President Banda says Zambia will continue upholding principles of good governance by strengthening and developing watchdog institutions such as civil society and the media.
And the German Government has pledged three million euros, out of which two million euros is meant for budgetary support and one million will be dedicated to strengthening the decentralisation policy.
President Banda said Zambia is committed to the fight against corruption. He said while efforts to fight corruption are being recognised by institutions such as Transparency International, there is still more to be done to conquer corruption.
President Banda said Zambia’s record on fighting corruption has improved, according to the Transparency International corruption index.
Mr Banda said this at State House yesterday when visiting German Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development Dirk Niebel called on him.
“Zambia will continue upholding the principles of good governance by strengthening watchdog institutions such as the civil society and the media.
We have made some successes in the fight against corruption and this has been evidenced by the improved record on the Transparency International corruption index. But there is still more to be done and we are committed,” Mr Banda said.
President Banda said Zambia and Germany have continued to enjoy cordial relations for more than 40 years.
He said Government appreciates the assistance the German government has been rendering, particularly to water and sanitation, which has increased the number of people having access to clean water and better sanitation.
The President said Government has approved the decentralisation policy and implementation has already started.
Mr Banda said the country has been making steady progress in the development of the education and health sectors through infrastructure development.
“It is Government’s intention to replicate the construction of economic infrastructure in other sectors. The German people have to be thanked for the sacrifice they make on behalf of the people of Zambia,” Mr Banda said.
And Mr Niebel said his country will continue supporting Zambia to fight poverty and improve the lives of the people.
Mr Niebel said corruption has remained the biggest challenge in many countries in the world and that it is important to put more effort in fighting the vice.
[pullquote]“It is Government’s intention to replicate the construction of economic infrastructure in other sectors. The German people have to be thanked for the sacrifice they make on behalf of the people of Zambia,” Mr Banda said.[/pullquote]
The German minister is in Zambia with a 40-man delegation to look at the development programmes Zambia is implementing.
He said his government would like to see rural communities benefit from the economic progression Zambia is making.
Meanwhile, the Government of Germany has said Zambia has a lot of potential in agriculture and tourism, which Germany is ready to explore.
Mr Niebel said in an interview on Thursday that Germany is impressed with the economic development in the two sectors.
He said the German government is happy with the application of donor funds from Germany in water and sanitation. At least two million people now have access to clean drinking water and better sanitation as a result of the financial support from Germany.
“We think that Zambia has great potential in the agriculture and tourism sector and the Government of Germany is willing to explore the two sectors. In water and sanitation, there has been a lot of success and I am told that over two million Zambians now have access to clean water and good sanitation,” Mr Niebel said.
He said the water sector has recorded a lot of success during the time the German government has been supporting it.
He said a lot of children are now able to attend school as a result of improved social services such as water and sanitation.
Mr Niebel said Zambia and Germany have been working together on a bilateral basis for the last 40 years and hoped that the relationship would continue to grow.
He also called for improved trade between Germany and Zambia.
Last year, the German government bought about 99,000 euros worth of cobalt, which is below what Germany intends to buy.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
Can it happen that the Zambian government would strengthen the civil society and the media? How possible Your Excellency?
suprise me
Come on Rupiah, be realistic and spare the Zambian People the agony of your empty promises. We have had enough of you and your misrule & just cant wait for 2011 to deliver that knock out punch.
The two years you have been around feels like a decade in hell.
You are a failure and a huge liability to both MMD & the country
The confidence shown by interntional investers is testimony to the inspiring rule of RB, all aimed at improving the lives of zambians. Some may not agree but only 2 yrs of his exallencies leadership has impoved zambias standing world wide. We have a fast growing middle class, that would put many of these armchaire diasporan critics to shame and make them see that living in zambia is not a bad idea. His exallency is always discussing development and ways to improve zambia unlike the deranged sata who seems to think all zambians want to hear is insults, and other shy school boy from the south who has made the biggest mistake of his life by jumping in bed with a snake, sata.
Zambia Wesu No. 3 you are right on !!! Now let’s make sure that as many Zambians in Zambia do register to vote so that the knock out punch will be more clearer. I am outside the country now as will be by election time, please those of us outside the country let’s encourage people we know to register as many as possible so that we make it clear to Ruphiah that we did not appreciate his leadership.
# 5 and those of us outside the country that appreciate Rupiahs leadership, we are equally encouraging those in Zambia to register and give another mandate to Rupiah’s government mainly due to lack of a better alternative and because those against the leadership have not really put up tangible flaws and the rest of the world seems to be appreciating how the country is being governed. Collectively as Zambians despite who we are supporting, let us urge all those in Zambia to uphold peace as we enter the election year.
I have been in Mansa for the past three days now. In my intereaction with the people, i have established two things: first PF or indeed the pact’s popularity is waning. MMD may retain the parliamentary seat and do better in the presidential vote. Seocond, Mr Banda’s sacking of Musosha is accepted to be a correct decision and actually some feel it was long overdue.
President Banda may appear to be doing fine in attracting Chinese Investors,China is the strongest economy in the world but as a county we have not put in place enough safeguards (i.e suitable tax regime) for the country to benefit from these investments!