Division Office block, Ministry of Education office block, Works and Supply office block,” he said.
Mr. Pelete also claimed that Livingstone was slowly turning into a ghost town because businesses were no longer viable especially for hotels and lodge owners who are the major employers in the district.
He said the transporters especially the taxi operators, food suppliers, service providers were complaining of loss of business and contemplating moving to Choma.
“We are reliably informed that many of them are now contemplating moving to Choma which is also looking congested because of lack of space for major commercial activities. As MMD since we are a major stakeholder in the democratic dispensation in this nation, we demand that the provincial capital be moved back to Livingstone while awaiting for government to put up necessary infrastructure in Choma,” he said.
Mr. Pelete said the former ruling party also proposed that Southern Province be divided into two; so that one province could have Siavonga, Chirundu, Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Kalomo, Kazungula and Livingstone as its headquarters.
He said the other province should have Namwala, Itezhi tezhi, Pemba, Monze, Chikankata, Mazabuka with Choma as the provincial capital.
“We are also requesting government through President Sata to declare Maamba in Sinazongwe as a district as it has the necessary social and economic infrastructure, coupled with a good population to support that status,” he said.
ZANIS
Mr Pelete your chiefs and the Southern province President, hh will start complaining of what you are proposing of bisecting the province. Think again my Brother
Eastern Province is likely to be the only province that would not need Zambia.
If we continue having such minds like pelete Zambia will never develop, Mr pelete choma is centrally geographiacally and this is the best thing PF made. pipo from namwala and mazabuka dont have to go to end of zambia in livingstone to submit reports. so this saves cost and time, inflastructure can be built thats not an issue or are u crying your business is going down then move to choma shaaaa!!!!
I wish some bloggers could come and see the office iam operating from in Choma from my air conditioned office in Livingstone. You will weep, a chicken run is far much better.
Pettie you are now complaining after squandering millions as settling in allowance. Pelete, at least you have agreed though pre-maturely done as you have alleged, that for many years Tongas wanted to have Choma as provincial capital for SP but lacked courage and pragmatism of Action Man Sata. Sorry your turn to influence national decisions lapsed. After two terms, it will be turn for HH and UPND if ever at all! Or Pule’s new Christian Democratic Party since we are christian nation Why didn’t you make Maamba a district when you were DC there for years? Dividing Southern Province into two is quite considerable, I guess Pelete you still have some sense, good luck for your suggestion!
The shift should have been done after two or three years. Govt should first have constructed required office space before effecting the move
uku e kulanda
Very thoughtful contribution. Although you are no longer in power we value your contribution. BUT DO YOU THING MR KNOW IT ALL WILL EVEN BOTHER LISTEN TO THE OPPOSITION?
@PETTIE are u not the person i met that day singing DONT KUBEBA DONT KUBEBA?stay there work 6 to 6
Pelete is right. people if you really think well you cant laugh or joke about what he has said. There is nothing in choma to guarantee it the hq status of sp. There are no buildings or proper infrastructure to support it> This all shows how pfs reasoning capability is. Pf needs more educated people in front not putting street people ahead of educated men. COME ON ZAMBIA< SAY NO TO UN PLANNED CHANGES AND PRACTICES. pf has devided the country like an apple
Very bad timing indeed. Choma really isn’t ready yet for such status, and given the workings in the govt, it will take 20 years or never to get decent accommodation. Result will be people refusing to go and serve in Choma at provincial level. Result, we will only have the calibre willing to operate from chicken runs!
Backwardness, we only need infrastructure development and Choma will never be the same.
Its like going to Hybrid to buy chicks and when you return, that is when you start thinking of building the chicken run. Sily is’nt ?
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