Development projects crucial to economic, social growth – KK

Development projects crucial to economic, social growth – KK
Written by Moses Kuwema
Sunday, June 07, 2009 3:43:19 PM

FIRST Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said development projects are crucial to the economic and social advancement of the Zambian people. During the official opening of the Monkey Orange crafts exhibition show organised by Imiti Ikula Empanga Environment and Development Organisation (IIEEDO) at the Lusaka Museum on Thursday, Dr Kaunda however said such projects should not be at the expense of the conservation of the environment.

“We are aware that forests do serve a useful purpose for our weather patterns, weather patterns that are conducive to development, it is no wonder therefore that the Bemba ancestry coined the saying, Imiti Ikula Empanga, a wise adage about the importance of the preservation of our forests,” Dr Kaunda said.

He said environmental conservation included other resources such as land, lakes and rivers, adding that they needed protection.

Dr Kaunda further said there was need for different stakeholders to join hands in conserving the environment.

And Finnish ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila said there was need for increased effort by the Zambian government to invest in the environment and conservation of the natural resources in order for the country to pursue more sustainable development.

Antila said diversification of the economy by taking the opportunities that the natural resources offered to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was an important factor.

She said in agriculture, crop diversification for food security was crucial if the levels of poverty were to reduce.

Antila said agriculture practices that reduced environmental degradation were important for increased land productivity.

“The exhibition this evening is a demonstration of the potential of non-wood products to contribute to income generation and to conservation of forests, in addition those non-wood products can be a tourism resource,” Antila said.

Antila urged IIEEDO to move beyond the training and also monitor the change in the livelihoods of the trained beneficiaries.

“Bring out the statistics, as this would be important evidence to show your government and other stakeholders the contribution of non-wood forest products to social-economic status of the rural poor,” said Antila.

Meanwhile, IIEEDO executive director Chilufya Kapwepwe said her organisation was established as a catalytic facilitator and guiding light.

Kapwepwe said the organisation had branches in Mpika, Chinsali, Isoka and Nakonde districts of Northern Province where they served as a community based response to environmental degradation and social-economic insecurity.

Kapwepwe said poverty and social hardships were some of the factors that pushed environmentally conscious and concerned people into scratching for a living through ways and means that were harmful to the environment.