POLITICAL ANALYST BACKS CALLS FOR CREATION OF ANOTHER PROVINCE IN NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE
Prince Bill M. Kaping’a writes…
North-Western Deserves Another Province!
Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Noami Tetamashimba has proposed the creation of a new province in North-Western Province.
“Another province to be created to maximize development opportunities. Like Muchinga, North-Western must produce another province,” she noted.
We totally agree with her!
Before detractors and naysayers go on rampage jumping to wrong conclusions, we’d like to present free Civic and History lessons.
In his maiden address to Parliament October 14, 2011, the late President Michael Sata announced the division of Northern Province, which measured 147,200 km², bigger than Malawi! He cited the vastness of the province as a hindrance to development and service delivery. This led to the creation of Muchinga Province with Chinsali as the provincial capital. The province has since reaped maximum benefits – provincial administrative offices, civic centers and tertiary institutions.
North Western Province is ranked as the second largest province, measuring about 125,826 km². Despite being home to 3 mining giants – Lumwana, Kalumbila and Kansanshi, it still remains largely undeveloped…..a laughing stock – dilapidated buildings, poor state of roads and not even a public university!
The only way the region is going to enjoy its fair share of development is by splitting it into two. To be made up of Manyinga, Kabombo, Zambezi, Chavuma, and the proposed Mumbeji District, Mitete and Lukulu districts can be carved out of Western Province and made part of the new province.
We don’t see any reason why anyone should oppose the amputation of Mitete and Lukulu from Western Province. Do we understand the pain and trauma civil servants or indeed retirees have to endure to travel to the provincial capital, Mongu for administrative purposes, from time to time?
Just after Independence in 1964, Livingstone was moved from Western province to Southern as this was seen to be more convenient.
In conclusion, if Sata did for Northern Province and nobody complained, why can’t we allow Hakainde to do it for North Western?
Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst
Zambezi
North-Western Province should not be divided. Those advocating for its division appear to have misguided themselves into believing that creating another province will automatically bring meaningful development.
At this point in our development, dividing the province is unlikely to bring any tangible benefits. Instead, it risks creating additional administrative costs and unnecessary pressure on already constrained public resources.
The recent creation of additional constituencies has already placed further demands on public resources. Rather than creating more administrative structures, our priority should be to strengthen existing institutions, improve service delivery, invest in infrastructure, and make better use of the resources we already have.
Development is not achieved simply by drawing new boundaries or creating new administrative units. It comes from effective planning, responsible use of public resources, and investment in the people and infrastructure that already exist.
North-Western Province needs development—not unnecessary division.