Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda has called on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) management to utilise the pieces of land it has by partnering with business entities in setting up business ventures that will generate more revenue for the corporation.

She says the institution has massive land that can be used through Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

The Minister noted that this would address some of the operational challenges that the institution is facing.

“You have sufficient land which can help to generate revenue if you take advantage of it,” she said.

She said this today during the conducted tour of the 125 hectares piece of land for ZNBC in Shorthorn area in Chilanga District and 32 hectares piece of land for ZNBC in Bauleni area of Lusaka.

The Minister was accompanied by Lusaka Central Member of Parliament who is also Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe and Chilanga Member of Parliament Sipho Hlazo.
The two pieces of land for ZNBC are located in the constituencies of the two Members of Parliament.

Chilanga Member of Parliament Sipho Hlazo agreed with Hon. Kasanda that the ZNBC land in Shorthorn area is underutilized.

He urged ZNBC to come up with innovative ways of making the land more productive.

Lusaka Central Member of Parliament Mulambo Haimbe said the land at Twin Palm transmitters has a potential to be used for various projects for the benefit of the residents.
“This is an exciting sight because it will benefit Lusaka Central residents and ZNBC if they work together,” he said.

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Director General Malolela Lusambo said the corporation is eager to partner with investors to develop the said pieces of land.

President Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia is not a landlocked country, but a land-linked state, and that Zambians must see this as an opportunity for enhancing trade.

The President adds that Zambia should instead see itself as strategically located and turn itself into a hub of production, value addition, and food distribution.

The Head of State indicated that the country has a huge market from neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola.

President Hichilema said this in Lusaka today when he met United Bank of Africa Chairman, Tony Elumelu and his delegation at State House.

Mr. Hichilema said Zambia should actualize the vision of taking food into the DRC and Angola for trade.

And the Head of State stated that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) must not just be centered on Europe, Asia and America but that it must prioritise African investments.

Mr. Hichilema added that the definition of FDI’s should be translated into job creation and business opportunities for Africa and its people.

The President further said he would like to see the Zambian youths taking advantage of the Tony Elumelu Foundation to benefit from the empowerment programmes offered.

Mr. Hichilema stated that he would also want to see the involvement of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises with the foundation to promote entrepreneurship and skills development especially among the Zambian young entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the UBA Chairman, said his foundation would like to support small ambitious entrepreneurs who are energetic with enabling opportunity and mentoring them so they can realise their potential.

Mr. Elumelu, stressed that his foundation is ready to support the President’s economic aspirations for the country.

First Lady Mutinta Hichilema says she knows and understands the challenges that inmates in prisons go through.

The First Lady said Lusaka Central Correctional Facility holds fond memories as it is the place where the Husband President Hakainde Hichilema was incarcerated.

She said this yesterday when she visited and donated assorted items to Lusaka Central Female Correctional Centre.

Mrs Hichilema reminded the inmates that society still cares about them hence should not feel discouraged.

She encouraged them to be prayerful as God always answers prayers saying they should not relent as they will reunite with their families.

“Please do not stop praying. Pray every day just like I did. I used to pray every day for my husband to be released. God is going to answer your prayers and will not abandon you,” she said.

The First Lady assured the Correctional Service Management that she will soon visit the male inmates once funds are available.

And Zambia Correctional Service Leopards Ladies Club Chairlady Beenzu Chilukutu said most of the infrastructure for the detention of women and children are nonexistent and are improvised structure.

Mrs Chilukutu stated that most of the prisons were built in the colonial era and had no provision for the accommodation of female inmates and circumstantial children.

She further appealed to the First Lady that consider lobbying for donors to construct dedicated facilities for female and circumstantial children.

She assured the First Lady that the ZCS leopards ladies club will support her cause.

“It is indeed a great honour that you are with us today and that you have chosen to visit women who are incarcerated as one of the first women groups. As the Chairperson of the Correctional Service Leopards Ladies Club, I am so excited that you are here and hope that you will enjoy your time with us and I also hope that you will be able to see for yourself what the female inmates are lacking and the problems they are going through,” she said.

Mrs Chilukutu said she is humbled by the First Lady’s gesture of donating assorted materials to these less privileged people in society.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Central Female Correctional Centre Officer In-charge Kasapo Siame said the institution was designed with a holding capacity of 76 inmates however, it currently has a population of 105.

Mrs Siame said there are currently two pregnant women and seven circumstantial children.

She explained that there are five inmates who acquired certificates in food production and mechanics at Chreso University, one inmate sat for grade nine external examinations and results have not yet been collected and two are currently writing their grade seven (7) exams.

The Officer In Charge disclosed that the facility did not experience any covid-19 related death on both officers and inmates.

“Madam first lady, following the covid-19 pandemic 72 out of 105 inmates are vaccinated. 22 officers out of 58 are also vaccinated, giving a vaccination rate of 68.6%,” she said.

She highlighted the challenges that the facility faces such as lack of a utility vehicle, electric pots and refrigerators.

She further thanked the First Lady for the kind gesture of donating assorted items to the inmates.

Vice President W.K.Mutale Nalumango says Government will not dish out money to political party cadres but instead encourage skills development among youths.

Mrs Nalumango says the UPND government will not follow the path of stealing to appease a clique of people but encourage work for the good of all.

Speaking to UPND cadres after she inspected the drainages under construction in Kanyama constituency in Lusaka this afternoon, Mrs Nalumango said the youths should invest in skills development and take advantage of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which will be increased and decentralized in the 2022 budget.

“You should acquire skills so that you can take advantage of the projects that will come under CDF. As you are aware, the new dawn administration is focusing on job creation, with the necessary support, you can become employers,” She said.

And Mrs Nalumango cautioned the cadres to avoid demanding for public service workers to be fired to create jobs for them but that they should look for proper avenues to get jobs.

“You should not demand that they should be chased but develop yourselves. Though I must state, that some of them will go,” She noted.

The Vice President observed that a number of people who have been caught up in the web of corruption and stealing of public resources are accusing the government of staging a witch hunt based on tribe.

“They should not accuse the government of being tribal in the fight against abuse of public resources just because they have been caught wanting,” She stated.

Meanwhile, Water Development and Sanitation Minister, Mike Mposha has sounded a warning to custodians of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) against inflating figures during any procurement process.

Speaking during the handover of a rehabilitated one by three classroom block at Kalingalinga Primary school, Mr Mposha who is also Munali Member of Parliament says he will not condone such vices.

The Minister said he noted a trend where procurement figures were previously being inflated.

He said the cost of a number of projects does not tally with real figures.

“When we advertise a tender, we expect those who are tendering not to connive with our officials and begin to inflate the cost of the project but to tender at a right price and deliver at the right price,” he said.

And the Minister reiterated the New Dawn’s administration’s resolve to improve the learning conditions in schools.

Mr Mposha encouraged the school to guard the facility jealousy.

And Kalingalinga Primary School Head teacher Habuya Mwambela expressed excitement for the gesture.

Mrs Mwambela also called on government to consider building a hall for the institution.