Mr. Sampa who said this at a press briefing held at his residence in Lusaka’s kabulonga Township today, noted that he will clear Lusaka of garbage dumps that had sprang up in undesignated areas of the city.

He said that he will improve the revenue base of the council by sealing all revenue leakages.

Mr. Sampa affirmed that this move, will make the council more financially viable to handle various challenge faced by the council.

The Mayoral Candidate also stated that he will update the data base on bill boards in the city to see to it that all stakeholders pay their bill board levies.

He observed that there are a number of bill boards in that city that can generate more revenue if paid for.

Mr. Sampa said that in the first hundred days of being elected mayor, he will amongst other things commence the issuing of title deeds for former council houses.

He also pledged to ensure that markets and bus stations are organized into a more orderly manner.

Mr. Sampa further pledged to commence feasibility studies on the creation of a train system in Lusaka

“I will also commence the planting of trees in Lusaka to make it green clean and health as per government policy,” Mr. Sampa said.

Mr. Sampa has further pledged numerous infrastructure development in the city that include works on roads, drainage systems, upgrading of compounds and provision of all basic services.

He also stated that he will empower the Council Police to help bring sanity in various compounds in the city

Zambia has outlined her progress to undertake the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which largely form the framework for a structured approach to social and economic development of nations across the globe.

Zambia has so far integrated about 86 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals in the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP) since the choreographing of the global agenda in 2015 in prioritising its socio-economic development.

Minister of National Development and Planning, Honourable Alexander Chiteme has told the United Nations that Zambia has formulated its 7th National Development Programme (7NDP) and aligned it to the SDGs in the quest to meet national developmental targets.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global agenda, adopted by countries in 2015, with a vision of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. 

Addressing United Nations Member States at the ongoing High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, Mr Chiteme said Zambia regonises that access to clean and safe water and sanitation by all is critical to the eradication of poverty, vulnerabilities and the reduction of developmental inequalities.

“In our endeavour to tackle SDG 6, Zambia has increased the proportion of households accessing improved sources of drinking water to 67.7 percent from 63 percent. To address the high burden of sanitation and hygiene related morbidity and mortality especially among rural communities, Government is implementing the Zambia Sanitation and Hygiene Programme whose core activities include the increase in the use of improved sanitation facilities to 75 percent from 46 percent. This will contribute in the reduction of diarrheal diseases among children,” Mr Chiteme said.

Mr Chitme stated that Zambia’s target in the energy sector is to increase its capacity in renewable energy generation by about 6 percent by the year 2021 with a progressive increase of up to 15 percent by 2030.

He said in pursuing SDG number 7, Zambia’s strategy is to diversify its energy mix in a bid to reduce on Green-House gas emissions as well as moving away from the dependency on hydro-power generated energy which he said is currently at 90 percent.

He explained that the peril of over-dependence on hydro-power energy has been that Zambia has been exposed to climate change variabilities, which have affected the good performance of the country’s economy.

Mr Chiteme told Member States that Zambia’s initiative in the diversification of its energy sector includes the scaling up of the solar power generation programme under which Government has embarked on the process of developing up to 600MW of solar energy.

“Government has accessed a total of US$52.5 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with an additional US$50 million contribution from the African Development Bank which is aimed at catalysing private sector investment in renewable energy,” Mr Chiteme Said.

He further said that Zambia has given priority to the decentralisation reforms which would ensure the localisation of governance and planning system as adopted in SDG 11.
He explained that due to rapid urbanisation in Zambia, the country has seen the proliferation of slums, which he said has come with undesirable characteristics which call for upgrading of slums.

“On SDG 15, the Zambian Government is implementing measures to support rural communities to better manage resources of their landscape so as to reduce deforestation and unsustainable agriculture activities. We have, therefore embarked on a programme to plant a million trees, which was launched by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia. The aim is to restore ecosystems, promote bio-diversity and contribute to economic growth,” Mr Chiteme said.

President Edgar Lungu has congratulated the new Secretary General for COMESA, Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe on her appointment.

In a congratulatory messages, President Lungu said that that it was Ms Kapwepwe’s competence and experience among other key considerations that earned her the appointment, a position which he noted had been contested by equally other competent candidates.President Lungu made the assurance of his Government’s commitment to render unwavering support to Ms Kapwepwe as she takes on her new role .

The President said that Zambia was confident that Ms Kapwepwe would inspire and lead the great organisation to sustained success and ensure that COMESA remained a strong force in Africa’s integration process.

“Your prime responsibility now is to advance the region’s integration agenda and to maintain the visibility of COMESA at regional, continental and global level.

“You are taking up leadership responsibilities within COMESA at a time when the regional body has made tremendous strides towards market integration and harmonisation of programmes among member states. These programmes have resulted in the growth of COMESA’S inter-regional trade over the past decades of the organisation’s existence,” he said.

President Lungu was quick to mention however that COMESA’S success had not been without challenges.

The President stated that the lowered tariff barriers through creation of the COMESA free trade area had presented challenges within the region.

“These challenges include, the application of non-tarrif barriers, boarder inefficiencies and deficient boarder and corridor infrastructure among other bottlenecks which require constant dialogue among member states,” he said.

And President Lungu stated that as COMESA’S regional integration agenda had expanded, there was need to ensure that the institution had adequate human and financial resources.

“Therefore, your constructive engagement with member states and cooperating partners on institutional requirements will be critical to the successful execution of your mandate,” he said.

“As you put COMESA on a renewed trajectory of enhanced regional integration, my government wishes You, your management team and the entire organisation success. Congratulations once again,” President Lungu said in conclusion.

The 20th Summit of the COMESA Heads of State and Government has officially opened in Lusaka, with a call to member states to deceit from trading in raw commodities.

Speaking during the official opening of the two days summit, being held under the theme “Towards Digital Economic Integration” President Edgar Lungu said COMESA member states should endeavour to invest in value addition and export finished goods.

He noted that COMESA cannot afford to continue trading in raw materials among member states and outside the African continent.

President Lungu said the dependence by member states to be supplied with finished products by foreign markets from raw materials obtained from COMESA region should be discarded.

The Head of State urged COMESA member states to work closely with the private sector in soliciting for finances to invest in value addition by individual economies.

President Lungu pointed out that the investing in value addition will turn the COMESA region into a hub of manufacturing products.

Meanwhile, President Lungu who said technology is a vital catalyst for enhancing accelerated growth and development also stated that member states have a huge challenge of ensuring that they fully embrace the use of digital technology.

He emphasised that economies in COMESA region should not be left behind in adopting the use of technological applications as this will enhance trade and cooperation among member states.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu further urged member states to strive in creating vibrant economies whose benefits will be shared equally across the region and within member states.

In delivering a key note address, Madagascan President Hery Rajaonarimampianina who is also the Chairman of the COMESA Authority thanked President Lungu for accepting to host the 20th Summit of the COMESA Heads of State and Government.

President Rajaonarimampianina appealed to COMESA member states to support initiatives aimed at resolving conflicts in war torn countries in the continent.

He noted that without peace and stability, it will be difficult for regional economic bodies in the continent to achieve their set ideals.

President Rajaonarimampianina said Africa will only be attractive for investment when guns are silenced in war torn countries.

The Head of State urged the newly admitted countries Tunisia and Somalia to COMESA to contribute to further grow the regional organisation.

He said the use of ICTs in COMESA creates an opportunity for member states to deepen economic trade cooperation and relations.

And Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente pledged his country’s continued support in upholding the ideals of COMESA.

Mr. Ngirente said Rwanda is committed in remaining a key player to the growth and prosperity of COMESA.

He noted that Rwanda is implementing the use of digital technology in order to enhance the flow of trade within the region.

And outgoing COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya, implored member states to continue rendering united support to COMESA.

Mr. Ngwenya observed that without due support, it will be difficult for the institution to leave to the ideals of COMESA.

The Outgoing Secretary General called for increased trade cooperation within the continent and among the member states.

He noted that with more trade, artificial boundaries set by the colonial masters will be destroyed, allowing smooth trade cooperation and integration.

The Patriotic Front (PF) in Kabwe has called for the ban of political party regalia during election campaigns.

PF Information and Publicity Secretary, for Kabwe Sam Lupupa, said political party regalia such as Chitenge, T-Shirts, Caps, Tracksuits and other clothing materials be banned from being used as campaign tools during elections because they are a major contributing factor to political violence that is being experienced in the country.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Kabwe today, that political parties participating in an election should, however, use banners, posters, placards, brochures and other information-based materials which should be disposed of after an election.

Mr. Lupupa expressed disappointment at the increasing number of campaign materials in form of clothing that have recently rocked the country saying they are the root cause of most of the political mishaps in the country.

He added that there is currently too much expensive clothing materials being used for election campaigns and that these are somehow disadvantaging emerging and minor political parties that do not have enough resources to acquire them.

And Mr. Lupupa has further charged that the adoption process of candidates is another major contributor of violence amongst the political parties.

He advised political parties to conduct the adoption process of their candidates at Constituency level saying it is the Constituencies at the grass root levels that understand the eligibility of certain candidates.

He stated that the Central Committees of various political Parties should desist from making decisions and imposing candidates on Constituencies that are not the wishes of people at the grassroots.

Mr. Lupupa said once the grassroots are given an opportunity to select their preferred candidates, most of the violence that manifests from within the political parties will vanish.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lupupa has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to intensify its sensitisation process in order to ensure an informed public.

He said the continued voter apathy that is being experienced during elections is as a result of too much ignorance amongst the electorates.

He observed that a lot of people are unaware on the benefits of participating in an election as voters because of the many myths and misconceptions that are currently at play.

Mr. Lupupa, therefore, called on ECZ to continue carrying out massive sensitisations across the country in order to educate and adequately inform the general populace.