• PF president Edgar Lungu addresses a rally at President’s Park in Mungwi in Northern Province yesterday.
Mr Lungu also addressed rallies in Mbala and Senga Hill in Chief Nondo’s area.

By SAM PHIRI –
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Edgar Lungu has said the New Year gives Zambians the opportunity to reflect on past successes and challenges, which will encourage continuity in the country’s achievements beyond its Golden Jubilee.
“Jubilee, according to the great book of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible, is a year of emancipation and restoration, the restoration of faith, love and unity for all.
“I cannot overstate the fact that Jubilee has meant for us in this great country, the beginning of a new leadership, a listening leadership and, above all, a leadership that delivers, servant leadership,” he said.
Mr Lungu said this in his new year message to the nation yesterday.
He urged citizens against over indulging during the New Year period since the party needed as many people to vote for it on January 20, 2015.
“You can only vote if you go through this period safely. We need your vote in order to complete the start of the Jubilee and continue reducing poverty and creating jobs,” he said.
Mr Lungu pointed out a number of development programmes the Government was undertaking which he intended to continue with once voted into office.
“We are erecting 650 health posts that will reduce the distance mothers will travel in rural areas in order to give birth and, consequently, reduce mortality rates
“We are increasing bed spaces in colleges and universities as well as rolling out a plan to capture more young people from vulnerable families on a working bursary scheme as we introduce a loan scheme,” he said.
The Government is also employing 5,000 teachers annually in order to seal the black-hole left by previous administrations and slash the teacher-pupil ratio.
Other development projects are building more than 8,000 kilometres of new roads as well as 4,500 houses for defence personnel.
Mr Lungu reiterated that his Government would take milling plants to rural Zambia so that the grain is milled at the point of production in order to push down the prices of mealie meal.
“I personally have already given you a Draft Constitution during my first two months of my taking over as your minister of Justice, a clear testimony of my sincerity and commitment to give you a new Constitution,” he added.
Mr Lungu said from what the PF had delivered in three years, it was clear that the (PF) Government was about delivery and not empty promises.
Where others were promising roads, schools and jobs, the PF had already delivered and this was an indisputable fact.