By SYLVESTER MWALE –
FOREIGN Affairs Deputy Minister Rayford Mbulu has urged Zambia’s mission in South Africa to focus on attracting private health sector investment into Zambia.

• ZAMBIA’S High Commissioner (Designate) to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba (left), with Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Rayford Mbulu (centre) visiting Lusaka business executive, Edgar Ngoma (right) at Morningside Clinic in Johannesburg at the weekend.

Mr Mbulu said attracting increased investment in the health sector will help supplement Government efforts in providing health services to the people.
Mr Mbulu noted that there was need to cast a wider net and approach private health facilities such as Morningside Clinic and invite them to invest and operate in Zambia.
He was speaking yesterday after visiting prominent Lusaka business executive, Edgar Ngoma, who is admitted to Morningside Clinic in Johannesburg.
“When in foreign missions, we need to cast our net wider and go beyond the normal call of duty. I have seen that this model at this facility is very good and I encourage you to engage them and many others so that we can collaborate and have their presence in Zambia.
“As we approach these medical institutions to entice them to come and invest in Zambia, there is also need to work out a model which will make it possible for our people to afford the services,” he said.
Mr Mbulu, who was accompanied by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba, pointed out that Zambia’s central location had the potential to become the hub of medical service in the region.
Mr Mbulu was on his way to Croatia on Government duty, but took time off before his connection flight to visit Mr Ngoma.
Mr Ngoma pledged to champion the drive of attracting South African private health sector investment into Zambia once discharged from the hospital.
“We should all as citizens within our individual or collective efforts, try to help our Government by lobbying private health facilities, such as this one, to come into Zambia,” he said.
Mr Ngoma was evacuated to Morningside Clinic by the Zambian Government on Thursday. He was feeling better and was waiting for more procedures to be done on him.
Mr Ngoma utilised the time with Mr Mbulu to narrate how he interacted with late President Michael Sata and how he, together with President Edgar Lungu who was then Defence Minister and Patriotic Front Secretary General, convinced the former President to appear at a public rally.
Mr Ngoma said Mr Sata called for him and President Lungu (then Defence Minister) at State House. When the two arrived, Mr Sata shepherded them to his ground floor office.
After the three had sat down, Mr Ngoma said Mr Sata then asked him to direct all the support and energies to Mr Lungu so that he could succeed in what lay ahead of him.