I would have been rotten without Dr. Kaseba, Sata
By Roy Habaalu
Wed 25 Dec. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says he would have been rotten and dead without his wife Dr Christine Kaseba. During the season of jubilee, christmass, thanksgiving and encouragement at which he invited senior citizens for lunch at State House, President Sata paid glowing tribute to first lady Dr Kaseba.
"This girl you have seen here without her probably by now I would have been rotten. I would have died a long time ago. And this youngman (Grey Zulu) you have seen here was my boss, he was secretary general of the United National Independence Party (UNIP); without him there would be no Zambia. His brother (Dr Kenneth Kaunda is not here. Is the secretary general of the party here? Mr Wynter! Secretary general has not been feeling well… We are the only country with a female Chief Justice, that's why there's a lot of justice in the judiciary," President Sata said.
He said Dr Kaseba worked very hard to offer the senior citizens an opportunity to interact with the first family because doing so was not easy at State House
"I have asked the first lady because she can easily organise people to organise all the children in all the provinces so that they can come and also see State House. Biblically, 50 years is a year of restitution and as we gravitate towards the golden jubilee, we must show appreciation to God and celebrate with thanksgiving, reconciliation, good deeds and love and compassion for one another. We must all take deep reflection on our country's achievement so far and keep on praying for God's favour and guidance in the years to come. Let's always remember that it is His divine intervention that has made it possible for us to continue enjoying peace and stability since the birth of our country in 1964," he said.
President Sata said he was a less privileged person who had benefited from the education of the first lady.
"You see, me I am very less privileged, that young girl (Dr Kaseba) she's very young, educated, but she still looked after me the under privileged. There, where she is, she's a medical doctor but she goes and gets a salaula (second hand) like me. Me I have someone who sings for me every day and she sings all the music from all churches and I don't know where she learnt the music. She has even confused Gerald (President Sata's last born son)," he said.
In his Christmass message, President Sata appreciated the role the Church played in interceding for peace and unity in the nation.
President Sata said the Christian faith reminded people that God chose the poor and those whose lives were not secure in order to serve the world.
He urged Zambians to exhibit love, care compassion for the vulnerable and less privileged.
"Let's draw inspiration for the life of our Lord Jesus Christ by extending good will and love to the needy like me. As Christians, we must accept our unique vocation to care for the less privileged; it's both our treasure and service to the world. Let me take this opportunity to recognise and appreciate the role of our senior citizens have played in the life of our nation. The values that these brave and determined men and women, some of whom are here with us today, fought and sacrificed to make Zambia what it is today. Our message to you all our senior citizens is that your selflessness and commitment to the building of the great nation will always be engraved in our hearts.
This country requires another generation with similar virtues if prosperity is to be granted. Let me urge the Zambian people to celebrate responsibly in order to minimise fatalities and human suffering during this festive season. Of course, Christmas is a period of jubilation and family reunion but we must all find time to express gratitude to God, reflect and act in accordance with the purpose of Christmas," President Sata said.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, MICHAEL SATA
Read more...
Dr Kaseba's example
By Editor
Tue 19 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
DR Christine Kaseba's selfless work deserves recognition and praise.
This is not to say Dr Kaseba is the only medical doctor in this country working very hard and in a selfless way. We are sure there are other doctors who can equal her. But Dr Kaseba provides something unusual, something we don't see every day - an unusual leadership. And her selfless work reminds us of the work of Dr Ernesto Che Guevara and Dr Agostinho Neto.
Dr Kaseba has many responsibilities and could spend her time differently. Going to treat fellow citizens who desperately need a doctor is certainly not an act of charity on her part. This is true solidarity with one's disadvantaged and marginalised fellow citizens, fellow human beings. And true solidarity has never been an act of charity, it's a duty. Caring for the sick is a calling from God of a special dignity and importance, not just another job or another business.
Health care is really an imitation of Jesus who saw healing the sick as central to his ministry of establishing the Kingdom of God.
We may not be able to do what Dr Kaseba is doing because we don't have her training as a medical doctor, but we can share the charity of loving visits and tender hands and also promote the justice of good health policies and adequate medicines. There is no future development without healthy citizens. And one cannot claim to uphold the sanctity of life if there is no provision for minimal health care for all. Life is sacred, a gift from God to be valued from the moment of conception until death. As Christians, we are to reach out, in compassion and solidarity, to all sick members of the body of Christ.
It is your fellow human being, especially the one who lacks life and needs justice, in whom God wishes to be served and loved. They are the ones with whom Jesus identified.
We are also reminded that faith without deeds is worthless; as James stated: "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith, by itself, if it has no works, is dead" (James 2:14-17).
Clearly, our way of life is the result of what we believe. To Jesus' way of thinking, there is nothing more sacred than the right to life.
While we greatly value the generous dedication to service of many of those who work in the medical field, we cannot ignore that the quality of medical care is often seriously inadequate - patients being unattended to for long periods of time; lack of commitment on the part of some personnel; the failure to recognise each patient as one's brother or sister in need, and so on and so forth. We therefore invite all our health workers to follow Dr Kaseba's example and serve every patient without exception with responsibility and true dedication.
Without doubt the most serious problem we have is the acute shortage of health centres to cater for the population and a critical shortage of personnel. This is priority which a society cannot ignore if it wishes to be a caring and compassionate community. It must be recognised that if this problem has to be tackled, it will demand the allocation of more resources to the state through taxes.
The enjoyment of the right to adequate standard of living entails adequate and equal access to health services for all. This requires an acknowledgement of the problems that beset health services and the willingness to tackle them. Dr Kaseba's work and example is calling for attention to this and therefore needs the support of all citizens of goodwill.
Equality among citizens and the demands of justice call for policies which aim at providing adequate healthcare for all without distinction.
Absolute equality of access to health care for all citizens is difficult to achieve. However, this is an ideal which must be striven for. The guiding principle determining whether a patient will receive priority treatment ought not be that patient's apparent usefulness or the parent's position in society. Rather, every person, whether rich or poor, educated or not, blood relative or not, has equal right to receive healthcare. The practice of stealing and reselling medicines seriously threatens this right.
We wish to pay tribute to the achievement of the government in extending health services with the aim of providing the best possible care for all. And the notable contribution of the churches through their extensive networks of hospitals and health centres is deserving of special praise. At the same time, we are aware of the severe difficulties which the health services are experiencing at present.
Again, the enjoyment of the right to adequate standard of living would be enhanced if our economic lives are animated by the Christian value of loving your neighbour as yourself. This value is embodied in the principle of the common good and solidarity. At the heart of the Christian gospel is Christ's commandment: "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31). If everything we did was measured in terms of this instruction, we could be sure of acting justly in all matters. But it is sometimes difficult to apply such a broad statement to our everyday activities, especially when we are dealing with the complex and highly-structured area of economics. It is often hard to know what exactly the consequences of our economic choices will be. Let us consider, therefore, some of the concrete measures of 'love of neighbour' developed by our churches, which we can use to guide our economic actions and decisions.
Throughout history, people have been bound together in community with one another. As it is sometimes said, human beings are "social animals"; we depend upon each other for our wellbeing and development, and it is impossible for any of us to live full human lives as isolated individuals. From this, it is clear that we have duties and responsibilities towards each other, and that we should order our lives in such a way that we advance not only our interests, but the interests of the whole community. Indeed, the only way in which we can truly advance our own interests is by recognising and promoting the community's interests, or in other words, the common good. This does not mean that there is no room for personal advancement, or that we should put aside our own desires and ambitions and concern ourselves exclusively with the good of the rest of the community. It means rather, that we must find our own interests within the framework laid down by the common good. We must recognise that what is good for the community is good for us, and what is bad for the community is bad for us. And because we are bound together and dependent on each other, it is an illusion to think that a choice which harms the community can, in the long run, be anything but harmful to us as individuals.
Our awareness of the importance of the common good leads us to order our lives and adapt our behaviour accordingly. We adopt an attitude of solidarity towards others and towards the whole community; we become aware of the needs and concerns of others, and 'make them our own'. Solidarity is not simply a question of feeling sorry for others, a vague notion of wanting to contribute to their wellbeing, but a joining with others in a deep commitment to the common good. As such, it acts as a clear and powerful motivation, a guideline for the way we live our lives. This is why we attach great importance to the work Dr Kaseba is doing and the example she is setting for us all.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, HEALTHCARE
Read more...
Zambia still has high fertility - Kaseba
By Fridah Nkonde
Fri 08 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
FIRST lady Christine Kaseba says Zambia still has high fertility and unmet family planning needs against a backdrop of high poverty levels. During the launch of the national family planning eight-year scale-up plan in Lusaka on Wednesday, Dr Kaseba said the plan gave Zambians a unique opportunity to transform the lives of millions of women and men.
"Once funded and implemented, this plan will not only save lives but save the country millions of much-needed kwacha needed for Zambia's development. I am confident that this plan will be used to lobby for support from cooperating partners who pledged a total amount of US$2.6 billion to support developing countries successfully implement family planning programmes from 2012 to 2020," Dr Kaseba said.
She said increasing access to family planning creates proven benefits in women's health, child survival and HIV prevention.
Dr Kaseba said universal access to family planning was a human right, central to gender equality and women's empowerment, and a key factor in reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
"A well planned family size leads to social economic prosperity at family and subsequently at national level. Conversely, a family that is not well planned is at high risk of leading a miserable social economic life with a high risk of malnutrition and increased disease burden. The social and reproductive health indicators as they stand today paint a very gloomy picture but I am positive that with investment, individual and collective commitment, hard work and collaboration, we can start reversing these statistics," she said.
Dr Kaseba said rapid population growth impedes economic growth and made it difficult to achieve improvements in education, health and environmental quality.
She said 27 per cent of married women had an unmet need for family planning, adding that it was unacceptable that such a high number of women and girls had continued to die from pregnancy complications and lack of family planning services.
Dr Kaseba said 42 per cent of pregnancies in Zambia were unintended, adding that 16 per cent of them were unwanted.
She said family planning would reduce pressure on the fragile economy and that it could facilitate opportunities for economic development.
And UNFPA representative Dr Mary Otieno said Zambia would be a model in Africa if it successfully followed the eight-year plan.
Dr Otieno said women in Zambia were destined to have a good future because of the commitment that the government had shown towards women issues.
She said there was need for women to have children by choice and not by chance.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, EUGENICS, FAMILY PLANNING
Read more...
Zambia stands for peace - KK
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 31 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
DR Kenneth Kaunda says Zambia stands for peace in Africa and the whole world. And outgoing United Nations resident coordinator Kanni Wignaraja says Zambia is a country that lives with a quiet set of contradictions.
Meanwhile, first lady Dr Christine Kaseba says, she has come across very few people who are not intimidated by her husband and Wignaraja is one of them.
During the 68th UN Day reception held at Taj Pamodzi hotel on Tuesday evening, Dr Kaunda said just like the UN, Zambia stood for peace in Africa and the whole world
"We must live together in harmony across factors such as colour, age, ethnicity and tribe," Dr Kaunda said.
He said the UN was a partner in the development process and there was need for collaboration to be stepped up.
Dr Kaunda told Wignaraja that she still had a place in Zambia and that she was free to come back if she so wished.
And Wignaraja said she has always referred to Zambia as a country that lives with a quiet set of contradictions.
She said these contradictions were not brought about as a result of lack of data or understanding, or a lack of capacities or knowledge.
"They are well known, and almost accepted. And this is where we need to keep questioning if this is good enough for a country wanting to take great strides forward. My family and I count ourselves so lucky to have lived and served here these past three and half years. I guess we have become a part of these sometimes calm, and sometimes chaotic contradictions! But, I have often repeated these famous words, that there are always 'a few crazy people who think they can change the world and they are the very ones that do'! So, I hope that both inside this hall and also somewhere out there, are those few crazy people who will tackle the big contradictions and shake it all up," Wignaraja said.
She said Zambia had been given the rare opportunity of being spared terrible tragedy, being unhurt by harsh wars and conflict, so that it could build its future on all that was positive from its history and heritage, and thrive and grow on the wings of a young and proud democracy.
Wignaraja's mission to Zambia comes to an end, at the end of November and she will be heading to the UN headquarters in the US.
And Dr Kaseba, who spoke highly of Wignaraja, described her as a very bold person who was never afraid to state the facts as they were.
"In my time as a wife to the president and my time as a wife to Mr Sata, I have come across very few people who are not intimidated by him. Kanni is one of those. Every time when we talk of Kanni, the President says that 'ka trouble maker'. He calls her a 'trouble maker' in a nice way because he knows that Kanni is always around to prod our government officials to do much better than what they do," she said.
And Dr Kaseba said Wignaraja's leadership at the UN's offices in Zambia has been tremendous.
She said Wignaraja had become synonymous with the issue of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"Kanni has contributed to the change in the mindset of the way people perceive the MDGs issue. For a long time, people thought the MDG was an issue of the government, but under her leadership, I think everyone has come to identify with the MDGs, whether they are youths, old people, civil servants," she said.
Earlier, Dr Kaseba caused laughter when she disclosed that she was a gate-crasher at the event.
"I am sure everyone must be wondering why we are having so many people attending the 68 UN Day reception. Some of us are party-crashers. We are gate-crushers because State House is almost like a maximum prison. At least a maximum prison has inmates, but in my case I have only got one inmate, who presently is in the mood to cane people, so I had to run away," said Dr Kaseba amidst laughter from the audience.
Meanwhile, visiting Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway, who is the United Nations Development Programme's Goodwill Ambassador and was the special guest at the event, said his country and Zambia had enjoyed cordial relations since the latter's independence.
Prince Haakon said, from the beginning, Norway provided economic and political support to Zambia.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, KANNI WIGNARAJA, KENNETH KAUNDA, ZAMBIA
Read more...
Dr Kaseba's example
By Editor
Wed 11 Sep. 2013, 14:00 CAT
One cannot claim to uphold the principle of the sanctity of life if provision has not been made even for minimal health care for every person. This is a priority which a society cannot ignore if it wishes to be a caring and compassionate community.
It must be recognised that if this problem is to be tackled, it will demand the allocation of more resources from the state. Without doubt, the most serious problem we have today is the acute shortage of health centres to cater to the population. If we had adequate health facilities, it would not be necessary for Dr Christine Kaseba to disrupt her schedule and carry out complicated cervical cancer operations on humble patients in Mkushi.
The enjoyment of the right to adequate standard of living entails adequate and equal access to health services for all. This requires an acknowledgement of the problems that beset health services and the willingness to tackle them.
We know that absolute equality of access to health care for all citizens is very difficult to achieve. However, this is an ideal which must always be striven for.
While we greatly value the generous dedication of health professionals like Dr Kaseba to the service of our people, we cannot ignore that the quality of medical care in our country is seriously inadequate. We are grateful for Dr Kaseba's dedication, love and compassion.
And we invite all health workers to carry out their duties with the type of dedication and responsibility being shown by Dr Kaseba. Compassion is responsible. To experience genuine compassion is to develop a feeling of closeness to others, combined with a sense of responsibility for their welfare.
And true compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Compassion is commitment.
But it is not possible to work the way Dr Kaseba is working if one has no love for one's fellow human beings, fellow citizens. Love is the power behind such deeds. A good heart is both important and effective in daily life.
With a pure heart, you can carry on any work and your profession becomes a real instrument to help the human community. Most of the good or beneficial effects that come about in the world are based on an attitude of cherishing others. The opposite is also true.
By showing concern for other people's welfare, sharing other people's suffering and helping other people, ultimately one will benefit. If one thinks only of oneself and forgets about others, ultimately one will lose.
We should share the sufferings of our fellow human beings and practice compassion and tolerance, not only towards our loved ones but towards our enemies.
And those whose duty is to lead should lead by example. Before teaching others, before changing others, we ourselves must change. We must be honest and sincere, kindhearted. Our daily thoughts and actions should be directed towards the benefit of others. It is said that 'doing is the best way of saying'. And that faith without deeds is worthless (James 2:14-17).
Our way of life is the result of what we believe. We are reminded in Mathew 14:14: "He saw a large crowd and he took pity on them and healed their sick." It is your fellow human being, and especially the one who lacks life and needs justice in whom God wishes to be served and loved.
They are the ones with whom Jesus identified. And all who work along that line of God's scheme for life are considered Jesus' brothers and sisters "Mark 3:31-35). This is the best way to follow Jesus, especially in Zambia's present situation. And in this sense, all who struggle for life are included in God's scheme, even if they lack faith.
Caring for the sick is not just another job but a calling from God of a special dignity and importance. It is really an imitation of Jesus, who saw healing the sick as central to his ministry of establishing the kingdom of God.
We should never try to run away from responsibility. Dr Kaseba could have easily ducked that responsibility and promised to send some doctors from Lusaka to come and attend to those two Mkushi women. But she took it upon herself to do what was possible in the circumstances. Dr Kaseba's spirit, her utter devotion to others without any thought of self is being shown in her boundless sense of responsibility in her work and her boundless warm-heartedness towards fellow citizens. Every one of us has something to learn from her. We must all learn the spirit of absolute selflessness from her. With this spirit, everyone can be useful to the people. A person's ability may be great or small but if he or she has this spirit, he or she is already noble-minded and pure, a man or woman of moral integrity and above vulgar interests, a man or woman who is of value to the people.
If we cherish others, then both others and ourselves, both deeply and superficially, will be happy. When we cherish ourselves more than others, we produce various types of suffering, both for ourselves and for those around us. Peaceful living is about trusting those on whom we depend and caring for those who don't depend on us.
We should not forget that the wellbeing of our society depends upon the internal attitude of people who compose it. For any change, and movement of the human community, the initiative must come from individuals. When we are motivated by wisdom and compassion, the result of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience.
The more we become interdependent, the more it is in our interest to ensure the wellbeing of others. The development of the human society
requires that people help each other. There is need for solidarity, for a firm and persevering determination to commit ourselves to the common good; that is to say to the good of all, and of each individual, because we are all responsible for all. Solidarity helps us to see the other as our neighbour. It also means choosing to walk in the shoes of those who hurt the most. And we do it not because we derive some pleasure from the pain and discomfort, but because we wish to see a change, a radical transformation of the world as we know it; that is, a change from the point of view of those who are considered to be at the bottom of society.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA
Read more...
Kaseba doing a great job in health sector, says Chikusu
By Fridah Nkonde and Abigail Chaponda
Wed 11 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
HEALTH deputy minister Dr Patrick Chikusu says first lady Dr Christine Kaseba is doing a tremendous job in the health sector.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Chikusu said despite Dr Kaseba occupying the busy office of first lady, she still managed to find time to exercise her profession.
Dr Kaseba on Monday afternoon operated on two patients at Mkushi district hospital.
Dr Kaseba, who was in the company of Central Province permanent secretary Edwidge Mutale, Central Province PF chairperson Benson Chali, newly-elected Mkushi North member of parliament Ingrid Mphande, Mkushi district commissioner Christopher Muswalo Chibuye and other senior government officials, arrived just after 14:00 hours and put on a theatre gown before proceeding to operate on her first patient.
She said she was hopeful that the Zambian people would be able to access medical facilities without difficulties.
Dr Kaseba said she would continue lobbying the government with a view to ensuring that the health sector is given the much-needed attention.
"As a ministry, we are humbled by the first lady's good works. She has done so much on the cervical cancer awareness campaign, and indeed, she needs to be commended," Dr Chikusu said.
He said it was evident that Dr Kaseba's works in the health sector were remarkable.
He said Dr Kaseba was dedicated to her work.
Dr Chikusu said Dr Kaseba had shown a good example in the fight against cervical cancer in the country.
"She has been dedicated, and all we can say is that she needs to be commended by Zambians. As a ministry, we commend her good works. She should indeed be emulated by many Zambians," said Dr Chikusu.
And PF Ndola district women chairperson, Alice Kafula, said Dr Kaseba had exhibited servant leadership that should be emulated by all Zambian women.
"These are qualities that we want our leaders to have. They should be servant leaders because they serve us who put them in power. Dr Kaseba is a role model for all women not only in Zambia but the African continent and the world over. She is unique and Zambia is blessed to have her for a first lady," she said.
She said Zambian women, like Dr Kaseba, must take up an active role in fostering development in the nation.
"I am touched by the first lady, she is a role model. She is a mentor to all women. Operating on the two women is selflessness, it shows that she is ready to work for the country. Other first ladies just talk about the dangers of cancer, but with her, she even went as far as operating on cancer patients. That is what you call a mother because she feels the pain of other people," she said.
Kafula said doctors have been motivated by Dr Kaseba's works.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, PATRICK CHIKUSU
Read more...
Mwachisompola clinic underutilised - Kaseba
By Mukosha Funga in Chibombo
Tue 04 Dec. 2012, 09:20 CAT
FIRST lady Dr Christine Kaseba has expressed disappointment that Mwachisompola health centre in Chibombo district is being underutilised.
Meanwhile, Chibombo district medical officer Dr Pricilla Chisha says the centre needs to be elevated to hospital status.
Speaking when she toured the facility on Saturday, Dr Kaseba said she was disappointed with the operations of the centre.
After checking records in the labour ward, she discovered that an average of eight deliveries per month were carried out at the centre.
"It is a shame; that means you are only having one delivery per day. Where are the other women going? This place is supposed to cater for about 9,000 people in this catchment. Even the donors who put in funds to renovate this place would be very disappointed," she said.
Dr Kaseba said the fact that people went to Liteta Hospital instead meant there was more pressure there.
"We need to reduce pressure on the other facilities. Find a way of ensuring that people should also be coming here. Have specific diseases that can only be treated here so that this place should become busy. It is not right to have a facility that is not being utilised to its full capacity. It is better to close it at this rate," said Dr Kaseba.
But Dr Chisha appealed to the government to speed up the process of upgrading the centre into a hospital.
She also appealed for recruitment of more health workers as there were currently only five nurses at the facility.
Dr Chisha assured Dr Kaseba that her concerns would be taken into consideration.
"We are going to carry out a research and do a comprehensive report on why people prefer going elsewhere and we will find solutions of how to bring more people here," said Dr Chisha.
During the tour, only one woman was admitted in the ward with her baby and only one man was in the male ward in a centre that is supposed to service about 9000 people.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, HEALTHCARE
Read more...
President Sata praises wife Kaseba in Japan
By Bivan Saluseki in Tokyo
Fri 12 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata yesterday praised his wife, Dr Christine Kaseba, for making him what he is today.
President Sata, when introducing his delegation to Keidanren - Japan's Federation of the Private Sector, said First Lady Dr Kaseba was his 'right hand person' even though she was seated on his left, sending the audience into laughter.
"You see, because without her, I would not be where I am today," he said shortly after making his address.
He said even if Dr Kaseba was on his left at the function, she was on his right and part of the distinguished ladies and gentlemen and a medical doctor.
President Sata showcased Zambia as a destination of choice for investment from Japan.
He said Zambia was strategically positioned to provide prospective business and investment to two large regional markets - Comesa and SADC.
"My government is determined to enhance the expansion and diversification of the economy by promoting foreign direct investment as well as continued and strengthened cooperation in the areas of diplomacy, finance, trade and technology," said President Sata who has been leading all the investment meetings here.
"Zambia's stable macroeconomic stability - a conducive and enabling environment for private sector and industrial growth, political stability, peace and tranquility - is the hallmark for the country's positive investment. We in Zambia pride ourselves as being Africa's new frontier for investments and high returns."
President Sata said Zambia boasted of other market opportunities through agreements and membership to European Union through the Everything But Arms initiative (EBA), USA through AGOA and the Market Access Initiatives with Canada.
"We are working towards achieving similar market access initiatives across the globe including some with countries in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region," he said.
President Sata said the Zambian economy had for the last five years registered real Gross Domestic Product growth rate of over 5.7 per cent and was this year projected to register positive growth of above 7 per cent, single digit inflation rate and decreasing interest rates.
He said Zambia was committed to restructuring the economy by diversifying into other sectors such as agriculture, tourism, energy, manufacturing and infrastructure development.
President Sata said government was also committed to reducing the cost of doing business and streamlining the investment climate through the elimination of unnecessary and cumbersome licences and procedures.
"Additionally, the government has implemented prudent fiscal reforms such as broadening the tax base, increased spending on priority sectors aimed at minimising unplanned expenditure while ensuring fiscal discipline," said President Sata.
Later, President Sata also had meetings with Hitachi Construction chairman, Kikawa.
President Sata told the Hitachi delegation to build a bigger plant than the one along Airport Road.
He appreciated their investment to Zambia and invited them to meet him next time the team would be in Zambia.
President Sata also met the JICA president at Hotel New Otani.
JICA president Akihiko Tanaka told President Sata that he was happy with the Kazungula Bridge project.
He said JICA considered Zambia one of the best partners in terms of development.
Tanaka said the completion of Kazungula Bridge would help improve transportation within and outside Zambia.
He said the Japanese government should pay particular attention to Africa.
And President Sata invited JICA officials to go to Zambia because there were a lot of projects where JICA could help.
The President said Zambia needed infrastructure development.
He also said Japan could help in areas of agriculture such as tobacco because of the availability of tobacco market.
The head of state said Japan could take advantage of Zambia's position in the region as a springboard for developing the region.
He is tomorrow expected to fly to Hokkaido town to visit the university and other agricultural projects before attending mass at Kita Ichijo Catholic Church in the same area.
About half of the milk in Japan is produced in the beautiful and vast countryside of Hokkaido, the largest of Japan's 47 prefectures and northernmost of Japan's four main islands.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, MICHAEL SATA
Read more...
President Sata praises wife Kaseba in Japan
By Bivan Saluseki in Tokyo
Fri 12 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata yesterday praised his wife, Dr Christine Kaseba, for making him what he is today.
President Sata, when introducing his delegation to Keidanren - Japan's Federation of the Private Sector, said First Lady Dr Kaseba was his 'right hand person' even though she was seated on his left, sending the audience into laughter.
"You see, because without her, I would not be where I am today," he said shortly after making his address.
He said even if Dr Kaseba was on his left at the function, she was on his right and part of the distinguished ladies and gentlemen and a medical doctor.
President Sata showcased Zambia as a destination of choice for investment from Japan.
He said Zambia was strategically positioned to provide prospective business and investment to two large regional markets - Comesa and SADC.
"My government is determined to enhance the expansion and diversification of the economy by promoting foreign direct investment as well as continued and strengthened cooperation in the areas of diplomacy, finance, trade and technology," said President Sata who has been leading all the investment meetings here.
"Zambia's stable macroeconomic stability - a conducive and enabling environment for private sector and industrial growth, political stability, peace and tranquility - is the hallmark for the country's positive investment. We in Zambia pride ourselves as being Africa's new frontier for investments and high returns."
President Sata said Zambia boasted of other market opportunities through agreements and membership to European Union through the Everything But Arms initiative (EBA), USA through AGOA and the Market Access Initiatives with Canada.
"We are working towards achieving similar market access initiatives across the globe including some with countries in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region," he said.
President Sata said the Zambian economy had for the last five years registered real Gross Domestic Product growth rate of over 5.7 per cent and was this year projected to register positive growth of above 7 per cent, single digit inflation rate and decreasing interest rates.
He said Zambia was committed to restructuring the economy by diversifying into other sectors such as agriculture, tourism, energy, manufacturing and infrastructure development.
President Sata said government was also committed to reducing the cost of doing business and streamlining the investment climate through the elimination of unnecessary and cumbersome licences and procedures.
"Additionally, the government has implemented prudent fiscal reforms such as broadening the tax base, increased spending on priority sectors aimed at minimising unplanned expenditure while ensuring fiscal discipline," said President Sata.
Later, President Sata also had meetings with Hitachi Construction chairman, Kikawa.
President Sata told the Hitachi delegation to build a bigger plant than the one along Airport Road.
He appreciated their investment to Zambia and invited them to meet him next time the team would be in Zambia.
President Sata also met the JICA president at Hotel New Otani.
JICA president Akihiko Tanaka told President Sata that he was happy with the Kazungula Bridge project.
He said JICA considered Zambia one of the best partners in terms of development.
Tanaka said the completion of Kazungula Bridge would help improve transportation within and outside Zambia.
He said the Japanese government should pay particular attention to Africa.
And President Sata invited JICA officials to go to Zambia because there were a lot of projects where JICA could help.
The President said Zambia needed infrastructure development.
He also said Japan could help in areas of agriculture such as tobacco because of the availability of tobacco market.
The head of state said Japan could take advantage of Zambia's position in the region as a springboard for developing the region.
He is tomorrow expected to fly to Hokkaido town to visit the university and other agricultural projects before attending mass at Kita Ichijo Catholic Church in the same area.
About half of the milk in Japan is produced in the beautiful and vast countryside of Hokkaido, the largest of Japan's 47 prefectures and northernmost of Japan's four main islands.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, MICHAEL SATA
Read more...
