Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Leaders can curb tribal fights



By JOHNNY POIYA

Tribal fights in the Highlands region could be addressed and curbed if leaders were with their people at all times, Mendi MP De Kewanu says.
He said this meant most public establishments destroyed in tribal fights could have been saved and the scale of development and the livelihoods of people in some of the fighting zones would be far advanced.
Mr Kewanu said in Mendi at the weekend that his electorate was known for tribal fights and one of his ways to address it was restoring some of the government stations that have gone to the bush or been destroyed during fights.
“Tribal fights have always been a leadership issue. Where there is no true leadership, you see a lot of fighting and destruction.”
Mr Kewanu said as leaders, they could not continue to ignore their people’s plight.
“We have to continue to deliver to our people, even in the most troubled spots. It’s our job,” he said.
The Lai Valley government station in his electorate was now on the way to recovery with PMV transport operating there after about 20 years.
“Due to fighting and ignorance, Lai Valley went back to the bush. All government buildings in there are covered with bushes,” he said.
“But we can’t continue to ignore our people.
“They have the right to government services regardless of their negative attitude.”
Apart from redeveloping the road into Lai Valley, the MP said he would replace and build 11 new footbridges in Karinj and Lai Valley before the end of the year.
“A lot of people there depend on footbridges. I will ensure we get all the 11 bridges completed by December and with the bridges completed, the population would be given livestock and fish to farm,” he said.
He said his office was negotiating with the Works Department and the National Disaster and Emergency office to assist with the bridges, which would cost around K800,000.
The highway connecting Mendi and Enga’s Kandep electorate is under construction while towards the north, road development projects under the MP’s five year development plan are also in progress.
“As leaders, it’s our responsibilities to see that our people are shown the right path to success and not continue to ignore them,” he said.
 

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