Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda says resource mobilisation should be accelerated to quickly complete developmental projects in western province.
The minister said the projects would significantly contribute to the improvement of economic prospects, employment creation and poverty reduction in the province.
He said this yesterday when he opened the 25th inverstust Bank branch in Mongu .
“The Patriotic Front government is determined to put an end to this glaring omission, and it is in this context that the government is working on a number of infrastructure development projects in the province,” he said.
Mr Chikwanda said the province had resourceful people who unfortunately had lacked adequate logistical support in the past.
He said government had since accelerated infrastructure projects in the province among them was the Mongu-Kalabo Road, King Lewanika University, Mongu stadium, health centres, and school infrastructure.
“It is also worth noting that apart from resources which have directly been channeled by the line ministries and State supported projects for the period January to august 2013,the treasury released K28 million through the provincial administration for development programmes and operation of various public service departments,” he said.
Mr Chikwanda said out of the total funding channeled through the provincial administration, K1.5 million was for infrastructure development, K256,000 for agriculture support, and K405,000 for livestock and fisheries development.
He said government was happy that the bank had in 2013 managed to invest K21 million in its bank expansion programmes resulting in the construction and commissioning of six more branches.
Bank Managing Director Friday Ndhlovu had attributed the bank success to the support of the government.
He said all the proceeds made by the bank remained in Zambia as the bank was purely owned by Zambians.
“The arm of this bank is to supplement government efforts in fostering development by creating employment to the local people and also help in infrastructure development,” he said.
it will be hard with a budget overrun… where will you get the money ?
It would be better to sort the BA64 issue before proceeding with development in the province.
Western province [Barotseland] wants to be given tools and implements to ‘catch fish’ by themselves rather than be spoon-fed by giving them dead fish! They want to take part in the preparation and the process of sharing the cake, rather than be fed on crumbs left on tables far away from them. Autonomy and self determination is therefore key – unless the administration at Lusaka were controlled by angels!
Who should give Western province tools and implements to “catch fish”? Tell me how does the Western province want to take part in the preparation and the process of sharing the cake? How much of the Zambian “cake” is baked in the Western province. Why should the Western province demand a higher share of the nation’s cake than North Western province?
Aruta continua with Barosteland freedom and independence, to hell with artificial sugar coated promises of development
If you want development in WP do the roads. Concentrating in Mongu alone is no solution. Do the Luampa-Simungoma road, Kalongola-Kalabo, Limulunga-Lukulu road, Namushakendi-Mulobezi (Lihule) road, Shangombo-Sioma. There is so much to be done. Rather disappointing that we choose to waste money on by-elections to conveniently position some selfish MPs. Good that some of them are no longer in Parliament because of their selfishness. God always answers prayers of the righteous poor.