Apply for CEEF – Simulilika urges

Sinazongwe District Commissioner, Mungoni Simulilika, has called on the people to apply for the Citizen Economic Empowerment Fund (CEEF) to accelerate  economic development for  the country to attain  a middle income stage.

Mr. Simulilika said at this year’s 44th Independence celebration at Sinazongwe Basic School that government has released money for people to invest in various developmental projects.

He urged Sinazongwe people to get the forms from the banks such as Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO), Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays, Finance, and National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE).

Mr. Simulilika noted that the forms were supposed to be taken to the DC’s office after they were filled in for evaluations.

The DC said the government initiative of empowering people was meant to ensure the country attains  a medium income stage through the vision 2030.

He noted that as this was in line with this year’s 44th Independence theme of “facing the future with hope,” the CEEF would also empower Sinazongwe people.

Mr. Simulilika urged Sinazongwe people to be hard working to ensure that they produced their own food rather than depending on relief handouts.

“Sinazongwe has plenty of water, fish, land, coal, and human resource and I do not understand why we should not feed ourselves,” Mr. Simulilika said.

He said government was preparing the citizens from the dependence on handouts to irrigation technology.

The DC acknowledged that government has already sent the inputs for 2008/2009 farming season to the district and the food security pack under Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare to help the vulnerable people.

He also commended government for providing a K1.8 billion towards building three new Schools and rehabilitation of Schools and Staff houses this year.

ZANIS/ENDS/TN/EB