Maravi

Govt is determined to wean itself from donor dependence – Rupiah

Govt is determined to wean itself from donor dependence – Rupiah
By Staff Reporters in Kitwe
Thu 14 Oct. 2010, 10:20 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said the Zambian government is determined to wean itself from donor dependence. And President Banda advised Zambians to stop listening to ‘prophets of doom’ saying the MMD government has failed because his administration does not comprise magicians to bring development at once in all regions.

Speaking when he drove through some roads currently being rehabilitated by JICA in Kitwe’s industrial area yesterday, President Banda said the budget support from donors had reduced from 15 to seven per cent.

“We are determined to go ahead and wean ourselves from donor support. They donors can help us in so many ways to keep our friendship,” President Banda said.

Kitwe acting town clerk Brighton Mbaimbai said 43 per cent of the roads under the JICA project had been completed. He said the project involved 11.6 kilometers of 14 roads and that for Mutentemuko road alone which President Banda inspected, 95 per cent of works had been done with storm lining almost complete.

“Water drains are the lifeline of the road and the road cannot last long if they are not properly done,” Mbaimbai said.

Mbaimbai said works on township roads were supposed to commence in the second phase of the project.

Some people in the town centre flashed the PF fist, saying “ifwe ni pa maka” meaning we are for the boat as President Banda’s motorcade drove through President Avenue on his way to inspect the roads.

And speaking after a tour of Kamfinsa High School in Kitwe, President Banda said the government would take development to all areas across the country.

“Kamfinsa voted for the PF but as MMD we shall work for all people and to bring development we don’t discriminate in the manner people voted and what is happening here is happening around the country since our aim is to bring development and to educate our children,” President Banda said.

“But like any other country we face challenges and my government and I are not magicians who can do everything at once but the most important thing is that we have commitment and Zambians should not listen to prophets of doom saying we have failed but we shall continue to develop the country in stages.”

He said no country could develop if people were not united and were hateful of one another.

"Don’t let anybody separate us because there won’t be any development. Look at me I am healthier and stronger and they will insult until they get tired but I am happy that the MP for Kamfinsa is present despite being a member of PF and this shows that Zambians want unity and peace," President Banda said.

Government is constructing six high schools on the Copperbelt at a total cost of K120 billion.

And President Banda said Copperbelt residents did not vote for the MMD in past elections because they were frustrated by the collapse of general infrastructure in the province.

Commissioning the European Union (EU) funded Nakadoli Market in Kitwe yesterday, President Banda said his wish was to lead a peaceful country that respects the tenets of democracy.

He said Zambia was a democracy and elections must be held in a peaceful manner.
He said international election observers should feel free to come to Zambia to monitor how the country was preparing for next year’s elections.

President Banda said the MMD was appropriately named the Movement for Multiparty Democracy and it would continue to respect the existence of other political parties because the country enjoyed multiparty democracy.

“We will continue to uphold the meaning of our name MMD as a ruling party. I want to pledge myself that next year’s elections will be free and fair. I invite our friends the election observers to come and see how we are preparing for elections. We believe that their countries have developed because of democracy,” President Banda said.

President Banda also noted that Copperbelt residents were not happy with the government because of the dilapidated infrastructure they endured after the mines collapsed.

He said his government would never give up but would continue delivering its promises to the people of the Copperbelt despite the fact that they did not vote for the ruling party in past elections.

President Banda said the government had embarked on an ambitious programme aimed at developing the much-needed infrastructure in the province and the country at large.

“Many of us here are able to remember and tell our children how beautiful the Copperbelt Province was. Many educated citizens of this country came from the Copperbelt. This province had nice roads but everything went down after the mines collapsed so I understand the bitterness of people on the Copperbelt and that’s why you didn’t vote for us in the past elections,” he said.

He said the government had made significant strides to improve the country’s economy by attracting the much-needed investment.

President Banda said he was happy that the private sector and the international community were able to see the developmental programmes that were being fulfilled in the country.

He said Zambians must learn to unite and work together for the betterment of the country.

President Banda further urged the Kitwe City Council, traders and other stakeholders to ensure that the three urban markets were well managed and taken care of.

EU head of delegation to Zambia Dr Derek Fee said the union was happy to partner with the government in various developmental programmes.

Dr Fee said the EU in partnership with the government had been implementing urban markets development programmes aimed at contributing to the achievement of sustained economic growth and poverty reduction.

He said the EU funded the Zambian government to a tune of K134.4 billion to construct eight markets in the country.

Dr Fee said three modern markets namely Nakadoli, Buchi-Kamitondo and Ndeke had been constructed in Kitwe at a cost of K24.8 billion.

He said the EU was proud to have a long-standing partnership with the Zambian government in bringing development to the people.

Dr Fee hoped the markets would help curb street vending and contribute effectively to the development of the informal sector in Zambia.

Local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo said the construction of the markets was cardinal as many people found their livelihood and survival by trading.

He said in order for the markets to be viable, government had provided that the local authorities seek support from other stakeholders in the management of markets and bus stations.

Dr Chituwo further gave the Kitwe City Council three months in which to conduct elections in the new market and present the full list of nominees for appointment to the management board of Nakadoli Market according to the provisions of the Markets and Bus stations Act.

Kitwe Mayor Elias Kamanga pledged total commitment to the full protection and proper utilisation of the markets.

Meanwhile, MMD cadres harassed and nearly beat up Kitwe deputy mayor John Mwape for raising the PF fist during the singing of the national anthem at the commissioning of new markets.

MMD Ndola District information secretary Alex Mubanga, popularly known as Shimpundu Pa Nkoloko, said he flushed Mwape from the mayor’s tent at Nakadoli Market because he raised the fist when singing the national anthem.

“He was so terrified and he asked for forgiveness, we were very disappointed with him. The moment you are elected councillor or member of parliament you become a father of the area and are supposed to be neutral,” said Mubanga.

“Symbols and political songs are for us cadres. These are the people who should be in forefront to ensure the President is respected. Now if the deputy mayor can show that level of disrespect then we are worried as a country.”

But Kamanga claimed President Banda provoked the raising of the fist when he flashed the MMD’s the hour symbol.

“They wanted to humiliate him when the President also raised the MMD symbol,” said Kamanga.

Efforts to get Mwape proved futile.

Labels: BRIGHTON MBAIMBAI, DONORS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:16 PM