•ACTING President Edgar Lungu goes to lay a wreath at the Freedom Statue during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in Lusaka on Independence Day. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

By REBECCA MUSHOTA, GETHSEMANE MWIZABI, SYLVIA MWEETWA,  KASONDE KASONDE, JULIUS PHIRI, CHILA NAMAIKO and NORMA SIAME –
ZAMBIANS across the country yesterday united to celebrate the country’s 50th independence anniversary.
In Ndola, hundreds  of residents jubilantly marched from the town centre to Levy Mwanawasa Stadium  ast part of the  Golden Jubilee celebrations.
At the stadium, 38 Copperbelt residents were honoured with medals by Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda.
Among those honoured were first Ndola mayor Thom Mtine, State Counsel Julius Sakala, Ben Kapita and Chief Nkambo.
Mr Chenda said Zambia had gone through a number of challenges in the past 50 years but the nation was grateful that God had helped the country peacefully resolve these challenges.
The minister said despite the nation having 73 ethnic groups, it had continued to work in unity.
“The unity and peace brought by the struggle for independence must be maintained at all cost,” Mr Chenda said.
One of the recipients of the medals, Dickson Mbulo, 69, of Masaiti District said he lost his sight in February 1964 after he was attacked by the colonialists who were unhappy that he had successfully organised a meeting in Kitwe addressed by the then UNIP leader Kenneth Kaunda.
Mr Mbulo said he would have been happier if he had his sight and hoped that the youth that could see could appreciate the nation’s freedom more.
Earlier, around midnight, the residents led by Mr Chenda converged at the Jubilee Corner opposite the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Saint Andrews Congregation in the town centre to witness the raising of the flag.
At exactly midnight, the flag was raised, as fireworks began to pop and people broke into song and dance.
In Kabwe, scores of residents, joined the rest of the country in celebrating the golden jubilee, with Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula appealing to Zambians to use the period to re-dedicate to the vision  and aspirations of the forefathers.
Dr  Simbyakula called on the people in  Kabwe and Central Province who filled the Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu  Stadium to be proud of the celebrations considering the important role the town played during the liberation struggle.
Dr Simbyakula also presented medals to 41 men and women who contributed to the country’s struggle.
Meanwhile, the Government has pledged to give decent accommodation to 108-year-old freedom fighter Sylvia Mukosa Chembe of Petauke District.
Ms Chembe was born on October 22, 1905 in Petauke and was among the group of women who stripped naked alongside famous freedom fighter Julia Chikamoneka to protest against the colonial masters before Zambia got its independence in 1964. She was detained several times for her involvement in politics.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga apologised for neglecting the 108-year-old woman and assured that the Government, in collaboration with the Chipata Muslim Association, would ensure that she was taken care of.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Bob Sichinga, who officiated at this year’s Independence Day celebrations held at David Kaunda Stadium in Chipata, praised the freedom fighters for standing firm in the freedom struggle.
Mr Sichinga said the young generation should emulate the gallant men and women who fought for independence.
In Choma, Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata said peace and unity were paramount for continued development and urged Zambians to work together to achieve more development.
Ms Kapata said this at Choma Stadium during Independence Day celebrations and added that Zambians needed to utilise the peaceful atmosphere to stir more national development.
“Fifty years of Independence is a great achievement for us Zambians,” Ms Kapata said.Hundreds of Kasama residents turned up, clad in national colours, to celebrate the Independence Jubilee in Kasama graced by Minister of Education John Phiri, who conferred honours on 305 freedom fighters.
Earlier, District Commissioner Katanga Bwalya passed through the central business district where he instructed business premises that had opened like Shoprite to close so that workers could attend the celebrations at Kasama Stadium.
Also in attendance were northern-based freedom fighters, Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika and members of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba and Alfredah Kansembe.
Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge said Government is committed to promoting broad base growth through increased citizen participation in the economy by introducing social safety nets for vulnerable people.
Government had provided programmess in the quest for greater prosperity in infrastructure development and agriculture, which was contributing to the growth of the economy.