Freedom fighters’ database in pipeline
THE Ministry of Tourism and Arts will partner with freedom fighters to achieve an authentic database whose aim is to find ways of helping men and women who fought for Zambia’s independence.
Tourism and Arts Minister, Charles Banda said his ministry had a critical role to play through the National Heritage Commission and National Museums Board in helping come up with a database of former freedom fighters.
Mr Banda said this in Lusaka, at his office when he met Freedom Fighters’ Association (FFA) patron Sikota Wina and database committee chairperson Yotam Chikamba where he pledged the ministry’s support in coming up with an accurate database.
The minister said there was an inter-ministerial committee that had been formed under Cabinet office to come up with a definition of a former freedom fighter, the criteria on how to classify them and the methodology of how to go about it.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Arts will follow President Edgar Lungu’s guidance to come up with a database and find ways to help men and women who fought for Zambia’s independence,” he said.
In a statement issued yesterday, ministry public relations officer, Sakabilo Kalembwe said the National Heritage Commission and National Museums Board had qualified historians to facilitate the process.
Mr Wina said the association had sent messages to all former freedom fighters appealing to them to be patient as the database is being established.
He said the association had waited for empowerment for the past 54 years and that there no Government could dish out money without establishing the truth and database.
Mr. Wina called on members to re-activate their provincial and district executive committee so that when the time came they would able to provide information to numerators visiting their areas for information.