Vice President George Kunda has arrived in Serenje District where he is expected to hold a series of meetings with MMD party officials and traditional chiefs.
Mr. Kunda is also scheduled to visit Nansanga Farming Block today morning. He is accompanied by Agriculture Minister Dr. Brian Chituwo, Education Minister Professor Geofrey Lungwangwa, Health Deputy Minister Mwendoi Akakandelwa and Local Government Deputy Minister Dr. Lwipa Puma.
He was received by Central Province Minister Ackmson Banda, Central Province Permanent Secretary Danny Lumbama, Gender Deputy Minister Lucy Changwe, Lands Deputy Minister Nasir Amir and other high ranking government officials.
The Vice President urged MMD party officials in Central Province to embark on early recruitment of new members, with a view to strengthen the party. Mr. Kunda said this is the only way of ensuring that the MMD scoops the 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
He said the opposition political parties were busy organizing themselves in an effort to challenge President Rupiah Banda in the 2011 polls.
Mr. Kunda further appealed to all MMD party officials and Heads of government departments to encourage people to grow more food, in order to address the various challenges that the country is facing. He cited the rising prices of mealie meal and other essential commodities as some of the major challenges that Zambia is facing.
The Vice President however assured the nation that government, under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda is committed to put in place measures aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger in Zambia. Mr. Kunda cited the Fertilizer Support Programme and the introduction and implementation of the Private/Public Partnership in the agricultural sector as some of the major programmes that the government was implementing, with a view of enhancing food security in the country.
He further said government has withdrawn from hosting the 2011 All Africa Games, in a bid to facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of more schools, roads, hospitals and other development infrastructure in the nation.
He said he had decided to visit Central Province in order to thank the people in the region for voting for the MMD and Mr. Rupiah Banda as Republican President.
After his three day visit in Serenje, the Vice President will have a night stop-over in Kabwe before returning to Lusaka on 21 December, 2008.
ENDS/TK/PK/ZANIS