Exploit Mkushi agro, mining potential - Veep

05 March 2010, The Times of Zambia
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/201003040554.html

Lusaka:  Vice-President George Kunda has said Mkushi District has great potential in the mining and agriculture sectors, which need to be exploited. Speaking when he addressed a rally at President Square in Mkushi yesterday,

Mr Kunda said the Government would continue to encourage investments in the many sectors of the economy.  "Mkushi district has great potential in mining, in fact there is already an Australian investor who is undertaking copper mining ventures while exploration works for gold, and manganese are also going on in this town," Mr Kunda said.

He said Mkushi was also significant to Zambia's maize Production adding that the Government had prioritised the agriculture sector as an engine of economic growth.  "Mkushi is growing fast owing to agriculture, Zambia has become self sufficient in wheat production because of our farmers in the Mkushi farm bloc and the good Government policies we have put in place," he said.

The Government would continue to foster national development hence the reason why it put in place the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP), which has since been replaced by the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).

"Wherever we have been, we are talking about development and people are appreciating what we are doing as a Government.  We started in 2002 by putting in place the FNDP which was unheard of and we devised the 2030 vision which defined the vision of the MMD Government to build infrastructure, schools, hospitals as well as increase food production," Mr Kunda said.

"Now we have moved on to the SNDP to continue implementing these works.  It is sad that at some point the economy stalled owing to the global crunch but such is no longer the situation now as the Kwacha has gained strength while the copper prices on the world market have also surged," Mr Kunda said.

For the first time in the history of Zambia, its reserves in the Bank of Zambia had grown to U$2 billion.  Mr Kunda said with so much money from the mining industry, the Government would be able to invest in education, health and work on roads.  "The future of Zambia's economy looks bright and as a Government we shall continue to work on these fortunes for the well being of the Zambian people," Mr Kunda said.

He urged Zambians people not to be misled by the opposition whom he said had no tangible programmes to develop the country.  Mr Kunda said that the PF-UPND pact was founded on selfish motives and warned UPND president Hakainde Hichilema to be careful with his partner Michael Sata, as he liked to back pedal on many national issues.

"I shall continue to salute those gallant, intelligent UPND MPs; maybe one day they will rise and salvage the party from sinking deeper under Mr Hichilema," Mr Kunda said.

He wondered what kind of an alliance the PF-UPND was as Mr Sata attacked UPND MPs and accused them of being plunderers by participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

Earlier, the vice-president met chiefs and several Mkushi headmen and assured them the Government would continue to work with traditional leaders in fostering development.

Community Developemnt Minister Michael Kaingu, Deputy Minister for Local Government Moses Muteteka and Albert Mulonga deputy minister for Livestock and Fisheries accompanied Mr Kunda to Mkushi.