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| President Rupiah Banda |
Thousands of people braved the August sun to gather at Changanamayi grounds in Kitwe’s Kwacha compound to listen to President Rupiah Banda campaign rally.
The crowd drawn from all parts of Kitwe, also known as the Hub of the Copperbelt, most of whom were clad in the traditional MMD blue regalia attires, sang political songs in praise of President Banda’s somewhat splendid leadership.
The President too responded positively to the huge crowds desire to listen to him as he later reminiscence what his government has done in the now three years of being in office.
He outlined future social and economic plans for Zambia.
ZANIS reports from Kitwe, today, that President Banda told the mammoth rally that there was every reason for the people of Zambia to vote for him and all the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidates in the local government and parliamentary positions.
He explained that the reason why Zambians should vote for him and the MMD is that he has lived to fulfil all the promises he made in 2008 and fulfilled them accordingly.
“Our duty as leaders is to listen carefully to what the people are saying. In 2008 when I came here I promised you that I will be a president who will bring security, stability, peace and development. Since 2008, a lot of development has taken place and today we are a middle income country,” he said amid cheers from thousands of people who chanted slogans in support with his administration.
President Banda, who is in the Copperbelt for a series of activities including political rallies, said in the education sector, a lot of infrastructure development has taken place.
He explained that among this infrastructure is the construction of Kamfinsa, Lufwanyama, Mpongwe, Masaiti and Masangano high schools which will significantly help improve enrolment levels and quality of educations to children of the school going age in the Copperbelt province.
He reminded the people of Kitwe that since 2008, his government prevented five mines from closing completely thereby serving thousands of jobs which would have otherwise sent thousands of families into poverty.
President Banda named the mines as Luanshya, Konkola North, Konkola Deep, and Nkana while Mopani Copper Mine has expanded during the same period.
“To us Zambians, the word mine means jobs and prosperity,” he said adding that mining was a mainstay of the people of the Copperbelt province which has contributed largely to the economic stability of Zambia.
The President said the health sector has also benefitted a lot as government built health posts, clinics, hospitals and expanded and rehabilitated existing ones in the province just like in any other part of the country.
He said more people were now owner of homes in the Copperbelt and other provinces of Zambia.
President Banda said his government will continue empowering Zambians with homes noting that his government still has piles of petitions from sitting tenants asking him to help facilitate the sale of such houses to them.
He added that 2,000 kilometres of feeder roads have been worked on in the province.
President Banda however noted that despite all this visible development whose spill over effects are felt among Zambians, much more needs to be done.
He said his government was aiming at changing the current economic status quo by providing hospitals, schools, roads and other social amenities which will trigger massive economic development in the country.
“The change I want is to enable Zambians grow more food so that other countries can be getting it from here. I also want change where we will build universities in every province of this country where people in all fields will be trained,” he said.
The President reiterated that his biggest ambition was to make Zambia attractive even to those Zambians professionals that have sought greener economic pastures elsewhere to return and offer their services to the local people.
He said in the last few years, industrialization has increased thereby consuming a lot of energy and fuel.
Mr. Banda said despite this increase in industries, his government has continued to provide fuel without any shortage and standardized fuel prices countrywide.
“We want development in every part of this country. That is why we are doing roads for Zambians to conduct their businesses smoothly,” he said.
And President Banda has expressed sadness that the Kitwe City Council, which was dominated by opposition Patriotic Front Councillors in the last five years.
He said it is saddening that the PF led council has failed to provide vital services to residents of the city.
He said during the last five years, social services deteriorated in Kitwe especially in the area of sanitation.
“Avoidable diseases such as cholera and typhoid have been experienced here because of the council’s failure to provide good health and hygienic services, “said the President.
The President therefore urged the people of Kitwe not to vote for the opposition political parties because they have failed them.
He said politics was a serious profession because it is about bettering people’s lives and their welfare.
And the same rally, former Vice President Enoch Kavindele asked the people of the Copperbelt province to appreciate what President Banda’s government has done in the last few years in order to serve jobs and make their lives betters.
Mr. Kavindele said President Banda was a respectful, honesty and focused person who has the interests of Zambians at heart.
He said if President Banda will be allowed to lead Zambia again in the next five years, the country will be changed for the better.
Meanwhile, Zambia National Marketers Association (ZANAMA) Chairman General, Elvis Nkandu said the fixing of township roads in Kitwe and elsewhere will ease the transportation of goods by traders.
Mr. Nkandu said this will in turn improve the economic statuses of marketers in the country.
After the rally, scores of MMD supporters went round the Kitwe City honking and singing solidarity songs while branding their party symbol to residents who in turn waved back in support.
President Banda will tomorrow attend a Church Service at St. Maximillian Catholic Church in Luanshya, address miners and later in the day address a rally in Roan Township.
ZANIS
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