By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
FIRST Lady Esther Lungu says the contributions made by rural people towards the country’s economic development cannot be ignored.
Mrs  Lungu  said it was  clear that rural  people  had in one way or  the other contributed to the  country’s development  as  well as  upholding  peace  which  should be acknowledged  by  all loving Zambians.

. Ms Lungu

Speaking in Ngabwe  District  in Central Province during  her  tour, the First Lady  said it was  only  fair  that contributions  made  by  rural  communities was appreciated  and that  she  had  embarked  on  touring various  provinces  as  a  way  of  acknowledging  especially  those  in rural  areas as  a mother of the nation.
Mrs Lungu said  that her  visit  was  important  as  it had accorded  her  an opportunity  to appreciate  challenges faced  especially  by  women, children and  the  aged  who were  often discriminated  against.
The First Lady was accompanied by Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa, Central Province Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale, Kapiri Mposhi Member of Parliament (MP) Eddie Musonda and some ministers’ wives.
“Contributions made by rural people towards the country’s development cannot be ignored and that is why I am visiting. I know some people may ask where I am getting money to go  round because  I have no salary, but it’s through the good will of well-wishers,” she said.
Mrs Lungu said  there was  need  to empower  women  through their  various  groups and  was  happy that the Government  had  created empowerment programmes  for  both  women and  youths  in which they were supposed  to access funds.
She further  said  girl- children  should be allowed  to  grow  and  complete  their  education if they  had to contribute to the  development of the  country  and  asked  parents and guardians  against  marrying off under-age girls.
Earlier, Chief Ngabwe commended Mrs Lungu for being the first First Lady to  visit his  chiefdom  since  the  country’s  independence but  complained that  the area  had remained behind  in terms of development.
The chief said  the education system in Ngabwe had collapsed because  it had only 77 teachers  who  were  not staying  in  the area but were getting hardship  allowance  at the expense  of  providing a service  to  the local people.
And Mr Chisopa said his Government was committed to taking development to all corners of the  country and  pledged  to assist in resolving  the issues of  teachers who had not reported to their respective schools.