Luanshya women threaten to stage a naked protest

The people of Maposa Zone B in Luanshya have appealed to government to degazette the area to foster economic development and enable local people access basic social amenities.

And the women of Maposa have threatened to stage a naked protest if the area was not legalized saying President Michael Sate had directed the ministries of lands and Gender to ensure that women have access to land for economic development.

Maposa ward councillor Godfrey Mwansa Chilando said degazatting the area would enhance economic development and change the living standards of the people of Maposa as the area was a farming community.

“We are appealing to government to degazette this land, Zones A and C were legalized but we have been fighting this battle since 2000, because of this problem we have no schools, clinics, markets to sell our farm produce especially that we are the largest food basket in the district, and we can’t even take our products out of this place because of the almost impossible road network.” he said.

Mr. Chilando bemoaned the poor road network and lack of basic services such as schools and clinics in the area saying Maposa has in recent years seen an increase in population which now stands at over 4000 people.

The area councillor stated that the local people have to cover distances of over 15 kilo meters to access both medical and education facilities in Fisenge and Kamfinsa.

Mr. Chilando who however expressed confidence that government would address the issue urged the community to remain calm.

And Eunice Chilango a resident of Maposa said women would stage a naked protest to the office of the member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili if their plight was not heard.

Ms. Chilango said it was clear that President Michael Sata had directed that women be given land for economic development and that the women in the area were looking forward to benefiting from the pronouncement.

She commended President Sata for spearheading women empowerment saying the legalizing of the area coupled with women and youth empowerment programs would help change the status of many women in the area.

Meanwhile, a grade nine pupil of Maposa has appealed to government to consider building a school to cater for school going children in the area.

Mary Musonda said she leaves home every morning at 04: 00 hours to cover a distance of over 9 kilo meters to Baluba Basic School which was the nearest in the area.

Maposa which is divided in three zones, falls under Roan constituency in Luanshya and is located in a forest reserve area and two zones have since been legalized.