Vice President, Mutale Nalumango has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for being a visionary leader whose administration has enacted progressive laws that cut across the nation, citing that the new legislation that demonstrates care and love for Zambians.
Mrs Nalumango, who was speaking during the presidential assent ceremony for five Bills at State House today, said the Bills assented to, are just examples of many reforms passed during the current government’s five years term.
“For the care that the President has, for the love that the visionary leader has, and indeed the support from the institutions that have been part to the development of these roles and the Zambians, we can see, are excited to get these laws that have been put in place,” she said.
Mrs Nalumango highlighted increased women’s representation in decision making as a key achievement of the UPND administration.
“The women folk have cried for a long time for representation in decision making and I think, we have all seen what is happening in our country, women are leading very important institutions in our country. This must be encouraging to the youths, the students, the female students that you are not waiting for nothing,” she said.
She said President Hichilema’s decision to put free education into law, rather than leave it to policy, was meant to protect it from political changes.
“That is why, by decision, the President said we cannot leave things like free education to just the policy and the will of individuals. Let us put it into law, so that it is not just turned anyhow at the whims of somebody, it is law,” she added.
She also commended the labour movement for acknowledging the new social security reforms, stressing that a strong social protection system gives hope to citizens.
“We can’t continue to have weak social security, we are working with social protection. Social security is key to the future, and it gives hope to somebody today,” she said.
And United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance member, Highvie Hamududu said Zambia has made huge steps against poverty, unemployment and inequality by legislating free education.
Mr Hamududu, who is also the Party for National Unity and Progress(PNUP) leader, cited the UNIP era from 1964-1990s as proof that free education improved the social profile of Zambians.
He said Zambians have been crying for lump sum pension payments, and the government has delivered, adding that monthly pension amounts have also been increased.
Mr Hamududu described the assented Bills as bold steps that address the whole lifespan of Zambia’s free education for children and lump sum pensions for retirees.
He has called for Zambians to celebrate the UPND government for the reforms that will change the country’s socio-economic profile.
Former Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati said legislating free education moves Zambia beyond policy to enforceable commitment for 2.6 million children.
“I think my way to the public is that the law has been assented that you know policy is important but it is not sufficient so when you create law it means that you are compelled to deliver,” Mr Mutati said.
He said education guarantees opportunity for every child regardless of background.
“ You need to pave the way and the only thing which paves the way for anybody in any life is no other than education, so now we have guaranteed education for every child regardless of where you are where you come from,” he said.
Mr Mutati added that government is complementing free education with school meals, infrastructure and teacher recruitment.
“But on top of that we are also feeding the kids so that they can learn better, we are providing infrastructure such as desks, classrooms, have employed over 40,000 teachers and will continue to employ, so for us this is a journey without a finish line,” he said.
Meanwhile, Learners representative, Emma Chanda commended government for honoring pupils with the Free Education Bill, saying the law restores dignity and hope for children who previously dropped out of school due to lack of fees.
“Today, government has honored, for years many of us watched friends leave school because parents could not afford fees, uniforms, or exam costs and this law tells every child in Zambia that your future matters, regardless of where you come from,” she said.
Niye nkhani iyi??.