President Rupiah Banda today officially opened the third session of the tenth national assembly at a colorful ceremony that was characterized by a mosaic of activities.
Mr. Banda who was accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, arrived at parliament grounds around 10:00 hours and was met by Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusa Mwanamwambwa.
The occasion was also attended by First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Cabinet Ministers and their deputies, some opposition leaders and members of parliament.
The others in attendance were members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Zambia, heads of missions and government institutions.
Before addressing his official address and opening of the national assembly, President Banda inspected a guard of honor mounted by the Zambia Army, followed by a fly-past by the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) and a 21 gun salute.
The Speaker of the House later led President Banda and the First Lady into the national assembly, amidst a variety cultural performances staged by a number of cultural groups including the MMD choir, before he officially opened the third session of the national assembly.
After the official opening, Mr. Banda was accorded the fourth Presidential salute by the guard of honor before his motorcade drove away around 12 hours.
SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS
ECONOMY AND POLITICS
President Banda has unveiled an economic vision for 2009 with a call for increased unity among Zambians to achieve the national agenda of combating poverty.
President Banda assured that government will address concerns raised by stakeholders irrespective of political affiliation on issues of national importance.
Mr Banda also reiterated his call for reconciliation among all political parties in the interest of fostering national peace and economic development.
On the economic front, President Banda said his administration would continue to implement prudent fiscal monetary policies to achieve a Gross Domestic Product, GDP, target of 5 per cent and single digit inflation this year.
He said poverty reduction and employment creation as outlined in the Fifth National Development Plan, FNDP, would remain key areas of focus by government.
He observed that the current global economic downturn has resulted in severe job loses in the mining sector following increased operational costs triggered by declining prices of Copper and other metals on the international market.
He said government will channel more efforts towards diversifying the national economy as a measure of cushioning the effects of the global economic crunch on the national economy.
AGRICULTURE
President Rupiah Banda has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to intensify its crop marketing system this year by ensuring that the agency concentrates in buying crops from the remotest parts of the country as the private sector concentrates in districts and urban areas.
President Banda said concerns have been raised that the FRA has not purchased maize in the outlying areas, concentrating instead on the district centres.
Mr. Banda said government understands the concerns and will therefore strengthen the operations of the agency immediately.
He said government is aware that the FRA has not performed well in the its operations hence governments is committed to strengthen agency.
Mr. Banda further said the fertilizer support programme, FSP, will continue to support small scale farmers in the country.
The president however noted that the cyclical price irregularity of fertilizer affects all farmers, small and large.
Mr. Banda said government would like to see the price stabilized, thereby benefiting all farmers adding that efforts would be made to achieve this in time for the 2009/10 season.
He said procurement and countrywide distribution of fertilizer will now be done earlier than in the past.
And Mr. Banda has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to ensure that from 2009, the Agriculture Extension Service begins to perform.
He said the Agriculture Extension Service has not performed to people’s expectation and this has led to low productivity by farmers despite government’s efforts to subsidize fertilizer and seed.
ENERGY
He assured the nation that government would also ensure that there was more supply of fuel on the market with reduced prices of the commodity this year.
The President said by reducing fuel prices , this would attract a lot of investors in the country
Mr. Banda said in order for the country to achieve its 2030 vision, there was need for the private sector to work closely with the government of the day.
President Rupiah Banda said that he will constitute a Petroleum Committee to spearhead the exploration of gas and oil in the country.
President Banda said his administration has started working out modalities aimed at ensuring that there is constant supply of fuel in the country.
Mr. Banda said the move to constitute a Petroleum Committee was also aimed at addressing the various challenges associated with the high prices of fuel in the country.
He said feasibility studies in the Lake Bangweulu, Lake Mweru Wantipa and Zambezi River had started and that the project would be completed soon to pave way for the exploration of oil and gas exercise.
President Banda further announced that his government has completed working on the Rural Electrification Master Plan which he said would guide the implementation of the rural electrification programme.
He said his administration was also putting in place measures aimed at addressing load shedding in the country.
LOAD SHEDDING
Mr. Banda reiterated government’s commitment to improving the sector by upgrading the existing power stations and investing in new ones in a bid to scale up electricity generation.
Mr. Banda said load shedding had minimized in some areas in the country and government will see to it that load shedding continues to minimize by up grading the energy generators at the Kafue Gorge.
Mr. Banda, who also expressed concern at the high levels of load shedding in some parts of the country, assured the nation that his administration was doing everything possible to address the problem as it was hampering on the economic development agenda of the country.
He cited the rehabilitation of existing energy power stations and the construction of new power plants as some of the measures that his government was implementing in a bid to minimize the effects of load shedding in the country.
Mr. Banda said his government was looking at ways of increasing power supply in the country with a view to ensuring sustainability in the country’s development agendas.
FOREIGN INVESTORS
Mr. Banda said his government has started putting in place interventions aimed at taking further amendments in the Mines and Minerals Act.
He said the move once completed would seek to woo foreign investors in the country’s mining sector and help to increase foreign direct investment portfolios into the country.
Mr. Banda further said that despite the many challenges in the country’s mining sector, his administration was working-out special modalities to introduce new approaches and interventions aimed at safeguarding jobs in the mining sector.
He said although the mining sector had largely been hit from the effects of the global economic and financial crunch and the fall in copper prices at the international market, government would endeavour to implement new programmes that would ensure sustainability in the country’s mining sector.
DEFENCE FORCES
President Banda has directed defence forces in the country to remain royal and dedicated to duty with a view to enhancing security in the country.
He said defence forces in the country has an obligation to maintenance of national peace and security and ensure that foreign policy on defence and security was maintained through the participation in the international peace and security in the world.
MINING
Mr. Banda said the fight against poverty remains a top priority despite the global economic meltdown.
Mr. Banda observed that Zambia was endowed with rich natural and human resources hence the challenge was to harness such resources.
He sounded the warning that the global economic meltdown should not be used as an excuse to lay off workers as a cynical attempt to cut on operational costs.
President Banda said laying off workers should be the last resort after exhausting all other avenues.
Mr. Banda said government has put in place a task force that is handling the problems the mines are facing in a bid to find a lasting solution.
He said mining companies that would be seen to be laying-off of its workers at the expense of the economic down turn risked having its mining operating licence revoked to pave way for other new investors.
He has since advised mining companies to meet the stipulated guidelines when they want pull out of the industry.
He however said the country was now looking to other minerals such as uranium adding that government has taken cautious approach to ensure that the mining of uranium is in line with the international regulation.
He said government has taken international standard with regards to transportation, handling and issuing uranium licenses.
WOMEN
President Rupiah Banda retaliated government’s commitment to increasing the number of women in decision making positions in the country.
President Banda said government will ensure that more women in different sectors of the economy hold important positions and contribute to the economic growth of the nation.
Mr. Banda emphasized that the appointment of women into decision making positions should be done on merit for them to execute their duties at any level with excellency.
President Banda also said that government has made considerable improvements in addressing issues concerning Gender Based Violence(GBV)in the country.
He further said that government is working hard to ensure that appropriate Gender Based Violence legislation is quickly put in place.
He said the quick implementation of the necessary gender related legislation will help the country to put prioritize women issues.
He further added that Zambia, being a signatory to the gender protocol, should start embracing issues concerning women.
EDUCATION
Mr Banda said education is a vital tool in ending poverty in the country and said that his government it is committed to increasing enrollment at all levels of in the nation education..
In his opening speech of the third session of the 10th National Assembly, at Parliament buildings in Lusaka today, the President reiterated government’s commitment to providing quality education by employing more teachers in order reduce the teacher pupil ratio.
Mr. Banda said that, in a bid to improve the standards of education in the country, government last year recruited about 5,000 teachers and increased the number of secondary and basic school classrooms to 1,000 and 2,000 respectively.
He said his administration will this year renovate all the dilapidated infrastructure to increase the enrollment levels in tertiary education institutions.
He cited Mulamupikwa Police College in Chinsali district as one of the institutions earmarked for rehabilitation, which will be turned into a teachers college.
President Banda further said government also intends to turn the Copperbelt Teachers Training College into a university.
He commended the private colleges and universities in the country for supplementing government’s efforts in proving high quality education in the country.
He said private colleges and universities are helping government to deliver high standards of education, which in turn is contributing to sustainable economic development in the nation.
President Banda further said that government is in the process of finalizing the higher education national policy.
ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS
Editor’s Note: Parliament Opening Photo Gallery to follow soon
Rb is finally working
Continuel the good work ba mudala!
Is that Thandiwe? I like her hair style.
What a long report. Let me read…
HEAR HEAR.I will read later.
Usual talkshow
I hope the chief Justice can listen to the sessions from RSA. I think they are recorded anyway.
#4 Nine Chale nice try. Better luck next time. Hope you are doing good though & keeping warm.
At least Ba RB. Keep on keeping on.
Dear bloggers till Monday. Nayenda ku Weekend.
God bless you.
RB has not given clear guidelines on how the economy is to be revamped.
We are tired of listening,we want results and actions.
Twachula pafula
We need results not just talking.Lets wait and see how the Budget will look like
Where was don chilu during the official opening of parliament?[-([-(
No comment 😮
The government must have a live debate,RB must be answerable every three months.How bout that?
Iwe gc upezeka kuti?
President Banda assured that government WILL ADDRESS concerns,
On the economic front, President Banda said his administration would continue to implement prudent fiscal monetary POLICIES,
He said government will CHANNEL MORE EFFORTS towards diversifying the national economy,
Mr. Banda said government WOULD LIKE TO SEE the price stabilized,
He assured the nation that government WOULD ALSO ENSURE that there was more supply of fuel,
He said his administration was also PUTTING IN PLACE measures aimed at addressing load shedding in the country.
Rat Bastard is full of empty talk, nothing concrete. We keep hearing this bullsh!t year in year out, it stinks. Toadface is crapsh!t
RB should call the CEO’s of these mines to State House and castigate them. Not telling them of from 1000kms away. You are in charge RB get cracking
all this efforts to woo investors – they are not the answer to everything please
No comment!!! story too long!
RB needs a more presidential wife. that gal needs a major make over.
I admire the respect accorded to RB and also the attractive speech he delivered. I wish things would be done as spoken or even better than that.
But who doesn’t know that the speech is more of dirt politicking?
Make Zambia better a mudala then we can declare that you are working not just talking.
A wife is a wife. you dont change a wife just because u’ve made it that’s so shallow to put it politely
Been waiting for this story. I like the threat of revocation of mining licenses. Lets ensure we implement all the promises
Cant read this article, too long
i don’t think we should rush into turning thesecolleges into universities without proper planning.Case in point mulungushi university in kabwe.
RB has made geneal statements of what his govt is doing about the difficulties we are fcing, most of which do not make sense! He should hold a press conference to explain how he and his govt will implement.
Poor reading culture.. lol…
Don’t forget that RB is a veteran economist/Politician with a Master Degree education.Don’t expect him to be a stone throwing cheap popularist leader like a standerd 2 Sata.
no comment pliz.
You Chapi at #30 There is no need to involve Mr Sata in this
Am begining to think some bloggers are addicted to the name of sata. They can’t function properly without mentioning his name. Lets talk issues not tissues!
#29 some of us, we have better things to do than to sit and read long articles which dont make sense.
This is a regular opening of parliament. No more need for these ZAF fly pasts unless it’s a state funeral etc… we don’t have enough resources.
Pumpy
Shilala pali ba nani shilala
The Transport and Communication Industry in Zambia is a major disaster. Rail line linking Sourthen Africa to Copperbelt was developed to make trasportation of mineral goods easy, this line is now neglected with heavy metals being uplifted and overloaded on trucks, there by eroding road net-work. Similarly the gate-way to Dar Port (TAZARA) has not been developed further and yet the Country depends on Dar for imports and exports. Airline Industry is another disaster, with regards to road transport so many lives have been lost especially on the great north road due negeligent Mini Bus Drivers and other Private Buses Operators. Are these the benefits of liberalisation as the MMD coin it?
30. Chapi
You risk chasing away more pipo from this blog with you comments about SATA. Ask Maestro, we cant account for a certain prominent brother on this blog.
37.Ask Hefty Jay.
RB till 2016. Viva RB, Viva 2016!
Still on Communication Zambians are being ripped-off by mobile service providers. Zamtel needs modernisation to provider a user friendly service. The telecommunications systems needs a total over-haul. What with so many recycled cars heading for Zambia whose road net work was not designed to cater for so many cars, especially Lusaka. These are the issues the Govt needs to address urgently as to a large extent they have an impact on Tourism attraction.
That hair style needs much to be desired for especially on such an important occasion!
41 you have a point. How can MTN be cheaper than Cell Z when the facilities MTN are using belong to Zamtel(cell z)?
#33 :)):)):)):)):)) wansekesha you are right:)>-
All we hear from RB is talk and talk no implementation. Mudala we want action otherwise with 50+1 you will be out of office.Anyway i seem to like his young wife. Please let her maintain her natural sytle not like other previous ladies.
When is Amusa Mwanamwambwa going to retire? Looks like some positions have no retirement age or service limit.
#42 BABY C yapikin`ga that is why it is important to expose your wife,this man was vice for about a yr (if im right) before the passing on of LPM yet his wife still lacks the exposure of the first lady.she could have learned when he was vice.not ukusha umukashi she needs to see what other first and second ladies do,they have always had enough money but maybe abosi kaso kuvalika mukazi
Everything President Banda said didn’t mean it and therefore this was a window dressing exercise. There is nothing practical that this man talked about.
Food Reserve Agency has gailed the people of Zambia. Fire the chap in charge and restructre it. Mining, how can the minister of labour go to the mines for seek audience with mine managers? Bushilu, He was supposed to surmon them to his office.
RB get serious, presidency is not easy.
This report is too diverse, I don’t even know where to begin my comments.
RB has addressed various issues. The economic sector has utmost priority and should be on top of his vision 2030. Our nation has lagged behind for too long now and we cannot afford to continue sitting & talking, words are measured by action.
Basically, we expect to see something being done to improve the lives of common Zambians. Better schools/education, better medical services & better infrastructure.
Now, not later!
Supergal
Where is superboy kanshi?
superboy alicaya depa. i cant find him..how u doing today?
#48,IAM IN GERMANY
I was supa boy. :d/:d/
:)>- Listen up all of you. How on earth do the all 49 manage to be earlier than me on this topic?;) Here is the new rule…if you are number 50, the your number one…after all, it’s 50 plus One:d
So I’m Number
[-x ~o)=d>
Coming to the ever talking government of RB: you are better off wasting as little of your time in bragging as possible. this is the shortest term a person can afford to be president. Work, work, work…not just promise. We are tired of the political muzik. Deliver in the best interest of your fellow rig masters …otherwise, tamwakaitambe bwino mu 2011!b-(
correction,I mean #17 and not 48. sorry!!!!!
…hah:o nachedwa kaili![-(:(( …make sure you deliver RB!Otherwise you are likely to go faster than you came. We can’t wait to fire anyone who does NOT deliver!
Chewe
Where are you man?I really miss you I promise this time I will be behind you.Please come back mwana.
[-o<[-o<[-o<[-o<[-o<
very good speech but it must be followed by action on the part of the government. For me what is important is Agric, the government should put much emphasis on this issue otherwise we will continue to suffer. This year the fertilizer support project has been a disaster and nothing has worked well. RB should at least acknowledge this.
Why does this speech sound familiar?Does it strike you as recycled.On education,i say enough of basic schools.Can someone do something about the colleges especially all the technicons like NOTHEC or is it NORTEC and such.We need to start producing people that will contribute to the welfare of the country.What happened to Chiawa maize project?Isnt it fascinating that one year without rain is enough to cause hunger in Zambia.Can you also tell FRA not to buy all the food from villages but leave same for the people there.Its easy if you put your mind to it.
Dont bring sata here. That man is a piece of crap’ if u want 2 talk abt sata put the story in the post/ and tel him 2 work on drainages in lusaka.
What RB presented is a mere long statement of intent. Unfortunately we are back to the long empty speeches of the Kaunda/UNIP days. Come December Zambian rural areas will still be in abject poverty and almost lifeless. You praise a man for his good deeds and not because he has made a long speech. I believe most of those praising RB on this blog are Easterners. Typical of their wako ni wako syndrome.
I think RB is a clever lawyer who could do much better than that.That speech is fit to give first year college students when campainging for SRC as we acll it in Umzansi.Its not as eatiled as i would have liked.I want to see a speech that gives time frames on how and when projects will be implemented.Then we will know we are moving forward.
speeeches speeches well … now lets get the tools and work.
and what about corruption? why no comment on prudent management of the public purse?
AJ you r joking he had an EU flag. not UK ha ha ha,
Corruption balaitina kaili lest it visits you.
Hi am RB. To those of you who dont know what RB means,
1. Rotten Brian – I forget all what I promised and promise more
2. Rubish Boss – I do not take suggestions or criticizim from anyone
3. Rubber Band – I believe in Late Mwanawase but forsake his vision
3. Reasoning Blunder- I believe every one is wrong only TETA, Mulongoti, Shakafuswa, are right
4. Rigging Brian- I make more votes in rural areas where there are few voters.
Thank you
RB
rb is full of hot air just like the rest of them. “reduce gas prices, blah blah blah.” we need to hold his feet to the fire and make him walk back to chipata if he doesnt do good on his word. we are tired of these talk shows.
Ya this essay,whilst at Kamwala high school,i was one of the best pupils in history.But ifi fyana awe.Kubwata bwata po fye pa ma sectors but he wont even do anything.At master degree ba #30.iya mu federal.
Too slow l-)
fertiliser support programs have not been handled properly,corruption is the main subject there in.big men are the ones facilitating selling fertiliser outside before it is not given to intended beneficiary..its a mockerly to small scale farmers now.I hope Rb will sort out this issue before next season cos people paid for fertiliser and they are not able to plant,what will happen next season interms of mealie meal prices?
Hello again everyone
De minister of communications should be removed 4rom dat ministry as she does not know de operations of de min.
If RB thinks de agriculture sector is not doing well, why did he appoint our hard working medical doc to head it.Was de intention 2 frustrate him.
I think the speech is good but should see a lot of action. These people are jokers most of the time. Can we boot him out if he dose not perform 90days after this speech.
Detective just shut up
Pumpy i wil bump in yo A***s u little kaponya! Behave.
Good speech Mr. RB. This speech shows your maturity and we look forward to seeing what will be implemented this year. I especially like what you said about the FRA. This will surely go a long way at reducing poverty in the rural areas. And thank you for bringing up the point of upgrading the colleges into universities. This country needs more univerisities.
You delivered on the increase on UNZA meal allowance.
You managed to reduce the mealie meal prices
You managed to foster the reduction of fuel prices.
We are confident that you’ll deliver. But if you don’t, you’ll be subject to criticism and scrutiny.
:)>-
The bar has been set in public leadership.Its educated leadership and again educated leadership henceforth.Irrespective of age we want educated, sober and pragmatic leadership.No more room for futureless cheap popularism of money in the pocket never to the scientific validation to expert and professional knowledge.Mwanawasa was a LLB and now RB Graduate school degree holder-Masters.No ways no how reverting to sub 2 school drop outs to wreck the country.
Zambia wins when educated folks reigns and perish and are macheted with pangas when illiterates hold it.
BRAVO MOTHER ZAMBIA ON THIS DEC MOVE!
Dr.Solomon Jere PHD is LLB UNZA,
Master and PHD The University of Technology Sydney (U.T.S.), in New South Wales, Australia.
Devoted christian,husband and father of two.He has the passion, integrity and consitency in his life.
Its just a repetition of what previous presidents had been saying in their speeches each time an occassion like that was held. We are tired of this baseless speeches all we need is actions coz actions speaks louder than words.**==:-@:-@:-@:)):))
PF advise your illterate presesident SATA tthat the game i ovver. Kalaleni bambuya wandi. Lisahamo sana abash ba Sata and PF could be a party.
Hi Supergal still online…?
Nomba the first couple looks so awkward. I bet RB did not think he would end up in the “white house” when he hitching that ka babe.
Awe nakapikina akagologolo kamunensu zo-ona,natumukule nakaluka bwino kapowder napo :d
The general’s public opinion(stomach) need a workout . These guys cannot jog 100 meters.
we need alangizi to teach the first family how to look presentable on such occasions. she looked lost and un interested.
Dr Solomon Jere should be the IG He is the only policeman with such relevant academic qualification. He is approachable but firm. Fellow bloggers what do you say?????
A quote for the day:A good leader must have an ability to motivate other people toward a common goal(not neccesarily by how many academic qualifications) :)>-
ba firstlady ni copper ba fwele?
true or false?bamwine ba Presdential aspirant ba micheal sata was once butchered by women from kabwata market because of his provocative behaviour.
Ha I knew it, I knew it. Kaunda was in attendance, not that I care too much, but has put to rest my strong suspicion that KK is the one pulling the strings and making NyamaSoya dance like a muppet. I know SoyaNyama can say sweet things but clueless on implementaion. K.K want’s to finish his legacy thru him. Ha he will lead RB into the ditch. Riots, Looting willbe the order of the day due to false promises & failure to improve economy.
It would be far more worthwhile to fix rural roads and ag extension than to continue with fert.subsidy and fra. After all they just benefit the urban loafers and not the poor hard working farmer. Farmers dont want LOWER maize prices we want them Higher!
It would be far more worthwhile to fix rural roads and ag extension than to continue with fert.subsidy and fra. After all they just benefit the urban loafers and not the poor hard working farmer. Farmers dont want LOWER maize prices we want them Higher!