Morocco and Zambia are poised to build on positive relations to promote further development, trade, and diplomacy.

Both countries’ representatives announced their desires for further cooperation on Friday during the inauguration of Zambia’s new representatives in Morocco.

Zambia’s Foreign Minister Joseph Malanji and Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation and Moroccan expatriates, attended the event welcoming the new officials to their post.

From today, Zambia will be represented in Morocco’s capital by Ambassador Eliphas Chinyonga as well as Consul Kelvin Malisase who will head Zambia’s consulate in Laayoune.

The new diplomatic missions intend to build on positive relations and improve interactions between Morocco and Zambia, as well as promote trade and development.

The two African nations have been working together intensively over the few past years to increase economic activity.

These efforts have resulted in a 25% increase in bilateral economic activity, which the two friendly nations are keen to extend even further.

The new diplomatic missions, which were originally opened in October, will improve dialogue between the country and enable further cooperation on key issues.

As a sign of positive relations, Zambia again emphasized its “active support” for Morocco’s diplomatic efforts surrounding the Western Sahara issue.

Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Malanji stated that relations with Morocco were “solid” and that Zambia supports the “legitimate positions of Morocco.”

Nasser Bourita added that “we often exchange on our bilateral relations and on regional issues, especially within the African continent and within the framework of the African Union.”

Today’s diplomatic formalities additionally served to dispel rumors surrounding Zambia’s consulate in Laayoune.

Algerian media had reported that Zambia had withdrawn its consulate in Laayoune, something Zambian officials simply described as “false.”

Some traditional leaders in Eastern Province have commended Zamtel for aggressively rolling out its network coverage across the Province.

Chief Sandwe of the Nsenga speaking people and Chief Nyampande of Petauke said the expansion of network coverage in their chiefdoms has brought development to the people.

The two traditional leaders were speaking separately when a delegation from Zamtel led by Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta and Msanzala Member of Parliament Peter Daka paid courtesy calls.

Through his Representative Joyce Mwanza, Chief Nyampande said Petauke being an agricultural district, farmers will now be able negotiate better prices using their mobile phones.

He implored Zambians to support Zamtel since it’s an indigenous mobile phone service provider.

And Chief Sandwe noted that the days of people in his chiefdom climbing on top of hills to make a phone call are now over.

He said the schools in the area are also able to use internet to deploy learning which is helping improve access and quality of education.

Mr Sandwe also thanked President Edgar Lungu for initiating several developmental projects in the area including the communication towers project.

And Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said the communication towers project that his firm has been implementing is nearing completion.

Mr Mupeta said so far, 790 new towers have been erected across the country with the remaining few to be installed before end of 2021.

The government has directed that all water utility companies in the country should take over operations of all piped water reticulation facilities under the local councils and those managed by the community.

Water Development,Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister Hon Raphael Nakacinda says this will ensure enhanced operations and improved service delivery through increased capacity to manage the water facilities.

The Minister was speaking when he toured the water supply and sanitation improvement projects in Samfya district of Luapula Province.

Hon Nakacinda further noted that it is not practical or feasible to allow communities and local authorities to deal with water and sanitation facilities due to limited capacity.

He said he is happy with the progress of the integrated small towns water supply project being constructed in the district which will benefit over 50,000 people.

And Hon Nakacinda has called for strict adherance to the 20% local sub-contracting policy on all projects being undertaken in line with President Edgar Lungu’s vision to empower Zambian contractors.

He therefore directed to be availed with a report on the status quo of the local contracts under the policy in the province to assess how it is being handled.

“I want the report within 10 days so that we can address this matter, we can’t allow our people to be denied an opportunity to participate in the economy,”Hon Nakacinda said.

And Luapula Province Minister Hon Nickson Chilangwa who accompanied the Minister said the projects being implemented are a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to deliver development, adding that the election date should not be used as a yardstick to measure the development that the PF government remains to do as huge investment projects have been facilitated and still ongoing.

“Wether before or after elections, we will continue to work and deliver development” Hon Chilangwa said.

The Minister of National Development Planning Hon. Alexander Chiteme, MP, says the Government is committed to exploring new frontiers to build a more resilient and sustainable Zambia.

Mr. Chiteme said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary in charge of Development Cooperation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Trevor Kaunda during the launch of the 2020 Human Development Report in Lusaka today.
The Minister said the Human Development Report provides useful insights for the formulation of public policy and other development agenda for countries, including Zambia.

“The 2020 Human Development report is of even more significance in that it is has brought to the fore a need to redefine human development. In 2020 we saw one novel virus threatening to reverse decades of development milestones achieved everywhere, including in Zambia,” Mr. Chiteme said. “The report highlights the need to move beyond seeking to solve discreet problems with singular solutions. Instead, we must connect the dots and equip ourselves to navigate complex, interconnected social and ecological systems. The need for this is illustrated by the covid-19 pandemic, which was both created and has been maintained by planetary and social imbalance.”

Highlighting some of the key message in the report, the Minister said while human activities could harm nature, they could also regenerate it.

“Our challenge is to create and sustain positive cycles while preventing and ending negative spirals by focusing on three mechanisms for collective change: social norms and values – we need to establish new norms that give greater weight to planetary balance and sustainability; incentives and regulation – these are to be used to promote or deter action, helping bridge the gap between behaviors and values.”

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zambia Resident Representative Lionel Laurens said the UN in Zambia and globally, would continue to champion a human rights-based approach to sustainable development which recognizes that transforming our economies and societies must have equity, justice and human rights at its centre.

“Given the deep interconnection of planetary and social imbalances noted in the report, I want to emphasize today the importance of ensuring justice, equality, and human rights as part of this process,” said Mr. Laurens.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Coumba Mar-Gadio said the Human Development Report provides timely theoretical and empirical reference materials for the development of country analysis and new cooperation framework that will form the basis of the UN’s support within the next programmatic cycle.

“This report’s findings and recommendations provide ‘food for thought’, data and background information to inform the design of policies towards sustainable development. The United Nations remains committed to work with the various partners, the government and beyond, on advancing sustainable development in the Republic of Zambia,” said Dr. Gadio.
Zambia’s Human Development Index value for 2019 is 0.584, which put the country in the medium human development category, positioning it at 146 out of 189 countries and territories.

The HDI is a summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.