President Hakainde Hichilema has called on Zambians to embrace unity, discipline and hard work to drive the newly unveiled Grow Zambia Agenda. Speaking when he graced the Samu Lya Moomba Traditional Ceremony of Chief Choongo in Monze District, President Hichilema said the…

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on Zambians to embrace unity, discipline and hard work to drive the newly unveiled Grow Zambia Agenda.

Speaking when he graced the Samu Lya Moomba Traditional Ceremony of Chief Choongo in Monze District, President Hichilema said the values demonstrated by freedom fighters and traditional leaders during the struggle for independence remained critical to Zambia’s development.

He said Zambians should emulate the spirit of unity and hard work as the country pursues economic development.

 “Freedom fighters and traditional leaders of old demonstrated unity and hard work that earned the country its independence,” President Hichilema said.

And President Hichilema reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing power generation, saying a thermal power plant would be established in Chief Choongo and Chief Hamusonde’s chiefdoms as part of the target to generate 10,000 megawatts.

“We will continue investing in power generation, including establishing a thermal power plant in Chief Choongo and Chief Hamusonde’s chiefdoms as part of our 10,000 megawatt target,” he said.

President Hichilema also challenged traditional leaders to support the government’s one-billion dollar beef export target by promoting livestock disease control and increased production.

“We need our traditional leaders to support the one-billion-dollar beef export target by ensuring that livestock disease control is strengthened and production is increased through effective management of grazing areas,” President Hichilema said.

The President also called for the preservation of historical sites to ensure that young Zambians understand the country’s liberation struggle.

“We must preserve our historical sites like Samu Lya Moomba and many other sites across the country so that our young people can understand and appreciate the struggles that brought us our freedom,” he said.

The President further called for concerted efforts to curb bush burning in the plains and other parts of the country.

The President has meanwhile urged councils to prioritise water-related programmes in preparation for the projected 2026/2027 El Niño weather conditions to ensure communities continue accessing water during dry periods.

“Councils must prioritise water-related programmes so that our communities can continue accessing water during the dry periods that may arise from the anticipated El Niño conditions,” President Hichilema said.

And President Hichilema has assured farmers who supplied grain to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) that the government was making progress towards settling all outstanding payments.

“Government is making progress towards ensuring that all outstanding payments to farmers who supplied their crops to the FRA are settled,” President Hichilema said.

He also urged farmers to retain sufficient maize for household consumption and not to sell all their produce.

The President said the government was rehabilitating and constructing maize storage sheds, while encouraging cooperatives to invest in their own storage facilities, which could also generate income.

Meanwhile, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Gilbert Siame said the government was working to ensure communities likely to be affected by the projected El Niño conditions were adequately prepared.

And Acting Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Gift Monde, said the province was well prepared and had adequate information on the anticipated weather conditions.

“Government and stakeholders in the province are working to ensure that communities are adequately prepared to mitigate the possible effects of the weather phenomenon,” Mr Monde said.

The ceremony was also attended by 71 traditional leaders from across the country, government officials, 40 United Party for National Development (UPND) Members of Parliament and hundreds of people from the local community.