Part 3
By Hon Davies Mwila
In his address to the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly on Friday, 18th September 2015, His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu said, among other things, that:
“…Having attained 50 years of independence, Zambia has entered a new phase of socio-economic transformation for the next 50 years. This is in tandem with the African Union Agenda 2063 which highlights our aspirations and I quote: ‘to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, an Africa driven and managed by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.’… It is against this background that we, as a nation, need to be adaptive, innovative and determined to change the way we do things. In this regard, the theme for my address is ‘embracing a transformational culture for a smart Zambia now’. To attain this transformation, we need to change the way we think, behave and do things”.
In concluding the aforementioned speech, President Lungu challenged the nation to work towards attaining the ideal Zambia which he described in the above quote, and as enshrined in the Vision 2030 and AU Agenda 2063. President Lungu concluded by saying:
“At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia should awaken to one undeniable truth and reality: that ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism, changed this country forever.”
In line with President Lungu’s policy directives and challenge mentioned above, the PF Government has engaged an adaptive, innovative and a transformative approach to doing things in order to attain the Vision 2030 objective of Zambia becoming a “prosperous middle-income country by 2030”, as well as actualizing the AU Agenda 2063 objectives at national level.
In view of the above, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is working towards actualizing the Vision 2030 objective guided by the 7NDP and the PF manifesto.
The two previous articles discussed the strategic interventions being implemented by the PF Government.
This third article in the series will highlight additional programmes currently being implemented by the PF Government under strategic area one of the 7NDP (“Economic Diversification and Job Creation”) vis-à-vis the agriculture sector.
These additional programmes currently being implemented by the PF Government are aimed at attaining a “Diversified and Export-Oriented Agriculture Sector”, and include the following: promoting diversification within the agriculture sector; enhancing investment in agricultural infrastructure, and promoting small-scale agriculture.
PROMOTING DIVERSIFICATION WITHIN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR:
In order to achieve agricultural diversification in terms of crops, fisheries, livestock and forestry products – as espoused in the 7NDP – the PF Government under President Edgar Lungu is implementing the following programmes.
The Crop, Forestry, Fisheries and Livestock Product Diversification Programme: There are numerous strategic interventions currently being implemented by the PF Government under this Programme, some of which are espoused in the following paragraphs.
For example, in April 2018, the PF Government acquired the ZamPalm Oil Palm Tree Plantation in Kanchibiya district in Muchinga Province, from Zambeef Products Plc at a cash consideration of US Dollars 16 Million. ZamPalm Oil Tree Plantation is owned by the Zambian Government through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The IDC acquired 90 percent shares in the operation from Zambeef Products Plc.
The ZamPalm Oil Tree Plantation has had the following impact: about 700 jobs have been created in Kopa Chiefdom literally lifting hundreds of families out of extreme poverty. In addition, this venture will also help stem the importation of edible oils into Zambia while earning the country significant foreign exchange through exports.
Currently, only Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) produce their own palm oil crude-the rest of the countries, including Zambia, import from Malaysia and Indonesia.
There is therefore a huge market gap which Zambia can leverage through ZamPalm especially given the fact that the estate can produce up to 100 tonnes of crude palm oil in a month from its primary processing plant. And once at full capacity, the Plant could feed refineries such as the Global Industries in Ndola with a steady flow of raw materials for processing into ready-for-use edible oil all year round.
In addition to the above, production at ZamPalm is expected to be boosted by the out-grower scheme in which the initial 500 local farmers will be targeted, with more farmers to be targeted in future. In order to leverage the existing market, ZamPalm will also plant an extra 300 hectares of new palm trees each year between 2019 and 2021 which will bring the total land cover to 4, 200 hectares.
Indeed, the ZamPalm investment by the PF Government is in line with the 7NDP prescriptions to achieve economic diversification and job creation through agriculture, among others. The ZamPalm Investment is also in line with the 7NDP Development Outcome 9, Strategy Focus 7.12.4, and Strategy 4 which aims at increasing job opportunities in rural areas by promoting rural infrastructure development, agro-value chain development and labour-intensive industries in rural areas such as ZamPalm Oil Tree Plantation.
Similar to the ZamPalm venture, the PF Government is further delivering economic diversification and employment creation by opening of a “Pineapple Processing Plant” in North Western province and a “Fruit Processing Plant” in Eastern province.
Furthermore, the PF Government under President Edgar Lungu, launched the US Dollar 55.4 Million Cashew Nut Project in 2015 in Western Province with the aim of diversifying the economy and creating employment. For instance, by 30th November, 2017, this US Dollar 55.4 Million Project in Western Province had directly benefitted 15, 000 farmers in Western Province. At full capacity, the Project will benefit a total of 60, 000 targeted beneficiaries in the 10 participating districts in Western Province.
The PF Government has also successfully revived the Kawambwa Tea Estate, which is currently fully operational. At present, the PF Government has invested over K30 Million into the Estate, and this has led to the creation of five hundred (500) direct local jobs.
In order to further accelerate economic diversification as well as create employment in rural areas, the PF Government is also seeking prospective investors with the capacity to commercialize the production of Salt in Mpika District and other viable projects within the district and other areas countrywide.
ENHANCING INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Significant investments in agricultural infrastructure development are one of the “pillars” for achieving sustainable agricultural development. It is against this background that the Patriotic Front Government has significantly enhanced investments in agricultural infrastructure development aimed at strengthening the sector’s capacity to produce process and market its various products competitively across domestic, regional and international markets.
Consequently, the PF Government has since constructed livestock breeding centres such as the Goat-breeding centre in Mpika district at a cost of K340, 000 to promote livestock in the area and Chishinga breeding centre for bull breeding in Luapula province to empower local farmers with good breeding stocks for improving their current herds. Others include milk collection centers, satellite artificial insemination service centres and permanent artificial insemination centres in different parts of the country.
Conclusion
The Patriotic Front Government’s visionary approach to wealth planning for Zambia through the implementation of the PF Manifesto as well as the 7NDP is designed to support the attainment of the goals of Vision 2030 which will in turn lay the foundation for turning Zambia into a Developed Country by 2064.
The PF led by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is laying the foundation not just for the next generation, but also for subsequent generations to come by taking significant steps towards the cross generational accumulation, conservation, utilisation and transfer of the wealth of Zambians yet to be born.
At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia will indeed awaken to one undeniable truth and reality: that ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism, changed this country forever.
The Author is Patriotic Front Secretary General
All these sentiments by PF SG Mwila are only mentioning Ba Edgar FimoFimo Lungu, no Sata mentioned.
The audience in his mind is either his boss to like him or just writing the farewell chronicle for Ba Edgar.
Give him time please.
If he cannot identify and mention their major failings and how they will manage and turn around the country into the future then we are headed nowhere with PF. Successes mean nothing at this point this country has alot of issues that still need sorting out….just one small example ..till now the PF government does not know exactly how to sort out agro distribution and marketing with consistent policy…there are many such issues including debt issues fiingi umuli ama rubbish. Tell us going forward how u will handle the many problems. Cholera has started again
Aba eba SG.
Who said opposition political parties can not SONTA on what they have achieved as political parties in Opposition in 2018?
It begins with the mind. You can also contribute to the country’s/community’s welfare even in opposition, even as individuals, you blogger bosses too. Its a CALL.
Ask if anyone knows a famous quote from Kennedy’s inaugural address. After students respond, write the quote on a blackboard or chart paper: “And so, my fellow Zambians: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
Here, I expand, Also ask not what your FAMILY /SOCIETY/CHURCH can do for you – ask what you can do for them.
THANKS PF SG. Complements of the SEASON!!!!
Under-achievers.
One plantation per province won’t improve the suffering the masses are enduring due to PF failed leadership.
What is 500 jobs in a province with 1,000,000 unemployed youths?
“At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia should awaken to one undeniable truth and reality: that ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism, changed this country forever.”
That’s a 100 … Let’s roll
Cholera epidemic ,sharply depreciating Kwacha ,high foreign debts,Fitch and IMF downgrades ,3rd hungriest nation,stinking trash piles everywhere…these are also dubious achievements of PF government.
Other 2016 – 2018 PF achievements:
1. Arrests of oppositions
2. Arrests of peaceful protestors
3. Arrests of Pastors
4. Arrests of musicians
5. Social media clampdow
6. Agenda to make opposition weak
@truth hurts
Who would be live this daydreaming from PF without showing us cash numbers ??
Mr mwila, tell us how much is being made. How much each project is contributing to the treasury …..
We must however give you dues, we asked for numbers of job creations which you are attempting to do , but we want to see cash numbers , how much is being made by each project even if currently it is a loss, atleast it shows PF is not hiding anything.
..
I think the truth is maybe they don’t know the numbers (because of too difficult) or they consider themselves too important to think about things like facts and numbers (as if alking to cadres is enough)
I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN POMPUS TRIBE LIKE TONGAS IN THIS WORLD.THATS WHY TONGAS WILL NEVER RULE THIS COUNTRY.UPND AND TONGAS AND FOR TONGAS
And tr!bal !mbeciles for tr!bal !beciles by tr!bal !mbeciles it is right way forward?
I also have never seen a theiving tribe like bembas , lungu is right…
Well captured PF SG…Let the Opposition take you on facts not their pettiness … Some of us are non-partisan because politicians have lowered the bar…Maybe if they start to debate facts not non-issues
SG cant write this article…This is the doing of Sunday Chanda … dont deceive us!
Can you tell us why 80 to 90 % of these projects are concentrated in the north ??
Do people of other provinces not pay tax ?? Just wondering Mr SG ….
Achievements, my foot.
As for the Chinese were not enough, now the *****ic dimwit buffoon from the Deadwood is writing a thesis dictated by Mahtani from penthouse of Professional Insurance building on Cairo Road for which he never paid rent since inception.
Mathani evacuated rent paying Atlas Mara Bank to house his new money laundering deposit taking outfit with BARKAT ALI and Gupta of Zambia in the building at peanut rent.
Where is ZRA? In the pockets of Davies Mwila?
Why is Margaret Mwanakatwe not acting?
It doesn’t matter how many projects PF starts or launches its all useless bcoz PF project management = weak and incompetent.
Where is transfer pricing cell of ZRA?
WHY Mathani gets away with every President?
Who authorised his deposit taking outfit at BOZ?
ONCE a money launderer ALWAYS a MONEYLAUNDERER.
Fake guarantees from Finance Bank! Ask Simaata Simaata.
Fake guarantees from Professional 8nsurance, ask Siame.
Fake accounts to siphon off forex from Malawi, ask Barkat Ali
With due respect Hon Secretary General Davies Mwila, are those achievements or intentions or plans? Are they successful or not? The success of a project can only be measured after it starts bearing fruit or it becomes sustainable. If all you have created are unsustainable debts, that can hardly be called an achievement. Look at the districts that you have created, today there are more councils and more “jobs” yes, but the councils are now failing to pay salaries and wages to their employees. Is that an achievement?
I think that it is too early to start declaring “achievements”, you have to be patient and wait a little, let’s say 2021, is that too long for you to wait Sir?
Grade 7 Davies Mwila with fake grade 12 certificate written by a young boy. What does he understand about development with his little grade 7 civics education?