President Edgar Lungu says the recently signed 2.3 billion U.S dollar agreement for the construction of the 388.3 kilometer rail line connecting Eastern and Central Provinces will enhance regional trade.
President Lungu says the rail line will further stir economic activities for Zambia and its neighbours through the Nacala Development Corridor.
The President says this is part of the rail network expansion by government to reduce the wear and tear of roads.
Speaking during the annual Greeting of Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Zambia at State House, President Lungu thanked the country’s bilateral and multilateral partners for their unwavering support toward the country’s development.
He said the PF government is aware of hardships caused by the economic downturn of 2016 but is committed to advancing the country’s social and economic agenda.
The President adds that government was compelled to remove subsidies on fuel and gradual introduction of cost reflective electricity tariffs so that financial resources can be channeled toward productive sectors.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has revealed that the soon to be launched Seventh National Development Plan will focus more on agriculture linking it to other sectors that are key in contributing to the country’s social and economic development.
He has also assured diplomats and heads of agencies accredited to Zambia that the country will continue being a beacon of peace in the region and beyond.
And Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Attala Subhi Ahmed Qubia has thanked President Lungu for the support offered to diplomats and called for further strengthening of existing ties.
Mr. Qubia who is also Palestine Ambassador to Zambia further wished President Lungu and Zambians good health.
About 61 Diplomats and Heads of Agencies accredited to Zambia were in attendance.
All these projects are announced daily…. if i remember the last major project announced was the Ndola international airport and we were told many is available to start and miners retrenched would be employed on the project….
Not even a single tree has been uprooted to start the projects …
Dream on
Couldn’t agree more announcement after announcement and nothing to show. Get to work
You’re right my brother – there was also the story of the three universities in Solwezi, Petauke and Senanga, which, it now turns out, was a mere campaign ploy and utter wishful thinking. LIES, IN MORNING, LIE IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVEVNING; THEY LIVE ON LIES!!!!
Love the pics.
ED2.0 grins at ambassador, “Have a nice flight, dude. Job done, huh?”
American ambassador clenches fist thinking punch him or toast him…
Ambassador picks up glass. Clink.
ED2.0 chats to others.
American ambassador decides he has nothing to lose by speaking his mind, “I may be gone but Trump will use you if he needs to and tweet about you if he doesn’t. Business as usual.”
Grin wiped off ED2.0 decides pumping hands with China is a better plan.
Kavindere can do that railway for just half billion.
Chirwa for 1 billion
PF state house $2.3 billion, of which $10 million is already spent on Announcement Ceremony.
Just another lie. Tazara needs a complete revamp for less than a billion dollars but Lungu lies about a railway through Eastern Province costing over 3 times that much. What a comedy!
It’s North Western that produces all the copper that was supposed to be linked by rail nor Eastern province. What are they planning on transporting, imichila ya mbeba? Kupusa mu chalo too much sure.
You do realize that the eastern province is now Zambia’s bread basket. My western province shall be be the second bread basket of Zambia in a year.
@Nzelu
Yes, it’s Zambia’s bread basket but it’s next to nothing when you you look at it in terms of contribution to GDP. We largely depend on a single commodity which is copper. Therefore, a railway line through north western province, copper belt joining to any border with countries with ports would make sense.
….what economic boom is he talking about when about $2bln of that money will find its way back to foreign land..China etc…in the name of contracts, machinery and expert labour which shall include front end loader…folk lift operators..and out of the $0.3 bln party of it will be bribery to officials ending up in offshore accounts…
Illegitimate Lungu can announce as many phantom projects as he wants but that will not restore his legitimacy. Now that his comrade Yahya Jammeh has been de-recognised Lungu better hear the UPND Petition b4 he is de-recognised by SADC,AU and UN.
He is having an annual diplomatic corps Greets Ceremony at State house, but has never held a press conference to face the people who voted him in power.
You have agreed to a $2.3 billion Project funded by who…you have lamentably failed to fund the Chingola -Solwezi road you are talking of billion dollar projects.
What a shame the Lazy Bum is!!
And the Kitwe-Chingola dual carriageway is partially done. This is a govt of crooks and liars.
@Buck Teeth Lungu – FQM has taken over construction..they are not foools to hand over to these thieves who will quote a whooping $1 millions per kilometer.
Isn’t the American ambassador about to leave? At least he had a nice farewell drink.
ED2.0 doing what he does best. Talk and guzzle.
When is Eddie Mwanaleza going to retire he’s been taking pictures since I was born
MR LUNGU WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT DORA AND DAVIES MWILA? MADAM WINA DO YOU ALSO BLESS THIS NONSENSE GOING ON? EVEN CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI HAS COME TO A POINT WHERE HE SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
A picture tells a thousand words……our leaders all have their hands crossed. No confidence, look at the guests they all look confident, smiling and associating with others freely. Ours..hands in front and folded…..politics of appeasement…umuchinchi..yet they are the biggest thieves. Ati puuba ulye…..zed politics. They have no balls to contradict nor express an opinion. Whatever comes from the mouth of the president is always right.
Some of these diplomatic cows who were dining with the opposition now they don’t even pick their calls…and this ex-US ambassador he hasn’t heard that Trump has said he must resign on his own as he is fired
Now we getting tired and irritated with your announcements Mr president just how many more projects are we going be told about and they go to sleep. The Pave zambia project which was announced and successful bidders advertised in your daily mail and times papers to date one year down the line nothing has happened. When it comes to ZRA implementing ways of collecting money from the poor zambians it only takes 24 hrs and it’s a done deal. The only good year for a Zambian is the election year because in this period ,government projects and payments are done within the earliest time. We vote for a better future and ask yourself ,what’s the number of politicians compared to our population. We are above 14 million ,and politicians are less than 500 000. So why must be held at gun point…
America is supposed to be the torch bearer. Now this American ambassador fraternizing with a dictator is betrayer to the Zambian people just like Judas Iscariot. Let him go back to his country we will not miss him. He is just serving his ego and these are the people who have been misleading Obama.
Hazalusa Hagain!
@Daniel, I agree with you. ZRA can’t even run at 80km/h and visionless Lungu want to waste billions of dollars where there’s no economic activity instread of improving ZRA and connecting NWP to Angola first just because of the wako niwako RB philosophy.
It’s us Zambians who are stupid. We were promised solar ifigayo for cheaper mealie meal. Tafyamoneka. How long do we have to wait sure?
Namwanga go in rural areas you will find those vingayo plenty, nearly every village has got one chingayo.