Minister for National Development and Planning, Alexander Chiteme says government attaches great importance to Strengthening Climate Resilience in the Kafue Sub Basin (SCRICA) projects.

Mr Chiteme said this is because the climate resilience projects have a direct bearing on improving the livelihoods of the vulnerable.

She said it is the desire of President Edgar Lungu’s administration to see that the vulnerable people in society benefited from pro-poor programmes.

Mr Chiteme said he was in Chibombo district to see how vegetables grown by communities in the area could be aggregated to ensure that they do not go to waste.

He further observed that government intends to partner with MKP, an organisation that intends to aggregate vegetables for farmers so that they do not go to waste.

ZANIS reports that Mr Chiteme was speaking in Chibombo during a joint ministerial tour of SCRICA projects, with Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga.

And Mr Mushanga has disclosed that over 36,000 households have benefited from SCRICA projects in Chibombo district, Central Province.

He said a total of 21,075 females and 15,814 males in the district had benefited from 75 community boreholes, 15 community goat kraals, 21 community chicken run and two banana irrigation infrastructure.

Mr Mushanga disclosed that through the SCRICA project, farmers in the district have also been trained in conservation farming as well as management of soil moisture and fertility.

He noted that the sub-projects have helped in supporting communities to adopt practices that enable them protect existing livelihood systems and achieve food security through increased agricultural productivity.

Mr Mushanga further observed that SCRICA has enabled farmers to generate income by linking them to markets for the sale of their value added products.

Mr Mushanga said the province has benefited K25 million from the SCRICA project of which K7 million had been directed towards the implementation of climate resilient projects in Chikobo, Chitanda and Katuba wards in the district.

He has since urged beneficiaries of the sub-projects to ensure that SCRICA project leaves indelible marks on their economic activities.

‘’We need to ensure that lessons learnt from SCRICA are not only sustainable, but also shared with future generations in order to cushion the adverse effects of climate change,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Chibombo District Commissioner (DC), Catherine Chilonda said the district is in collaboration with a local partner, MKP farms who had benefited from the SCRIKA project under the matching grant category.

Ms Chilonda said the farm will act as an aggregator of most agricultural produce coming from community beneficiary groups and also link community groups to the market.

She said the district has since lobbied for gravel and culverts to be used for gravelling of the road leading to MKP farms for easy accessibility.

Ms Chilonda also disclosed that MKP has also conducted specialized trainings with community groups that were into gardening.

Senior Chief Kanong’esha of the Lunda speaking people in Mwinilunga district, Northwestern Province has called on the Bank of Zambia to start sensitizing people on the use of mobile money platforms in his chiefdom.

Senior Chief Kanong’esha said people in his chiefdom, women especially lack basic information on the safe usage of mobile money platforms.

Chief Kanong’esha said this when Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor in charge of operations, Francis Chipimo paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mwinilunga.

He said it is important that his subjects understand safe ways of using electronic transactions as it is the most efficient way of carrying out financial transactions.

” I am calling on you the Bank of Zambia to come and educate our women and youths to have knowledge on mobile money transactions. We are now in the new world of technology which needs everyone to understand how to use mobile money,” he said.

Senior Chief Kanong’esha said the establishment of technological infrastructure by government is a good move which shows that it has taken a lead in providing safe and easy financial transaction means for its citizens.

The Traditional leader further appealed to the Bank of Zambia to increase sensitization efforts aimed at teaching people on how to differentiate fake and real bank notes.

And Dr Chipimo said it is important that people are made aware of the need to transact using new technologies as they are safe and convenient.

Dr Chipimo said the Bank of Zambia will further continue engaging stakeholders on the safe usage of mobile money platforms.

“Your Royal Highness, we shall work together with chiefdoms and educate people on the importance of new technology platforms for financial transactions, that will help citizens to have more knowledge on mobile money transactions,” he said.

President Edgar Lungu says peace and all democratic tenants are guaranteed as the country heads to the August 12th 2021 General Elections.

And chiefs from Southern Province have pledged to support the government as well as sensitize the people against political violence.

President Lungu reaffirmed that the government will not relent in its quest of quality services delivery to the general citizenry before and after the dissolution of parliament.

The Head of State underscored that service provision to the people is a core mandate of the government and cannot be disturbed by campaigns or general elections.

President Lungu emphasized that when parliament is dissolved next month, his office of the Republican Vice President and Permanent secretaries will continue to implement activities as usual.

The Head of State made the remarks at the state house yesterday, when the delegation of five (5) chiefs from Southern Province called on him.

“It will be business as usual in the public service, my office, Vice President and the permanent secretaries will work closely to ensure that we do not disturb the flow of service delivery to the people. I am very certain that the PF will carry the day based on massive developmental activities that have been implemented since we formed government in 2011,” President Lungu charged.

On political violence, President Lungu explained that he will ensure political violence is curbed and support traditional leaders and other stakeholders that are against the vice.

President Lungu urged all political players and stakeholders to have confidence and support the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as it is the only institution mandated to manage elections.

“I am happy that key stakeholders like yourselves have shown the zeal to fight political violence through massive sensitizations. We shall source funds to support you with mobility as you embark on this noble cause and we should all work together as Zambia belongs to all of us and peace should be cherished,” president Lungu stressed.

Meanwhile, Chief Chikanta who led the other four (4) traditional leaders, pointed out that all chiefs in Southern Province are happy with President Lungu’s developmental agenda.

Chief Chikanta cited livestock empowerment, fight against gender based-violence being spearheaded by the ministry of Gender and the moral fiber being strengthened by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, as among the visible developments that the government has rolled out.

He stated that chiefs in the province are in a hurry to embark on massive sensitization against political violence, voter apathy and chiefs exchange visits but are facing mobility challenges.

“As chiefs from the Southern Province we are in full support of all projects that the government is rolling out in the province. We also ask for mobility support to enable us to sensitize our subjects against political violence and we are sure that you will come to our aid just as you did to the village head persons,” Chief Chikanta said.

Other four traditional leaders also took turns in praising the government for the massive social and economic development that has been rolled out countrywide.

Chiefs Chipepo and Choongo stressed that President Lungu will not leave office until he accomplishes the developmental projects that he has embarked on.

The duo cited construction of the National House of Prayers and implementation of the social protection policy as among the life changing projects that will benefit generations to come.

The five chiefs that paid a courtesy call on President Lungu at State House are: Chiefs Chikanta of Kalomo district, Mukobela of Namwala, Chipepo of Siavonga, Choongo of Monze district and Chief Choma of Choma district.

Leader for the opposition Economic and Equity Party (EEP) Chilufya Tayali has called on his Excellency, President Edgar Lungu to fire the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja for failing to find the abducted Hatembos.

Mr Tayali said during a briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the IG has been a let-down adding that failure to find the Hatembos erodes public confidence in the service.

Pheluna Hatembo and Milton are the witnesses in the case involving UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema where he is accused of fraudulently acquiring farm number 1924 in Kalomo.

The opposition leader charged that the abduction of the duo is Mr Hichilema’s doing.

Mr Tayali said there is evidence that Mr Hichilema forged documents to obtain the land.

He wondered why police are failing to resolve the issue and said if the Head of State fails to fire the police IG he will, “go naked and protest.”

“I think President Edgar Lungu ought to act especially on Kakoma Kanganja because he is on a Six (6) months Performance Contract. I want to state it categorically that he must fire Kakoma Kanganja. Ba Kakoma Kanganja has failed. Actually, he has got so much patience. The way President Edgar Lungu treats these people, you would think that they are his children,” he said.

He mentioned that he has been complaining about the performance of the IG from time immemorial.

Mr. Tayali said Mr. Kanganja does not give confidence and that the Head of State has been too lenient on him.

“Can we have confidence in the Police when you have two grown people missing? Relatives went to the Police, reported the matter…….and the Police seem to have no clue to find where they are,” he said.

“What is going on? Even the forgery case itself, they recorded a warn and caution. The warn and caution is on ice. Why is the warn and caution on ice ba Kanganja? Is it that you have found out that there is no case? I know sometimes they talk about the DPP. Has the DPP given her legal opinion that there is no case? When we can clearly see that there is forgery here. They are letting us down!”