Japan showers praise on Zambian government

From ALEX NJOVU in Tokyo, Japan

 

JAPAN has praised the Zambian Government for its prudent use of Japanese financial contribution.
Second country assistant for planning division for international cooperation bureau in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hideki Uyama said political instability is one of the factors that were hindering development in most African countries.
He was speaking when he addressed journalists from four African countries who are on a tour of selected places in Japan at the Ministry of Foreign affairs’ invitation.
Mr Uyama said Japan is impressed with the way the Zambian government is implementing development projects funded by its government.
He said the Zambian government has demonstrated transparency and accountability in the manner it is using donor funds from Japan.
“We have never received negative reports about the Zambian government abusing or misapplying funds that we give them. We are impressed with the way the donor funds are used by the Zambian government. We can only encourage them to continue implementing projects that are aimed at improving the lives of their people,” Mr Uyama said
He urged the Zambian government to continue implementing policies that are aimed at eradicating poverty in communities.
Mr Uyama said the Japanese government through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has implemented several development projects in most African countries which are benefiting the local people.
He said the Japanese government monitors its projects in Africa through JICA
He said Japan is interested in the development process of Africa but that it will never interfere in the local politics of any particular country.
Mr Uyama bragged that unlike other donors, the Japanese government was giving aid to African countries without conditions.
“Japan is committed to helping Africa attain the Millennium Development Goals. We are enjoying cordial relations with most African countries and we are committed to developing Africa in general,” he said.
He said despite its current financial position created by the global crisis, the Japanese government will continue supporting African countries in different ways including attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“We have doubled our assistance for foreign investment from the Japanese private sector to Africa up to US$3.4 billion by the end of 2012. We have also doubled concession loans to Africa to US$ 1.8 billion by 2012. We also want to increase the number of countries that should have accesses to concession loans from Japan,” he said.
Mr Uyama also stressed that political instability hinders development in most African countries.