REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR THURSDAY, 31ST DECEMBER, 2020 STATE HOUSE LUSAKA

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COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

GOOD EVENING.

IN A FEW HOURS TIME, THE NEW YEAR WILL ARRIVE. THE COUNT DOWN TO 2021 WILL BE OVER.  WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD FOR HIS GRACE THAT HAS ENABLED US TO REACH THIS FAR, AS WE END THE YEAR 2020 AND ENTER THE NEW YEAR, 2021.

THIS IS THE MOMENT WE LOOK BACK AT THE JOURNEY WE HAVE TRAVERSED TOGETHER IN 2020.  IT IS TIME TO REFLECT ON THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES WE FACED TOGETHER AS A NATION.  IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES WITH RENEWED HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

THE YEAR 2020 WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A YEAR WORLD ECONOMIES FACED HARD TIMES, WITH SMALL ECONOMIES EXPERIENCING EXTREME NEGATIVE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTS. WE ARE NO EXCEPTION. THE COUNTRY FACED A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES. NOTABLE AMONG THESE, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, THE MACRO-ECONOMIC INSTABILITY AND THE NATURAL DISASTERS.

THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCED HIGH INFLATION, EXCHANGE RATE INSTABILITY AND HIGH INTEREST RATES.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

WE EXPERIENCED LOW LEVELS OF REVENUE COLLECTION AND LOW LEVELS OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED LOW RECRUITMENT LEVELS IN KEY SECTORS, SUCH AS EDUCATION AND HEALTH. OTHER CHALLENGES INCLUDED INCREASED FOOD PRICES AND LOW LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO PROGRAMMES SUCH AS SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER, TO MENTION BUT A FEW. MANY OF THESE CHALLENGES, TO A LARGER EXTENT, HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

DEBT REPAYMENT, FUEL PROCUREMENT, AND ELECTRICITY DEFICIT, ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF OUR ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

FLOODS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WASHED AWAY ROADS AND BRIDGES, DAMAGED SCHOOLS, AND LEFT COMMUNITIES NEEDING RELIEF FOOD, SHELTER AND MEDICINES.

 

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

EVEN WITH THESE HARD TIMES, WE REMAINED RESOLUTE TO ENSURING THAT WE SERVED THE PEOPLE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES. WE DID NOT SIT BACK TO SEE THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT BRING US DOWN.

TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19, GOVERNMENT ROLLED OUT SPECIFIC MEASURES, WHICH INCLUDED AN INTEGRATED HEALTH RESPONSE, THE EMERGENCY SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER FOR VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS, THE 10 BILLION KWACHA COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE, AND THE 30 MILLION KWACHA STIMULUS PACKAGE FOR ARTISTES.  IN ADDITION, GOVERNMENT PROVIDED VARIOUS EMPOWERMENT PACKAGES AND RELIEF FOOD TO SEVERELY AFFECTED FAMILIES.

AS A RESULT OF THE MULTI-SECTORAL RESPONSE BEING IMPLEMENTED AND THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM ALL OUR PARTNERS, WE MANAGED TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.  IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ORGANISATION RANKED ZAMBIA THE FOURTH SAFEST TRAVEL DESTINATION IN THE WORLD OUT OF 70 COUNTRIES WITH VERIFIABLE DATA ON COVID-19.

WE ARE ASSURED THAT A NUMBER OF COVID-19 VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEW YEAR. THIS MEANS THAT THE DARKNESS AND DESPAIR OF COVID-19 WILL, AT LONG LAST, GIVE WAY TO THE LIGHT OF HOPE.  THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR HUMANITY AND GOOD NEWS FOR OUR ECONOMY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT MEANS THAT WE MUST SEIZE THE MOMENT AND THE OPPORTUNITY OFFERED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT AND WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY WE NEED.

HOWEVER, LET ME HASTEN TO URGE THE NATION THAT DESPITE THE DISCOVERY OF THE VACCINES, WE MUST NOT LOWER OUR GUARD. WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO AND ENFORCE THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES. WE MUST, AT ALL COST, AVOID A RESURGENCE OF COVID-19 IN OUR COUNTRY.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

INDEED, THERE ARE MANY MORE SUCCESSES THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE. MY GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2011. WE HAVE BUILT OVER A THOUSAND PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND CLOSE TO 500 SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES FROM TWO TO SEVEN.

IN ADDITION, MY GOVERNMENT HAS CONSTRUCTED EIGHT TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTES, 774 TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS AND 73 DIGITAL TRANSMISSION TOWERS.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

WE ARE ALSO CONSTRUCTING 36 DISTRICT HOSPITALS SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY OPERATIONAL. THE LEVY MWANAWASA UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL HAS BEEN BUILT, WHILE LIVINGSTONE GENERAL HOSPITAL HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL. THIS GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO DELIVERED OVER 400 HEALTH POSTS.

 

FURTHER, WE HAVE UPGRADED 600 KILOMETERS OF TRUNK, MAIN AND DISTRICT ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE ALSO REHABILITATED OVER 2,500 KILOMETERS AND MAINTAINED OVER 62,000 KILOMETERS OF ROADS. THIS GOVERNMENT IS ALSO INCREASING ELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITY.

IN 2021, OUR GENERATION CAPACITY WILL INCREASE TO 3,000 MEGAWATTS COMPARED TO 1,970 MEGAWATTS IN 2011 WHEN THE PATRIOTIC FRONT CAME INTO POWER.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

THE BENEFITS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE ALREADY EVIDENT. TODAY, OUR PEOPLE ARE COVERING SHORTER DISTANCES TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES. IN ADDITION, MORE OF OUR CHILDREN ARE ACCESSING EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS.

THE COMMUNICATION TOWERS AND THE GOOD ROADS HAVE MADE BUSINESS EASIER, CHEAPER AND FASTER TO CONDUCT. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE HAS MADE IT EASY FOR THE COUNTRY TO NAVIGATE THE NEW NORMAL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. OUR PEOPLE ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SERVICES AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.

THESE ARE PHENOMENAL ACHIEVEMENTS WHICH SPEAK OF A WORKING GOVERNMENT. IT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT AND YOUR MONEY AT WORK.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

OUR COUNTRY HAS CONTINUED TO BE FOOD SECURE DESPITE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

THIS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO DELIVER FARMING INPUTS ON TIME, COUPLED WITH HARD WORK BY OUR FARMERS, AND GENERALLY GOOD RAINFALL PATTERNS.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

OVER ONE MILLION FARMERS HAVE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ACCESSED FARMING INPUTS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. AND TO DEMONSTRATE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY, THE BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THE FARMER INPUT SUPPORT PROGRAMME HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM 1.1 BILLION KWACHA THIS YEAR TO 5.7 BILLION KWACHA FOR 2021.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

OUR SUCCESS STORY WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT MENTIONING THE SUPPORT GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO GIVE TO OUR WOMEN AND YOUTH.

MORE OF OUR VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE FOOD SECURITY PACK AND OTHER WOMEN AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES. THESE PROGRAMMES HAVE SEEN SOME OF OUR PEOPLE ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AQUACULTURE, WELDING, CARPENTRY AND SMALL-SCALE MINING.  THIS DEVELOPMENT IS CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING THIS SECTION OF OUR SOCIETY MORE SELF-SUSTAINING.

 

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

OUR RECORD OF PEACE AND STABILITY CONTINUES TO BE A SHINING EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD AT LARGE. WE CONTINUE TO BE A BEACON OF PEACE IN AFRICA.    YES, WE HAVE HAD OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT WE CONTINUE TO CHERISH AND NURTURE THIS PEACE IN THE SPIRIT OF ONE ZAMBIA, ONE NATION.  I IMPLORE EACH ONE OF US NOT TO TAKE THIS PEACE AND STABILITY FOR GRANTED.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

THE COMING YEAR WILL BE A SPECIAL YEAR FOR OUR COUNTRY. ON 12TH AUGUST, 2021, THE COUNTRY WILL HOLD GENERAL ELECTIONS. THE WEEKS AND MONTHS LEADING UP TO THAT DAY, WILL BE CHARACTERISED BY POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. THAT IS AS IT SHOULD BE.

THE SELLING OF MANIFESTOS AND CANVASSING FOR VOTES IS THE LIFE AND SOUL OF OUR DEMOCRACY. THAT IS WHAT OUR PEOPLE FOUGHT FOR IN 1991. THAT IS WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION DEMANDS.

LET ME, HOWEVER, SOUND A WORD OF CAUTION. INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. THERE ARE AN AFFRONT TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR CHRISTIAN VALUES. VALUES THAT TEACH US TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. VALUES THAT TEACH US THAT WE ARE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER. VALUES THAT TEACH US THAT WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUAL IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

IN OUR QUEST TO ENHANCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND CREDIBILITY IN DELIVERING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, A NEW VOTERS’ REGISTER HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.

THE COUNTRY WILL SOON HAVE AN ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE VOTERS’ REGISTER. THE NEW VOTERS’ CARD HAS ENHANCED SECURITY FEATURES, AND TOGETHER WITH A NEW REGISTER WILL ENHANCE FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS.

COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN,

LET US ALL BE UNITED, LOYAL AND PROUD OF OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, ZAMBIA. THIS SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE WAY WE CARRY OUT OUR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES AND THE WAY WE RELATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IRRESPECTIVE OF ONE’S RELIGION, RACE, TRIBE OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

LET US WORK HARD. LET US BE INNOVATIVE. LET US AIM FOR EXCELLENCE IN ALL THAT WE DO AND CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES WITH RENEWED HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

ZAMBIA REMAINS A MINING COUNTRY AND, THEREFORE, WE NEED TO FIND WAYS THROUGH WHICH THE COUNTRY COULD EARN THE MUCH NEEDED REVENUE FROM MINING. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SEE HOW BEST WE CAN BRING THE GLORY OF ZAMBIA AS A MINING GIANT.

 

OUR FOCUS ON GOLD MINING HAS ADDED IMPETUS TO THE ECONOMIC TURNAROUND. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO DOUBLE OUR EFFORT IN ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF GOLD MINING IN ZAMBIA.

FURTHER, THE SOONER WE RESOLVE ISSUES SURROUNDING MOPANI MINE AND KONKOLA COPPER MINES, THE BETTER FOR OUR COUNTRY.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

WITH THE RAIN WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH, LET US WORK HARD SO THAT WE PRODUCE ENOUGH FOOD, COME NEXT HARVEST. THE SOLUTION TO HUNGER IS IN HARD WORK AND UTILISING OUR GOD-GIVEN NATURAL RESOURCES SUCH AS GOOD CLIMATE, VAST WATER BODIES, VAST VIRGIN LAND, AND GOOD SOILS.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

WHILE WE TALK ABOUT RAIN IN CONNECTION WITH FOOD PRODUCTION, THE RAIN COMES WITH OTHER CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS. THIS IS THE TIME WE EXPERIENCE DISEASES SUCH AS CHOLERA AND DYSENTERY. THEREFORE, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN CLEANLINESS AT ALL TIMES IN OUR LOCALITIES. THERE IS NEED TO CLEAN-UP DRAINAGES WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED AT VERY HIGH COST TO GOVERNMENT.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

I RECENTLY VISITED MATERO AND KANYAMA TOWNSHIPS AND I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY WE ARE MAINTAINING DRAINAGES.

THE CULTURE OF THROWING LITTER INTO DRAINAGES MUST NOT BE ENTERTAINED.

THERE IS NEED FOR A CULTURE OF CLEANLINESS AND THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE OUR CITIES DIRTY MUST BE BOOKED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, BUT CITIZENS MUST HELP BY STOPPING SUCH VICES.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

AS CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT REPUBLIC, WE MUST STAY THE COURSE AND BUILD UPON THESE ACHIEVEMENTS. THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE THUS FAR LAYS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR EVEN GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2021 AND BEYOND.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

AS WE ENTER 2021, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE EMBRACE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN OUR HEARTS, CLARITY OF PURPOSE IN OUR MINDS AND DETERMINATION IN OUR ACTIONS.  THERE IS SO MUCH TO HOPE FOR.  TO BEGIN WITH, OUR ECONOMY IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER.  WE WILL RESTORE GROWTH AND SAFEGUARD LIVELIHOODS. WE WILL WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING MACROECONOMIC STABILITY AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE IN ALL SECTORS.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN, ACHIEVING ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN 2021 AND BEYOND IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, BUT A MUST-DO. IT DEPENDS ON THE ACTIONS WE TAKE AS A COUNTRY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE ALL MAKE.  GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS PART. THE CORPORATE WORLD MUST DO ITS PART.

SMALL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS MUST ALSO PLAY THEIR PART. ULTIMATELY, IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT THAT WILL ACCELERATE THE RECOVERY OF OUR ECONOMY.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

THE DETERMINATION OF OUR PEOPLE SHOWS THAT WE WILL TURN THIS ECONOMY AROUND AND SET OURSELVES ON AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY AGAIN. LET US MAKE IT HAPPEN IN 2021 AND BEYOND.

THIS IS WHAT MR. ALITELE PHIRI OF MTELA VILLAGE IN CHIPANGALI IS DOING. MR. PHIRI HAS SUCCESSFULLY PIONEERED THE GROWING OF APPLES IN HIS AREA. HE IS DETERMINED TO SEE THAT LOCALLY GROWN APPLES DOMINATE THE SHELVES OF CHAIN STORES NOT ONLY IN CHIPATA BUT THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN PROVINCE, AND ULTIMATELY THE ENTIRE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA.

ANOTHER FARMER IN CHIPANGALI, MR. BWANALI PHIRI, HAS FOLLOWED THAT EXAMPLE. HIS APPLE FARM IS A MARVEL TO SEE. THIS IS THE SPIRIT WE NEED IN THE NEW YEAR. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNTRY. LET US SEIZE THE MOMENT AND MAKE 2021 OUR YEAR TO DARE “LIKE A NOBLE EAGLE IN ITS FLIGHT”.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

AS I CONCLUDE, MAY I REITERATE THAT WITH THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAMME I LAUNCHED TWO WEEKS AGO, COUPLED WITH A POSITIVE MINDSET, PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION, OUR ECONOMY WILL REBOUND. AS GOVERNMENT, WE WILL REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE IN RUNNING THE AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.

WE WILL STRIVE TO MEET YOUR DEMANDS AND ASPIRATIONS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE INCLUSIVE, EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO HOLD FREE, FAIR AND PEACEFUL ELECTIONS IN AUGUST 2021. I SALUTE ALL THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED AS VOTERS IN THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE. OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY DEPEND ON YOU.

LET THERE BE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN OUR COUNTRY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS. LET ALL POLITICAL PARTIES, THE CHURCH, TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND CIVIL SOCIETY WORK WITH GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE CONTINUED PEACE AND STABILITY IN OUR COUNTRY.

COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,

I WISH YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH, PEACE AND SUCCESS IN 2021. MAY OUR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS BE FILLED WITH LOVE, JOY AND GOD’S BLESSINGS. LET US CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY AND KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN, GREEN AND HEALTHY.

GOOD NIGHT AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR THURSDAY, 31ST DECEMBER, 2020 STATE HOUSE LUSAKA