Mwakalombe donates 10% salary to constituency

JOHN KOMBE writes CHONGWE Member of Parliament, Japhen Mwakalombe has donated 10% of his salary to his constituency, Chongwe. Mr. Mwakalombe made the pledge when he visited Chongwe Central ward main market where he donated 1, 000 facemasks and K50, 000.00 empowerment funds to the marketeers.  He handed over the donations to the National Traders and MarketeersAssociation of Zambia […]

Mwakalombe donates 10% salary to constituency
JOHN KOMBE writes CHONGWE Member of Parliament, Japhen Mwakalombe has donated 10% of his salary to his constituency, Chongwe. Mr. Mwakalombe made the pledge when he visited Chongwe Central ward main market where he donated 1, 000 facemasks and K50, 000.00 empowerment funds to the marketeers.  He handed over the donations to the National Traders and MarketeersAssociation of Zambia (NATMAZ) Chongwe branch committee for distribution. The lawmaker said that, he was inspired by the President Edgar Lunguwho had donated part of his salary to national service. He said that he was compelled to emulate President Lungu’s love for the less privileged of society. He said that, the donation was not a way of bragging, but an avenue of paying back to the community. He said that above all the gesture was a way of showing gratitude to God who had raised him to that position. He said that, there was no leadership except that which comes from God. Mr. Mwakalombe disclosed that, the donated funds would go towards development projects in different communities in Chongwe.  He stressed that he would continue to engage the community to appreciate their challenges so that he would make informed decisions. Chongwe district commissioner, Mr. Robster Mwanza commended the MP for his gesture, saying that the gesture was a sign of a good leader that the parliamentarian was.   He observed that, the donation had come at a right time when the traders were faced with various challenges due to Covid-19.He further appealed to the MP to consider engaging the Presidential Initiative coordinator to also come to Chongwe and empower the traders. Meanwhile, residents had their own reaction to the pledge. One resident of Libuko village, Joseph Mumba told The Sun that, the pledge was commendable, but hoped that the funds will be managed by an independent office that would manage and account for the funds. He said that this would also help to ensure that the funds were utilized in the neediest areas. He said that more often than not such funds only go to members of the parliamentarian’s political party, which he said should not be the case. He also hoped that the pledge would not be mere rhetoric. Another resident, Mary Phiri of Lusoke village said that the lawmaker was a man of his word and had severally honored his promises. He said that he had no doubt that the MP would fulfill his promise because he had already funded projects like sinking of boreholes using his own funds. The Sun