Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu has admitted that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has not done much for its party members as they expected when forming the government.
Some UPND members, especially young people have complained of being neglected after the party formed the New Dawn Government in August, 2021.
The critical youths say only those in government positions are benefiting from their sweat and sacrifices of spending over 20 years in opposition.
When meeting UPND leaders in Samfya, Luapula Province, Eng. Nzovu said New Dawn government officials cannot shy away from the fact that they are in offices today because of the sweat and sacrifices of party members.
“We have not forgotten our people. On our tour of duty in Luapula Province recently, we took time to interact with the United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership in Samfya district. We cannot shy away from the fact that we are in our offices today because of the sweat and sacrifices of our people. We are in these offices because of UPND and we are in government to implement the UPND Manifesto,” the Nangoma Member of Parliament said.
He said things have been slow despite the efforts by people to form cooperatives and companies.
“It is true we have not done much for the people as measured by their expectations. Things have been slow despite the efforts by our people to form cooperatives and companies. Part of this could be attributed to the fact that some people occupying some offices of authority have been hindering this progress. But our people must never lose hope because we are working tirelessly to put in place legal and sustainable empowerment mechanisms as opposed to the ones in the past where party members used to amass unexplainable wealth through illegalities. Manchester United cannot win the league by playing Arsenal players in their games and in every game there are substitutes. The New Dawn Administration will not condone any person or office to thwart progressive efforts aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of our people who gave us the mandate to serve them. The time has come for us to restore the dignity of our members, the real owners of the change we made on 12th August 2021. Start warming up, we love you dearly our members,” he said.
When touring Luapula Province, Eng. Nzovu met Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people at his Palace in Mwansabombwe District.
He assured the Mwata that traditional leaders and Luapula as a Province will never be left behind in the development agenda of the New Dawn Government.
“We had a very fruitful meeting with His Royal Highness Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people at his Palace in Mwansabombwe District of Luapula Province. We discussed salient national matters which included climate change, environmental issues, Carbon Trading market and governance issues. We assured His Royal Highness that traditional leaders and Luapula as a Province will never be left behind in the development agenda of the New Dawn Government. Government will work closely with traditional leaders to harness the potential in our country. We are grateful to Chief Mwata Kazembe for pledging to work closely with the Government on forest protection matters and to be an ambassador of climate change,” the Minister of Green Economy and Environment stated.
Meanwhile, Eng. Nzovu has saluted the Muslim community in Zambia for their donation of food hampers to the flood victims in Nangoma Constituency through the Muslim Social and Welfare Trust.
“Our sincere gratitude to the Muslim community in Zambia for their donation of food hampers to the flood victims in Nangoma constituency through the Muslim Social and Welfare Trust. We are all brothers’ keepers, a disaster somewhere is a disaster everywhere. When one is affected we are all affected because we are one people despite different religious denominations. More than 5000 people have been affected by floods in Nangoma constituency alone. As a Member of Parliament, I would like to appeal to institutions, organisations and individuals to come forth and render a helping hand to our people during this tough time. Once again thank you so much to the Muslim social and welfare Trust,” Eng. Nzovu said.