Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela has said that time has come to build a country that has a diversified and resilient economy.
According to Pan African Radio Journalist Sharon Phiri, Chitotela said this during the official opening of the Zambia-China Infrastructure Development Cooperation Seminar at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel yesterday.
The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure said this can only be achieved by ensuring that sustainable infrastructures are put in place across the country.
And Chitotela says the patriotic front (PF) led Government will ensure that Zambia is transformed into a socio-Economic power house in African, affirming that this would entail tapping into Development cooperation modalities and building on previous socio-economic achievements.
Mr. Chitotela states that Zambia and China have shared a long history of good relations which has culminated into increased cooperation across various sectors such as energy, health, agriculture, education, rural development and private sector among others, adding that cooperation has contributed to the socio-economic advancement of Zambia.
“Time has come to build a country that has a diversified and resilient economy” Chitotela said
Speaking at the same Event, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming says a country can only develop through infrastructure which promotes economic growth.
Youming who cited a Chinese proverb which says that “if you want to be rich, build roads first” placing emphasis on the importance of infrastructure development, narrated that China’s infrastructural investment has grown from 3 billion in 1980’s to about 1 billion in 2011.
Youming insisted that infrastructure is key to development and leaves no one behind including people who live in rural areas, stating that infrastructure is a firm foundation to a country’s modernization drive with development of economy and that includes the promotion of irrigation in the agricultural sector.
“Also telecommunication facilities should be encouraged and is key to development as it has allowed people throughout the world to communicate faster as they construct roads and ports resulting in expanding commercial activities from rural areas to cities” Yauming said.
if this is ronald chitotela then he is the wrong person to be saying that thanks
Its almost like someone telling you that you must eat well to be healthy while he his lending you the money to buy the FOOD.
What a joke!
I have been hearing this Zambia must diversify blah blah from 19 seventy chakuti, its like a song that is remixed by musicians for different generations
Yes Time has come to build a Zambia that has no cholera!
WHAT IS WALLACE MUMBA THE SURVEYOR DOING WITH HON. CHITOTELA,
Build industries and services
Zambia relies on goods from China and South Africa
Travel and bus services need development
Local logistics and networks are lacking
Health care and education systems must change we need proper buildings and technology in these sectors
ICT in schools are still to come Zambia is lagging behind
Science and IT must be a must in schools
Education must be free for all from grade 1 to grade 12 and government should make it compulsory for all children and young people
Free education is the way forward
That time came in 1964. Its not coming now