Friday, March 29, 2024

Levy’s New Eve address to the Nation

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President Mwanawasa has said government will continue implementing prudent macro-economic policies aimed at sustaining economic gains while ensuring that the gains benefit the people.

And President Mwanawasa has reiterated governments resolve to ensuring the successful enactment of a people driven constitution.

The President said this today during his annual address to the nation on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Television on New Years Eve.

Dr Mwanawasa stressed that the focus for 2008 is to achieve a higher economic growth rate of at least seven percent.

He noted that the country’s economic growth rate in the last three years has averaged 5.6 percent, while the inflation rate has been declining, reaching 8.9 percent in 2007.

This performance, he said, has translated into stable prices of goods and services for the people.

“Fair minded and objective people will agree that so far, our economic, political and social programmes are on the right track. This is evidenced by the positive economic developments,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa also noted that the exchange rate of the Kwacha against major currencies remained stable and that the lower interest rates offered by banks, have given an opportunity to the people to borrow money and to invest in productive ventures.

The President, however, said the energy sector, which is the engine that drives the economy, has continued to face a number of challenges.

He said government has worked hard to overcome most of the challenges.

In 2007, the nation experienced intermittent disruptions in the supply of petroleum products.

He said, therefore, government has now opted to introduce long term supply measures, unlike in the past when crude oil was procured in intermittent consignments.

He said the long term measure will help insulate the country from the unpredictable international prices which have now hit an all time high of US$100 per barrel.

On petroleum exploration, the President said he was pleased to note that in the past year, government engaged stakeholders in order to finalise proposed amendments to the petroleum exploration Act of 1985.

“As soon as the amendments to the Act are effected, we should be able to see exploration activities in Nort-Western province and in other provinces with potential oil and gas reserves. The selected blocks in North-western province have already been demarcated in readiness for exploration,” he said.

In this regard, Dr. Mwanawasa urged all Zambian private sector to actively participate in the procurement and exploration for petroleum.

He also said in order for Zambians to participate in the global economy, government will increase their access to private sector investment through the programmes of Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission.

He pointed out that this is one way of ensuring that all Zambians including women and youth are given an opportunity to exploit their entrepreneurial capabilities to the fullest.

On mining, the President said the mining sector continues to make tremendous strides and attract huge investments, resulting in increased mineral production.

“It now remains for us to ensure that we derive commensurate benefits from these developments,” he said.

He said government has, therefore, engaged the mining companies in the re-negotiations of the mining development agreements, which should be concluded soon.

Dr. Mwanawasa also stressed that the country has continued to ensure sustainable food security.

He said this is a sign that farmers have responded to the progressive government policies and to the call for hard work.

President Mwanawasa however, said the issue of climate change and the environment is a matter of great concern to the nation.

He said most developing countries including Zambia, are already experiencing effects of climate change such as floods and drought with severe consequences on agriculture, a climate sensitive sector.

The President also said Education and Health are equally important for the social economic development of the country and will continue to receive the priority attention of the government.

Dr. Mwanawasa also bemoaned the high levels of HIV/AIDS and the increased incidences of child abuse and defilement cases in the country.

He said government will in 2008 step up efforts aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS infections, expnading Ant-retroviral treatment and mitigating mother to child transmission.

The President said he was however happy to note that the judiciary has continued to impose stiff and appropriate punishment on offenders as a deterrent measure to the high incidences of child abuse and defilements.

As regard corruption, President Mwanawasa said government in the past year, through the task force on corruption, followed up a number of cases of plunder and recovered several properties and monies.

He said the proceeds from the sales of these properties will be used for the various programmes in needy social sectors.

He also commended the media for the role it is playing in exposing such vices and in helping to consolidate the country’s democracy.

Dr. Mwanawasa said in this vein, Zambia’s governance record has earned the country recognition by the international community as a favourable investment destination.

Turning to the constitution making process, the President said the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has been constituted to drive the process.

He urged all stakeholders to show unity of purpose and commitment to the whole process.

Dr. Mwanawasa said Zambians should exhibit the maturity and magnanimity that the citizenry have always demonstrated and prove that they can be unity in diversity.

“Let us bury our differences, deliberate issues objectively, and bequeath ourselves a constitution which posterity shall cherish. Zambians let us unite to enact a new constitution in peace and tranquility,” he said.

President Mwanawasa urged Zambians to preserve the peace that the country has enjoyed for many years.

19 COMMENTS

  1. This is cheap politics ba chuchu. How much did you plunder with your family at Mfuwe? Make poverty history in Zambia, otherwise, these are MMD cheap political rhetorics.

  2. Kalembe Kafyuke, surely if someone goes on leave, that is plunder? why are you so negative? I don’t even know why I bother myself replying to stuff like this. The President has highlighted both the positive and negative things that happened in 2007. And some cynic decides to mention something totally unrelated to the speech. Fyukafe after walemba. You disgust me.

  3. Thats a cheap dig #1 at LPM. Like any CEO he deserves the retreat with his family at our expense coz ‘we’ put him on the job and the job comes with such anyways. Even if I dont fancy LPM, for once I feel that was below the belt mudala. Lets engage maturely and intelligently here, not spitefully.

  4. Oh! shut up #1 & 2, Knowing that more 80% of his countrymen and women were entering yet another new year with empty stomachs, why didnt he sacrifice that money for the homeless kids on the streets even if its for a day? They could have pitched tents right there at state house- infact there is a zoo even there. My point is, the task at hand is big, it isnt time to go swimming with big tummies when his ‘masters’ are starving.

  5. At least they should have some decency, why not go quietly to enjoy their free holiday for doing nothing. We need to see tangible economical grow. My prayer is that, this year LPM and his muppets should get on top of issues that are important to us ordinary souls. And as for you blind, irrational LPM supporters, get some life, start seeing things as they are. You are so disgusting

  6. #4. This is why most intelligent bloggers are blogging somewhere else because of chaps like you. You don’t know what is positive or negative. INCENTIVES,INCENTIVES-BWANAMUKUBWA.

  7. #5 mala msana wandalama
    Can you at least tell us blogers here how many die of hunger every month. Statistics mudala we want to know. Dont you feel embarrassed to write something like this. Talk of eradicating poverty instead of purporting issues here. Waya sana Ku UK oku. Wo sent you there. I will make you Minister of Starvation in my govt just what Mandela did to Buteletzi. This will shut your mouth. Happy new year

  8. #4 Mala musanawabupina

    What is wrong with a head od state to go for a holiday and relax?.In any case why don’t you donate your salary to the many hungry mouths in Zambia instead of spending $200 on fire crackers and christmax pudding.

  9. #10, Nomba bushe kusanda the entire clan on the poverty pipo’s expenses. Holiday incentives is suppose to be new clear family only. Not nieces, nephews, grandmothers and great great grandmothers!!!!

  10. #11 I am sure where you work if you hold a senior position you have as part of your condition of service certain previlages which may include your company paying for your medical expenses for your children and wards below the age of 21 years, scholl fees for your ix children and wards up to ordinary level, a garden boy and cook. a guard. Company transport and fuel. Company accomodation.

    These are all in the Presidents conditions of service.

  11. Those attacking LPM for his Holiday, I must say these are politics of poverty. As Jesus said you will always have the poor among you. Let the president relax. KK used to do it, FTJ was so deep in plundering the nation that he couldn’t even take a holiday. Besides anybody with good job should be able to afford a decent holiday and the poor should aspire to that life. The country has reserves of $1.1 billion best ever in history. Can’t the CEO of Zambia deserve a holiday for that?

  12. #13 CHOCHA, dont expose your ignorance, read my contribution again #5. I was talking about tangible economical growth in ordinary people’s pockets. Talk about thing you are able to see, feel and appreciate, and not that $%it about ‘best ever country reserves’. Whatever macro positives these clowns may have registered, should be seen to trickle down to you- a kaponya.

  13. #10 CITIZEN, Disgruntled as you are, make it a habit this year to edit your contributions before posting. Do you know how much i remitte back home every month, not out of abundance but sacrifice? The difference between my income and chuchu’s is that, mine is earned and his is unearned. while am working hard for every penny LPM is busy polishing his letter writing skills. I feel his main job should be pushing his ministers to implement poverty reducing policies and should be seen even…

  14. cont#15.. by kaponyas like yourself. Stop talking about macro nosense, infact we heard enough from Penza. This year talk about how your grandmother’s quality of life is improving because the muppets(with cotton stuffed heads) are finally working on micro issues.

  15. #15 Mala mu…
    There is a difference between a mental labourer and a physical labourer. Levy is a mental labourer he spends most of his time using his brain to perform tasks and work, while you physically have to stand at the door of Marks and Spencer as A GUARD during the day and unpacking boxes of pineapples and mangoes at Sainsbury during the night.The little disposable income you remain with after paying heating, tube, credit cards and your contribution of the shared aprtment it what you se

  16. #17 CITIZEN, thats hilarious. I appreciate your humour but still aint getting my point. The fact still remains, even as physical labourer as have put it, i still have to meet my monthly targets and results are supposed to be seen. Same ought to be for you mental labourer.

  17. Iwe mala mudala, you should never ever think of becoming an invester. You are too short term minded and have no clue how these economic cycles work. You can’t impact the common man on the street before you get the numbers right. Numbers have to be right first. Some process even in an economic melt down. Numbers screem first before the common man get impacted. ZCCM problems seen in the numbers in the 70s/80s and it was only in the 90s when the effect hit the man on the street. Stay a labourer

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