Matters of national development cut across partisan lines - Sata

Matters of national development cut across partisan lines - Sata
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 19 June 2012, 13:25 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says a meaningful and progressive opposition is an essential ingredient to national peace, stability and sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The head of state has invited Forum for Democracy and Development leader Edith Nawakwi to accompany him at the Rio+20 Conference in Brazil. Nawakwi joins another opposition leader, Elias Chipimo on the President's delegation to the South American country.

According to a statement issued yesterday in London by the President's special assistant for press and public relations, George Chellah, President Sata said he believed in a meaningful opposition for the country's development and aspirations.
President Sata observed that matters of national development cut across partisan lines, hence his invitation to Nawakwi and Chipimo.

"As a government, we are cognisant of the fact that a meaningful and progressive opposition is an essential ingredient to national peace, stability, and sustainable development and poverty reduction. This PF Government looks forward to different ways of engagement and dialogue with our colleagues in the opposition," President Sata stated.

"We should never lose focus and we must always appreciate that Zambia's greatest assets are its people and rich natural resource endowment. Therefore, it's important for politicians to rise above partisan lines and aim for constructive engagements if sustainable development and poverty reduction is to be achieved."

President Sata stated that whilst in Rio, the Zambian delegation would be setting out its hopes and expectations.

President Sata is among the key speakers at the high-level conference, which will be attended by a number of world leaders and heads of governments.

"I must emphasise that issues such as tackling poverty through socially inclusive employment, renewable energy for all and ensuring food security will remain our top priority," stated President Sata.

Nawakwi, an energy economist, could however not be reached for comment, as her mobile phone was off by press time.

On Sunday, National Restoration Party chairperson Joseph Mushalika said Chipimo's acceptance of the President's invitation to accompany him to Brazil did not mean that the opposition party was planning an alliance with the ruling Patriotic Front.

He said the invitation would not compromise Narep's position on national issues.