Jacob Mulenga: Footballer, Cancer Activist And Donor

Jacob Mulenga

By Paul Shalala

He is generally known for his scoring exploits in the Chipolopolo outfit, the popular name for the Zambia national soccer team.

When the name Jacob Mulenga comes up, its football that comes to mind.

The 31 year old striker has in his decade long career played for a number of clubs in Zambia, F.C. Strasbourg and Chateauroux in France, Adana Demirspor in Turkey, Utrecht F.C. in The Netherlands and is currently playing for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright F.C. in China.

At the national level, Jacob has 42 caps and scored nine goals for Chipolopolo.

Well, that is only one side of Jacob.

But it is time to meet Jacob the humanitarian.

Unknown to many Jacob Mulenga, our soccer export to China, is a compassionate star whose heart has gone out to fight cancer.

In short he is a cancer activist and donor.

For years, this prolific striker has been making monthly contributions to the Cancer Support Network of Zambia (CSNZ).

These contributions have helped the organisation reach out to the most needy in society.

Part of the money he has donated has been used to refurbish a ward which has been adopted by the Cancer Support Network at the Kitwe Central Hospital.

"Jacob has been a great contributor to the fight against cancer in Zambia. He has been helping us financially here in Kitwe where he hails from," said Bishop Bolden Chihana, CSNZ Finance Director.

This gesture has not gone unnoticed.

As a son of the city of Kitwe, Jacob is perhaps giving back to the town that first received him.

Jacob celebrating after scoring for Zambia

"As government we really appreciate the role Jacob is playing. We realise that Zambia has produced many footballers who are playing abroad. But as Kitwe, we are proud of Jacob who has made an impact in the fight against cancer here," said Mwape Kasanda, Kitwe District Administrative Officer.

About K20, 000 donated by Jacob and other donors was spent to buy beds, bed sheets, flat screen TVs and several other assorted items which are now in a ward at the Kitwe Central Hospital which has since been adopted by CSNZ.

In the next few months, the Cancer Support Network with the help of its donors, is expected to adopt two more wards at the hospital.

This adoption will also add to the many other projects the organisation wants to embark on such as building a cancer hospital at Baluba area in Luanshya and conducting sensitisations on cancer in various communities across the Copperbelt.

Chingola's Mikiloni Compound Legalised, 2,000 Residents To Get Offer Letters

By Paul Shalala in Chingola

Mikiloni residents clearing a bush

They have called this place home for so many years.

But they have spent all their days here living in fear.

This is because Mikiloni Compound in Chingola is just ten meters away from an Open pit mine.

In shot it is an illegal settlement.

Over 2,000 people live in this illegal settlement.

The Chingola Municipal Council had planned to evict all the squatters from the compound and demolish it. 

But that was then........Today things have changed and there is a new development here.

Government has decided to legalise this settlement.

"Government, working with the local authority, has legalised Mikiloni compound. No one will be displaced. This is your land. Build your houses and live peacefully," said Joseph Katema who is area member of parliament as well as Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister when he addressed residents recently.

Mikiloni residents are happy with the development.

"We never had peace. We always thought we would never see this day. Thank God i will now have a title deed," shouted Jane Mwelwa who has lived in Mikiloni for 10 years. 

The local authority  in Chingola is a step ahead in legalizing the settlement. 

"Starting this month, all Mikiloni residents will start getting offer letters. Let them come to my office and we will facilitate everything," said Chingola Town Clerk George Mulenga.

Land in this area was given indiscriminately.

Some residents build on areas reserved for roads while others built on sewer lines.

The area councillor has issued a warning to those who disregarded the warning when building.

With the legalization of Mikiloni compound the delivery of social development will be enhanced in the area to improve people’s lives. 

Already new roads from Mikiloni to Maiteneke are being done.