President Rupiah Banda says government through the Ministry of community Development and Social Services will implement the public welfare assistant scheme throughout the country.
Mr. Banda says this will be in form of educational support, food and shelter to incapacitated individuals and households.
The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President George Kunda during this year’s Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony of the Lunda people of Zambezi district today.
And President Banda has said government will continue supporting and respecting traditional ceremonies because of their importance in the preservation of culture which he said was an important cornerstone in building a strong foundation in communities.
Mr. Banda said traditional ceremonies also provide a platform for government and other stakeholders to explain development strategies and programmes taking place in the country.
Meanwhile, President Banda has said government has put in place suitable policies to assist vulnerable households headed by orphans, widows and the disabled.
He named some of the programmes as the food security pack under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the Fertilizer Support programme under the Ministry of Finance.
And Mr. Banda has called upon traditional leaders to discourage risky traditional practices such as wife inheritance and sexual cleansing because they increase the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS.
He said the traditional leaders should instead encourage girl child education and condemn the practice of early marriages.
And Senior Chief Ishindi of the Lunda people in Zambezi district said the Lunda Lubanza Traditional ceremony was a unifying factor for Lunda speaking people in Congo DR, Angola and Zambia.
Chief Ishindi said the presence of the Emperor Mwata Yamvu from Congo was A clear testimony of the unity that existed among the Lunda.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lunda Lubanza Cultural Association Chairman BENSON MAHAFU.
The Chief called upon government to establish and construct a skills farming centre in the district.
The ceremony was also attended by the Emperor Mwata Yamvu and ten other chiefs from the Democrtic Republic of Congo.
ZANIS
Social security is a good thing. However one may ask as to where you will get the money to dish out like that? Mr RB, do you have free cash to start giving to people? If you have that money I have no problem with that. Nevertheless going by what we know already zambia has accumulated a $2 billion debt just afer the debt cancellation to $500 million. So if the money for social security will be a loan from china, then Mr RB you have to think twice. We dont want more debts. What we want is Investment money….not consumption money which is a liability. Use that money to invest in Mines and ZAMTEL and put then under a proffessionally idependent Zambian management. Not handouts please. Teach people to fish and they will ever have fish.
#1 Kambongolo, I agree it is a mamoth task. But may be having a pilot phase and excuted under , say, two councils would help assess if it can work. What I suspect would cause failure will be executioners involved in managing the scheme coz like always Zambians are vultures waiting patiently for anything from which they can steal. It’ll be not uncommon to hear of a director having put has able-bodied uncle, son or daughter on the scheme as a beneficiary. And those in procurement will be busy under-supplying what would dearly be appreciated be genuine beneficiaries. Apart from that, even clerical officers would be asking for kang’ono from applicants before their papers are worked on.
Why do all these promises always come shortly before elections? Why not just go ahead and do it?
With the level of corruption in zambia everything will be going back to the rich people. Public welfare assistance is not good in a country which has no money. The govt has failed to assist farmers to grow food so that they can earn their living by working for themselves. One must have his head examined to even think or dream of welfare assistance in a country which is not governed properly, where there is no accounatbility. People must be assisted to work in one way or another instead of handouts, welfare assistance promotes laziness.
Is this an MMD Cadre program or what? Who is going to benefit from this program? KK tried this program with ama coupon for ubunga, did it work? At a time when the govt is in worse condition than ever, medical facilities are no more than useless, education is facilities 500 kids are sitting on 15 desks as evidenced by Munkombwe in Choma, Women are giving birth at the doorsteps of UTH because doors are closed due to strikes, Unemployment is higher than the figures given, 60%, where will RB get the money to facilitate this huge program? I know we all dream, but let us dream something that is sustainable.
Of course there’s plenty of money in Zambia…. Money from our natural resources, money from donor countries, tax-payers money etc. How can you say that there is no money in Zambia when politicians are living like billionaires. Time to share the National Cake.
There’s plenty of money in Zambia. Don’t sweat over this program it’s peanuts government spends billions if not trillions of dollars on expensive cars, petrol, entertainment, trips and other unnecessary stuff. It’s about time our people start getting a little piece of the national cake. I support his program it’s been long overdue. What’s wrong about helping the people in need? let’s make poverty history. Every human being deserves basic human needs. Peace!
……………………..dream on?!
Actions speak louder than words….the education system, if there are any Zambian owned companies? health system, transport system, infrastructure tell the real story
May our President and his cabinet lead an example by adjusting some expenses they make during the month or year. May our God fight this battle for us to raise men who will be able to work for people of Zambia with passion. I believe all those who have been in government before must be touched in one way or another and think for others or else it will be from Haggai 2V2-3, and Psm 105V15.