Maimbi Residents in Chief Chibale, Chama District, Worried Over Delayed Health Post Project.
By White Luhanga
Maimbi residents in Chief Chibale's Chiefdom have expressed concern over the delayed completion of the Maimbi health post, which is almost complete.
The residents say the project which began in 2022, has not yet been commissioned, despite being nearly complete.
Agness Mvula and Prisca Kunda, both residents of Maimbi, expressed their concern about when the project will be completed.
In response, Chama Town Council Quantity Surveyor Richard Mukuwa stated that the Local Authority has terminated the contract, citing the contractor's failure to deliver the project within the stipulated timeframe.
The contractor was engaged to construct the Maimbi health post at a cost of about K400,000.00.
Mr. Mukuwa explained that the local authority will only fund projects where contractors adhere to their contractual obligations.
He added that the local authority has also terminated a contract for a contractor who was engaged to construct a 1x3 classroom block at Mung'ang'a primary school in Chief Chibale's Chiefdom, at a cost of about K500,000.00.
The terminated projects, which began in 2022, were funded under the Chama North constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Chama North Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo, accompanied by local authorities, inspected the two projects.
Mr. Mtayachalo expressed disappointment with the contractors for failing to complete the works on time.
Ends........ Kwenjefm//wl//.16/01/25
Chama Residents Express Concern Over Poor State of Chama-Matumbo Road.
By White Luhanga
Chama residents have expressed concern over the poor state of the Chama-Matumbo road,following the onset of the rains.
Residents say it will be difficult to move during the rainy season as the road has become impassable.
Kelvin Petros Mwale, a driver who does business transportation from Chama to Nakonde, appealed to the government to work on the road.
Mr. Mwale says vehicles get stuck on the road due to its poor state.
Chama North Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo says the Chama-Matumbo road is highly economical and there is a need to work on it.
Meanwhile, Chief Lundu of the Senga people expressed his disappointment with the Muchinga Road Development Agency, which was engaged to work on the 60-kilometer Chama-Matumbo road, for failing to finish the work on time.
Chief Lundu says there is nothing much that the RDA has done on the road since they started the work in 2023, as most of the road is still in a deplorable state.
Road Development Agency (RDA) Muchinga Provincial Roads Engineer Peter Sinkonde says the agency has worked on a 17-kilometer stretch from the Luangwa bridge.
Mr. Sinkonde explained that the 17 kilometers involved clearing and grubbing, road formation, spot graveling, and the installation of ring culverts at three points.
He attributed the delay in the works, which started in September 2023, to the breakdown of a bulldozer.
Mr. Sinkonde says the agency plans to repair the bad portions of the road while awaiting the commencement of work on the entire road.
Mr. Sinkonde says the agency is doing its best to ensure that the road is worked on.
Ends........... Kwenjefm//wl//.07/01/25
Chibale Police Post to Open Soon.
By White Luhanga
Chibale Police Post in Chama district of Eastern province is set to open its doors soon, bringing much-needed law enforcement services to the local community.
Chama North Constituency Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo who inspected the works, says the police post which was built a long time ago, lacked essential facilities like staff houses and a water point.
Mr. Mtayachalo says through the Chama North constituency Development Fund (CDF), the government has drilled a borehole and constructed a semi-detached staff house, which is nearing completion.
Mr. Mtayachalo says once the staff house is finished, the police post will be operational, enabling cases to be handled within the Chibale chiefdom.
And Chama Town Council Quantity Surveyor Richard Mukuwa says the staff house is being built at a cost of about K850,000, allocated under the 2023 CDF.
Mr. Mukuwa says the remaining works on the building include plastering, painting, and flooring.
He says the borehole, which is already operational, was also constructed using CDF funds.
Ends...... Kwenjefm//wl//.05/01/25
TAZARA Resumes Works on NKhankha and Kapenda Bridges on Chibale-Isoka Road.
By White Luhanga
Works on the stalled NKhankha and Kapenda bridges on the Chibale-Isoka road in Khankha ward, Chama North constituency, have resumed.
The two projects stalled due to a lack of funding.
Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA Project Manager Derrick Sifuniso says the initial allocation of about K7.9 million from the central government was insufficient to complete the works, prompting the company to request an additional K2.3 million.
The Local Government, under the Chama North constituency Development Fund (CDF), allocated K1.7 million of the requested amount, enabling the resumption of works.
Mr Sifuniso says the works resumed on Friday, January 3, 2025.
He says the remaining works include backfilling, stone pitching, and decking, with completion expected within a month.
Chama North Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo, who inspected the bridges, emphasized the importance of the Chibale-Isoka road, particularly for health and agricultural activities.
He urged the contractor to expedite the works, which had been stalled for an extended period, disrupting the movement of people and other activities.
NKhankha Ward Councilor Isaac Mtambo thanked the government for resuming the works.
Chama Town Council Quantity Surveyor, Richard Mukuwa, assured that the local authority will monitor the projects to ensure quality work.
Moureen Daka, a resident of Chibale, expressed happiness over the resumption of the works.
Carol Chilambe, another Chibale resident, emphasized the need for the contractor to expedite the works, given that the project had been delayed for a long time.
Ends....... Kwenjefm//wl//.04/01/25.
KAMPHEMBA BRIDGE REACHES 90% COMPLETION, PARTIALLY OPENED.
By White Luhanga
Construction works on the Kamphemba Bridge in Chama District, Eastern Province, have reached 90% completion.
This was revealed during a site visit by Chama District Commissioner, Mr. Yobe Goma.
China Railway Seventh Group Company Site Engineer Yepeng Tao confirmed that the bridge is 90% complete.
He stated that the bridge will be completed by June this year.
During the visit, Mr. Goma disclosed that the same company working on the Kamphemba bridge will construct the Luangwa bridge this year.
Mr. Goma says the government has decided to partially open the bridge to allow people to cross.
He thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for the bridge, which he says will facilitate the movement of people and goods.
And residents say they are now happy with the partial opening of the bridge on the Chama – Matumbo road.
Eliness Zimba from Kabanana expressed her happiness for the construction of the bridge.
Another resident, Moffat thanked the government for the construction of the bridge.
The bridge is being constructed at a cost of over K125,000,000.
Ends............. Kwenjefm/wl/. 02/01/25.
The Constitutional Court has found Sixth republican President Edgar Lungu ineligible to contest future elections as he served the maximum Two Terms.
The court has ruled that former President Mr. Lungu was eligible to contest the 2021 general elections.
Video credit- ZNBC
The story of the Talking Chongwe baby!
Video Credit: ZNBC TV2
Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA Live Radio Program on Kwenje Radio
Topic:TaxpayerCompliance
By White Luhanga
Kamphemba Bridge Construction Reaches 79% Completion.
Construction works on the Kamphemba Bridge in Chama District, Eastern Province, have reached 79% completion.
This was revealed during a site visit by the Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Lewis Mwape, Chama District Commissioner, Mr. Yobe Goma, and Road Development Agency-RDA officials.
Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Lewis Mwape expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being done.
Dr. Mwape stated that it is the government's desire for contractors to deliver high-quality results, given the significant investment in these projects.
He said that once the bridge is completed, it will facilitate trade in Chama District and neighboring provinces.
Dr. Mwape called on the contractor to expedite the works before the onset of the rains.
The contractor, China Railway Seventh Group Company, Resident Engineer Ailola Maimbolwa, said that 79% of the works have been completed and that the works will be finished by the end of the year.
He added that the remaining works include bridge approaches.
On the other hand, Mr. Maimbolwa revealed that once the works on Kamphemba Bridge are completed, the company will begin constructing a permanent Luangwa Bridge on the Chama-Matumbo road.
End.... Kwenje Radio//wl//. 17/08/24
By White Luhanga
Chama-Matumbo Road Reopens After Bridge Repairs.
Traffic has been restored on the Chama-Matumbo road, following the completion of repairs to the washed-away approach to the Luangwa Bridge.
Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Lewis Mwape, who was accompanied by Chama District Commissioner Mr. Yobe Goma and Road Development Agency (RDA) officials, visited the bridge and thanked the RDA for their good work.
Dr. Mwape stated that Chama District has now been reconnected to Muchinga and other Provinces after being cut off in early January this year.
He says this will facilitate trade in Chama District and neighboring provinces.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Permanent Secretary has tasked the RDA to ensure that the bridge is protected from any further damage to prevent it from being washed away again.
Dr. Mwape added that plans are already in place to construct a permanent Luangwa Bridge, which will be undertaken by China Railway Seventh Group Company.
End..... Kwenje Fm//wl//. 17/08/24.
We are coming live at chama provincial stem school were former pupils are hanging over dining tables
