TONGA BULL HAS DELIVERED
…Luapula chiefs are saying HH well done – Chisunka
By Kombe Mataka
HH is indeed a Tonga bull because he has shamed those people that thought he will not fulfill the promise of employing 30,000 teachers, says chief Chisunka of the Ushi people of Mansa district.
Addressing journalists shortly after a council meeting held in Mansa on Thursday, Chisunka who is chairperson of the chiefs’ council in the Luapula Province, said the traditional leaders were happy with news of deployment of teachers.
“This (UPND) government gave us free education. When they did that, they also assured us that they would employ about 30,000 teachers, a promise they have fulfilled through the leadership of Hakainde Hichilema. Indeed, he is a Tonga bull. Atuma akatapula, aboma akatapula abalemu doubter ukweba ati teti afikilishe (He has shamed us, he has shamed critics who thought he would not deliver). He has delivered. We have seen the names. We are very grateful to HH. We are grateful to the new dawn government,” Chisunka said. “Don’t listen to critics, ama pull me down (the people that bring others down). When names are published, it does not mean that they will be put on the payroll immediately because they have been employed. There will be issuing of appointment letters, posting them to their stations. This can even go up to next year before they finally get in classes because they are a lot. But HH, don’t listen to people that want to take you back. Continue working hard. Namuboma akatapula, tapali napakusalapukila. (You have shamed them, there is no room for criticism).”
Chisunka also warned teachers in the province to be dedicated to their duties.
“Area councillors, us chiefs and PTA (Parents Teachers Association) members let us ensure that these teachers work. We don’t want teachers to abscond classes without permission. I want the residents to be reporting such teachers. I will not tolerate such teachers. They will be sent to work so they must work. They must work in the stipulated hours,” he said. “Now what is remaining is to ensure that we appeal to area councillors to write and apply for projects to build houses so that our teachers will have accommodation. Even you the residents of the community that are near these schools, build houses which teachers can rent from their hardship allowances. If those that can afford to build can build flats near these schools, let them do that. Let us just not look at money coming from CDF. They can build two bedrooms and nice washrooms which teachers can rent. As Chief Chisunka, and on behalf of the chiefs in Luapula, we are very happy. As a chairperson of the chiefs’ council, I’m receiving a number of calls from other chiefs saying HH well done. Development will now start coming because the teachers are in the villages. This is the development that we want.”
Chisunka said he would not tolerate teachers who would miss classes without permission from the authorities.
“My appeal is that these teachers are deployed in rural areas and not in towns because that is where there is a critical shortage of teachers. We don’t want a situation where teachers come here and after a while they start asking for transfers. We ask that such be punished by the government. Don’t give them transfers if they don’t have a proper reason for relocating. When they’re looking for employment they cry, but once given employment they say ‘we don’t want to work at Mungulukata, Mulyango, Mutwango, for example. We don’t want that,” he said. ‘’Those that have been left out from the recruitment, it is not the end of the world. There will be replacements very soon. This is not the end. I am sure there are other sectors in which the government is going to employ.”
And Chisunka called for speedy approval of projects under CDF, saying development must not stall.
“We had a full council [meeting]. We made a number of observations and on the need to ensure that those constituency development project proposals in various places start. These projects have been written down, now what we want to see as chiefs is implementation. We have heard that Mansa Central Constituency will be sitting tomorrow (yesterday) as well as Bahati. This will be the second time they will be sitting to look at which projects will be approved. I am very happy because if projects are not on paper, our people get impatient,” said Chisunka. “When we had a council meeting, we also told area members of parliament to ensure that they give information to the people on what they are doing in various wards. If there is no information, people will be left in suspense. They must tell us what government is doing and their future plans for our people. Where they fail to achieve their plans, they must still come back to engage the people.”