Acting President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambians to contribute to the emancipation of the country from poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment.
Mr. Banda said Zambians should use the prevailing democratic dispensation as a spring board to fight these ills.
He said the emancipation process begins with citizens exercising their constitutional right by participating in the elections in order to usher in the fourth republican president on 30 October, 2008.
He said government has demonstrated its commitment to free, fair and transparent elections by inviting international and local observers to witness these elections.
To this end, the Acting President has directed the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The Acting President made the remarks in his National address on both Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Radio on the Eve of Zambia’s 44th Independence Anniversary.
This years independence would be cerebrated under the theme “facing the future with hope.
Mr. Banda said Zambia can look to the future with hope because the country has enjoyed peace, stability and unity since independence under the banner of one Zambia one Nation.
He said this was demonstrated recently during the illness and subsequent death of the Third Republican President, Dr levy Mwanawasa , during which Zambians from all walks of life were united in prayer and mourning.
He said the country can therefore look to the future with hope because even when prophets of doom were predicting chaos following the death of Dr. Mwanawasa, that Zambians were united in ensuring that the due process of the law and the constitution are observed as the country prepare for his successor.
He however said the country as it commemorates its independence should reflect and remember the significance of that day in 1964, when gallant freedom fighters, founding fathers and mothers, broke the yoke of colonialism.
‘Independence day is an occasion to reflect on what we have achieved as a country from the level it was 44 years ago to a higher political, social and economic level.
Furthermore, Independence Day rekindles in us Zambians a high sense of patriotism and national pride regardless of our diverse political, ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds,’ he added.
He said this year, Zambians commemorate against a very sad and painful background, the loss of our beloved president and visionary leader who passed away on 19th august, 2008.
‘ In remembering our departed president, we also pay tribute to our fallen heroes and heroines whose contribution to the political and economic emancipation of our country is recognized and commemorated on 24th October, our independence day,’ He said..
Mr. Banda has since called upon all Zambians to celebrate the independence day in peace, unity and harmony.
He said the country should remain must maintain the dignity and respect we have earned over the years from neighbours and the international community.
Mr Banda also said about US$3 billion has been invested in the mining sector since 2000.
He said the sector has in the recent past attracted massive investments due to high prices of metals on the world market and friendly investor policies the government has introduced.
He disclosed since the year 2000 when Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM ) was privatised, a total of us $3 billion was invested in the sector by the end of 2007 and 49,000 jobs were created.
Mr. Banda said the attractive economic and investment policies put in place since 1991 have made Zambia an investment destination of choice on the continent
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He said government in order to enable Zambians to share in the fortunes of the mining sector, while at the same time leaving the mines profitable and rewarding to shareholders April this year introduced a new mining tax regime which resulted in an additional US $400 million to be raised by the end of 2008.
He said the additional revenues from mining will facilitate the implementation of national programmes in areas of health, education and infrastructure development including in the mining areas.
Additionally the acting president said government will soon advertise for prospectors to start bidding for exploration for oil and gas in North-western, Luapula, Eastern and Western provinces.
And Mr. Banda says government has unveiled multi-facility economic zones as a flagship for job and wealth creation in line with the national vision 2030.
He said the Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZ) are intended to house multi-national corporations, which will expand manufacturing and trade to world class levels, thereby creating jobs for thousands of our skilled, yet unemployed citizens.
This years independence would be cerebrated under the theme “facing the future with hope.
On the social sector, he said government has continued to implement policies and programmes aimed at improving the well- being of our people through provision of universal primary education and primary health care as well as retention of both teaching and medical staff.
He said since independence, government has scored some major achievements in the health sector, that include the rehabilitation and construction of health facilities, replacement of diagnostic equipment in hospitals, construction of the cancer centre in Lusaka and implementation of a strategy to retain personnel.
He said government has also undertaken major interventions in the prevention and treatment of diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Banda added that government policy of free access to anti-retroviral drugs has led to an increase in the number of patients that are receiving ARVs.
On the education sector , he said the government is studying the possibility of extending free education up to grade 12 adding that it has continued to provide free education up to grade seven .
He further said government has succeeded in implementing programmes aimed at enhancing the quality of life for the poor and vulnerable persons in society.
The programmes include the public welfare assistance scheme, the food security pack, the social cash transfer scheme, as well as programmes for vulnerable children.
The direct cash transfers have contributed to poverty reduction in vulnerable households by raising their incomes, consumption levels and improving their access to education, health and other social services.
Meanwhile Mr. Banda says government has started to take measures to cushion the domestic economy from the impact of the global financial crisis as well as the rise in food and oil prices .
He said Zambian economy has in the past few years recorded positive trends in the key macro-economic indicators as seen in the Gross Domestic Product in real terms which has averaged more than five per cent per annum over the past six years.
He further said inflation declined and for the first time in three decades, a single-digit rate was registered in 2006 and 2007 with interest rates also declining from 43 percent in 2002 to 19 percent by June 2008 .
The Acting President said improvements have equally been registered in the external sector where gross international reserves increased to an unprecedented us $1.4 billion as at the end of June 2008.
He further said government has prioritized development of the tourism and agricultural sectors as these provide real opportunities for economic diversification.
In the agriculture sector , the government has, this year, increased the budgetary allocation in order to enable 200,000 farmers to benefit. in addition, the subsidy has been increased to 75 percent from 60 percent last year.
Further The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) this year extended the marketing season to the end of October and the price has been pegged at a more competitive level of k55,000.00 per 50 kilogramme bag of maize.
ENDS/MK/ZANIS.
