HUNDREDS of people yesterday welcomed President Banda at Niko Technical High School for Girls and presented him with six heads of cattle.

Speaking on behalf of Namwala people, area Member of Parliament Robbie Chizyuka praised the Government for taking a lot of development projects to the area.

Major Chizyuka, who was in the company of several Ila people who danced and sang thunderous songs for President Banda, said Namwala had received a lot of support from Government since 2008.

Besides the K167-billion Choma-Namwala Road which had been completed, Maj Chizyuka said the Government was constructing Niko Technical High School at a cost of K32 billion.

Another basic school near Namwala was under construction at a cost of K8 billion while the Monze-Niko Road was built in 2008 at a cost of K27 billion.

Maj Chizyuka said 17 schools had been built in Namwala area and that about 3,600 new pupils had been enrolled.

He was also happy that a district hospital would be constructed in Kabula Mwaanda area.

"All these have been constructed during the period he was vice-president

and later ascended to the presidency in 2008," he said.

In response, President Banda thanked Maj Chizyuka and the people of Namwala for the warm welcome.

He said the Government would build more schools, hospitals and health facilities in Southern Province and many other parts of Zambia.

"We are not satisfied on what we have done so far. We will even do more next year so that people see what we are doing contrary to assertions by the opposition that Government is doing nothing," he said.

He said the Government would soon launch the 190-km road linking Kasama and Mpulungu.

In 2011, President Banda said he would go to Namwala and campaign for people to vote for him in view of various developmentstaking

place in the area.

Meanwhile, Mr Banda revealed that the man who defaced the presidential portrait in Choma last Saturday had been identified and arrested.

Addressing thousands of people who gathered at Munyeke Bridge in Mapanza, Mr Banda, however, did not disclose the names of the arrested man.

"I understand that my face on the portrait has been attacked in Choma by one of United Party for National development (UPND) cadres.

"This person was angry with me and my leadership but unfortunately, we found out who he is and he has been arrested.

He will stay for a while until he understands that it is wrong to deface the head of State," he said.

Earlier during the day yesterday, President Banda paid a courtesy call on Chief Mapanza.

Today, the president would meet MMD district executive committee and constituency executive in Itezhi-tezhi and then leave for Namwala by helicopter.

He would inspect Medical offices and proceed to the site to lay the foundation stone for Niko Hospital.