Subdivide Chama district - Mtayachalo
By NATION REPORTER WE are disappointed that despite being a vast district which needs subdivision to enhance service delivery to the people, Chama was again left out in the creation of seven new districts, FDD district chairperson Yotam Mtayachalo has complained.
Mr. Mtayachalo said it was not a disputable fact that Chama was among the four largest districts in Zambia and wondered why the district was not been considered for splitting in terms of giving some of its areas district status.
He said the district had lagged behind in many areas of development simply because of its vast geographical position and as such delivery of the much-needed development to many areas remains a pipe dream for many years now.
“The people of Chama feel strongly neglected by almost all successive governments because they cannot comprehend why for example single districts such as Lundazi and Chipata which are geographically smaller to Chama could have two additional districts each while neglecting other areas such as Chama district.
“Chama district has seven chiefs and it shares boundaries with five districts namely Lundazi, Shiwang’andu, Chinsali, Isoka and Mafinga and as such, we as a people, keep wondering why the Government has not attached the importance of demarcating the district in order to spur development and for easy and efficient administration,” Mr. Mtayachalo said.
He said the people of Chama have been patient for too long adding that they will not continue to stand with arms akimbo and watch helplessly while they were being segregated against both in terms of development and appointments to Government positions.
“The taring of the Chama-Matumbo road which started in 2012, has stalled for no proper reason so has the Lundazi-Chama road as politicians have continued to give us promissory notes and only pretend to be working on the projects in an election year to deceive the people. ‘These projects have been on the Government drawing board since independence and we continue to hear same stories almost 53 years down the road. This is definitely unacceptable.
“We want also to bring to the attention of the President that despite him directing authorities in Chama to have electric pots installed at Chama boarding secondary school instead of using firewood to cook when he recently visited the district, nothing has materialized.
“The school was still using firewood for cooking because government has failed to pay the contractor K150, 000 to finalise the project despite ZESCO doing all the works,” he said.