Water flows into Chipalesa... As Savenda sinks first-ever borehole in Palabana area

THE jubilation was understandable. The people had never had access to safe drinking water throughout their life in Palabana’s Chipalesa B area in Chongwe district.

It is estimated that 4.8 million Zambians lack regular access to clean water, and 6.6 million lack access to adequate sanitation facilities.

The people of Chipalesa area were part of these negative statistics until the Savenda Group of Companies came to their aid by sinking a borehole and providing a tank and a tank stand last week.

“These people at Savenda don’t know what they have done. God should bless them,” said an elated 23-year-old Loyce Koka.

“From today, we will even start buying white clothes and napkins. We were not doing so, because they could easily get soiled by the dirty water we have been using.” 

Until Savenda sank the borehole, the people in Chipalesa B, which has a population of about 500 people, were drawing water from a shallow well which they were sharing with goats and cattle. The well was a remnant of the Mwalubuli stream which dried up many years ago.

Koka explained that the water from the well was not even enough and, as such, not everyone could afford to access the commodity on a daily basis.

When people had drawn water, the level could go down and the rest had to wait until around 16:00 hours for the level to come up.

“We really suffered,” added Koka, a mother of two. “No one was thinking about sinking us a borehole until Savenda came to our aid. They have done a great job.”

Koka was not alone in narrating the difficulties that the people of Chipalesa B went through because of lack of access to safe drinking water.

“Many times, we have been going to bed without bathing because we couldn’t access water within reach,” said 44-year-old Margaret Maluko. “It was that bad.”

And Laida Chisola, a mother of seven, said people had to cover a long distance to as far as Mikango Barracks to draw water. Even at the school, which was far away, pupils were forced to be knocking off early because of lack of water.

“We have been walking on foot to Mikango Barracks to access water,” Ms Chisola said. “Because of the dirty water we have been drinking, diarrhoea doesn’t end. There’s too much bacteria in the water we drink. That’s why we are grateful to Savenda.”

As a consequence of the unsafe water the people were consuming, water borne diseases such as malaria, dysentery, and diarrhoea were widespread in the area that does not even have a health facility within close proximity.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diarrhoea occurs world-wide and causes four percent of all deaths and five percent of health loss to disability. It is most commonly caused by gastrointestinal infections which kill around 2.2 million people globally each year, mostly children in developing countries.

The use of water in hygiene is an important preventive measure but contaminated water is also an important cause of diarrhoea. In Zambia, like in most developing countries, poor access to safe water and sanitation in Zambia's rural areas is a major contributing factor to poverty.

The government has been making various strides aimed at ensuring that as many people as possible have access to safe drinking water. But there are also other competing needs that make it difficult for the government fulfill all of its obligations to the citizens.

It is, therefore, important that other players come in to try and help government deliver development to the people.

At such a time as this when there is a global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, access to safe water is very important since frequent washing of hands with clean is one of the recommended preventive measures.

For the people of Chipalesa, this preventive measure has not been possible to implement because of lack of clean water. But now, courtesy of the Savenda, they can now breathe a sigh of relief that the coronavirus will not attack them.

The donation of the borehole to the Chipalesa residents has made Palabana ward councillor Davies Chilufya a happy man and he has urged other companies to emulate the Savenda group some of their profits to the communities.

“We are very grateful to Savenda for what they have done,” Mr Chilufya said. “This issue of water in Chipalesa was of very serious concern. So, when Savenda came in to help the people, we regarded this as God answering our prayer.”

The councillor also had good words about the government, saying it had provided an enabling environment for business to operate and share some of the profits with the marginalised in society.

“On behalf of the people of Chipalesa, I’m very pleased that the government has created an enabling environment for companies like Savenda to operate and, in turn, help the poor and marginalised people. Other companies should emulate Savenda,” Mr Chilufya implored.

The sinking of the borehole in Chipalesa is just one of the many initiatives that the Savenda Group has been implementing under its robust corporate social responsibility programme. Such initiatives have been running since 1997 when the company was incorporated as a family business until it grew into the big conglomerate it is today.

And Savenda Group chief executive officer Esther Mpoha says it is always a pleasure for the conglomerate to help the underprivileged as the government cannot be expected to do everything alone.

She was speaking at the Palabana fresh produce farm which is located in Chipalesa where the Savenda Group has even installed a 2.8-kilometre transmission line, complete with pylons, to provide electricity to the farm and some surrounding areas.

“For us, as Savenda, we feel that we have a moral duty to always come and help the government of the day fulfil its obligations to the Zambian citizens,” Mrs Mpoha said. “By providing water to the people of Chipalesa, we are simply performing that moral duty.”

As the name Chipalesa suggests, the water donation to the area could be a gift from God.

MICHELO MALAMBO FINDS HER NICHE: 'Michie Zambia's Sweetheart' finds hosting Tuvwange thrilling

AFTER the successes of Season One, lifestyle talk show Tuvwange Lifestyle in June this year returned to the screens for Season Two on Zambezi Magic with an added spin to the show.

Tuvwange Lifestyle is a lifestyle and talk show that features a group of outspoken female hosts who reflect the modern times and culture as they share views and perspectives accumulated through varied life experiences.

The talk show is centred around the word 'Tuvwange' which means let's talk in the local Mambwe dialect.

The group consists of inspirational Zambian celebrity women include; Mutale Mwanza, Natasha Van Der Maas, Esther Chungu and former Miss Zambia Michelo Malambo.

The show encompasses on-the-pulse topics ranging from the day's news to beauty, fashion, relationships and financial advice.

Season Two of the show premiered on June 5 at 21:30 hours.

We caught up with Michelo who is popularly known as Michie Zambia’s Sweetheart by her radio listeners.

She gave us an insight of the show and the experiences of working with the creators behind the Jackson Banda produced lifestyle talk show.

The 29-year-old radio and television presenter was born in Lusaka to Melvin and Ntemena Malambo. She is fourth in a family of eight.

Before Tuvwange Lifestyle, Michie has been on productions such as the Miss Zambia Television show that used to air on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) during her reign as Miss Zambia between 2014 and 2016.

She was also involved with Zambezi Magic’s My Kitchen Party Zambia television show which is now on hold due to the coronavirus.

Michie describes her involvement with the Tuvwange Lifestyle, a show that started in November last year as very exciting and thrilling.

“We are supposed to do about 26 episodes and for us as hosts, it’s very humbling to get a shot for season two. It just shows that people are appreciating the show. It means a lot for us,” she says. “For me to be a part of the three other talented presenters of different backgrounds is simply humbling too.”

She adds: “The show promotes the importance of having fun as a family. It has a lot of other segments where we talk about different issues such as cooking, game time and even how to manage finances in homes. We also invite experts.

“We get feedback from viewers, even the elderly ones, that the show makes them feel young and it has helped them bond as a family even more especially now that we are being encouraged to stay home more because of COVID-19,” she says.

She attributes the show's success to its topic which she believes are relatable. “The show is based on the feedback we are getting from the viewers. It’s basically mind opening and we also go out on the street to get comments from people on what they think of a topic or discussion on the show,” she says.

Michie who also co-hosts the Afternoon Vibe on Radio Phoenix with Mathew The People’s Host says Zambezi Magic has lived up to priding itself in local storytelling.

“I cannot think of any other channel that promotes local content. That has also improved the quality of the productions we are seeing in the country today. The channel appreciates and encourages local talent too,” she says.

She adds that what Zambezi Magic is doing to the country’s entertainment industry is inspiring and very encouraging.

“We are grateful to the channel. Speaking as someone that has a job with the channel, I can only say that the channel has not only lived up to expectations, but also surpassed them. Zambezi Magic has made it possible for people to live comfortable lives off film.

“People are employed by film. A production has over 30 people working behind it, and all those have livelihoods thanks to Zambezi Magic. That is how huge this support we are getting from the channel is,” she says.

Michie says Zambia’s entertainment industry is growing.

“We barely go to places where people don’t recognise us. But somehow the favours we get from people that come with the popularity of the show has to some extent exposed the flaws of society. Why should I get special treatment because of my status? So, for me, it's a double edged sword. Society needs to learn to treat everyone the same,” she says.

Michie attended Kalonde Primary School, Chudleigh House School and Nsansa Trust School.

She also has a certificate in Law from the Australian Institute of Business and Technology (AIBT) and Bachelor of Commerce from Mulungushi University.

She also runs the Michie and Friends Foundation, a non Governmental organisation that sponsors vulnerable children to school with other areas being mind and talent building.

KAZUNGULA BRIDGE PROJECT IN SPLENDID FINISH: US$259.3 multi million dollar project nears completion

MASTERPIECE! It is, but just one of the many superlatives used to describe the US$174 million multi million bilateral Kazungula Bridge that is nearing completion.

The 923-metre-long (3,028 ft) by 18.5-metre-wide (61 ft) bridge will have a longest span of 129 metres (423 ft) and link the town of Kazungula in Zambia with Kasane in Botswana and is curved to avoid the nearby borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The bridge which is built on the confluence of the Zambezi River in Zambia and Chobe River in Botswana where four countries [Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe] join, also features a single-line railway track between two traffic lanes and pavements for pedestrians.

The bridge is part of the US$259.3 multi million Kazungula Bridge Project, which includes international border facilities in Zambia and Botswana.

The groundbreaking for the construction of the project which many feel will ease transportation of goods and services between the two countries while linking the region to the rest of Africa was on 12 October 2014 in Kasane, Botswana.

With works progressing well, the contractor, Daewoo Engineering Company of South Korea is now envisaging the handover to be in August or early September.

The Road Development Agency (RDA) recently conducted a media tour of the project to appreciate the works.

RDA director for communications and corporate affairs Masuzyo Ndhlovu said the Kazungula bridge project now stands at 99 percent completion and is expected to be completed by September.

All major works on the bridge are done with only minor final touches remaining.

“I should say that in terms of physical progress, they are now at 99 percent and as you can see, what is remaining is just the road furniture [markings, lighting and embankment]. This is a railway-road bridge and you've seen that the railway line which will join the Zambia Railways line has been done,” he said.

Mr Ndhlovu said construction of the Package Two and Package Three of the project which are the US$44 million and K263 million One Stop Border Posts on the Botswana and Zambia side respectively now stands at 96 percent complete.

“Access roads linking the two facilities to the bridge are being constructed and in terms of physical progress, we are talking about 96 percent physical progress,” he said.

Mr Ndhlovu said the Kazungula Bridge Project will not only benefit Zambia and Botswana alone, but the entire SADC region.

“...as it is also going to open up and be a gateway to the SADC region as all member states stand to benefit from it. A lot of work has gone into the construction of this bridge and as you can see, it's so colourful, it's an engineering marvel, and I think we should commend the two countries for putting up this well structured bridge,” he said.

He said once complete, the Kazungula Bridge Project will be commissioned by President Edgar Lungu and his Botswana counterpart.

“This project is going to boost the country's economy and ease transportation of goods and services. That is why the Government holds this project in very high esteem,” he said.  

Kazungula Bridge Project manager for Zambia Godfrey Songeya also gave assurances of no further postponements to the completion dates of the project.

“I will tell you that projects of this size and nature usually come with their own challenges, of course those challenges are manageable and as you can see, in terms of where we are, we have managed to deal with all the major challenges that we’ve had. We have passed a stage where we were putting concrete and this structure is up. What we are remaining with is road furniture.

“So, in terms of completion, we can assure you that we are completing this project by the end of August or the beginning of September and I don't think we are going to make any postponements in terms of completion,” said Mr Songeya who was flanked by his Botswana counterpart Pius Seone.

In terms of the management and maintenance of the project once complete, Mr Songeya disclosed that Zambia and Botswana have agreed to form the Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA) to oversee operations and maintenance.

“As you may be aware, we rely on the ferry here for movement of goods and services. Once the bridge is completed it will reduce the transit time and reduce time based trade and transport trade and furthermore, it will improve border management operations arising from the two new one stop border facilities being constructed on both sides.

“It is for this reason that the two governments have an agreement to form a joint authority that will be in charge of the running and maintenance of the facilities to ensure smooth flow of business here once it is fully operational,” he said.