Mukupa Writes

By Linda Mupemo Some grass thatched houses connected to Mpanta solar mini  grid - Picture by Linda Mupemo     As the sun kisses the horizon giving birth to dawn, Damiano Bupe emerges in his boat on the shore of Chibesa -Wa- Mpanta.    Chibesa-Wa-Mpanta is at the furthest end of Mpanta village, a point where Lake Bangweulu tilts and drains into a channel later called Luapula River. The village is in Samfya District in Luapula Province, located 50 kilometers away from the Central Business District.    Going by the quantity of fish Mr. Bupe catches, the night was gracious to him.    His harvest is so evident to the eager fish traders who unreservedly swam around him with intent to get the freshest fish for sale.     At home, Mr. Bupe has ice blocks in a deep freezer which he later sells to his out of town customers to enable them keep the commodity fresh as they journey back to their destination.   This is possible because for seven years now, the Rural Electri

 By Linda Mupemo Zambia Union of All Persons Living With  Disabilities President Pascal Mulenga Like most young ladies, Malumbo Mwape dreamed of becoming a mother in her future life.    Unfortunately, Ms Mwape had polio when she was barely learning how to walk at two years old. The illness crippled her limbs leaving her with the option of only using a wheelchair for mobility.     As fate would have it, Ms Mwape fell pregnant outside wedlock when she was 20 years old.  She recalls how the situation angered and worried her parents at the same time.    "I grew up being aided in doing most things. But a pregnancy was a different story all together. I had to carry my baby in my womb regardless of my physical state," she laments.    Ms Mwape, now 27 years old, says health care providers termed her pregnancy as ‘high risk’ hence she needed frequent medical check-ups in addition to the mandatory antenatal visits.    She delivered a healthy baby-girl at one of th

 By Linda Mupemo Inverters at Mpanta solar power plant Luapula Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Emmanuel Munsanje has commended the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) for incorporating renewable energy sources into its electrification projects.    Mr. Munsanje cited the 60 Kilowatt Mpanta Solar Mini Grid project in Samfya District which is providing electricity to the community as a game changer in the energy sector.    ZANIS reports that Mr. Munsanje said green and clean energy projects are welcome especially as the world strives to reduce carbon emissions.      Mr. Munsanje has since called on government to allocate more funds to renewable energy projects in a bid to increase access to electricity in an environmentally friendly manner.      "The Mpanta solar plant is a progressive project. We need more of such sustainable developmental projects, projects which neither harm the environment nor contribute to global warming," he said.    Sp

By Linda Mupemo David Musonda applies animal manure in his field David Musonda shovels up goat and sheep droppings from the floor of his kraal.   He and his two sons put it in buckets. They later head to their crop field which is a stone's throw away from their home in Chisensa village in Milenge District.    Mr. Musonda applies the animal droppings in his field where he has planted garden eggplants, cabbages, tomatoes and other vegetables.   He is one of the small scale farmers practicing organic agriculture in Milenge district in Luapula Province.    “I have 18 sheep, 11 goats and 10 chickens. These produce up to four bags of droppings fortnightly weighing 50 kilograms ," he says.    In organic agriculture, farmers produce their crops using natural fertilisers such as animal manure and compost as opposed to using synthetic fertilisers. Additionally, organic pesticides are used to control pests.      Mr. Musonda recalls that before he ventured into