Minister of National Development Planning Honourable Alexander Chiteme has assured the people of North Western Province of the Government’s continued commitment to undertake development projects in the area including construction of roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.
The Minister assured the people of Mwinilunga District that the Government will ensure that the Solwezi- Mwinilunga road was worked on.
“Being planning minister I will make sure that we plan for this road,” he said.
Hon. Chiteme was officiating at the Chidika Chanvula (Christian rain festival) traditional ceremony of the Lunda People at Chief Mwanta Kanyama Makanda-Kanda in Mwinilunga District in North Western Province.
“The Patriotic Front Government will continue to take measures to implement development programmes and projects such as roads, health centres, schools and water and sanitation infrastructure development in the rural areas to facilitate improved living standards of the people. This is being done fairly and equitably without being selective on voting patterns,” Minister Chiteme said.
The Minister said Government would continue to encourage the development of agriculture and fisheries value chain. He encouraged the people in the area to rear goats as there was readily available market in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia.
He implored all ministries and other stakeholders to closely work with chiefs in initiating chiefdom socio-economic development.
“Let us support and encourage our royal highnesses to come up with functional chiefdom strategic development plans. These plans can feed into the district development plans in an effort to take advantage of comparative advantages that exist in our social economic environment,” he said.
The Minister said Government would continue to engage all chiefs and other stakeholders to end child marriages.
Hon. Chiteme commended Chief Kanyama for promoting peace and unity in his chiefdom, as well as presiding over the Chidika Chanvula (rain festival) traditional ceremony, which is anchored on Christian values.
“It is gratifying to note that this is one of the three ceremonies in the Province which is based on Christian values. Accept my sincere congratulations on behalf of His excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, and indeed the Patriotic Front Government for this colourful and memorable ceremony,” Hon. Chiteme said. “Traditional ceremonies are unifiers and provide a vital platform for Government and traditional leaders to interface and share ideas on how to accelerate poverty reduction and improve the lives of Zambians.”
The decades-old annual ceremony is characterized by prayers, intercession, singing and dance to Christian songs to give thanks and honour to God for the rains and good harvest. Chief Kanyama and his subjects bring forth farm produce, which is later donated to prisoners, patients, boarding schools, the vulnerable and needy people in society.
Chief Kanyama assured that he would continue to work closely with the Government and promote development of his chiefdom.
The Chief commended the Government for various development projects that have been completed and other being undertaken in health, education and other sectors in his area.
Looking at your budget for next year only fools will believe you. Just how will your government depleted with resources and deviod of any shred of shame be able to fulfill such empty promises. The only solution which is not a good solution that PF knows is more debt contraction.
Promising people what already belongs to them?
With the kind of budget you just announced please tell the nation just how feasible your lies are. Believe this government at your own peril because clearly they have lost direction which they didn’t even have in the first place anyways.
Minister of planning?
Who will not have an equal share?
WHERE IS SHARON HERE? NO WHERE CZ THSE ARE MATTERS SHE NEEDED TO BE DEBATING ON BUT KUWAYAWAYA FWE. IN EVERY ELECTION YOU TELL PEOPLE LIES WHEN YOU HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER IN ALL THESE YEARS