Zaka people query committee over incomplete monument

By PISAI GUMAR
THE Zaka Circuit centenary anniversary organising committee in Morobe patrol post, Huon Gulf has left church members wondering why the construction of a ‘monument’ to the first missionaries and evangelists has been left incomplete.
The unveiling of the central monument with a memorial plaque at Zaka mission station has not eventuated as planned.
The monument and plaque was supposed to bear the names of the first German Lutheran church missionaries, including first baptisms and who later became the first evangelists up the Waria River to Garaina, in Bulolo district.
Only thanksgiving and singsing to commemorate the occasion took place at Toyare primary school.
Contributions to host the event came from Huon Gulf district administration for K25,000, Morobe provincial government K10,000, Eco Homes K10,000, Ipu Suwia K1,500 and Eu Atase K1,500.
The relatives of the early evangelists who work in Lae and other centres and seven local parishioners of Zaka circuit contributed as well.
The family and relatives of the first missionaries in Germany deposited €1,350 (K3,750) before travelling to Zaka for the occasion held on Christmas Eve.
Sources, who did not want to be named, questioned where all the contributions had been used.
Lawyer Kelly Naru contributed K16,000 and K67,619.65 was raised at the thanksgiving offering.
According to the official programme, after the anniversary service on Saturday, there was supposed to be a historical presentation and unveiling of the monument and plaque.
However, history presenter and academic, Biama Kanasa could not make it as it was reported that Kanasa was robbed by thugs at Jackson Airport while trying to board a plane to Lae.
The monument at Zaka mission station was left incomplete, with the organising committee being blamed for not releasing the required amount to the contractor to do the job.
Despite the completion and unveiling of another smaller monument at Sapa village, the contractor, Albert Dubery, said he faced the same problem unlike his colleague contractor Titus Jack, who withdrew from building the Zaka station monument.