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The Ministry of Higher Education through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board has recovered K8, 688,414.91 million from the loan recovery program that commenced in September 2018.
Ministry of Higher Education Public Relations Officer Chiselwa Kawanda said in September 2018, the Board recovered K2, 559, 545.69 and in October K3, 092,489.86 while in November a total of K 3, 036, 379.36 was recovered.
Ms. Kawanda said the loans were recovered from beneficiaries whose loans have matured since they left the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University where they pursued various studies.
She said the beneficiaries have been captured on the Government payroll under Public Service Management Division.
Ms. Kawanda said the Ministry will start the loan deductions for those in the private sector this December month-end 2018.
She said major employers of the beneficiaries like Mopani Copper mines, UNZA, CBU, Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) already been engaged.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kawanda said a total of 7,741 students are eligible for support during the 2018/ 2019 academic at CBU Riverside Campus in Kitwe.
She said a total of 5,581 have successfully registered with the University and Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board through the screening process that was conducted between 7th and 30th November 2018.
Ms. Kawanda said this means that 2,160 have not yet registered with the University and HELSB despite being awarded loans for the 2018/2019 academic year which commenced on 29th October 2018.
A 23 year-old man has drowned in a mining quarry in Mkushi district in Central Province.
The deceased has been identified as Brain Simwala of Silume area, a security guard of Sacko, a small scale Manganese Mining Company.
The uncle to the victim, Elias Simwala told Central Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Chanda Kabwe that the incident happened around 18: 00 hours yesterday.
Mr Simwala explained that his nephew met his fate when he decided to go and take a bath at the quarry.
He said friends went to check for him after he delayed to come back, but only found his clothes and soap by the quarry, prompting them to inform the mining authorities and the police.
The body has not yet been retrieved from the quarry as search efforts by the fire brigade this morning yielded nothing.
And Central Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Chanda Kabwe, has visited the alleged scene of drowning.
Mr Kabwe has also paid his condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Mkushi, adding that government regrets the unforeseen circumstance that could have led to the young man’s demise.
He said government will work closely with the mining company, to ensure that the body of the deceased in retrieved as soon as possible.
This is the first in a series of articles highlighting the performance of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government based on the 7NDP and its core components.
7NDP is underpinned by five strategic pillars namely:
Economic Diversification and Job Creation
Poverty and Vulnerability Reduction
Enhancing Human Development
Environment For A Diversified And Inclusive Economy
Reducing Developmental Inequalities
This particular article discusses the PF fortification of the first pillar. Subsequent articles shall highlight the performance of the PF Government under the ensuing strategic areas in chronological order.
However, because column space is likely to be constrained by the overwhelming exploits of the PF Government in its execution of 7NDP, we may at times be compelled to stagger the achievements gained under a strategic pillar over multiple articles.
As we begin, it is important to go through a brief review of where the PF is coming from in order to appreciate our passion for the development of our nation.
The PF came into office in 2011 under the capable leadership of its founding father and 5th Republican President, the late Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP).
In the aftermath of the unfortunate and untimely passing President Michael Chilufya Sata; the “baton of responsibility” to lead the PF as well as the reins to continue steering the nation towards actualizing Vision 2030 were given to His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, by the Zambians.
During both epochs – under the late President Mr. Michael Sata (MHSRIP) and currently under His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu – the national development agenda of the Patriotic Front (PF) has always been guided by three (03) strategic documents, namely:
1. The Patriotic Front Manifesto(s);
The National Development Plans (NDPs)
The Vision 2030.
For the PF, the aforementioned three documents are not mutually exclusive, that is; the effective implementation of one does not preclude the effective implementation of the other(s). For this reason, the PF continues to measure its “promises and intentions” (the Manifesto), against the “building block or stairway” (the 7NDP) to attaining the Vision 2030 goals.
THE PF MANIFESTO
The Patriotic Front (PF) Party Manifesto is centered on the people, the ordinary Zambians; and it stresses ways in which the PF intends to uplift the wellbeing of all Zambians.
For the PF, improving the lives of Zambians means, among other things, a Zambia that is: free from hunger and poverty; has a low disease burden and low mortality rate; a nation that is peaceful, tolerant, resilient and cohesive; without slums (shantytowns); a thriving democracy, and a culturally diverse, friendly people who are well-integrated into the African and international community.
This is the Zambia we all want. This is the Vision 2030 where Zambia becomes a “prosperous middle-income country by 2030” and it is the Zambia the PF intends to bequeath to Zambians by the year 2030. The effective implementation of the PF Manifesto is a indeed a robust stairway to Zambia becoming a “prosperous middle-income country by 2030”.
VISION 2030
The Vision 2030 is a long-term plan that expresses the aspirations of the Zambian people to live in a strong and dynamic, middle income industrial nation that provides opportunities for improving the wellbeing of all. It embodies values of socio-economic justice underpinned by the principles of: Gender-responsive, sustainable development; Democracy; Respect for human rights; Good traditional and family values; Positive attitude towards work; Peaceful co-existence; and Public-private partnerships (PPPs). A Zambia with stable social and cultural systems that support human capital formation. (The 7th National Development Plan, page 48).
THE SEVENTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (7NDP)
The Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) for the period 2017-2021 is asequel to the Revised Sixth National Development Plan, 2013-2016 (R-SNDP) following the latter’s expiry in December 2016.
7NDP, like the three national development plans (NDPs) that preceded it, is aimed at attaining the long-term objectives of Vision 2030.
It builds on the achievements and lessons learnt during the implementation of the previous NDPs. As a result, 7NDP departs from sectoral-based planning to an integrated (multi-sectoral) development approach under the theme “Accelerating development efforts towards the Vision 2030 without leaving anyone behind”.
The7NDP is thus a building block formulated to meet the goals contained in the Vision 2030.
HOW ARE WE DOING SO FAR? (THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PF GOVERNMENT IN 7 YEARS2011 – 2018)
As the Patriotic Front (PF) Government continues to work towards actualizing the Vision 2030 goals; it is imperative that its performance over seven (07) years [2011-2018] should be assessed against the “stairway or building block” to the Vision 2030 goal. It cannot be overemphasized that the stairway or chief corner stone to Vision 2030 is the 7NDP.
As highlighted in the introduction, the 7NDP for the period 2017- 2021and its attendant development outcomes are underpinned by five (05) strategic pillars: Economic Diversification and Job Creation; Poverty And Vulnerability Reduction; Enhancing Human Development; Environment for A Diversified And Inclusive Economy; Reducing Developmental Inequalities.
ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND JOB CREATION
The first development outcome based on this strategic pillar is:
A Diversified and Export-Oriented Agriculture Sector leveraged on Improving Production and Productivity from Farm to Agro-Processing and Manufacturing
The PF Government is delivering “a diversified and export-oriented agriculture sector” as espoused in the 7NDP.
As a result, the Production and Productivity of multiple crops has significantly improved through intensified agricultural mechanization as well as increased land area under cultivation. The number of farmers participating in production has also increased significantly. (Central Statistics Office, Zambia in Figures 2018, page 16).
Further to that, various programmes aimed at significantly improving production and productivity from farm to agro-processing and manufacturing at sector and enterprise level are being implemented. These include the following:
The Farm Power and Mechanisation Enhancement Programme
Under this programme, the PF Government is currently establishing a US$ 100 million tractor assembly plant in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Zone with the aim of helping farmers to access cheaper equipment in order to improve mechanization for all farmers countrywide.
The Irrigation Development Programme
The PF Government is currently implementing the irrigation development programme through the Irrigation Development and Support Project (IDSP).
The objective is to inter-alia increase yields per hectare as well as the value of diverse products marketed by smallholders benefitting from investments in irrigation in selected sites served by the project.
There are four components to this project including: (a) irrigated agricultural support services; (b) public infrastructure; (c) private and cooperate investment, and (d) management and coordination [cited from: www.agriculture.gov.zm].
The PF Government is also delivering several large-scale irrigation development and support services countrywide. Prime examples include the following:
The Mwomboshi Dam ProjectinChisamba; A US Dollar 28.3 million Project funded by the World Bank. The Project will have the capacity to hold up to 65 million cubic litres of water, making it Zambia’s largest irrigation dam.
The Kafulafuta Dam Project on the Copperbelt; A US Dollar 450 million project. The dam project is being funded through a loan secured from Exim Bank of China; one of the outcomes will be the provision of clean and safe water in Masaiti, Mpongwe, and Ndola and Luanshya districts.
CONCLUSION
In the next article, we shall continue highlighting the achievements of the PF Government through the lenses of the 7NDP. We will in this regard discuss some of the numerous success stories such as the Aquaculture Development Programme and others including Research and Development Promotion Programme (crops, livestock and fisheries). We will also discuss how the PF Government is aggressively Enhancing Agriculture Value Chains under the first pillar of 7NDP “Economic Diversification and Job Creation”
The Author is Patriotic Front Secretary General At the Patriotic Front Secretariat Lusaka
For millions of ordinary travellers, inter-African travel is still too often a nightmare. Be it border hassles, lack of road or air routes linking key cities, or the frustrations of being refused entry to a country because of visas, the end result is to curtail the free movement of people, viewed by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) as one of the pillars of regional integration.
That freedom of movement is inextricably tied to the Bank’s vision to create the next global market in Africa. As the Africa Economic Conference opens in the Rwandan capital Kigali, the theme this year: Regional and Continental Integration for Africa’s development,” also aligns with another major Bank priority – placing infrastructure development at the centre of Africa’s regional integration efforts.
Host nation Rwanda has taken bold leadership steps to champion regional integration, announcing at the beginning of this year an entry visa on arrival for travelers from all African countries.
The third edition of the Bank’s Visa Openess Index, to be launched on day two of the meeting, will be an important opportunity to measure which countries are making improvements that support free movement of people across Africa.
“The Index has helped raise awareness and drive visa policy reforms across the continent to ease movement of people, unlocking opportunities for intra-African tourism, trade and investment. In so doing, the Bank is directly contributing to the objectives of the AU initiative for a Single African passport,” Gabriel Negatu, Bank Director General, East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office said in his remarks during the opening plenary.
Speaking on behalf of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Hon. Claudine Uwera, Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning said the conference addressed a theme “close to our hearts.” “This conference is important to charting the way for inclusive integration…that would benefit all,” Uwera said.
“Governance will determine the development path for our countries,” Uwera added, noting the equally important role of political will and commitment from African leaders.
The annual Africa Economic Conference is the continent’s leading forum fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange in the search for solutions to the development challenges of Africa. It brings together leading academics, high ranking government representatives and development practitioners from across the globe.
AEC 2018 will highlight “transformative initiatives for accelerating progress in infrastructure integration that are inclusive and promote equity, including the removal of barriers for movement of people, goods, and services across borders.”
Other convening partners to the Conference, the United Nations Development Programme UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), commended Rwanda’s role as a front-runner for integration efforts in Africa and spoke on the urgent need to build on the momentum for an inclusive and equitable integration.
“The government of Rwanda is walking the talk and continues to set the pace,” Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa, said.
Also speaking at the plenary, Giovanie Biha, Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said while there were still major steps ahead, “we are moving in the right direction.”
Highlighting the Bank’s emphasis on research and knowledge management as important drivers of policy dialogue, good policy planning and implementation, participation this year’s AEC is being organized under the leadership of the Bank’s Research Department and Regional Integration Complex.
Sessions over the three-day meeting will examine the social, cultural and political frameworks for successful integration, building on the landmark signing this year of the Africa Free Trade Agreement the world’s potentially biggest free trade agreement, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments across Africa.
Participants will also look at the role of the private sector and civil society institutions.
Given the urgency of regional integration – “no longer a choice,” according to its organizers, this year’s meeting is a must attend for those interested in Africa’s Development agenda.
“Important pages of our continent’s development history are being written,” Uwera said. “Let’s take this opportunity to move the continent ahead.”
The 2018 Africa Economic Conference is taking place at the Marriot Hotel in Kigali, from 3-5 December.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
SOURCE
African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
The annual Africa Economic Conference is the continent’s leading forum fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange in the search for solutions to the development challenges of Africa
Media Authorities in China have called on Zambia to provide more information on the various investment opportunities in the country.
This is because millions of potential Chinese investors are yearning for additional information on Zambia as a preferred investment destination in Africa.
ZNBC Staffer Kennedy Bwalya reports from China that the information came to light during an interaction forum between a delegation of Zambian journalists and management staff at Chongqing Daily News Group in the Chinese city of Chongqing.
And addressing the Zambian media team, Chongqing Daily News Group Director for the News department, Cui Jian called for increased media collaboration between Zambia and China.
Ms. Cui said Media personnel in the two countries should work closely to strengthen economic, social and political ties.
She also said there is need to cooperate in consolidating efforts aimed at integrating traditional media with new media platforms in the digital era.
Ms. Cui said capacity building and integration of media resources is key to the survival of the traditional media.
Chongqing Daily News Group runs 15 newspapers and 14 websites.
The Zambian Media team is in China for the first ever Zambia Media Think Tank Seminar.
Works on the project to connect some parts of Lusaka to a permanent water supply network have reached 40 percent.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) recently announced that it had embarked on a K153 million project to connect residents in some parts of Lusaka to the permanent supply line.
However, Company Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Patson Phiri has attributed the slow pace of the works to the rocky landscape of most project sites.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that due to this challenge, the water utility company will not meet the set deadline of January 2019 to complete the works.
“For now the works are only at 40 percent, the works have been low because these areas are rocky thereby, posing a challenge so we will not meet the January deadline,” he said.
Government through LWSC came up with a project of connecting people to permanent water supply line as a measure to increase access to clean and safe water especially in areas that are considered to be cholera epic centers during the last cholera outbreak.
Areas that are earmarked for the project include Kanyama and Bauleni which will be connected to the permanent network while, in Chawama the company will put up water kiosks in order to increase access to clean and water safe.
IDC Group CEO Mr Mateyo Kaluba inspecting the Solar Energy Plant
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is in talks with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to develop and set up solar power plants in various parts of the country.
And Construction works for the 60 million united states dollar Bangweulu 54-megawatt solar plant have advanced, with works reaching 80 percent.
IDC Group Chief Executive Officer Mateyo Kaluba says the corporation will continue rolling out solar projects until it reaches the intended target of 6-hundred megawatts of solar energy.
Mr. Kaluba told ZNBC News in an interview shortly after touring the Bangweulu Solar Plant in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone, that the solar project will diversify the country’s energy sector.
He stated that IDC plans to put up two solar power projects in Central Province, One on the Copperbelt and the other in Eastern Province.
Mr. Kaluba is however hopeful that the 2-hundred megawatts solar energy will reach financial closure by mid-2019.
He said so far 8-hundred and 50 people are working on site at the Bangweulu Solar Power plant of which 6- hundred are Zambians.
And Neoen Country Director Mathieu Legouix said the construction of the site started last year.
Mr. Legouix said the 60-Million-dollar project is being financed through a combination of equity and debt.
He said the Bangweulu Solar Power plant will soon be providing ZESCO with cheap solar electricity at Six cents per kilo watt hour for 25 years.
IDC Group CEO Mr Mateyo Kaluba inspecting the Solar Energy PlantConstruction works of the $60 million, 54 megawatts solar plant at the Lusaka Multi Facility Economic Zone
File:Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri and NATSAVE Chief Executive Officer Mukwandi Chibesakunda admiring the merchandise during the Lionesses of Africa breakfast
Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri has commended the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) for promoting gender equality by employing more women teachers in the recent recruitment.
Mrs. Phiri says her Ministry is happy that more women have been considered for the teaching jobs noting that the move will correct the imbalance which exists between men and women when it comes to job recruitment.
She says it is important for government departments, ministries and private companies to engage more women when giving jobs.
Mrs. Phiri says President Edgar Lungu has led the way in putting more women in decision making positions hence, the need for everyone to emulate the move.
She was speaking to journalists in Lusaka shortly after she launched the National Advocacy and Communication Strategy on Ending Child Marriage in Zambia.
The Teaching Service Commission has recruited 1-thousand 2-hundred and 65 female teachers against 7-hundred and 44 male teachers.
STATE HOUSE has complained that the high level of misinformation is not only causing unnecessary anxiety but is having a negative effect on the market. In a live interview to curtail a false statement suggesting cabinet reshuffle, Presidential Spokesperson Amos Chanda clarified that he had not issued any statement announcing cabinet reshuffles.
Mr Chanda further wondered why ZICTA seemed to be doing nothing to bring to an end the high levels of misinformation especially with regard to the presidency.
“I share the sentiments that many have about the capacity of ZICTA to deal with these things. Many people have told me that capacity exists within ZICTA and questions are being asked why ZICTA is not acting,” Mr. Chanda complained.
“Unfortunately I have to speak like this on the national broadcaster but these questions are coming to my office and experts who are not working for ZICTA are saying that capacity exists within ZICTA to deal with this mischief.”
“Why are they not dealing with It? Your guess is as good as mine.”
Mr. Chanda said there was need for a reaction to these misinformation and urged all responsible agencies to deal with the misinformation.
“All WhatsApp groups, WhatsApp message is linked to a phone number, ZICTA has got the registration of every phone number if someone sends a false statement on WhatsApp group a WhatsApp messenge can only come from a sim card,” Mr Chanda observed.
“So why can’t ZICTA move and stop that mischief?”
He further complained that the misinformation was making governance very difficult.
He added that despite his offices frantic effort to curb misinformation such as recently observed with the Presidents vacation trip to Luangwa, some political leaders had no decency and want to peddle lies.
“I was on Hot FM I announced the President was on vacation but there is a politician insisting he was not on vacation. There has to be a level of common decency, first of all among political leaders they must exercise a level of decency,” he said.
Aggrey Chiyangi says Green Eagles will not underrate their eSwatini hosts Young Buffaloes on Wednesday despite enjoying a respectable first round, first leg lead in the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup.
Eagles began their continental debut on a memorable note following a 2-0 home win over Young Buffaloes in Choma on November 27.
A draw will be enough for the fairy tale to continue for the side who only ten years ago were playing second tier football before becoming the first team from Southern Province to qualify for continental football.
“I think our approach will be very positive, we don’t want to be negative, we just have to be very positive,” Chiyangi said.
“I think for now, we don’t want to talk about the 2-0 win, this is a new game and we are going to play as if we don’t have that 2-0 lead because in football 2-0 is nothing.
“We have seen teams come from four-nil to win, so we are not going to count the 2-0 for now.
“This is going to be a fresh game and we want to win. So we just have to play very positively and also looking at making sure that we get an early goal if we can.”
But the pressure is on the hosts Young Buffaloes who are now the only eSwatini side still standing in continental football following Mbabane Swallows’ CAF Champions League elimination on Tuesday after a 4-0 home loss to Simba SC of Tanzania to bow out 8-1 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Eagles will be without midfielder Amity Shemande who was sent off in the first leg.
Striker Tapson Kaseba is conspicuously missing for a second successive tie with news linking him to move to South Africa n club Free State Stars.
A good hunt by Eagles for Young Buffaloes on Wednesday will see them book a second round, first leg away date on December 15 to face Hussein Dyey of Algeria.
Nine-man Dyey escaped with a 1-1 away to Diables Noirs of Congo Brazzaville on Tuesday to advance 3-1 on aggregate.
Coach Beston Chambeshi has declared Nkana ready for Wednesday’s return match of the CAF Champions League preliminary round against UD Songo of Mozambique set for Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Nkana have a 2-1 advantage from the first leg match played in Beira, Mozambique on November 28.
“We are ready for the match. So far so good in our preparations and the team is injury free,” Chambeshi said.
“We have a 2-1 advantage but this is football you can’t say they (Songo) are out,” Chambeshi emphasised.
Nkana skipper Walter Bwalya is upbeat ahead of the return match against Songo in Wusakile.
“We played the first half in Mozambique and now are ready for the return match. The morale in camp is high,” Bwalya said.
Meanwhile, Kalampa will play minus suspended defensive midfielder Duncan Otieno who was shown a red card after receiving two yellow cards in the first leg.
Overall winners between Nkana and Songo will face Simba of Tanzania who beat Mbabane Swallows 4-0 on Tuesday away in eSwatini to advance to the pre-group stage 8-1 on aggregate.
Zesco United advanced to the pre-group stage of the 2018/2019 CAF Champions League after thumping AS Sonidep of Niger 3-0 on Wednesday in Ndola to go through 5-1 on aggregate.
Zesco had edged Sonidep 2-1 in the first leg match of the preliminary round played in Niamey last week prior to thrashing the visitors at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Two-goal hero Jesse Were and his partner Lazarous Kambole were the scorers on the day.
Zesco showed the intent to win just in the second minute with striker Were tapping in from close range after being put through by Enock Sabumukama.
Kambole doubled Zesco’s advantage with a fine goal from inside the box in the 25th minute.
With Sonidep making few attempts at goal, coach George Lwandamina’s side wrapped up the scoring spree with a 55th minute goal by Were.
Meanwhile, Zesco will face DR Congo side TP Mazembe in the next round.
STATE House has said that there was absolutely nothing irregular for President Edgar Lungu to designate power to Defence Minister Davies Chama when the Head of State took leave.
In a special interview on ZNBC, Special Assistant to President Lungu Amos Chanda observed that State House was infuriated with the high levels of misinformation, rumor mongering and ignorance. Mr. Chanda wondered what legal statute those saying Mr Chama could not act as President were using.
“When the President is on leave he designates someone to act. By operation of the law, if the President is out of the country, on leave or for any other reason he is unable to perform those functions, he will issue an instrument of designation to allow the person appointed to discharge those functions and in this case, the President signed an instrument designating Hon. Davies Chama, Defence minister to act as President,” Mr Chanda said.
“The President was in the country, he was on leave, the Vice President was out of the country so another person had to be designated.”
And when asked whether he can appoint someone to act while he is in the country Mr Chanda said;
“What statute are they referring to? It is this kind of rumour mongering, peddling in ignorance that makes people to think that way,” he lashed out.
“I mean you and I grew up believing that if Dr Kaunda was not in office, the Chief Justice became President but there was never a thing like that. The President can be on leave and the Vice President will act and if the Vice President is not there, any other person will act. There is nothing absolutely irregular.”
Mr Chanda, bemoaned the level of false information that is being peddled, especially on online media blogs that claimed that the president had made the a cabinet reshuffle.
“It is the culture of rumour mongering, peddling false information that also brings me to the point that the President has not fired any minister or reshuffled any, he resumed work yesterday and tomorrow he is chairing the Defence Council and meeting several delegates from DRC,” he said.
Mr Chanda also dismissed any suggestion that the president was ill or not physically fit.
“Regularly, he does his exercise on Wednesday and Friday. You are welcome to do that, he will be with Barclays Bank Zambia Limited tomorrow and they are coming with 150 people to join him. The President is well, he will take leave as it is designated,” Mr Chanda said as he revealed that it was State House which plans the President’s calendar as to when he can take leave.
Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo receives a gift after touring China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Company Head Offices in Chengdu City of China.
Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo says the twinning of Chongwe District in Lusaka Province with Mianyang City of Sichuan province in China is likely to foster development which will benefit citizens of both countries.
Mr Lusambo, said that the link created between Mianyang City and Chongwe will strengthen the cordial and a long relationship which has existed between Zambia and China.
He stressed that the collaboration between the two districts will also boost the relationship between the two countries to a higher level.
Speaking when Mianyang City party secretary called on him at his office yesterday, Mr. Lusambo said Chongwe has the potential to grow in areas such as Agriculture, Mining, and aquaculture which can be explored during the twining of the two cities.
He added that President Edgar Lungu wants to see development in the country and he hopes that the benefits from this link will be extended to other districts in the province.
Mr Lusambo has since called on investors to take advantage of the potential investment opportunities in the country.
Meanwhile, Party Secretary for Mianyang City, Liu Chao said the twinning of the two cities will promote communication and cooperation between the two countries.
Mr. Liu said his team was in the country on a reciprocal visit following the vice-president’s visit to Sichuan province where the twinning of the two cities was tabled.
He also hoped that the twinning will be taken to higher levels where Zambia and China can engage in investment exchange.
Kitwe Mayor and The Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) President Christopher Kang’ombe
Local Government Association of Zambia President Christopher Kang’ombe has commended Government for its commitment towards fostering a sustainable environment.
This follows the issuance of Statutory Instrument No 65 of 2018 on Extended Producer Responsibility, Regulations.
LGAZ President who is also Kitwe Mayor said that the SI was another milestone towards ensuring sound environment.
The SI which is designed to regulate non-returnable glass and plastic bottles, beverage cans, electronic equipment and their resultant waste among others, came into force on 3rd August 2018.
Mr. Kang’ombe said the development will go a long way in minimizing generation of the type of waste.
He has however, cautioned that while progressive pieces of legislation are being put in place for the good of the people, they will not yield positive results if enforcement of the same is weak.
In the same regard, he appealed to all councils in the country as institutions closest to the people to study the provisions of the SI for them to make meaningful contributions towards enforcement of the law which he said should be coupled with comprehensive civic education to enhance compliance.
He further said that the development called for concerted effort and change of mindset to ensure the SI and other related pieces of legislation yield intended results.
This is according to a statement released to ZANIS by LGAX Information Officer Mpatanji Namumba.
