STATE TO IMPROVE KITWE RESETTLEMENTS
GOVERNMENT is determined to improve the welfare of people in newly established re-settlements by providing them with the necessary infrastructure and facilities, Kitwe District Commissioner (DC) Binwell Mpundu has said.
Speaking on Tuesday when he handed over one hammer mill to the farmers in Chipashi area of Kamfinsa constituency, Mr Mpundu said plans were underway to construct a clinic and a school in the area to improve people's lives.
The hammer mill was bought by the beneficiaries of the Food Security Pack (FSP) in the area after contributing 10 per cent of their 'recoveries' or pay back' from FSP for the last three years.
He said initially the more than 6,000 people living in the area were expected to be removed because it was a forest reserve, but the government decided to empower them with land in the same area so that they could cultivate crops to feed themselves and become selfsustaining.
He said following government's decision to allow the more than 6,000 people to settle in the area, it had decided that it should improve people's lives through the construction of roads, clinics, schools and other infrastructure that could bring development in the area and improve people's lives.
"We are here to praise you for the initiative you made to buy this hammer mill after contributing 10 per cent of the pay back from the FSP. This is what the government wants. You should support government's efforts to improve your lives.
"So the handing over of the hammer mill may be the beginning of other things to come like the roads, schools and clinics in the area. I am informed that a school and clinic will be constructed here. Government cares about you," Mr Mpundu said.
And speaking in an interview, chairman of the Mwekera land re-settlement David Silondwa said the handing over of a hammer mill was a good development because people in the area would not be walking to Kamfinsa or Chankalamo areas where there was a hammer mill.
Mr Silondwa said now that the hammer mill had been brought in their back yard, the most important thing was to guard it jealously so that it does not break down.
"Now, that we have our own hammer mill, we will not be walking to far areas to look for a hammer mill to have our maize processed into mealie meal.
"Previously, we used to walk to far areas like Kamfinsa and Chankalamo to look for a hammer mill and in most cases, you would find the hammer mill is broken down," Mr Silondwa said.