The People’s Republic of China in partnership with the Word Food Programme (WFP) has set plans to drill two boreholes in Manungu ward of Monze District to provide the local community with access to clean drinking water and crop irrigation purposes.
The drilling of the water points being carried out by China Geo is expected to provide water for more than 200 residents once completed in April this year.
Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony for the project at Maambo village today, Chinese Embassy Charge’ d Affaires Mr Wang Sheng said the gesture was in response to President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration of drought as a national disaster and his call for humanitarian relief from the international community.
Mr Sheng said the drilling of boreholes was just an initial step taken by the Chinese government to provide humanitarian relief to people facing hunger and water shortages as a result of the drought.
“It is an Honour and Pleasure to attend this long-awaited ground-breaking ceremony for boreholes drilling here in Monze district. In partnership with the World Food Programme the project is undertaken by the Chinese government as an urgent response to President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration of drought as a national disaster’’, Mr Sheng noted.
Mr Sheng added that the People’s Republic of China was ready to offer more humanitarian aid to people facing the effects of drought brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon across large swathes of the country, including Monze District.
“Let me assure you that we are ready to help more within our capacity and more resources will be mobilised, with possible large-scale emergency food assistance coordination. This is a clear demonstration of the deep-rooted friendship and trust that exist between our two countries and peoples,” stated Mr Sheng.
Southern province Minister Mr. Credo Najuwa thanked the People’s Republic of China in partnership with WFP for coming to the aid of the people in Maambo village of Munungu Ward in the District by providing the much needed water for domestic and agricultural use.
He noted that the prolonged dry spell was a reminder of the intertwined challenges that calls for collective action from all stakeholders including the local communities facing the brunt of the drought.
“And for us in Southern Province we thank His Excellence President Hakainde Hichilema for declaring a National Disaster and by working with cooperating partners like you (Chinese Government) we shall do everything possible to be innovative and show magnanimity to ensure that no one dies of hunger in the region,” said Mr Nanjuwa.
Mr Nanjuwa called on all senior government officials and all Members of Parliament in the province to be on the run and work as a team to actualise the government’s plans to promote winter cropping using irrigation to alleviate hunger.
He further thanked senior Chief Monze for granting land for irrigation purposes to a cooperative called Hope Saving group further calling on other farmers to emulate the group and venture into serious crop irrigation.
And Senior Chief Monze of the Tonga speaking people of Monze District thanked the Chinese government and President Hichilema for the bond steps he took to declare national distaste which he noted has elicited international humanitarian response.
Meanwhile, Moomba Area Member of Parliament Fred Chaatila who represented other lawmakers in the District appealed to the Chinese government to consider extending humanitarian assistance in the form of water provision to other constituencies in dire need of the commodity for humans and their livestock.
At the same occasion, the Association of Chinese Corporations in Zambia donated 400 by 25 kilogramme bags of mealie meal valued at 130,000 Kwacha to residents of Manungu Ward of Monze District.
