Thu, 22 Feb 2018 10:48:36 +0000
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE
IT is unfortunate that Chiengi Member of Parliament Given Katuta has failed to engage Government on the progress of the 13 health centres earmarked for construction in her constituency, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has stated.
Dr Chilufya said Ms Katuta, a Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) lawmaker, was responsible for transmitting information to her constituency pertaining to development plans and projects but instead had failed to represent them to the central government.
He said the MP had refused to be part of the PF’s development agenda in delivering adequate health services in the construction of health facilities in Chiengi.
He said it was general knowledge even among the grassroots in Chiengi that Government was finalising the process of moving contractors to site to begin work on the 13 health centres in the constituency.
“The MP must engage with the portfolio ministries on key government projects in her constituency, in this case, she should have engaged with the Ministry of Health on the progress of the construction of the 13 health centres in Chiengi.
“I personally led a team of MPs of Luapula when we paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Puta of Chiengi and other leaders in the area to highlight proceedings on the status of the health posts scheduled for construction in the area, and it is surprising that the MP is not aware,” he said.
He said even the grassroots was more informed about the goings-on in Chiengi yet the MP had no knowledge about the activities.
Dr Chilufya was responding to claims that the Ministry of Health had neglected Chiengi constituency as no health centre had been completed as part of the 650 health posts project started by the PF Government under late president Michael Sata in 2011.
Ms Katuta was quoted in the media as having accused the PF government of neglecting her area, despite the recent visit to Chiengi by Dr Chilufya, Luapula Province Minister Nixon Chilangwa, Community Development Minister Emerine Kabanshi, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Ronald Chitotela and Bangweulu MP Anthony Kasanda and Chifunabuli MP Ponde Mecha among others.
