By CHILA NAMAIKO –
CHIEF Chipepo of the Tonga speaking in Gwembe has said the New Year should give Zambians a greater opportunity to work hard with positive mindset of achieving more meaningful developments.
The traditional leader was happy that in 2014, despite numerous challenges, the country managed to record a number of development programmes particularly in rural areas.
He said in an interview that Zambians need to start the New Year with a more transformed mind-set of working together to achieve substantial development programmes.
“We are now in a New Year and we need to remain united with a positive mind-set to enable us positively transform the status of our country and increase a number of development programmes,” he said.
Chief Chipepo said the many challenges facing Zambia could only be addressed if citizens remain united with resolutions to work harder to stir the economy forward. He said the agriculture sector was recording impressive achievements thereby enabling many farmers to continue benefiting from the gains of the sector.
“In my chiefdom, farmers are now busy with farming because they have continued to benefit from many gains scored in the agricultural sector,” he said.
The chief was happy that people in Gwembe had appreciated the exercise being conducted by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to replace their defaced or lost cards.
Such developments, he said, would enable the electorate to participate in the January 20th, presidential bye-election without challenges.
There was need for Zambians to elect a pragmatic leader who would put the interest first to improve the living standards of citizens.