Radio Luswepo 89.5 Fm

15/01/2025

This Week on Abercorn Family Comedy, Sidala the WDC for a named ward refuse to endorse his signature on Kamwana Simarita CDF Skills Bursary application form.
Contact Abercorn Family Comedy for Business on:+260771084348

15/01/2025

Happy birthday Charles Sichula a.k.a Lanji's CN nafimbi ati DJ Yash the Programs Manager. Your role in the team is greatly appreciated, and we hope the year ahead is filled with happiness and accomplishments."

07/01/2025

David Chibwili is the winner and walks away with K50 for the caption "A picture is worth a thousand words and this one speaks volumes about the power of unity and cooperation!
Let's celebrate these leaders for showing us that we can work together towards a common goal."

07/01/2025

We will conclude King Dandy's funeral sessions with this.

06/01/2025

Caption this picture. Best caption with many likes and reactions by Tuesday 15:00 will win K50 mobile money.

04/01/2025

Chilemba na Kumbi – A Multimillion Giant Industry that needs awakening.

Am a boy from Mbala who is proud about my background and over the years l have written
so much about my roots and I could be a ‘aba nabo’ to some people. However, as l write
this article, I do this without an aorta of biasness but with a view of sharing my thought on a very important topic – The Chilemba na Kumbi industry.

The Chilemba na Kumbi industry is one that has made billionaires in kwacha and
millionaires in dollars in this country.

A visit to the affluent residential areas such as
Chalala and Kabulonga in Lusaka, allows you to find many who proudly share how they
used to supply beans to the police, army, and other government agencies.

Their visibly lavish lifestyles speak volumes about the wealth they have amassed from this venture.

However, when you look at how comparative industries, like the beef industry in Namwala,
have transformed the lives of indigenous people, you would weep (literally shade tear) for my poor mother and grandmother in Sikalembe Chipoka and other villages.

Their lives remain significantly unchanged. You will still be greeted by hand-dug wells, grass-thatched roofs, and diets that are predominantly Chilemba Na Nakumbi.

Let’s take a look at the kind of vehicles our people use, Noahs and ‘Fusos’ are predominant
among the many inappropriate cars for rugged rural roads_highlight the disparity.

In stark contrast, when you reach Namwala, particularly Maala, arguably the richest village in the country with over 4 million cattle, you’ll encounter farmers who own the latest Ford
Rangers and Land Cruisers.

Their children are studying in some of the finest universities not just in the country but across the globe. These farmers have fully embraced cattle production and excel in marketing their livestock to lucrative markets.

The Problem with the Beans Industry
So, why haven’t our beans farmers in Mbala achieved a similar level of prosperity? Why
aren’t they millionaires with better lives, comparable to those in Maala?

One of the biggest challenges lies in the lack of a structured market for beans. Unlike the
cattle business, which has large players and organized systems, the beans market suffers
from what experts call "The Tragedy of the Commons."

Secondly it's dominated by brief case buyers who rip-off farmers and invest their hard
earned money in midadas popularly called real estate industry. Our farmers seem to be
comfortable selling Chilemba and buy Solar panel and ‘flour’ to make fitimbuwa.

Our beans market is fragmented, and we have failed to establish a consistent market for
this high-value crop. Farmers are forced to rely on places like Soweto Market, where prices
fluctuate unpredictably, much like irregular me**es (ooohps) —you can never tell when the
price will favor you.

Proposed Solutions what can we do in Mbala to uplift the poorest of the poor? I believe we need to enhance the market for beans. Here's how:
1. Create a Value Chain:
Encourage cooperatives to not only produce beans but also add value to them. Rather than
relying on Soweto Market, let’s establish local depots like Mpange Ya Mambwe or Munsi
Mwatala. Better yet, we should aim to supply chain stores directly.

2. Infrastructure Development:
Invest in graders, processing equipment, and proper storage facilities to improve the quality
of beans and reduce post-harvest losses.

3. Sustainable Financing:
Leverage the Sustainable Agriculture Financing (SAF) initiatives. The billions of kwacha
allocated to such programs should be directed towards enhancing capacity among local
farmers. Equip them with knowledge, skills, and tools to expand their businesses
sustainably.

4. Policy Customization:
Avoid copy-and-paste policies. Understand the local context to implement initiatives that
truly work for Mbala and its people. Mbala and the northern circuit are some of the best
regions for agriculture, blessed with abundant water and arable land.

5. Education
Nothing beats education. There is need to give the farmer a lesson on the entrenuership
side of farming. We need to get people Kwako John Chikoma Ng'ombe know that its not
enough to just buy flour from Nakonde and 15 Iron sheets or just say mwachizu
nasombwele 50 bags.

With proper planning, coordination, and commitment, we can elevate beans farming from subsistence to a million-dollar industry. By supporting one another and creating systems that work, we can ensure a prosperous future for our district and its people.
The author is an Economist
*Gadiel Simpungwe*
(Fwebana maround)

04/01/2025

03/01/2025

This Saturday tune in and listen to the program Dubbed My Voice at Nine as we feature Socialist Party Top Official Maximo Mutambo Sinkonde.
Topic: Analyzing UPND Governance in Three Years.
Time:09:00-10:00. Don't Miss.

03/01/2025

KABWE BEE🐝 KEEPER: A YOUNG ZAMBIAN ENTREPRENEUR TURN HIS PASSION INTO A BUSINESS.

Meet obrain siaziyu a Kabwe based youth entrepreneur who ventured into bee keeping and extracting honey.

Obrain siaziyu is also a supplier of bee hives or bee boxes, including all the basic equipments tools and materials needed for beekeeping, these include protective full suits to protect your body during harvest, smokers, honey press machines, bee wax to attract the bees, and swarm boxes for those want to transfer the bees from one place to another and to devide the bee colony.

He is also a qualified beekeeper in beekeeping management, even those who want bee hives installation at the farm including short trainings at a same time, even to advise the upcoming beekeepers that they are not supposed to depend on one thing they can even do better in beekeeping farming also.

For those who would like to learn beekeeping farming, he will advise and guide you on how to start beekeeping farming and what is needed.

You can contact him through his WhatsApp line::: 0973285634. He is found in Kabwe town central province.

02/01/2025

DANDY KRAZY DIES.

Mr. Wesley Chibambo has died.

Mr Chibambo who sustained multiple injuries in a road traffic accident, was admitted to the UTH-Adult in the early hours of yesterday.

He underwent an emergency operation later in the day. However, he remained in a critical condition despite various treatment interventions employed by our health staff.

He was certified dead at 01:42 hours this morning.

We wish to pass our sincere condolences to the family and public as they mourn their loved one.

Nzeba chanda
Public relations officer
Uths-Adult hospital
Post credit:ZNBC

01/01/2025

Three New year born babies at Mbala general hospital in Mbala district have received baby hampers from the first lady Muntita Hichilema.

Presenting the hampers and assorted food staffs on behalf of the first lady, Mbala area Member of Parliament Njava Simutowe urged parents to take care of babies.

Mr Simutowe says the babies should be kept properly because they are future leaders and are gifts from God.

And the mother of one child Christine Namwinga has thanked the government and the first lady Muntita Hichilema for the Care.

01/01/2025

MR. WESLEY CHIBAMBO ADMITTED AT UTHs-ADULT HOSPITAL.
01.01.2025

On the evening of 31st December, 2024, Mr. Wesley Chibambo, a.k.a. Daddy Krazy, was involved in a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) along the Great North Road (Between Kabwe and Kapiri). He was brought to the University Teaching Hospital-Adult, as a referral from Kabwe Central Hospital (KCH), in the early hours of today.

Mr. Chibambo sustained multiple injuries for which he is currently receiving treatment. His condition remains critical. The doctors are preparing him for emergency surgery. More updates will be availed to the public within day.

We are appealing to the public to accord the patient and family some privacy, during this difficulty time.

Thank you,

Nzeba Chanda
Public Relations Officer
UTHs-Adult Hospital.

31/12/2024

WELCOME TO THE YEAR 2025!

What would you love to hear on Radio this year?

31/12/2024

The Energy Regulation Board has increased the pump price for petrol from K33.67 to K34.67 effective midnight Dec 31, 2024.

31/12/2024

Mbala and Development

The economy is not a technical concept_it's about the basic, tangible things that make communities thrive. We need to re-evaluate how we position ourselves for development as a people. Let me examine one specific area: the upgrading of the Lunzua Hydropower Station to 5 megawatts. This was done as a precursor to establishing a commercial airport in Kasaba Bay and creating a regional hub similar to the likes of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The vision was to encourage Eastern and Southern African leaders to meet in a serene, nature-therapy environment.

The potential development this initiative could have brought to the Northern Circuit, particularly to the host town, is immense. That’s how you set up a place for sustainable growth. But what do we see instead? When you visit Mbala and Mpulungu, the visible fabrics of development are weak. This is why most progress in these regions is driven by individuals rather than institutional frameworks.

For instance, government investment in infrastructure remains inadequate. The roads in this region are in poor condition, and basic services provided by companies like ZESCO are highly inefficient. It can take up to 10 months to get service, despite ZESCO headquarters quoting an average turnaround time of three months.

Similarly, farmers who sell maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) have to endure long queues for days, even after the government has released funds. The struggle faced by these farmers is disheartening, especially given the district’s potential. Furthermore, the banking sector has neglected this region, with many bourgeoisie banks leaving. Currently, only one bank is serving the people in the district, creating additional hurdles for economic growth.

When I asked someone why decentralizing payments to farmers is not being implemented, I was given a technical response that lacked practical solutions. Yet, we are in an era where mobile money is revolutionizing traditional banking systems. Why can’t we leverage this innovation to address these challenges?

Mbala and Mpulungu share similar socio-economic dynamics. Despite Mbala’s historical significance as the province's oldest district and former headquarters, it has remained underdeveloped. The lack of strategic development planning is evident. To move forward, we need a coordinated district development agenda.

Here are my proposals for achieving sustainable growth in the region:

1. Infrastructure Development
The provincial minister for Northern Province, who is also the MP for Mpulungu, must coordinate with local MPs to create and implement a strategic plan for the Kasama-Mbala-Mpulungu road. This should be a social contract with clear timelines and deliverables to ensure accountability.

2. Agricultural Development
Agriculture remains the backbone of the region’s economy. The government should integrate sound policies into a development strategy that includes clear targets for promoting commercial farming. For example, we could aim to establish a specific number of commercial farmers within the next five years.

3. Youth Empowerment
Youth empowerment initiatives must be practical and measurable. For instance, the local council could be tasked with training and certifying 300 plumbers and 1,000 agricultural specialists within five years. These skills should align with the region's needs and priorities.

4. Energy Sector Accountability
Companies like ZESCO must undergo regular audits to evaluate their performance and compliance with the country’s energy goals. Inefficiencies must be addressed, and clear timelines for service delivery must be enforced.

5. Enhanced Governance
Local ministers and leaders need to step up and demonstrate their commitment to the region's growth. They must articulate a clear vision for increasing the district’s GDP and attracting investment. This will encourage people, including those who left, to return and invest in the region.

In conclusion, the Northern Circuit, with its natural resources and historical significance, has immense potential. What we need is effective coordination, accountability, and a commitment to measurable development goals. Let’s rise to the challenge and transform this region into an economic powerhouse.

*Gadiel Simpungwe*
Economist, Fwebana Maround

30/12/2024

Christmas and a happy 2025
We don’t own copyrights to the song been played
Luv

27/12/2024

DEBs Mbala, Mr Wilfred Chilala, kneels down to thank teachers for maintaining 1st Position in the province at grade 9 for three consecutive years now.

Credit: ZEIC

24/12/2024

Radio Luswepo management would love to congratulate Enock Simpokolwe (DJ Eno Luv) and Charles Sichula (DJ Yash) for winning the best Radio Presenter and DJ Awards under the Mbala Excellency Award of the year. Your win is proof that your media house has continued to remain relevant to the people of it's coverage and beyond.