Maravi

Zambia can achieve MDGs

Zambia can achieve MDGs,
By Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Sun 17 Oct. 2010, 02:10 CAT

JAZZMAN Chikwakwa has said that it is possible for Zambia to contribute towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

During the commemoration of the 2010 Civil Society Day in Mansa on Friday, Chikwakwa, who is Luapula Province permanent secretary, said the government was committed to reducing poverty and had put in place a number of programmes aimed at reducing poverty.

He said the government had embarked on activities in the province such as promotion of tourism, mining and agriculture as a way of creating wealth for the people.

Chikwakwa said the economic empowerment fund was another way of empowering Zambians and at the moment about K500 million had so far been distributed in the province.

He urged the people of Luapula to take advantage of such programmes and develop the province and reduce the levels of poverty.

[Sorry, not good enough. You don't 'urge' people to use programs. You actually pull up your sleaves, get together with the people, and ask them what they need. Then, you make that happen. No more 'urging', no more 'calling for' - you're in power, and you have budgets and departments at your disposal. MrK]

He said the poverty levels in the province stood at 73 per cent while the extreme poor people was at 61 per cent.

Chikwakwa said according to 2009 progress report for MDGs, targets on hunger, universal primary education, maternal health and HIV/AIDS and gender equality were likely to be achieved by half by 2015.

And Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) chairperson Yvonne Besa said poverty had continued to ravage most of the people in the province despite all the efforts made by all the players including the government and the civil society organisations.

Labels: JAZZMAN CHIKWAKWA, MDGs, POVERTY, YVONNE BESA

posted by MrK @ 3:16 AM