Zambian President Mwanawasa call for economic independance
Zambian President Mwanawasa has challenged Zambians to focus their efforts on economic independence and jealously guard the peace the country is enjoying as Zambia celebrates its independence.
In his national address to mark the 43rd Independence anniversary on national radio and television last night, Dr Mwanawasa said job and wealth creation through investment in priority sectors were the key challenges facing the nation.
"This is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty levels and meeting the objectives of Vision 2030 and the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP)," he said.
He said Independence Day was an occasion for all Zambians to rededicate themselves to the sustenance of their freedom, the promotion of unity and economic development for the nation.
Dr Mwanawasa said Zambians had sustained political independence for the last 43 years and needed to continue to do so but with more emphasis on the attainment of economic freedom.
He said in an effort to empower Zambians to effectively participate in economic activities, Government had enacted the Citizens Empowerment Act of 2006.
Dr Mwanawasa said a lot of achievements had been recorded in Zambia with his administration having scored an improved 5.8 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The President said Government expected the upward trend in development to continue but without independence and peace there could be no economic growth.
The theme for this year's independence celebrations is 'Forging a common future anchored on national pride and sustainable development through citizens' participation.'
Dr Mwanawasa said the slashing of statutory reserve ratios from 14 per cent to eight per cent would further result in a reduction in lending rates by commercial banks and empower more Zambians.
He said he was proud to see a lot of economic activities going on throughout the country with the mining industry continuing to be the mainstay of the economy while other sectors were equally making huge contributions to the growth.
The exploration for minerals across the country would result in more investment in the mining industry.
He said investors had committed to spend $900 million in the Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Chambishi with over 60,000 jobs to be created for people as well as triggering additional benefits through related economic activities.
On the agriculture sector, President Mwanawasa said he was happy that it had continued to grow each year and was expected to grow further based on the policies and strategies that his Government had put in place.
He was, however, aware of the challenges that had faced the agriculture sector such as animal diseases which Government was working hard to contain.
Dr Mwanawasa said the tourism sector also had potential for growth and through the 'Visit Zambia Campaign' measures were put in place to market tourist destinations apart from the national sites.
The Tourism Credit Facility that was created by Government was also disbursing funds to improve infrastructure, promote entrepreneurship and enhance service delivery and encourage most Zambians to participate in the sector.
The President, however, said HIV/AIDS remained a big challenge in the social sector but Government was consoled that the number of people currently accessing Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs was increasing.
The HIV/AIDS infection rate had also reduced to 16 per cent due to a number of interventions that Government had put in place.
Dr Mwanawasa said like other areas, the education sector was doing fine with enrollment levels going up and infrastructure being refurbished.
Government intended to build 125 primary schools, 88 new high schools and 12 technical high schools in the next five years.
To enhance quality in education, the recruitment of teachers had become a priority for Government.
Gender would also remain on promotion with the inclusion of a lot of women in all activities to ensure increased representation at all levels.
Dr Mwanawasa said with the maintenance of macroeconomic stability coupled with prudent fiscal policies that had led to the reduction in inflation to a single digit of 9.3 per cent as of September 2007, Investment flows equally rose in the first six months of this year totaling $693 million.
On the energy sector, Dr Mwanawasa said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was facing a looming power shortages which required concerted efforts to mitigate at country and regional levels.
The efforts would include harnessing the substantial private sector investor inflows in order to strengthen the capacity to produce more energy and meet the demand.
Apart from shortage of jobs and poverty, Dr Mwanawasa said the social sector also faced challenges in the health.
