He said that the theme for this year is “celebrating 16 years of 16 days, advance human rights, end violence against women” and called upon members of the community to join in the fight against the vice.

He noted that in the past people associated the 16 days of activism to women only but currently it is the concern for everyone. He also said that gender based violence has a relation to gender violence because some women and girls get infected through abuse in their homes.

The 16 days of activism started on November 25^th and runs for 16 days.  

Ends…//

Christians in Mongu called to be at peace with God

Catholic Diocese of Mongu bishop Right Reverend Paul Duffy, OMI has called on Christians to be at peace with God.

Bishop Duffy was speaking on 19^th November2006 when delivering his homily prior to the closure of the catholic liturgical year at our lady of Lourdes cathedral parish in Mongu.

He said that people need to be at peace with God by accepting His invitation into His Kingdom. 

He explained that accepting to enter God’s kingdom demands faithfulness to Christ who abolished sin for all through his sacrificial death on the cross.

He however reminded the Christians in the Catholic Church to seek God’s continuous forgiveness by confessing their sins to priests because they have the power of absolution of sins by virtue of their priestly ordination.

Bishop Duffy re-emphasized the call to Christians to remain faithful to God’s word because this would enable them to keep the peace between themselves, neighbours and fellow Christians.

The Catholic Church’s liturgical year is the annual cycle of the mysteries of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Angels and Saints, which the church commemorates among others in mass. 

The liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of advent and closes with the thirty-fourth week through the year.

Ends…//

Mongu Artist says Art is a Powerful tool to fight HIV/AIDS

A Mongu-based artist has described art as a powerful medium of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in western province through the use of contemporary art as a form of communicating HIV/AIDS messages.

Patrick Walubita, Mazi arts manager told Radio Liseli News that for a long time now, National Aids Council of Zambia has been using art to communicate HIV/ AIDS messages to masses.  An example of this is the AIDS memorial quilt which is often displayed on the World Aids Day in Zambia .  The memorial quilt is a collection of fabric panels that commemorate individuals or group of individuals who have died of HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Walubita said that using contemporary art in the right way would be a powerful medium in the controlling and prevention of HIV/AIDS infections among community members in the province as an artist could effectively communicate messages that could depict ways and means of preventing HIV/AIDS.

The quilt project is operating in Zambia under the auspices of the names projects and is displayed during the celebration World Aids Day.

He was speaking in commemoration of the World Aids Day which falls on the 1^st of December annually.

Ends…//

New Luena MP, Milupi revisits electorate

Luena Member Of Parliament Charles Milupi has reiterated his promise during the campaign period saying that time to deliver those promises has begun.

Mr. Milupi said his victory comes as a result of people understanding his campaign messages.  He stated that he was currently working with the ministry of education in upgrading some community schools into basic schools in Luena constituency, adding that six community schools have so far been upgraded.

The upgraded schools include Lyaluo, Sisiiye, Kate, situya, Ilundu and Namayanga.

Mr. Milupi called upon all parents in the constituents to donate towards the construction of classrooms and teachers houses in the schools.

He also urged the community to work as a team for quick development in the area as well as to identify areas that need rehabilitation. 

Ends… //    

Repatriation of Angolan Refugees reaches an advanced stage

The Christian Outreach Relief Development (CORD) says about 3500 refugees have so far been repatriated to Angola .

CORD Assistant Repatriation Officer Mr. Arthur Mumba said that refugees responded positively with most of them willing to be repatriated. He said that the transit centre, which is located at Mongu Airport, records refugees who want to go back to their countries from within Mongu and other surrounding areas.

He said the response is overwhelming as most refugees are willing to be repatriated and every day people are reporting at the transit centre.

Mr. Mumba also told Radio Liseli News that Nangweshi camp was closed and that most of the refugees who were camped there have been repatriated or have been transferred to Mayukwayukwa camp in Kaoma.

As at 23^rd November 2006 one hundred and twenty five (125) more refugees were flown back to Angola .  Currently, there are about 350 refugees in transit in Mongu.

The Zambian and Angolan governments’ in conjunction with the United Nations High Commission for Refuges started the repatriation exercise in September this year for all the Angolan refugees.

Ends…//

Children’s Rights are imperative

A Mongu-based mother has said it is imperative to consider the provision of basic needs to children as the world commemorates the Universal Children’s Rights.

Beatrice Mpanga was speaking with Radio Liseli News in remembrance of the universal children’s day.  She said that children need to be provided with their basic needs among them education, health, shelter and clean water.

Ms Mpanga noted that the provision of basic needs to children is vital because children are fragile.  She added that their fragility should be the driving-force to enable households to protect children’s rights.

Ms Mpanga explained that protecting the children’s rights contributes to the fulfillment and safeguarding of their basic human needs.

The Universal Children’s Day is commemorated every year in November for the purpose of uplifting the rights of the child.

Ends… //

DMDC Playing a Vital Role in the Improving of People’s Lives

Catholic Diocese of Mongu Bishop Right Reverend Paul Duffy, OMI has acknowledged that the involvement of diocese of Mongu Development Center (DMDC) in the production of organic rice would improve the livelihood of local people.

Bishop Duffy said this during the grant signing ceremony between DMDC and African Development Foundation (ADF) in Mongu.

He noted that from its inception DMDC has continued with the spirit of venturing into new ground of business enterprises.

Bishop Duffy further noted that the activities that would be supported by the grant among them the production of organic rice would assist towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing poverty by 2015.

He explained that the reduction of poverty would in the process improve the livelihood of the local people in the province.

Meanwhile Bishop Duffy reminded the management team of DMDC to seriously exercise responsibility, accountability and transparency in their dispensation of the grant for organic rice production.

And Director of DMDC Kusiyo Mbikusita-Lewanika encouraged the farming community that is to benefit from the grant to embrace the production of organic rice because of its profitability.

DMDC is a registered corporate body under the overall responsibility of the Zambia D|elegation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and aims at improving the livelihood of the less privileged through capacity building and self-sustenance activities.

End…//

Rising crime rates & lack of a Police Post in Imwiko a major concern for Residents  

Imwiko residents have complained of the increasing number of criminal cases in the area because, according to them, the Zambia Police Service has turned a deaf ear to their cries for a police post in the area.  

But Western Province Police Commanding Officer Vaels Muzwenga has called on the residents to come up with fundraising ventures so that they can build a structure in the area where the police can be operating from.  

Mr. Muzwenga said that the Police can only provide personnel because they do not have the resources to construct structures. He said that it was the duty of the community to work together with the Police if criminal cases were to reduce in the Province.  

Ends…//

ACC Called On to increase vernacular programmes  

Mongu Residents have asked The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to consider producing vernacular programmes to enable the rural people know more about corruption.  

Speaking on the ACC sponsored programme on Radio Liseli, Mongu Resident Norris Kandanda said that for corruption to be eradicated there is need for the commission to produce more vernacular programmes because of the high level of illiteracy in most rural communities in Zambia .  

Mr. Kandanda noted that the production of more local language programmes would enable every member of the community to know more about the vice and how to control it.  

He however called on members of the community to be watchful and report all forms of corruption to the appropriate authorities.  

During the same programme, Pastor Lameck Chilambe suggested that there is need to ‘build-up’ the role of the Anti Corruption Clubs within the communities as they would be very effective in educating people about the effects of corruption.  This, he said, is because most corrupt practices happen within communities we live in.  

He called on members of the public to be patient when dealing with public offices as many would be involved in corrupt practices because they want to access fast and efficient services.  

Ends…//  

Catholic Church in Barotseland commended for being action-oriented  

Western Province Principal Resettlement Officer Arnold Bukoka says the Catholic Church is an action-oriented institution whose energy is directed towards concern about life on the land of living.  

Mr Bukoka was speaking on behalf of the Western Province Permanent Secretary during the grant signing ceremony for organic rice production between the Diocese of Mongu Development centre (DMDC) and African Development Foundation (ADF) in Mongu.  

He said the Catholic Church should be commended for spearheading integral development in Western Province through its concern about human life which is reflected in among other things food distribution and production.  

He also cited the church’s involvement in education, health, social welfare and civic education as some of the areas the church is contributing to uplifting the living standards of people in Western Province .  

And ADF Business Development Officer Jetty Lungu said that he hopes the DMDC project will be a model where other organisations in the country will be able to emulate.   

He said he hopes the introduction of organic rice farming in the Western province through the grant will lead in increased production.  He made it clear that the role of ADF would be liaising with DMDC to ensure that the project will be sustainable.  

He challenged DMDC to ensure that they engage people who will help the organisation to be sustainable.  

DMDC Director Kusiyo Mbikusita-Lewanika also said that he will employ qualified staff who will run the eighteen-month long project.  

Ends…//

High power tariffs irk Mulambwa Residents  

Mulambwa residents in Mongu have protested to Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO)’s untimely change in Electricity tariffs.  

Mwenda Lishebo, Mulambwa Ward councilor spoke on behalf of residents in Mulambwa and told Radio Liseli News that it was unfortunate that ZESCO has started excessively charging the residents without warning them.  

But ZESCO Regional Manager for Western Province Chapson Chikwa said that his company has introduced the new way of charging in Mulambwa because they were experiencing a lot of losses with the old tariffs.  

Mulambwa Residents reiterated their dissatisfaction with ZESCO’s explanations as well as the impending variations and alterations in electricity charges.  

Ends…//

Mongu Residents urged to keep surroundings clean  

As the rainy season approaches, Mongu Residents have been called on to help the council keep the surroundings clean.  

Council Spokesperson Crispin Kalihonga told Radio Liseli News that the council cannot manage to clean the town because they do not have resources to carry out the exercise.  

Mr. Kalihonga however said that the council would appreciate assistance from members of the public who might have transport which could be used to collect garbage in the town especially in market places.  

He added that if there was transport, then council would be able to collect garbage many times in a week.  

He called upon business houses in Mongu to provide litter bins outside their premises for easy collection.  He added that it was the duty of every citizen to act responsibly and ensure that litter is thrown at designated places in the town.  

Ends…//

 

 

 

 

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