And chiefs in Lufwanyama have paid tribute to President Banda for his personal commitment to the development of the district.
Mr Kunda assured the people of Lufwanyama who braved the heat to welcome him that government is implementing several development projects throughout the country.
He was speaking when he addressed a rally at Shimukunami Basic School.
Mr Kunda said since 1964, the district has never had a boarding school and that government has embarked on the construction of the high school at the cost of K27 billion because of the importance of the education sector.
“I am told that I am the first republican Vice President to visit this area and this has been confirmed by Chief Shibuchinga. We are implementing several development projects which are under construction in Lufwanyama.
Some of them include the construction of a police station, civic centre, district hospital, District Education Board offices and houses for civil servants including other viable projects which are meant to develop the district,” he said.
Mr Kunda said government has through the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) continued implementing projects which were left by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
He said government is in a hurry to take development to all parts of the country and called on Zambians to work with government in its quest to develop the country.
Mr Kunda appealed to both the youths and women to form co-operatives and access funds from the government so that they can embark on income-generating projects.
He appealed to youths to desist from being used by politicians to fuel violence in communities.
“We have K5 billion for women, form clubs and you are going to access the money through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
We have another K5 billion from the Ministry of Gender, we are going to provide hammer mills, just form clubs and present your papers to your member of Parliament and you will access the funds.
We have another K5 billion for youths, we don’t want you to be used by politicians to fuel violence in communities.
Funds are there for empowerment programmes for youths and women in Zambia. All you need to do is come together and form clubs for you to access the funds,” Mr Kunda said.
He said government is empowering farmers through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and that this has resulted in the country experiencing bumper harvests.
Mr Kunda urged the people to be wary of some opposition leaders who are promising them ‘heaven on earth’ when they failed Zambians when they were in government.
“I am a product of Levy Mwanawasa, the people you are seeing in government, the President himself, myself, the cabinet and all the ministers, we are the legacy of the late President Mwanawasa.
We are implementing development projects which he left behind under the Fifth National Development Plan and we are committed to ensuring that we take development to all parts of the country.
I am coming from Chipata in Eastern Province and Chipata today is a city because of agricultural activities going on in the area,” Mr Kunda said.
He assured the people of Lufwanyama that government will ensure that the Kalengwa Road, which connects some parts of the North-Western Province to the Copperbelt, is tarred.
“This road is an economic road and we are going to continue budgeting for it because it is an important road. Last time I was in North-Western Province, some people told us to work on this road and we agree with them because it is an economic road. In fact, we have started working on it,” Mr Kunda said.
Mr Kunda said the MMD government respects chiefs because they play an important role in the development of the country.
He also told the people to work with their member of Parliament, Lwipa Puma, to develop the constituency.
“ Dr Puma is hardworking, he is always lobbying for funds for the development of this area. Don’t be confused by opposition leaders, work with him if the area is to develop,” Mr Kunda said.
And speaking when he paid a courtesy call on chief Shibuchinga of the Lamba people, Mr Kunda assured the traditional leader of government’s commitment to developing the area.
Mr Kunda, who also inspected the district hospital, assured the people that government will continue giving due respect to traditional leaders in Zambia.
“We don’t want to lose our culture by insulting chiefs. We don’t have a policy of insulting our traditional leaders in government.
The rural electrification is working here, two palaces have been lit and we are also installing masts to improve communication in rural areas,” Mr Kunda said.
And Chief Shibuchinga, who spoke on behalf of all the six traditional leaders in Lufwanyama, commended government for initiating several development projects in the area.
He assured Mr Kunda that the chiefs will continue supporting government in accelerating development in the district.
The traditional leader said he was particularly happy that government has embarked on the construction of the boarding high school and a district hospital.
Chief Shibuchinga told Mr Kunda to ensure that government tars the Kalengwa Road.
And Dr Puma said government released about K40 billion for the implementation of various projects in Lufwanyama.
He, however, appealed to government to demarcate the constituency into three, saying it was too big to be managed by one member of Parliament.
MMD Copperbelt chairman Joseph Chilambwe said the ruling party in the province is united and that members have resolved to back the candidature of President Banda at the MMD convention.
No comments:
Post a Comment