President Edgar Lungu has launched the 7th National Development Plan running from 2017 to 2021, with a pledge to build a resilient and diversified economy.
Speaking in Lusaka today, President Lungu said that the plan indicates government’s commitment to planning, as the gateway to the Vision 2030 target, which is a long term national aspiration
The President said that was need to implement the five-year development plan within the principle of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, where no one should be left behind.
Below is the full Speech delivered during the launch of the 7th National Development Plan
YOUR EXCELLENCY, DR. KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF Zambia;
YOUR EXCELLENCY, MR. RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA, FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF Zambia;
YOUR HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, MRS INONGE WINA. MP;
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT, MR. DAVIES MWILA;
YOUR WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF THE GREATER CITY OF Lusaka, MR. WILSON KALUMBA;
HON. MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, MR. LUCKY MULUSA, MP;
HON. CABINET AND PROVINCIAL MINISTERS PRESENT;
SECRETARY TO THE CABINET, DR. ROLAND MSISKA;
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT PRESENT;
PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS;
MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND OTHER COOPERATING PARTNERS;
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS;
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS; LADIES AND Gentlemen.
Today is yet another important day in the history of our country as we gather to launch the seventh national development plan, 2017-2021. This epic occasion signifies our commitment to planned development since the re-introduction of development planning in 2002.
The seventh national development plan is an important milestone towards the attainment of Vision 2030. The Vision 2030 outlines our cherished long term aspiration: “to become a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030”.
We envision a prosperous Zambia where all young people will have access to education and health facilities; a prosperous Zambia which offers equal opportunities to all; and a prosperous Zambia where innovation will form the backbone of commerce and industry.
To guarantee attainment of the Vision 2030, government will continue to implement comprehensive five-year national development plans.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the implementation of previous national development plans, the country sustained positive economic growth. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates averaged 6.5 percent while inflation was maintained within single digits.
We have rolled out massive infrastructure development across the length and breadth of our country.
Roads and bridges, hospitals, schools, water reticulation systems and other support infrastructure were constructed and rehabilitated thereby creating an enabling environment for socio-economic development.
Overall poverty levels have declined from 62.8 percent in 2006 to 54.4 percent in 2015. These achievements have been as a result of planned interventions by government and cooperating partners.
But despite these achievements, reviews of the previous national development plans indicate that a lot more still needs to be done.
Although overall poverty levels declined, I am concerned that rural poverty remains high at 76.6 percent and unemployment rate is at 7.4 percent.
However, according to the international labour standards this remains a problem. Our main concern is that the majority of our people are in the informal sector which accounts for 89.3 percent of the employed.
The informal sector employment, where the youth are the majority, is characterised by low levels of productivity and lack of social security. In addition, the informal sector workers have insufficient disposable incomes to enable them afford basic necessities such as shelter, food and education. This situation, therefore, leaves them trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.
I am concerned that the gap between the poor and the rich remains wide. We must all work together to reduce this unacceptable income disparity.
According to the 2015 living conditions and monitoring survey, the poorest 50 percent of households accounted for only 7.3 percent while the richest 10 percent accounted for 56 percent of household income.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Government is committed to addressing these challenges as we continue building on the progress made so far towards the attainment of the Vision 2030.
Notwithstanding the challenges encountered, we are determined, like our noble eagle, to build a resilient and diversified economy. We want an economy where value-addition and knowledge-based activities are deeply entrenched in line with the principles of a smart Zambia.
The overarching strategic focus of the seventh national development plan is to accelerate development efforts towards the Vision 2030.
This strategic focus underscores government’s determination to diversify the economy and create more jobs to reduce poverty and inequalities.
The implementation of the plan will also result in other key development outcomes such as enhanced human development and creation of a conducive governance environment. The plan, therefore, seeks to bring about inclusive development, without leaving anyone behind, in line with the principles of sustainable development goals of the united nations.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To successfully achieve these challenging but desirable development outcomes, there is need for strengthened synergies among all stakeholders. For this reason, the plan has adopted an integrated multi-sectoral approach through promotion of inter and intra sectoral synergies in the implementation of programmes.
Further, government has developed a national performance framework which will assist implementing institutions to logically link development programmes in a manner that will lead to the realisation of the Vision 2030.
The successful implementation of the seventh national development plan requires stronger linkages between the plan and the budget.
It is, therefore, important that national budgets are aligned to the programmes contained in the national development plans.
We are accelerating implementation of key cross cutting reforms which include: land; decentralisation; public finance management; private sector development; e-government and information and communication technology reforms.
In line with this, all government ministries and institutions are expected to align their strategic plans to the smart Zambia agenda and the seventh national development plan.
To enhance monitoring and evaluation of government programmes, all quarterly reports for ministries, provinces and spending agencies are expected to be in line with the development outcomes of the plan.
Accordingly, performance contracts for permanent secretaries will continue to focus on the development agenda for government as reflected in the seventh national development plan.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cluster sector ministries, as well as respective provinces and districts are cardinal to the implementation of the plan. Coherence between implementing entities including non-state actors is critical. To this effect, government will devise stronger coordination mechanisms.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The projected resource envelope for the plan period 2017–2021 is estimated at K342.3 billion, averaging K68.5 billion annually.
Financing over the plan period will be premised on the principle of restoring fiscal fitness as guided by the pillars of the 2016 Economic Stabilisation and Growth Programme (ESGP), dubbed “Zambia Plus”.
Our cooperating partners will be expected to contribute at least k12.6 billion. This will help ease pressure on the national treasury. The fiscal deficit is, therefore, expected to close at 1.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2021.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Given our natural resource endowment and a youthful population, we have no option but to succeed in implementing the seventh national development plan. Our attitudes and collective mindsets, particularly towards work and participation in national affairs, require urgent transformation.
I, therefore, urge all Zambians from all walks of life, young and old, rural and urban, from shangombo to kaputa and from chipata to mongu to be fully committed to the implementation of our plan.
As we do so, let us also continue to uphold the national values and principles enshrined in our constitution as these have a significant bearing on the successful implementation of the plan.
Equally, I appeal to our cooperating partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to fully support government in the implementation of the seventh national development plan.
Let us all work hard and show commitment to the development of our country. Let us all learn from and be inspired by the amazing and successful development experiences of countries such as south korea, singapore and malaysia. Indeed, nothing is impossible.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Given our collective resolveto move this country to greater heights, I am convinced that together, we will achieve the outcomes outlined in the plan.
Together, we can do it. Together, we will prosper. Let us all strive to give our children, our grandchildren and our great grandchildren the quality of life they deserve. With the help of the almighty God, the destiny of our great country is in our hands.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I now declare the seventh national development plan 2017-2021, whose theme is “accelerating development efforts towards Vision 2030 without leaving anyone behind”, officially launched.
I thank you all and may God bless Zambia.
UNPD = failure to launch
Almost same a amount as what that mine swindled Zambian government.
Lungu is on slippery grounds. Whether he realizes this one does not know!
One usually hears of the glorious “launching” of these so called “National Development Plans,” and never their inglorious conclusions. Don’t we have the capacity to learn from our past failures?
Talk is cheap…PF can not co-ordinate anything to yield results, they don’t just have the know how because the party is full dunderhead kaponyas.
This is just another way of siphoning public funds!
What is this? What a horrible and incompetently written and delivered speech. So vague. There are only 10 State or Provinces in Zambia, if Lungu was smart and understood what a development plan is, he would have outlined, in simple numbers i.e. goals and targets achieved in terms of projects/ initiatives province by province during the period being reviewed. Same way outline the goals and targets (initiatives/ projects) set going forward. PF and there President have zero clue.
I have observed very few comments here. I think this is not a subject for cadres.
Unbelievable! Lungu has a plan?
I hear that foreign debt has now doubled since Lungu stole the elections, like $27 billions! This plan is just a hundred ways for PF to steal national resources until 2021.
THANKS PRESIDENT ECL! I HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 2021 TO PUT YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES, WORKS AND THE 7TH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO SCRUTINY, PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND EVENTUAL JUDGEMENT.
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I have no time to applause empty promises and project rhetoric but I have huge appetite to commend good works. I admire pragmatists and achievers. You do have a lot of work to do. Get set, Go!!
Development plans are communist. They will just get the nation into more debt. We just have to invite the private sector.
@see – perhaps people are reading the whole document unlike you who is just reacting from the speech the president gave. dont think yourself better than others chiwa!!!!
So lungu and team fail to properly use the 10 bn euros but now they have a 2030 vision plan. Hmm. My opinion this is a PF looting plan not a national plan for our people.
7th plan! what happen with 1st through 6th? I don’t see much results from either of those. We are still worse than before independence.
Iwe Nubian Princess, is it your idiocy or what? Is the UPND in power to launch such a program? Even if the PF government has launched this Plan, do you have the money? Or you depend on the IMF whom you told just yesterday in the PF parliament, that you have over $17 billion extenal debt and over K38 billion local debt? Nubian Princess, I pity you for not reading between the lines.
Lusaka Times, a better story would have been an analysis of how this money is going to be spent not just reproducing a speech. Meanwhile you dare to call ZNBC deadNBC
Its buggers like Bugger Teeth who spread lies that Kaunda (KK) stole $6billion just to win an election. Now you are lying that Lungu has stolen $27billion. Get a life buck teeth. Find a a ntemba.
Without a plan and strategy for implementing the plan nothing can be achieved. I therefore commend you Mr President for unveiling both the 7NDP and the strategy for implementing it. I also commend you for putting both in God’s Mighty Hands. For the Bible says ‘Ask the LORD to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out’ PROV16:3. I will deligently study the 7NDP & commit to participate in achieving its goals. GOD bless you, God Bless 7NDP & God Bless Zambia
Damn, now I agree Lungu is also dull. That rubbish thing has been launched? It’s so outdated and out of touch, their policies don’t make sense in modern economies. Note that about 75% of Zambians are millennials. Their expectation is very different as we are not in 1964 Mr. President?? This is 2017 therefore wake-up and offer innovative services to our people. Hope you don’t get convinced to build a new capital city yet failing to meet educational capacity with schools still thatched with elephant grass.
Implementation ndiye kantu..Lets hope it wont remain in the drawers at one GRZ office.
Is the 7th DVP on government website?
Lusakatimes – where is the statement from Antonio Mwanza. People need to know how MPs are stealing from Zambians. We are paying them close to K100,000 per month, its unacceptable. People read it on diggers.news
All these NDPs will go nowhere if all the money is going to MPs.
not on diggers.news but on zambiareports.com
The Party and it’s government better realize sooner that they can’t keep running away from a problem. They have to face the problem head on and solve it. That’s the only way it’ll go away.
*posted on wrong topic
No that comment fits OK.
???
Ifyo! Ati towards a prosperous middle income country……ni kaya kaya!
Zambia became a middle income country in 2010 but PF took the country back to the poorest and hungriest in the world. We are going round and round in circles with PF and Lungu.
Someone please jot down the site to access the 7NDP booklet
I could tell you but it would be treason because it is empty inside. The covers are just for show.
@ Buck Teeth Lungu you could have a point there but you ripped my sides! Thanks.
POEM FOR MY PRESIDENT
Very humble and lowly a man. Lifted up from the grass to the throne; from nothing to a king; little wander God exalteth the humble; but He resisteth the proud and lofty. From the streets of Chawama, there I saw a man truly loved by many a Zambian but hated by a few. Let those who hate him speak volumes against him. But they will be ashamed and be made as dung. Let his enemies live long to see him exalted again in 2021 by the hand of the Almighty. Then the enemy wanders how; the rich and proud cannot comprehend. They forget that it’s the hand of the Almighty that exalteth and not money, therefore the psalmist goeth:
Ba PF lover muleyikalafye you are a case of a group of blind men and women being lead by one blind man chagwa who has no eyes to figure out how he got into state house.hollow speech trying hard to impress yet devoid of capacity if mulungushi textiles had been opened that week he had promised as well as the 500,000 job not the handful party carder jobs we could have gotten GDP of at least 7.5% and poverty reduction of at atleast to a humble figure of 38% .Ngababuka ni twalaya kwi lelo,afwile achimona ulya alimuchfungo kateka nine.
The qwack must work his job comes with loads of responsibilities not am able to fly around smh.
No rhyme, no rhythm, no stanzas.
POEM FOR MY PRESIDENT
Very humble and lowly a man. Lifted up from the grass to the throne; from nothing to a king; little wander God exalteth the humble; but He resisteth the proud and lofty. From the streets of Chawama, there I saw a man truly loved by many a Zambian but hated by a few. Let those who hate him speak volumes against him. But they will be ashamed and be made as dung. Let his enemies live long to see him exalted again in 2021 by the hand of the Almighty. Then the enemy wanders how; the rich and proud cannot comprehend. They forget that it’s the hand of the Almighty that exalteth and not money and pride.
Ba PF lover muleyikalafye you are a case of a group of blind men and women being lead by one blind man chagwa who has no eyes to figure out how he got into state house.hollow speech trying hard to impress yet devoid of capacity if mulungushi textiles had been opened that week he had promised as well as the 500,000 job not the handful party carder jobs we could have gotten GDP of at least 7.5% and poverty reduction of at atleast to a humble figure of 38% .Ngababuka ni twalaya kwi lelo,afwile achimona ulya alimuchfungo kateka nine.
The qwack must work his job comes with loads of responsibilities not am able to fly around smh.
Out of smelly chaotic Chawama,
Crawled a gangly drunken worm
With no morals, but integrity torn
With teeth as a buck, tall as a Llama
Raised on Jemason with fingers long
He staggered and stabbed his way
To a throne he stole from a Sata tray
Demented with an ego, vile and strong
In HH he found a strong opponent
A champion of hard work and thrift
Who he jailed and tortured aswift
Lungu’s ire and envy set afire, and violent
The eternal kaponya turned dictator
Violent of character with none to tell
Stared in the abyss of his evil core
Jumped and drowned in his own hell
~ Buck Teeth Lungu, 2017©
PF Lover, I hope you appreciate the above “Ode to the Dictator from Chawama”. That’s the way it is done with talent.
Thank you Mr. President, It will be good to highlight what we will be particularly focusing on during these five years so that we can look back and say yes , we have achieved what we planned during the period. For instance, increasing agrculture production by a given percentage; industrial development in a given area etc
THE MAN YOU ARE PRAISING TODAY PROMISED YOUTHS 500,000 PENSIONABLE JOBS IN 2015-2016, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THOSE JOBS, MORE YOUTHS ARE JUST STEALING AND DRINKING TUJILI JILI… THEREFORE WHATEVER HE WAS LAUNCHING YESTERDAY IS JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL GIMMICK. THE MAN SERIOUSLY IS LANDING US IN HEAVY PROBLEMS. WATCH THIS SPACE
There is always a starting point, but never a finishing line. How do we go about appraising performance in previous National Development Plans? How did we do? What were our goals then? How close did we get toward attaining them?
Another Carrot dangled for the dwinzee masses! Expect more Castles in the Air! Never trust a person who has told too many lies. Just go back to previous pronouncements. Nothing to show. Kuwayawayafye!
Really laughable…you have not paid nurses for 6 months and can not even balance the budget …you have the cheek to talk about such figures.
Lazy Lungu!!
This is by far the most intrinsic and adorable undertaking by the PF government. The plan itself is commendable and should be supported by every meaningful Zambian. I do not support PF and Lungu by any means but this long-term plan if well implemented could well have resounding benefits that could benefit the masses. The challenge that Lungu has right now are his so called advisors. He may mean well but these leaches who wrongly advice him will eventually bring him down. He must first deal with the polarised environment by calling for an indaba for national reconciliation in order to foster development, otherwise well-done on this one.
Most hollow
Rubbish.who are you deceiving?
What is needed is proper implementation so foot soldiers must get to work to deliver this beautiful plan! Poor planning produces poor performance !
Apart from dununa reverse what other plan has Lungu ever carried out in his life, zero! This lumpen is nothing but just a waste of time, nima rubbish eka eka everyday.
Hazaluza Hagain and there is nothing illiterates, ignorant(s) and tribalists will do about it! Well done, Mr. President! Keep pointing where the work is being done! See how negative above losers are!
Dear Editor,
Kusaka Times,
Please advise how members of the Public can access this important Document.
My fellow tribesmen, we should learn to praise where praise is due! Like this, everyone will know who we are! And we cannot win like this! We have no talking points but an agenda!
To see ECL and the PF come up with a plan is heartbreaking for the upnd and its horde of donkeys. They will try all to shoot down any meaningful positives the government is putting together. Who can forget the drought in 2015 and the food riots it was suppose to bring before the 2016 elections?? None of that rubbish happened. ECL in his humbleness knelt down to God Almighty for direction and urged the nation forward. While the donkeys wish evil on the country so that ECL can step down and handover power to hh, the opposite is happening in all sectors and prospects are brightening for ECL for 2021. WHAT GOD HAS PUT TOGETHER, NO DONKEY CAN PUT ASUNDER!!!!
Zambian Debt
External debt.
Dec 2016-$6.9 billion
June 2017-$17.2 billion
A whopping $10.3 billion debt in 6 months. Where has this money gone?
Domestic debt
Dec 2016-k33 billion
June 2917-k38 billion
Another k5 billion local debt incurred.
Now how long will it take us to clear these big debts
Ifiko mulusaka kalumba give zambians with the ability to collect gabbage zambian citizen you are busy collecting 150 kwacha per bus pa intercity per day and bu night defending chagwa.
It is all stolen. Contractors have not been paid since August 2015. New nurses have been working without pay for 6 months. Retirees cannot go home because their benefits have not been paid.
UPND always want to kill anything good that the Gvt looks bad,but mwaloba ilyauma because the plan surpurb.
Give a man a fish and you will need to feed him everyday.Teach Home Africanus how to fish and you will still need to feed him everyday.
You can make as many plans as possible but if you don’t have the capacity to execute then all this is in vain.
The culture of not working but wanting cuts has robbed this country of the pride of decent work.
Have you ever head a Nyanja gloating about how democratice Lungu is? Well, it’s because their nearest comparable to a democracy is Malawi, where the autocratic Ngwazi Kamuzu reigned supreme for three decades! Knowing Nyanjas, maybe they think autocratic and democratic zinopidrana! Like Dorah Sliti with all her degrees being clueless about the meaning of a “nullity”. Bu kaBoy bwanyanya kuMawa sure mweBemba sekeni ko!
Why not just use Tonga. You are embarrassing yourself. The way you speak Bemba everybody can see that you are just trying hard. You are a typical kaponya Tonga
You couldn’t run an airline ,can’t run a homegrown supermarket chain ,can’t run the mines and Zambians can’t keep Lusaka clean and well organized
Now tell us how this costly and complex vision is gonna become a reality if you can’t even successfully achieve the things above since 1964?
First, were are the 500,000 jobs you promised? You cannot continue making promises when you have failed miserably in the past.
Great job ECL not just yapping yapping all over the courts like Kaili1
Although overall poverty levels declined, I am concerned that rural poverty remains high at 76.6 percent and unemployment rate is at 7.4 percent. Our main concern is that the majority of our people are in the informal sector which accounts for 89.3 percent of the employed.
What is this? Is this April’s fools day? He is saying Zambia has an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent and employed people account for 89.3 percent? Where is he getting this data from ,chawama? Anyway, why is he getting ahead of himself and talking about 2021? How is he even going to achieve this when the country is got more debt than Kuanda accrued in 27 years. This is all delusional.
Lusaka times why do you always withhold my postings, is it because I tell it straight?
Is unemployment rate at 7.4 percent and employed people at 89.3 percent? Is this Zambia? Where is this data from ,chawama?
The only plan lungu knows is dununa reverse.
Did not even waiste time reading, safe in the knowledge lungu is begging the IMF for money.
So lungu and team fail to properly use the 10 bn euros but now they have a 2030 vision plan. Hmm. My opinion this is a PF looting plan not a national plan for our people. Please no more plan just action to develop our country and it starts with removing all corrupt elements. This includes cleansing of judiciary which has also become a looting tool with all kinds of untrusted judges
How domwe repay the eurobonds in 2 years. These have to be paid in full not by installments.
Yes we will get the IMF bailout in december subject to increased local tax compliance and bumper harvest.
With our debt $1.6billion is like peeing in lake kariba.
Look at all public announcements, more tax coming in, bumper harvest better collection from mines, subsidies gone from electricity fuel, more toll gate, all announcements for benefit of IMF.
Terrible, njimbu et al you are knowledgeable tell us how our debt will be repaid. Tribal,concourt, upnd lighting fires HH are all diversions from our collapsed economy
Actually, our national debt has exceeded our GDP as per Mutati’s forced disclosure. What that means is bankruptcy! We should now expect more new taxes and a hike in existing ones. Us who are over 40 will not enjoy anything in this kind of economy. Too late. Nevertheless We have a golden opportunity here. Fire this PF government to salvage the little left. Or continue watching the horror movie until it is way too late.
Haha ,this is truly laughable Bwana Lungu. How are we gonna achieve all that yet in 2016 we were ranked 4th from bottom in ranking of countries in the innovation index?
Anything good I support; but you have failed to clean up Lusaka; what guarantee is there that your plan will succed; look at the debt you have brought upon Zambians? and don’t use God to deceive gullible Christians; release HH
If PF had stuck to MMD’S development plan we would no be in this mess
Where are the 500,000 jobs you had promised ?Anyway, why is he getting ahead of himself and talking about 2021? How is he even going to achieve this when the country is got more debt than Kuanda accrued in 27 years. This is all delusional.
Well done Mr President. This could be an opportunity to launch my projects back home.