New Zealand to partner with Zambia in Diary programme

NEW Zealand Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy says New Zealand was partnering with Zambia to develop a diary programme that would focus on supporting small holder farmers to improve milk quality and productivity.

The Governor General said her country was eager to implement the programme as soon as possible in order to help Zambian farmers.

She was speaking this when Zambia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand George Zulu presented his credentials to the Governor General at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand.

Ms Reddy said she was also delighted to be hosting eight New Zealand Development Scholarship (NZDS) students from Zambia studying towards Master’s and Doctoral degrees in tourism, education and agriculture.

She promised that her country would continue to encourage students from Zambia to apply for the NZDS and Commonwealth Scholarships in order for the recipients to continue learning valuable new skills and foster enduring connections between the two countries.

“We may sit on opposite sides of the globe, but we share a warm and growing relationship and our connection is underpinned by our Commonwealth bonds and strengthened by a shared commitment to democracy and cooperation in multilateral forums,” she said in a statement First Secretary at the Zambian High Commission in Australia Alick Banda on Sunday.

She said she recognised Zambian’s significant contributions to United Nations (UNs) keeping operations across Africa including Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and expressed sympathy for the Zambian peacekeepers who died while serving in the line of duty.

Earlier, Mr Zulu said Zambia cherished the traditional friendship between Zambia and New Zealand and he would do everything possible to promote trade, investment and tourism between the two countries.

“I will apply my personal efforts to further the cooperation and
understanding between us and I am sure I will receive assistance and support from Your Excellency and your Government,” Mr Zulu said.

The ambassador said President Edgar Lungu must be supported by all well-meaning Zambians in order to fight corruption which was retarding development.

He said the President was cognizant of the presence of corruption in the country and the Head of State has vowed to address the scourge while indicating that he would part company with his close allies in both Government and private sector involved in corruption.

Mr Zulu was answering a question from a Zambian in Wellington, New Zealand today, when he met Zambians resident in that country.

The envoy assured the Zambians that President Lungu was aware that the presence of corruption was killing the economy and Zambians both at home and abroad should work together and avoid corruption in all its forms because the fight was not only for the Government.

He said that issues to do with tax payments by citizens should also be adhered to avoid corrupt activities as well.

“President Lungu has also realised that one of the major causes of lack of tangible development is the inability to pay taxes by individuals and companies in the country and that most rich people avoid paying taxes and are corrupt which has brought about a divide between the taxed and the non-taxed,” Mr Zulu said.

He emphasized that paying taxes must be a patriotic duty of every citizen because failure to do so threatens good governance and brings poor service delivery.

He noted that developed countries have so developed partly due to its citizens paying taxes accordingly.

He said the Zambian Revenue Authority(ZRA) should be supported by all well-meaning Zambians to collect enough funds for development.

The High Commissioner informed the Zambians in Wellington that Zambia held general election in August 2016 in which President Lungu emerged victorious and the elections advanced the peaceful and democratic nature of the country in Africa and beyond.

He also informed them that the Government was working towards the Diaspora Policy which would help Zambians abroad become active participants in the national development and also encourage them to invest home.