•PRESIDENT Michael Sata (second from left) talks to Vice-President Guy Scott (left) as newly-appointed Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Ingrid Mphande and Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala (right) look on at State House yesterday. Picture by STEPHEN KAPAMBWE.

By CHARITY MOONGA –
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has implored newly-appointed Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister, Ingrid Mphande to revamp welfare centres countrywide.
Mr Sata said as a Member of Parliament coming from a rural constituency, Ms Mphande should make sure that welfare centres throughout the country were revived.
He was speaking when he swore in Ms Mphande as Community Development Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister at State House in Lusaka yesterday.
Ms Mphande has taken over from Jean Kapata, who has been elevated to the position of Tourism and Arts Minister.
“When we were growing up, welfare centres were everywhere in all townships of the country, including the villages, but now they are dead. Can we revamp those welfare centres now,” Mr Sata said.
He said the welfare centres played an important role in society as they were also used as women’s meeting centres.
Speaking after being sworn-in, Ms Mphande said she was humbled by the appointment.
She said she would execute her duties diligently and contribute positively to Zambia’s development.
Ms Mphande pledged her commitment to working towards revamping the welfare centres.
“We need to go back to where we came from and come up with ways in which we will be able to revamp the welfare centres,” she said.
Among those who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony were Vice-President Guy Scott, Cabinet ministers and Government officials.