waterfalls in Luapula Province

IMG_0509, originally uploaded by araba24.

PRESIDENT Banda has said water transportation should be improved because it is cheaper than using roads.

He has also challenged investors to invest in hotels and lodges in Luapula Province to back Government's efforts in opening up the Northern Circuit for tourism activities.

Mr Banda said yesterday that it was important to develop water transportation because huge amounts of money were needed to develop roads compared with water vessels.

Speaking in Samfya yesterday, during the re-launch of the refurbished Bangweulu Post Boat, President Banda said with abundant water resources in the country, especially in Luapula Province, it was important to develop water transport.

He said he was happy to be in the district because he wanted to learn the various needs that the people living near water faced.

Mr Banda said the Government recognised the importance of a reliable transport system for rural communities and praised the Ministry of Communications and Transport for helping Zambia Postal Services acquire new engines to service the post boat.

The boat would ease transport problems for the people in the area, where agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities.

He said he was also aware that the ministry had set aside money to repair the Mongu-Kalabo post boat.

The president appealed for more investment in infrastructure to complement the Government's efforts in promoting tourism in the northern circuit.

Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said the Bangweulu Post Boat was first launched in 1991 by former president Kenneth Kaunda and that it was refurbished at a cost of K880 million.

Professor Lungwangwa said the vessel had served for 13 years before it broke down in 2004.

He said the Government was prompted to refurbish the vessel because people only used dug-out canoes and banana boats, which were unsafe.

"The boat has a capacity of 120 passengers and 30 tonnes of cargo and operates between Samfya mainland and Chilubi Island," he said.

He said the ministry would concentrate on purchasing new engines for the other post boat in Mongu, which had also broken down due to vandalism and old age.

The president had earlier in the day met with Senior Chief Mwewa, Senior Chief Kalasa Mukoso, and other chiefs from the Ng'umbo Royal Establishment in a closed-door meeting at Hill Side Guest House within Samfya.

Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media. (allafrica.com)

Source Citation
"Banda Re-Launches Bangweulu Post Boat." New Times [Kigali, Rwanda] 12 Feb. 2010. Academic OneFile. Web. 15 Feb. 2010.
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