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Chief, subjects differ with MP over site of hospital construction
Luwingu, February 13, ZANIS —— Chief Chiwanagala of the Bisa speaking people of Chilubi main land in the Northern Province has rejected the area Member of Parliament Obby Chisala’s proposal to move the construction of the new district hospital from Matipa to Chaba on the Chilubi island.
Chief Chiwanagala said in an interview with ZANIS in Luwingu that the entire community in Chilubi main land has rejected his proposal saying that the new district hospital should be constructed in Matipa area where there is a large community set up.
The tyraditional leader warned Mr Chisala to stop making utterances on customary land and that he should leave such issues to the chief and his subjects to debate and decide where the hospital will be constructed other than the member of parliament imposing the site on the people.
Chief Chiwanagala further said that the proposed district hospital should be constructed on the main land to cover the people from Sub-chief Chitunkubwe, Sub-chief Chifungwe, Sub-chief Mwanakasabi and Sub-chief Mwape Kalunga in Isangano Game Park which borders Luwingu, Mpika and Kasama districts in the Northern and Muchinga provinces.
Chief Chiwanagala said if Mr Chisala continues to bull doze projects for his personal gain the community would pass a vote of no confidence and vote against him in the 2016 general elections.
The chief accused Mr Chisala of taking developmental projects to Chilubi Island instead of balancing projects in the two areas.
Chief Chiwanagala said the area member of parliament was behaving like that because he hailed from the island and he must be told in no uncertain terms that Chilubi was not for Islanders alone.
The visibly annoyed Chief Chiwanagala said the community will show him a red card if he continued to neglect subjects on the main land.
“We are happy that Patriotic Front government is considering to construct a modern hospital on the main land to reduce the suffering of many people who have been going through difficulties for many years,” he said.
He said his subjects especially expectant mothers were dying on their way to Santa Mary Catholic mission hospital situated on Chilubi island and Luwingu district hospital after failing to deliver at home with the help of traditional birth attendants.
Chief Chiwanagala however, praised President Sata and his government for initiating the construction of the district hospital saying once constructed, the past records of patients drowning on Lake Bangweulu on their way to Santa Mary mission hospital will be the thing of the past.
He said the community has surrendered over 50 hectares of land in readiness for the construction of the hospital and staff houses which the area Member of Parliament is accused of opposing.
Chief Chiwanagala advised Mr Chisala that members of parliament have no powers on customary land apart from debating on the laws that suitably govern the country.
Efforts to get a comment on the matter from Mr Chisala, the area Member of Parliament proved futile as his mobile phone could not be reached at press time.
