‘Landlocked no curse’ – Mugabe
August 5, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor
By CHARLES MUSONDA
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has said Zimbabwe and Zambia should stop looking at their ‘land-locked’ geographical position as a curse and work to turn it into an economic opportunity.
Officially opening the 86th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka Saturday, Mugabe suggested the southern African neighbours start considering themselves as “land-linked” as opposed to “land locked”.
“Being at the heart of the southern African region,” President Mugabe said, “Zimbabwe and Zambia offer a good location for regionally targeted industrial investments and infrastructure development projects.”
He added that opportunities for investors to undertake infrastructure development projects that are critical for industrial development and facilitation of competitive trade abound for the two neighbours.
“It is important for our two countries to prioritise inter-related infrastructure development projects in the transport, communications and energy sectors in order to increase the competitiveness of our productive sectors and facilitate trade,” Mr Mugabe said.
He said this when he officially opened the 86th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka yesterday on invitation from his Zambian counterpart Michael Sata.
President Mugabe restated that the government and people of Zimbabwe are profoundly thankful for the invitation to participate and preside over this year’s important agriculture event.
Mr Mugabe said the theme of this year’s show, ‘Building on today’s Prosperity’, is appropriate as it rightfully points to the Zambian economy’s potential in Southern Africa and the rest of the world.
“I am pleased to note that Zambia has continued to maintain a trade policy aimed at enhancing productivity and competitiveness of Zambian products, on both the domestic and international markets, in order to achieve higher levels of economic growth and development,” he said.
Mr Mugabe called for diversification of economic activities in the agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors by placing increased emphasis on value addition.
“Dependence on the production and export of primary commodities, whose demand and prices are externally driven, will not lead us to the economic growth paradise that we so desire,” he said.
On this score, Mr Mugabe is pleased to note that Zambia’s industrial policy aims at improving and facilitating investment in the manufacturing sector, which will lead to increased value addition and manufactured exports, job creation, and generation of foreign currency.
By using the same policy direction, the Zimbabwean government is also committed to driving the country through economic empowerment for the majority of its people.
“We therefore welcome bona fide investors from all over the world who wish to seize the investment opportunities in various sectors of our economy on a win-win basis for the benefit of our country and her people,” he said.
He added that the volume of trade between Zambia and Zimbabwe is continuously increasing and rose to US$300 million last year, up from US$220 million in 2010. President Sata toured the show also.
And KAPALA CHISUNKA reports that five companies have been awarded in different categories in this year’s 86th Agricultural and Commercial Show. The Zambia Sugar Plc walked away with Best Overall Exhibit, while the Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) was awarded for the best interpretation of this year’s theme.
Best International Exhibit went to Afrox Limited and Commercial category’s men in Zambia trophy went to Sylva Catering Services while Eastern Province walked away with the National Productivity award in the Agriculture category. The Cattle Competition Category was given to Zambeef.
Meanwhile, President Michael Sata and visiting Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe toured the stands separately.
The two Presidents then proceeded for lunch hosted in their honour before returning to the main arena in the afternoon for the official opening of the show.
Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE, ZAMBIA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SHOW
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Being land-locked is no curse: Mugabe
05/08/2012 00:00:00
by
Zambia Daily Mail PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has said Zimbabwe and Zambia should stop looking at their ‘land-locked’ geographical position as a curse and
work to turn it into an economic opportunity.Officially opening the
86th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka Saturday, Mugabe suggested the southern African neighbours start considering themselves as
“land-linked” as opposed to “land locked”.
“Being at the heart of the southern African region,” President Mugabe said, “Zimbabwe and Zambia offer a good location for regionally targeted industrial investments and infrastructure development projects.”
He added that opportunities for investors to undertake infrastructure development projects that are critical for industrial development and facilitation of competitive trade abound for the two neighbours.
“It is important for our two countries to prioritise inter-related infrastructure development projects in the transport, communications and energy sectors in order to increase the competitiveness of our productive sectors and facilitate trade,” he said.
The Zimbabwean leader said the theme of this year’s show, ‘Building on today’s Prosperity’, was appropriate as it pointed to the Zambian economy’s potential in Southern Africa and the rest of the world.
“I am pleased to note that Zambia has continued to maintain a trade policy aimed at enhancing productivity and competitiveness of Zambian products, on both the domestic and international markets, in order to achieve higher levels of economic growth and development,” he said.
He also called for diversification of economic activities in the agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors by placing increased emphasis on value addition.
“Dependence on the production and export of primary commodities, whose demand and prices are externally driven, will not lead us to the economic growth paradise that we so desire,” he said.
He commended Zambia’s industrial policy which aims at improving and facilitating investment in the manufacturing sector, which will lead to increased value addition and manufactured exports, job creation, and generation of foreign currency.
By using the same policy direction, the Zimbabwean government was also committed to driving the country through economic empowerment for the majority of its people, Mugabe added.
“We therefore welcome bona fide investors from all over the world who wish to seize the investment opportunities in various sectors of our economy on a win-win basis for the benefit of our country and her people,” he said.
He added that the volume of trade between Zambia and Zimbabwe is continuously increasing and rose to US$300 million last year, up from US$220 million in 2010.
Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, ROBERT MUGABE, ZAMBIA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SHOW
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Africa needs prudent, decisive action for sustainable development - KK
By Henry Sinyangwe
Sat 31 July 2010, 13:40 CAT
Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika (r) sharing a light moment with Dr Kaunda's former political advisor Mark Chona when he paid a courtesy call on Dr Kaunda (c) at his office in Lusaka's Kabulonga area on Friday. Picture by Collins Phiri DR Kenneth Kaunda has observed that Africa needs prudent and decisive actions for it to attain sustainable economic and social development.
And visiting Malawian President Prof Bingu Wa Mutharika has said Africa must not wait for the West to come and tell it what to do because Africans must know their problems better and hence must provide solutions for themselves.
Speaking when President Wa Mutharika paid a courtesy call on him on Friday, Dr Kaunda said since the colonial era, Africa had been exporting its valuable raw materials to the outside world, helping the factories overseas to produce goods which it bought at exorbitant prices.
H e said the situation had a negative impact on Africa’s economies hence time had come for Africa to rethink its economic strategies.
“For many years now since the colonial era, we have exported to the outside world our valuable raw materials, which have helped the factories overseas to produce goods which we buy at exorbitant prices. We need to prioritize value addition so that we can be able to create wealth and jobs for our people,” Dr Kaunda said.
And Dr Kaunda said agriculture should be made the mainstay of the two country’s economies as it supported other industries which were critical to human survival.
He said he believed food should be considered as a human right so that no child or human being should suffer from hunger.
Dr Kaunda further said Africa’s efforts towards regional integrations through economic blocs such as the SADC, COMESA, and ECOWAS would help the continent enhance trade flows among its countries.
“At regional level, I believe that efforts towards regional integration should help us to enhance trade flows among us and beyond us. This is in keeping with the vision of the founding fathers who envisioned a continent of Africa where there would ultimately be free movement of goods services and people,” he said.
Dr Kaunda said there was need to address the issue of diseases such as Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS in order for the continent to successfully advance its economic agenda.
And President Wa Mutharika said there was need for co-operation for Africa to develop.
“We need to cooperate for us to be effective; otherwise our exercise will be in futility without cooperation. I believe Africa has a future, there is an Africa of disasters… but there is also an Africa of hope,” said President Wa Mutharika.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, KENNETH KAUNDA, ZAMBIA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SHOW
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President Wa Mutharika to officiate the 84th Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show
Friday, July 30, 2010, 10:04
Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika arrived in the country yesterday for a three-day official visit.He was received on arrival at the airport by Republican President Rupiah Banda, several ministers, senior government and defence officials and Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) party cadres.
The Malawian President was treated to a 21- gun salute by the Zambia Army and a guard of honour.
President Wa Mutharika is in the country to officially open the 84th Agriculture and Commercial show today.
Meanwhile President Rupiah Banda has said Zambia’s bumper maize harvest will guarantee food security for the citizens and more income for small scale farmers.
Meanwhile President Rupiah Banda has said Zambia’s bumper maize harvest will guarantee food security for the citizens and more income for small scale farmers.
Mr Banda said in Lusaka yesterday the country was focusing on investing in agriculture and the abundant maize produced this year would help strengthen the country’s food security.
He said the subject of food security had captured the attention of the international community in the past few years because more than one million people were going hungry every year, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation statistics.
The president said this at Hotel Inter-Continental in Lusaka during a State Banquet held in honour of the visiting leader of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika.
Former Zambian presidents Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Cabinet and deputy ministers from Malawi and Zambia, diplomats accredited to Zambia, and Government officials were among those who attended the banquet.
Mr Banda said year’s Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show was happening in special circumstances as the country and the peasant farming community were reaping another bumper harvest of the staple crop.
He said Zambians should feel that their efforts in increasing food production would in the long run begin to have a major impact on fighting poverty and hunger, and that small-holder farmers would be food-secure, apart from increasing their incomes.
Mr Banda said Zambia was taking a leaf from the Malawi’s success in agricultural development.
He hailed the cordial relations between Zambia and Malawi and the growing fruitful cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Banda said historically, the friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries had been solid because their relationship was founded on a common cultural and ethnic heritage which brought the citizens of the two countries together.
Zambia valued Professor Wa Mutharika’s acceptance to officiate at the 84th Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka, whose theme is ‘Sustainable Development’.
He described the show as an important annual event that provided a platform to showcase Zambia’s products and afforded an equal opportunity to foreign participating firms to promote their products on the Zambian market.
Mr Banda said he was pleased to note that a good number of Malawian companies were participating in this year’s show.
He said the attendance of some Malawian enterprises would foster trade relations between the two countries, which had been low despite the existing warm political ties.
He also commended Prof Wa Mutharika for showing commitment and exemplary leadership in steering the African Union (AU)’s vision as the current chairperson.
President Banda is today scheduled to hold official talks with his counterpart at State House.
The two leaders are expected to tour selected stands tomorrow morning before Prof Wa Mutharika officially opens the show in the afternoon.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MAIZE, RUPIAH BANDA, ZAMBIA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SHOW
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Rupiah to open this year’s agriculture and commercial show
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 4:30:07 PM
THE 83rd Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show which opens its gates on Thursday is estimated to gobble K3 billion compared to K2.5 billion in 2008, show society president Paul Mumbuluma has said. And President Rupiah Banda will this Saturday officially open the show under the theme: “Challenge of Change”.
At a press briefing ahead of the opening of the show, Mumbuluma said the Agriculture and Commercial Society of Zambia (ACSZ) have projected an income of K3.5 billion from the event compared to K2.7 billion recorded last year.
Mumbuluma further explained that this year’s theme for the agriculture and commercial show was a critical analysis of the effects of climate change and the global economic meltdown with a view to find sustainable solutions.
He said demand for exhibition space had been overwhelming with over 90 per cent of available space taken up by last week while 13 foreign countries had so far confirmed participation.
He further said the review of livestock movement from and in Southern Province by government in October 2008 would result in more cattle being exhibited this year.
And confirming President Banda’s officiating at the show, Mumbuluma said it is not strange not to have a foreign Head of State to grace the annual event.
“It is not strange for our President to open the show and it has happened in the history of this show society and this is not the first time because a few years ago, we expected President Kikwete to grace the event and we even printed his profile in the show catalogue magazine but he failed to show up and the former Burundese Lady Vice President, who happened to be part of a business delegation was requested to be guest of honour, so its not strange if a foreign Head of State does not officially open the show,” Mumbuluma said.
The Show Society has not changed entry charges, which still stand at K15, 000 per person for each of the five days of the show while the ban on the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor remains in force until 17:00 hours during the show./JC
Labels: AGRICULTURAL SHOW, PAUL MUMBULUMA, RUPIAH BANDA, ZAMBIA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SHOW
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