Shangombo: The forgotten district
By SANDRA MACHIMA WHEN one thinks of Shang’ombo, the first thing that comes to mind is that this is the most backward, least developed district in the country. Is it that it has been forgotten?
Shang’ombo started gaining recognition following the 2008 elections when its results, coming in very late, tilted victory to the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). Since then, the district has assumed some measure of notoriety of delayed results mainly because of poor infrastructure and an almost next to none existence road network.
So will the ongoing developmental projects in Shang’ombo change the face of the district, and end all the perceptions of being the poorest in Zambia?
The question that begs the answer arises; will all the projects being implemented in the area change the face of the district, and will the citizens feel the benefit of the national cake?
Shang’ombo is a district in the Western Province of Zambia and one of the most remote towns in the country that lies on the eastern bank of the floodplain of the Cuando River, bordering with Angola.
Shang’ombo was declared a district in 1997, and is one of the poorest and at one time appeared to be the forgotten district in the country.
This is one of the areas which had for many years been shunned by government workers because of lack of banking institutions as well as decent accommodation, and poor roads with rough stretches that made many people to abandon the area.
But today, the story is different and the district is poised to become one of the best business destinations with the multi- billion various projects that had been undertaken by both the government and the private sector.
However, Shang’ombo District Commissioner Captain Lawrence Nyambe noted that since 2011, and with the coming of the Patriotic Front government in power, the face of the district has started to change because of the massive development projects that had been embarked on.
Capt Nyambe disclosed that the government has carried out a number of projects in the district, among them is the construction of roads, the rehabilitation of schools and health centres to allow people have access to health facilities.
Capt. Nyambe said Shang’ombo also now had access to network and that about 50 percent of the district is connected to all networks.
“I must confess that the people of Shang’ombo now have access to education, health and also 50 percent of the district is connected to the mobile network, and the road networks are being constructed,” Capt Nyambe said.
Capt Nyambe said the district had been forgotten and had for so many years lagged behind in terms of development from an infrastructure perspective.
He said the Matebele-Shang’ombo road is part of the Link Zambia 8000 and that works will start early next year.
“So far ,the Shang’ombo-Kalungamashi is being worked on by the Zambia National Service and the 25 kilo- metres has already been done, and will continue and connect other areas such as Sipuma, Lupuka and all the surrounding areas,” he said.
Capt. Nyambe also disclosed that the US$40 million Shangombo-Rivungu canal in Western Province was completed, and would have an enabling environment to enhance trade between Zambia and Angola.
He said the government is in the implementation of projects that could uplift the living standards of the people.
“The trading between the two neighbouring countries, will bring enough revenues, to contribute to the economic growth of the country, and also help the locals, as the neighbouring country provided a huge market for Zambian goods and services such as mealie meal.”
He said his district was in support of the developmental projects being undertaken both by the government and the private sector.
SUGAR PLANTATION Cap Nyambe said that it was the wish of the people and the government to see the involvement of various sectors undertaking various projects such as the incoming multibillion sugar plantation spearheaded by the private sector in the district.
He said although the project was under the private sector, it was important for the people of Shang’ombo and the country at large on grounds that it was in line with the Government’s policy on bringing investors through the private sector.
He urged the company spearheading the sugar project to quickly launch the project quickly without delays as it had a positive impact on the lives of the people and the country’s economic growth.
“Shang’ombo sugar plantation is spearheaded by the private sector and as Government, we are looking forward to see how it will benefit our people, especially the locals,” he said.
PADIC programme spearheading a Shang’ombo Sugar Project has embarked on a US$ 11 billion sugar plantation in the district with various implemented projects currently underway.
The project has seen various stakeholders and companies being awarded contracts to start works, and about 105 contractors had since been engaged to construct 1,500 houses for factory workers in the next two years and other houses as part of the project in some others parts of the country.
Shang’ombo sugar plantation executive director Sitali Sitali disclosed that the 30-year project, whose first phase would be five years, was initiated to transform the economy of Western Province, after realising the high levels of economic discrimination and the public perception that it was among the least developed regions in the country.
He said despite the province being least developed, it was the richest in natural resources, adding that it was for that reason such projects were vital to sustain the living standards of the people.
Mr Sitali said the project had received overwhelming response from the government, its South African funders and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) as well as the international community.
He explained that the multi-million dollar project would also be witnessed by its sponsors and some Angolan officials, owing to the fact that the project would be tapping water for irrigation from the Angolan Cuando River, on the border with Shangombo district.
Mr Sitali said the South African Research Institute (SARI) had already supplied the company with seed cane that should be planted on about 40 hectares of land which has already been cleared in readiness for the planting.
COMPENSATION LOCALS
And PADIC assured that all the people living in the project area would not be affected or displaced, but instead would be compensated by constructing permanent houses and other structures in each village, as a way of corporate social responsibility.
And one of the companies contracted by PADIC, DÉCOR Agro Limited Zambia is working with a Saudi Arabian company team to place a fertiliser plant in Zambia’s Western Province.
Décor Agro Limited Zambia director Chooni Njongo explained that so far the company had partnered with the newly sugar project in Western province FOR to supply the necessary agricultural materials including fertilisers and inputs.
He said samples had already been taken, and that a team of specialists from Gulf Trading Limited’s Saudi Arabian fertilizer company had a detailed site visit as well as the soil analysis to ascertain the best input and chemicals structured for the soil.
He said the company had an interest to support the agriculture sector in Zambia and creating an environment where farmers had confidence and knowledge to venture in mechanized agriculture.
Mr Njongo said for a start, some shades would be set up depending on the size of the capacity, as the commodity would first be coming direct from Saudi Arabia until the plant was placed in Zambia for a sustainable business.
“Deco Agro Limited is a wholly owned Zambian company that supplies a range of agricultural machinery and inputs of major agricultural companies,” he said.
He said the sugarcane plantation in Western Province was a big investment that should be treated as a special case that required thorough research.
The future of Shang’ombo is bright and with more development taking place, there should be a shift of more people desiring to go and work there.