Mr Hichilema said people in the Province were struggling when there are plenty of opportunities that exist in terms of agriculture which can thrive in the area.

Mr Hichilema said under his leadership his Party will ensure that it implements the 10 Point Plan and ensure that every child has the opportunity to go to school and create opportunities for adults to earn decent salaries through productive means.

“we have a vision for this country. Our vision is of a united, prosperous and equitable Zambia. Under my leadership delivery of the UPND 10 Point Plan will ensure that every child has the opportunity to go to school regardless of their gender or the wealth of their parents, and every adult will have the opportunity to earn a good salary through productive means.

“During our time in Western Province we have focused many of our discussions on the challenges and missed opportunities that exist in the agriculture sector today, which have seen farmers struggling when they should in fact be thriving. For example, the opportunity to grow rice in the plains throughout the year is clear. This is a vision we have. If we plan for this and invest then Zambia could produce as much rice as we produce maize. With a market ready in COMESA the industry can create jobs, help lower food prices and earn us valuable foreign exchange that will strengthen the kwacha after a turbulent period,” he said.

He also bemoaned the high prices of farming inputs and promised to reduce the prices of the commodity as soon as his elected.

He added that people should not be fooled by the ruling PF that they care about the Agriculture sector as they have reduced the budgetary allocation to the sector by 3.2%.

“We share in the frustration of our people in Western Province, and indeed across the country, that the price of fertiliser has doubled under PF from K150 to K300. This price must be brought down as a matter of urgent priority for the incoming government in August. Do not let PF fool you that they care about agriculture. Under their government the share of the national budget spent on the sector has fallen to a low of 3.2%,” he explained.

He also said his party is consulting the traditional leadership as partners of development.

“We have also continued our consultation with the traditional leadership. As a central partner in delivering development to our people, we remain grateful for their wise counsel to inform our planning,” he said.

Mr Hichilema’s tour included Mongu, Mangango, Kaoma, Sesheke, Shangombo, Senanga, Nalolo, Nalikwanda, Sikongo and Kalabo and Liuwa and was accompanied by ADD President Charles Milupi.

Team spirit, grit and determination shone through as more than 90 cyclists raced between Solwezi and Kalumbila towns in the First Quantum Minerals (FQM) annual Mine-2-Mine challenge.

The race was a professional international cycling event, with the main focus being developing the sport in Zambia. A large number of participants travelled from Lusaka for the event, including all the top Zambian road cyclists, in addition to a number of South Africans.

The top prize of US$1,000 in the 140 kilometre cycling race men’s category was scooped up by renowned South African cyclist Ben Fish while FQM’s Bright Chintu took the US$500 second prize and the third prize of US$250 in the same category went to Jason Meaton of South Africa.

The race featured three races in one along the same route, with varying distances of 20, 80 and 140 kilometres starting from Shoprite Mall in Solwezi and ending at Sentinel mine’s Golf Club in Kalumbila town.

The annual race attracted more than 90 cyclists from across Zambia and as far away as South Africa. The race consisted of categories for men, women, juniors and relay teams for each of the three distances.

The event also drew support from mine employees and communities along the route.

Speaking after the event FQM Director of Operations Matt Pascall said the event was important because it allowed team building between different companies, adding that the race enabled people from different operations to mingle and have a shared experience in sports.

”It has gone a long way to build team spirit and it’s good for team building. It’s an important and unique event because it has cyclists from different parts of the country and this is something that we have been missing in Zambia for a long time,” said Mr Pascall.

Meanwhile, Kansanshi mine Assistant General Manager Meiring Burger said the race aimed to motivate cyclists across the board, both recreational and semi-professional cyclists in Zambia. It also serves as an important event for team building and competition for companies based in Zambia.

Mr Burger added: “If you don’t have a competition to aim for, it becomes difficult to find the motivation to train. This cycling race is there for people to compete on a local, national and international level, so the motivation is definitely right up there. It is also important for professional cycling in Zambia because we want to see how close we can get to have a Zambian cyclist qualify for the 2020 Olympics and this race forms part of our effort to enable Zambian cyclists to get there,“ said Mr Burger.

The race was organized by First Quantum’s Kansanshi Mine in conjunction with the two main sponsors, JVChantete Mining Services and Quattro Co Ltd. and it forms part of the Cycling Association of Zambia (CAZ) 2016 racing calendar.

(Mwebantu.com)

ActionAid Zambia Country Director Nalucha Ziba said in an interview that a study of the manifestos of all the parties taking part in next month’s general election revealed that only the Green Party has a clear financing road map.

Ms Ziba noted that most of the political parties are promising to carry out grand infrastructure development programmes without spelling out where the financing will come from.

She said her organisation has taken time to study the manifestos and has noted that almost all of them have serious question marks on financing options.

“They are all telling us they will build roads and clinics and schools but they are not telling us where the money will come from. If you examine the UPND’s Ten-Point Plan, you will agree that it is silent on the key issues of sources of financing and the same goes for the PF,” Ms. Ziba said.

She said political parties should take a leaf from the Green Party that a clearly spelt out plan on how it would be financing its development plan.

“At least the Green Party has been clear about its source of money. In its presentations, it has said it will generate about US$20 billion through its marijuana commercialisation project and that amount of money should be adequate to fund a massive infrastructure drive,” she said.

She added, “What we want to hear as stakeholders is where the money will come from. Remember, the PF has already taken up our international debt portfolio to around US$7 billion so there isn’t any room for further borrowing and when you look at internal revenues, we are not collecting as much as we do and these are the issues we want our politicians to speak to.”

Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud. Zambia’s ambassador to South Africa , Emmanuel Mwamba, made a joke about it, parodying the The Post newspaper closer due to alleged tax evasion.

He posted the following on social media:

“As a Diplomat I wish to protest the jailing of Lionel Messi.

This is because the timing is wrong.

The league is just about to open and Barcelona has various cups to defend.

I think this is an action against the development of football and smacks of persecution.

The league provides good health to millions around the world and the the millions might fall seriously ill because of this injustice.

I am rallying my fellow Diplomats to copy n paste my protest against this injustice and sign as their copy and release simultaneously for maximum effect”