Other Presidents admire my successes – HH
…discloses that the UN would like to use Zambia as a model in the implementation of free education, says many Presidents in Africa are wondering how he has successfully implemented the CDF are learning from him
By NATION REPORTER
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has bragged that many other of his fellow Presidents in Africa are mesmerised with what he has managed to achieve in developing Zambia in just three years of his presidency.
President Hichilema says African countries are in fact learning from Zambia about what his government has exponentially achieved in three years of being in power.
And President Hichilema has disclosed that the United Nations (UN) is planning to use Zambia as a role model in the implementation of the free education policy, stating that the African Union (AU) had also taken note of how his government had revolutionized free education, which he said has so far seen more than two million children enrolled into school.
President Hichilema says many of his fellow Presidents in Africa have been mesmerized about how he has been able to implement his flagship, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which has been the vehicle of taking development to every party of Zambia without any form of segregation.
Speaking when he addressed about 48 traditional leaders who were gathered in Mansa for the Chabuka “Isandulula” traditional ceremony, President Hichilema many Presidents in Africa had been in more for about ten and 15 years but had not been able to achieve what he had in three years of his presidency.
He said that his fellow Presidents in Africa were asking him how he had managed to deliver his promises and development across the country meant that there was something good his government was doing for Zambians.
“We have been in office for only three years and we inherited difficulties but we love Zambians and we have to work for them. In the three years we have been in office, two million children have gone back to school. The African Union and the UN (United Nations) have taken note of what is happening in Zambia. The UN wants to use Zambia as an example in the implantation of the free education policy,” President Hichilema said.
My other fellow President when we meet, they ask me…HH (Hakainde Hichilema), how did you do the CDF? We here good things are happening …you are building classrooms across the country, water, health centres. African countries are learning what is happening in Zambia. Many Presidents have been in power for 10 years, 15 years and we have been in government for only three years. It means there is something good we are doing,” Mr Hichilema said. President Hichilema said he was happy that for the first time since independence, traditional leaders were able to gather in one place to celebrate and appreciate cultural diversity.
He said as he was going round the country gracing traditional ceremony, he was learning a lot as a perpetual learner and that he was taking the challenges the people were complaining about with the seriousness they deserved.
President Hichilema encouraged the traditional leadership in the country to work with serving government, stating that the UPND was elected by almost 60 percent of the vote and was dedicated to working for the people.
“Almost 60 percent of Zambians elected this (UPND) government. As traditional leaders, you do not work with parallel organisations. We inherited huge debt but it is our duty to resolve such challenges. We are a lovely country and we should love each other,” President Hichilema said.
The head of State also announced that his government had taken a deliberate action to upgrade all the local airports on the Northern Circuit to international airports to attract not only tourism but investment in various sectors including agriculture and energy.
“For the first time in history, Mansa Airport will be upgraded to an international airport. We did Kasama, we will do the same for Chipata, Nakonde and Mbala to upgrade them to international airports. Give us your trust…you have seen what we have done in three years. Allow us to fix this country and we shall do it in a proper way…in an organized manner,” President Hichilema said.