We are on right track - Lungu
ZAMBIA is on the right track of attaining the status of a prosperous middle income country, says President Edgar Lungu.
The President said the country, has, with the support of cooperating partners continued to record significant progress on various programmes and activities in line with vision 2030
President Lungu has meanwhile announced that the economy grew at about 4 percent last year after performing well in various key sectors.
Mr Lungu said that through multilateral cooperation, Zambia had joined efforts of the international community aimed at investing in the youth to tap into the incredible potential of young people.
President Lungu said this at the annual greeting of members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Zambia at State House yesterday.
The President thanked the various governments for supporting Zambia in different spheres and expressed hope that the quest for economic diplomacy would further contribute to cooperation and attract investment.
“Our gesture has prompted many of our friendly countries to show keen interest in collaborating with us through joint permanent commissions of cooperation.
“I am confident that our cooperation with respective governments and organisations will further consolidate our bilateral and multilateral ties,” Mr Lungu said.
President Lungu said that Zambia would this year assume the role of chair for the SADC organ TROIKA on politics, defence and security cooperation, adding that the country had played a crucial role in mitigating political instability in the region as deputy chair for the organ.
The President assured that Zambia remained committed to the process of implementing reforms in the United Nations to make the body more responsive to challenges.
Meanwhile, President Lungu announced that Zambia had over the last year recorded a 10 percent drop in child marriages at national level.
He pledged the government’s commitment to campaigns aimed at ending child marriages and ensure that young women all over the world have equal access to the opportunities they deserved.
President Lungu reiterated that one of the government’s main strategic focus was enhancing human capital development, as part of the efforts to achieve social and economic development, while leaving no one behind.
Dean of the diplomatic corps, Balbina Malheiro Dias da Silva hailed Zambia for her resilience and commitment to implementing the economic programmes that were formulated for development amidst the global economic challenges.
“Last year was particularly relevant especially the active role of the republic of Zambia within the regional, continental and global platform to ensure peace and security prevails. Peace, security and stability call for concerted effort by all countries,” she said.