MY FIVE YEARS AS PRESIDENT - ECL

EXACTLY five years on 25th January 2015, I first took Office of Republican President following the tragic and untimely passing of our party's Founding Father, the fifth President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency President the late Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP).

On 14th October, 2011, during his speech to Parliament, His Excellency President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP) said the following:

“Now that elections are behind us it is time for us all to focus on forging ahead with the development of our country. On my part, I wish to reiterate my pledge to make Zambia a better place for all, in line with our PF vision which is, and I quote: ‘The citizens of this great land not only deserve better lives but are entitled to better lives.’… The Patriotic Front government recognises that achieving these goals and putting the country on the path for sustainable growth will require a well-planned development agenda. Our development agenda is simple as it emphasises the need for government to promote pro-poor growth for the vulnerable in our society.”

This colossus of a man, our country’s fifth Republican President, therefore left for all of us the above as both our collective task and challenge - to make Zambia a better place for all.

As envisioned by our party’s Founding Father, and Zambia’s fifth Republic President, the late Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata; today, the Patriotic Front continues being a results-oriented, people’s mass movement with a pro-poor vision. Today, this is proven by the fact that the PF government has adopted a vibrant social protection policy aimed at ensuring that all citizens have access to basic social services such as education, health, water and sanitation. For example, in 2018, the PF Government established the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act to introduce the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) that is delivering Universal Health Coverage, to offer health insurance cover for 100 percent of Zambians from the current four percent, thus ensuring that no Zambian will suffer financial hardship in the process of accessing healthcare.

I n addition to the above, t h e Patriotic

Front (PF)

Government continues to strengthen existing social safety-net and protection programmes such as; the Social Cash Transfer Scheme which is aimed at addressing the needs of the vulnerable groups that face special challenges such as the disabled and street children as well as Food Security Pack Programme which is aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security among vulnerable small-scale farmers. As I said during the occasion of the annual greeting of the diplomatic corps on 23rd January, 2020:

“Regarding social protection, the Zambian Government will continue to implement the social cash transfer scheme, food security pack as well as women and youth empowerment programmes, even in the midst of tight fiscal conditions.” To mark five years since I was elected President of the Republic of Zambia, I am glad to report to the nation that the vision of PF’s patriarch, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP), to make Zambia a better place for all, is both alive and being realised by the current PF Government.

The founding father of the PF, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, further envisioned a Zambia where all citizens of every tribe and region will be able to pursue their dreams using their God-given potential without being hindered by such things as poor soft and hard infrastructure such as ICT, water, sewerage and road infrastructure.

Therefore, from the moment he took oath of office as the fifth President of the Republic of Zambia after the September 2011 elections and up to the day of his tragic passing on the 28th October, 2014; the late Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata’s focus was on positively transforming the face of Zambia as well as releasing the potential of Zambians to achieve their dreams through, among other things, significant development of social and economic infrastructure such as improved sanitation, portable water, schools, hospitals, roads and airports.

Five years on, I am thrilled to report that the PF Government is following through on this vision as evidenced by the upgrade and construction of new universities, hospitals, airports, roads, water and sanitation and other types of infrastructure, countrywide.

The late President Sata was blessed with wisdom which he perfectly combined with his wealth of experience in public service. Perhaps even more striking about the late President Sata is that, like any great leader in history, he never spared a moment to share best practices and lessons learned throughout his illustrious career. Therefore, as he approached the end of his earthly race, he prepared to pass the baton to his lieutenants to continue running with his founding vision: to make Zambia a better place for

all.

In the fullness of his allotted mortal time, t h e baton was passed on to me from our Party’s patriarch and later from the Zambian people; these fully trusting that I will faithfully carry on and run with PF’s grand vision without fail.

Standing on the shoulders of this giant, I have continued to run with the vision of our dear late President, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata. Although we have faced some challenges along the way, most of them due to external factors at the global level; there is no doubt that Zambia is a much better place to see and live in, since the PF came to power in 2011 than before. In fulfilling the vision and pledge of our patriarch to make Zambia a better place for all Zambians, the current strategic focus of my administration is: Economic Diversification and Job Creation; Poverty and Vulnerability Reduction; Reducing Developmental Inequalities; Enhancing Human Development as well as Creating a Conducive Governance Environment for a Diversified and Inclusive Economy. Through the attainment of the development outcomes of the above-mentioned Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) strategic goals; where there were no schools, roads, hospitals, health workers, teachers, dams, and so on, the PF Government has ensured their availability. Specific milestones completed by the PF Government include, but are not limited to, the following: the Lusaka Decongestion project; road rehabilitation and construction (L400, C400, L8000); soon-to-be completed Kazungula bridge; the Mongu- Kalabo road; hospitals (new Levy Mwanawasa Hospital); airport upgrade and construction (Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the new Copperbelt Airport and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport); Universities (operationalised the Kapasa Makasa, Kwame Nkrumah, Mukuba and Chalimbana Universities as well as the commencement of construction of Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba University in Mansa, King Lewanika University in Mongu and Kasama University in Kasama). These are only a few examples of the tangible development projects and programmes accomplished by the PF Government in a relatively short period.

The above where not there before the PF Government was voted into office. Therefore, there can be no denying that the current PF Government has both kept alive the vision of its patriarch as well as improved the quality of lives of the Zambian people through some of the development projects and programmes highlighted above.

The ideals of our dear late President, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, live on and shall never die, because they are deeply engraved in our minds and hearts. We shall therefore not forget or grow weary in continuing to improve the quality of lives of all Zambians, by pursuing equality, justice, unity, liberty, solidarity and peace, coupled with tangible socioeconomic progress for the benefit of all Zambians.

The empowerment of all especially women and children was one of the hallmarks of late President Sata's leadership and legacy. For example, as the nation would recall, within the first six months of his tenure as Head of State, President Sata and his PF Government upgraded Gender In Development (GIDD) from a mere department under Cabinet Office, to a full-fledged Government

Ministry: The Ministry of Gender and Child Development.

Since you elected me as President, and in keeping with the vision of our Party’s founding father, I have continued to pursue policies centred on, among others: Poverty and Vulnerability Reduction, Reduction of Developmental Inequalities, and Enhancing Human Development, as clearly outlined in the 7NDP. Through our continued effective implementation of these and other policies and programmes; my Government shall achieve broader gender equality, poverty reduction, economic diversification, enhance human development and create a more conducive governance environment as envisioned by our founding father and fifth Republic President, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP).

“Our development agenda is simple as it emphasises the need for government to promote pro- poor growth for the vulnerable in our society” was the pledge of our dear late President Sata to the Zambians.

As one tasked to carry on this vision and baton of responsibility, my administration and I shall never depart from working towards promoting pro-poor growth. And because of our continued focus on improving the quality of lives of the poor, the vulnerable, and indeed all Zambians; the transformative legacy of the Patriotic Front as well as the pro-poor vision of our dear late President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, shall outlive the current generation.

However, this is not the legacy of one man alone or of a party; it is a legacy for all Zambians because transforming our nation into a prosperous one is our chosen destiny which requires everyone’s positive contribution.

As I said in my address to Parliament on 18th September,

2015:

“At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia should awaken to one undeniable truth and reality: that ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism and changed this country forever.”

Therefore, as we continue to honour the timeless legacy and vision of the great son of the African soil, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, let us remain true to honour our task and this generation’s challenge, to be that generation that shall actualize our late President’s vision for our country. This is the best way that we can and shall honour the legacy of the founding father of the Patriotic Front and fifth President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata.

May his great soul continue to rest in eternal peace.