THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has described the performance of President Rupiah Banda in the last three years as exemplary and asked Zambians to give him another chance to deliver more.
And Lusaka residents have welcomed President Banda’s call for unity and peace during campaigns when he dissolved Parliament on Thursday in a live address aired on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation where he also announced that the general elections would take place on September 20, 2011.
ZCTU deputy secretary general, Cosmas Mukuka said President Banda had stabilised the exchange rate while civil servants were now accessing loans from commercial banks which they were using to improve their living standards.
Mr Mukuka, who is Basic Educational Teachers Union of Zambia president, said before Mr Banda assumed office in 2008, the exchange rate was volatile and changed everyday but was now stable.
He said Zambia was now competing well with other international convertible currencies in terms of exchange rate while agricultural development had added to the economic growth.
Former Foundation for Democratic Process president Stanley Mhango urged voters to take stock of the performance of all presidential, Parliament and local government candidates to make informed decisions.
He said Zambians should give credit where it was due but should not hesitate to reject leaders who had not performed well.
Mr Mhango said President delivered a rare speech where he even wished his own competitors good performance in the elections.
“For a leader who is also aspiring to wish his competitors good luck sets a good precedence for the leaders who would come after him. That speech was inspiring,” Mr Mhango said.
A Lusaka resident, Harold Chandabala encouraged everyone to be focused on this year’s elections and supported President Banda’s statement that Zambians should not be divided because of choices of political parties.
Another resident, Mundia Lufafa advised the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that it conducted free and fair elections in line with the aspirations of President Banda.
Mr Lufafa said the explanation given by ECZ that ballot papers could only be printed in South Africa due to inadequate printing facilities and resources made a lot of sense.
The Hotel and Catering Association of Zambia president Felix Mulenga said the home empowerment policy and increased funding had significantly contributed to the growth of the tourism sector.
Mr Mulenga said the home empowerment policy had contributed to the room spaces because some sitting tenants had turned their houses into lodges to accommodate tourists.
He said apart from the home empowerment policy, the Government’s increased funding to the Zambia Tourism Board had also contributed to the development of the sector.
He said he was impressed that the Government had increased funding to the board from K3 billion to K12 billion per year.
Chief Madzimawe said the Government had made stringent efforts to develop the tourism sector by rehabiliting and constructing roads leading to national game reserves, heritage sites and other tourist attractions.
He urged the Government to sensitise traditional leaders on the importance of game reserves and the tourism sector in general.
The Chabuka-Aba-Ushi Cultural Traditional and Development Association commended the MMD Government for the democratic and economic achievements scored in the last three years.
Copperbelt region chairperson Stephen Chitwa said in Kitwe that Government had scored success in agriculture, education, health and social sectors of the economy.
He said schools, health centres and hospitals had been built and upgraded across the country and were being used by all Zambians regardless of their political affiliation.
Mr Chitwa said the rural electrification programme was also commendable as most areas were now electrified.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
