Rupiah Banda

Zambia of the Future

It is very important for us not just to celebrate the many wonderful things we have achieved to secure the foundations of Tomorrow’s Zambia. We must keep driving forward, implementing new plans and continuing to ensure stability, security and prosperity for all Zambians.

 

 

Agriculture

  • This year my government intends to increase the number of beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme from 500,000 upwards. This means that even more farmers, mainly in rural areas, will benefit.
  • Because of this year’s bumper maize harvest, my government has decided, in collaboration with the private sector, to allow exports of surplus maize without compromising food security.

Livestock

  • To strengthen veterinary health services, my government has developed the veterinary and the para-veterinary professional bills. These will help improve livestock production.
  • My government will continue promoting sustainable exploitation of fisheries without compromising the availability of stock.
  • An aquaculture development strategy has been developed to boost fish farming.
  • The fisheries act is being reviewed to bring it in line with current developments.

Tourism

  • Although tourism is predominantly private sector-driven, my government will continue with key infrastructural development. We have in mind the uplifting of the northern circuit and the international marketing of Zambia as a tourist destination.
  • Efforts are also being made to improve wildlife conservation and management. To this effect, my government will be introducing the wildlife bill.
  • To promote Lusaka as a tourist destination, my government is establishing the Lusaka national park in the Shantumbu area. This park is scheduled to open by the end of 2011.

Environment

  • The environment is central to sustainable development. The government therefore aims to minimize environmental degradation. To achieve this, government is implementing the environmental management and mainstreaming programme.
  • The government has also drafted the environmental management bill which will improve the sector’s legal and regulatory framework. These arrangements will create jobs and give Zambians opportunities to earn an income from their environment.
  • The floods and droughts recently experienced in our country highlight the threat from climate change. We will continue to develop a national climate change response strategy.

Forestry

  • To ensure sustainability of this sector, government is revising the forestry policy of 1998 to improve forest management.
  • The forests act of 1999 is also being amended to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks.
  • To grow the sector, government will continue to support plantation establishment and reforestation.

Water resources

  • Some of our people still cannot access clean, safe water. The revised national water policy will improve the situation
  • The government will prepare the integrated water resource management bill and bring it to the house for enactment.

Mines and minerals development

  • In 2011 we will focus on increased production. I appeal to all mine operators to involve local suppliers of materials and relevant Zambian business houses in their operations.
  • Government also expects mine operators to continue to take their corporate social responsibility seriously by investing in infrastructure related to hospitals, schools and sports. I want to see mining continue to contribute to the stability of our economy, to the job security of workers and for all Zambians to enjoy the prosperity this sector brings.

Regional and international trade

  • The government’s aim is to lock-in economic stability. To do this our efforts in 2011 will emphasize the three priority areas of:
    • Infrastructure development;
    • Micro, small and medium enterprises development; and
    • Foreign direct investment.

Energy

  • The government will increase power generation by at least 1,080 mega watts.
  • We are undertaking the Kariba north bank extension project, the Kafue Gorge lower project, the Itezhi-Tezhi power project and the smaller Lunzuwa and Lusiwasi power extension projects. These have already been funded and we welcome the jobs they are creating
  • Government will this year also commission the 50 mega watt heavy fuel oil plant in Ndola, the first of its kind in Zambia.
  • In addition to this new generating capacity we also need a better distribution system. To increase access to electricity in rural areas, the rural electrification master plan is being implemented. So far, 67 rural electrification projects have been completed and 24 are ongoing.

Infrastructure

  • The emphasis will be on construction, maintenance and repair of the country’s physical infrastructure.
  • Progress has been made in designing the Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi river. Construction is expected to commence by the end of 2011. This bridge will make regional trade with countries in the south much easier.
  • Other road projects to be completed in 2011 include: Kasama-Luwingu, Kabompo-Chavuma, Senanga-Sesheke, and the renewal of the Great East Road from Luangwa Bridge to Mwami border. Construction of Mongu-Kalabo road will start.
  • Government will continue to improve the air and water transport sectors. This includes the expansion of some provincial terminal buildings
  • The extension of the Kasaba Bay runway to handle large aircraft has begun.
  • The improvement of harbours and clearing of canals is also ongoing. The Mpulungu port has failed to realise its full potential. Following a recent court ruling measures are now afoot to develop the port’s capacity.
  • Following my visit to Turkey earlier this year I can confirm that Turkish airlines will soon be starting regular services between Lusaka and Istanbul. This will provide better access to European markets and assist tourism. This is important as turkey is Europe’s 5th largest economy and is ranked 16th in the world.

Land

  • My government is working towards granting women greater access in acquiring land for both residential and commercial purposes. To achieve this the government is pursuing a deliberate policy of allocating 30 percent of all available land to women.
  • In relation to Zambians living in the Diaspora, I am happy to note that the government initiative of encouraging our people to invest in the country is yielding positive results. I am pleased to note that the allocation of land across the country to Zambians in the Diaspora has begun.

Local government and housing

  • The government therefore remains committed to fully implementing the national decentralisation policy, and has therefore approved the Decentralisation Implementation Plan (DIP) for the period 2010-2013.
  • Under the national rural water supply and sanitation programme, my government plans to construct up to 10,000 and rebuild about 700,000 water points by the year 2015.

Social services

  • The government will build hospitals in 19 districts across the country during the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) period. This year alone, district hospitals will be commissioned at Kaoma, Lumwana, Kapiri Mposhi, Mumbwa, Kaputa and Mufumbwe. District hospitals are under construction in Samfya, Chadiza, Lufwanyama, Chiengi, Chongwe and Lusaka districts. Commissioning has begun and will conclude next year.
  • A total of 323 health posts and health centres will also be commissioned by the end of this year
  • In the health sector, the government is pledged to “provide the people of Zambia with equity of access to cost-effective, quality health care as close to the family as possible”. The main strategy for achieving this vision is primary health care with special focus on maternal and child health.
  • Zambia remains committed to attaining the Millennium Development Goals on health by 2015. To achieve this we recently launched the “Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa” (CAMMA). The government will strive to live by the ideal that “no woman should die when giving life”.
  • The goal of my government is to attain virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and improve maternal, newborn and child health and survival by 2015. This will be achieved by increasing intervention in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
  • The government will continue strengthening interventions to eliminate malaria by increasing indoor residual spraying, mass distribution of long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets for the poor and vulnerable, and improved case management for the treatment of malaria.
  • Following my visit to Cuba last year, using Cuban know-how the government is undertaking a national eradication programme to reduce the number of malaria carrying mosquitoes.
  • My government will also strengthen community involvement in the prevention and control of malaria by training community health workers.
  • The government is making concerted efforts to reverse the increasing trend in non-communicable diseases through screening for cervical cancer and better diagnosis and treatment using modern equipment.
  • To address shortage of qualified manpower in the health sector, government has been implementing the human resource for health strategic plan (2006-2010) which has several incentives, including the rural retention scheme. The 2011-2015 plan is being developed with key strategies which will include, increasing the number of trained health workers, improving efficiency in utilization of existing staff and providing appropriate training and incentives to community health workers to mitigate shortfalls, especially in remote areas.

Education and skills training

  • 2,016 new classrooms are being built
  • 45 high schools and 42 basic schools are expected to be completed in 2011

Social welfare

  • The government, through the ministry of community development and social services, is strengthening people’s welfare programmes. Government, working with cooperating partners, has developed a multi-year financial and technical assistance cash transfer scheme, amounting to us$63 million over a 10 year period starting this year
  • Government will review the food security programme in the 2010/2011 farming season to sustain food security

Sport, youth and child development

  • The government continues to assist and empower the young by promoting financial support and training. This year, a k5 billion fund was established to promote youth enterprise. This fund will foster the development of an entrepreneurial spirit among young people.
  • My government has established ‘the Zambia council of the child’ to address this problem of coordinating child development programmes and to ensure child development is well managed.

Governance

  • The Anti-Corruption Act will be amended to bring it in line with the policy and related legislation
  • The government is ready to be reviewed under the Africa Peer Review Mechanism, an initiative of the African Union which measures standards of good governance. We voluntarily subscribe to this review by completing the country self-assessment report and finalising the national plan of action. Implementation of the plan will commence next year.

Information and communication technologies

  • In our efforts to raise communication infrastructure and services to international standards, the government has supported the rolling-out of the fibre optic network across the country to ensure wide spread access to high speed broadband. All nine provincial centres have now been connected and the second phase to link all districts is underway.

Media

  • The government has established ‘The Digital Migration National Task Force’ to spearhead the migration to full digital services.
  • The new Independent Broadcasting Authority Amendment Act will streamline the licensing regime and regulation of the growing electronic media industry. The Zambia national broadcasting corporation amendment act will improve collection of the television levy.