President Hakainde Hichilema has affirmed that he will build a united, equitable and economically stable Zambia.
President Hichilema has also reiterated that in the next five years, his administration will focus on economic transformation and job creation among other strategies.
President Hichilema said this in parliament today, when he officially opened the 1st, session of the 13th, National Assembly where he itemized several economic interventions.
President Hichilema underscored that sectors such as Mining, Agriculture, Tourism, Science and Technology, Small and Medium Enterprise will be the anchors of the country’s economic development agenda.
He punctuated his speech with a stress on fighting corruption , further, pointing out that the government will promote the actualization of value addition in the agriculture sector.
“Government will ensure there is enough provision of farming inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides and seeds through working hand in hand with the private sector. We will ensure we promote production of these inputs locally and enhance disease surveillance,” he stressed amidst jubilation from members of parliament.
In the Mining sector, President Hichilema emphasized that all mineral wealth will benefit the people of Zambia through the benefits accrued.
President Hichilema cited value addition in the processing of gold, copper and other minerals as among the surest ways of achieving local benefit.
On transport infrastructure, President Hichilema said his government will maintain, construct roads and modernize all airports to enhance local and foreign tourism and trade.
The Head of State underscored that construction of roads, especially in the rural areas, will see enhancement of access to the market by farmers and quick access to service centers by pupils and patients to hospitals.
“Once we construct roads, especially in the rural areas, farmers will have easy access to the market to sell their merchandise and pupils will use the noble road to go to school and access services. When roads are worked on, people will easily go to the clinics hence, having a healthy population and when we modernize the airports will enhance local and domestic tourism and trade,” the President emphasized.
On climate change, President Hichilema noted that his government will put measures in place to cushion the impact of climatic changes in the country.
The President further re-affirmed that the creation of the Ministry in-charge of Green Economy was strategically positioned to restore and preserve the ecosystem in the country to benefit the current and generations to come.
The Presidential speech which was delivered from about 10:40 to 12:24 hours was themed ‘Creating a united, Prosperous and Equitable Zambia, Restoring Economic Growth and Safeguarding Livelihoods’.
After Delivering his maiden Speech, President Hichilema took time to exchange greetings with Members of parliament with strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines.
Earlier, President Hichilema paid tribute to former leaders such as the first Head of State Kenneth Kaunda and former President Edgar Lungu.
He also hailed Former Vice President Inonge Wina, stating that he was optimistic that Vice President Mutale Nalumango will also be equal to the task.
President Hichilema makes the first Head of State to address the national assembly headed by the first ever female Speaker.
I can proudly state Zambia has a serious President!!
Just complete deoxygenated cheap talk.
Not inspiring.
Sounded like an old old record.
Vima shpeech vinango, awe sure ni beans.
State House Has Fallen – I notice you are posting from Germany you are not who I think it is? What exactly do you want to say in his very first maiden Parliamentary speech …lets be fair guys!!
We don’t know if this President has anything new to do all he is saying is what has already been done by Lungu.
#2 stop hatin’ on the president based on a speech. There will be enough time for criticism when he starts to perform.
@Tarino Orange
I hope being fair doesn’t mean I start supporting your stance.
So I respect your view point, I hope you can also respect my perspective.
Does it matter who you think I am? Bleib gesegnet.
This is an impressive speech! This is how a leader speaks and sets out a vision. Not those guys who were just wondering at State House!
Free education has excited the PF morons for strange reasons. It will be a gradual process..like what stops some kids from enrolling into school when they turn 6? Is it books, school uniform or PTA funds . Free education will start from there. Stop imagining unworkable toutcones!
1. Basically, HH has reminded Zambians that if you are an Engineer, Scientist, Economists etc, become part of the Zambian Enterprise to change the nation. Don’t sit on the comfort Zone and talk cheap. Become creative and innovative. We have natural Resources.
Development does not start from the top but from the bottom. The reason why The Democrats in USA have done better than Republicans in job creation and expanding the US Economy in the last 200 years is because they don’t cater/protect the top corporations. But support Small Scale Industries. China became an economic power because the Communist Party stopped controlling everything but started encouraging everyone to become creative and innovative.
After speeches Bwana HH all we want is impactful actions and a positive track record that will speak for itself.
The maiden address lacked clarity and failed to articulate how often stated target goals would be in fact addressed. Combating climate change for example requires more than rhetoric. It requires among other things a significant change in social and environmental culture as well as collaboration with regional and global partners . The address could have been more specific on goals and means rather than a recycled blanket of wishful thinking disguised as policy objectives. Maybe the ambiguity was foretold in the THEME OF THE SPEECH, which was a paragraph in itself. The President can find better speech writers to amplify his vision with succinct delivery.
2. The bedrock of all Western developed nations is Small Scale Business. Because they are the biggest job creators, biggest employers and biggest contributors to government revenue collections and not big corporations.
So, It’s does not have to be a particular political party in power for one to be successful. If you just focus on your Aspirations, Goals, Values, Beliefs and willing to come out of comfort zone, you can be successful, regardless of someone’s opinion.
80% of success in life is just turning up. People who turn up and take actions, they succeed and become game changers in human history. HH can only set the Framework and Agenda. The rest is to all of us.
Here’s the problem. You are comparing economic superstructures that in essence are not comparable. Small enterprises in the US thrive only because their economic base is viable. Meaning they have a reliable infrastructural base with roads, bridges, transportation, medical services , banks , the internet and such at their disposal. We can’t claim the same when the energy is wasted on Cadres who intimidate and commit crimes. At this juncture we should have modernized the fishing industry for example like they fish lobster etc. But without standard electricity countrywide how is that feasible? Agendas and plans are ok but we got to be aggressive and practical,, not just bombastic. Why are we still allowing de Boers and Lohnro to have a commanding grip on the Mining industry. Revisit some…
BLAH BLAH BLAH
PF PUPPETS/SUPPOTERS GO BACK TO SLEEP YOUR TIME IS OVER ALSO YOU NOT EVEN A CREDIBLE OPPOSITION
SEE YOU IN 5 YEARS IF YOU STILL HAVE SUPPORTERS
LET THE NEW REGIME DO THEIR WORK
ONE THING IS FOR SURE THEY CANNOT DO ANY WORSE AND EVEN IF ITS ONLY 1% BETTER ITS AN IMPROVEMENT
Lungu made a similar speech I think even Banda