Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Ismail Kahraman has expressed desire to collaborate with the National Assembly of Zambia in advancing common interests of the two legislative institutions to enhance relations between Zambia and Turkey.

Mr Kahraman said the Grand National Assembly of Turkey stands ready to render technical assistance to the National Assembly of Zambia to build institutional capacity.

The Speaker made the pronouncement when he conferred with Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Turkey, Mr Bwalya Nondo at Parliament buildings in Ankara yesterday.

Mr Kahraman who also expressed concern about the low trade volumes between Zambia and Turkey, called for measures to ensure that the trend was reversed.

He underscored the need for a direct flight between the two countries as one of the catalysts to boost trade levels.

And Mr Nondo stressed the need for institution to institution cooperation between the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the National Assembly of Zambia to enhance good parliamentary practices and resolution of common challenges.

Mr Nondo stated that the National Assembly of Zambia is currently implementing reforms aimed at enabling the legislature to enhance accountability, transparency and good governance.

He said the Zambian Parliament was seeking cooperation with the Turkish Parliament to strengthen the capacity of Parliamentary Committees in scrutinizing bills and providing oversight to the executive and enhancement of the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in parliamentary operations.

Mr Nondo said other areas of cooperation sought included the upgrading of security systems and infrastructure in Parliament and enhancement of the capacity of parliamentary staff in order for them to effectively support the work of Members of Parliament (MPs).

Mr Nondo further thanked Turkey for its increasing role in rendering assistance to developing countries, including Zambia.

He also wished the people of Turkey well in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for June 24, 2018.

Issued by Jerry Munthali
First Secretary (Press)
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, ANKARA, TURKEY

President Edgar Lungu has castigated those that are in the tendency of saying that taking development to areas which did not give the Patriotic Front many votes was a waste of time because as far as he was concerned, he has had an inescapable duty to take development to each corner of the land as a head of state.

Speaking when he arrived to at Solwezi Airport in North Western Province yesterday afternoon, President Lungu stated that he acknowledged that he was Party President for the PF and therefore owed it to his members to make them happy but at the same time stated that he had a broader responsibility to the People of Zambia to ensure they all partook in the national cake, by extending his development agenda to the entire nation.

The President stated that his role was to ensure that he struck a realistic balance between being the President for the PF Party and President of the Republic of Zambia.

President Lungu was appalled by the level of cheap politics that some of the opposition Political players were engaging in, stating that it was laughable that the opposition were going to PF strongholds and telling the People that voted for him that he was neglecting them and taking development to areas were he got the least votes.

“UPND has a base in Southern Province and I’ve been taking development there, and they are laughing at me . UPND is very strong in North Western Province and I bring development here and they are laughing at me . They are going to Luapula, Muchinga, Easten and telling the People that if you had not voted for Lungu, he would have brought development here. In North Western Province, he is taking development. So, don’t vote for Lungu in Luapula, Muchinga, Easten and Northern Province. Now, what sense is that?”

“What will Zambia become if I start to take development only to the places where I was voted for? My role is to distribute development equitably and evenly across the board. And it’s upto you to vote for me or not in 2021. If you don’t want, fine, I will still win anyway. Yes, I won without your votes from here. And I can still win again. So when I come here, just accept me and let’s work together period. You are dealing with a Civilized Person . If you had voted for an idiot in Statehouse, I would have said I won’t even take development to North Western Province. Yes I want to repeat this. Because People are laughing at me in the Party saying ulunkonena lwa musangoifi lwa Shani kanshi? Finshi bakupela ku North Western Province ifyo ubwelela kofye lyonse.?” Said the President. [ What did North Western Province give you and why doyou keep going back? ]

And President Lungu stated that the real mark of leadership was in a person’s ability to learn from others. The President stated that one could not be a leader unless he was ready to be led and guided, adding that patience paid and that it was his patience that had seen him were he was today as President.

The President stated that there where many who had been vying for the position of President even before he became a Minister but that chances were they would never even be President because of their attitude.

And the Provincial Minister for North Western Province, Nathaniel Mubukwanu stated that North Western Province was delighted to yet again receive the Head of State on this visit. Hon Mubukwanu stated that President Lungu had visited North Western Province more than any other Province since his election as REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.

“That CLEARLY demonstrates the Passion that you have for this Province Your Excellency. The President doesn’t believe in Monitoring Projects through reports . He preferred to come and see for himself,” he added.

And Hon. Mubukwanu stated that the Presidents visits were paying dividends to the province and announced that the Chingola / Solwezi road only had 3.5 kilometres before completion.

“As a matter of fact, the contractor’s have assured us that come July, that road will be handed over to Government. And that your EXCELLENCY is due to the leadership you have provided, ” he said.

President Lungu is in North Western Province to inspect development projects as well as grace the Meet the President dinner before he returns back to Lusaka on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati has denied reports that Jacaranda Basic School in Lusaka has been sold to a private developer.

But Mr Mutati says there is nothing wrong with redeveloping any old building in the city including Jacaranda School.

Answering questions from Journalists in Lusaka today after the end of a Market Sounding Symposium on the redeployment of idle and wasting assets, Mr Mutati said that it is incorrect to state that Jacaranda School has been sold.

Mr Mutati said what is currently happening is that government on its part has identified about five properties that are idle and wasting and requiring redevelopment.

He said at this stage, Government is consulting stakeholders especially the private sector to see how they can partner government to come up with a viable strategy on how the five properties could be improved.

“We came here for Market Sounding to get the views of the private sector so that we can refine our concept, exchange ideas and create something that is doable and vialbe. Once we collect the issues and the coments then we are going to put this thing together,” Mr Mutati said.

The Works and Supply lasted that there has been no money that has exchanged any hands at this stage.

“There has been no Expression of Interest, no bidding, no contractor and no interested party, we are just Zambia’s interested in developing the country. No money has been exchanges until we follow the due process of the law,” he said.

Mr Mutati pledged that government will be transparent in handling the matter.

“All the bids will be placed in the paper after refinement of the concepts so that the private sector can complete on the basis of a viable technical and financial strategy.”

On Jacaranda land, Mr Mutati failed to categorically state what will happen to School after the land has been given out for redevelopment.

He however stated that government would like to see a super building and a hotel come up on the land where Herbert Young Lodge is currently sitting.

Me Mutati said there is nothing wrong with improving old structures.

“You cannot have goodness here and ugliness there. Tou have to think in the future, even in the family, you cannot have beautiful and ugly children, everybody must be watched.”

He said Jacaranda School deserves to be modernized.

“You cannot have a building of over 30 years still in prefabs. We have to be on a journey of continuous renewal, if something is tired please redevelop it, don’t stick to the old. Even you when you wake up, you have to wash up so that you can continue looking beautiful.”

He added, “there is no sale and no deal is on the table. We will be as open as possible and publishing every step in the press of what we are doing.

And speaking on behalf of Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said government will examine Joint ventures, public sector investments, and Private Private Partnerships for the development of idle and wasting assets.