By CHILA NAMAIKO –

PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that if there is any credit that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government deserves, it is the way it has rolled out infrastructure projects countrywide.

Vice-President Inonge Wina said upgrading of the multi million Kwacha Mongu-Kalabo Road in Western Province, the Bottom Road in Southern Province, construction of schools and hospitals were among the significant projects.

Ms Wina, who was responding to PF Kwacha Member of Parliament (MP) Boniface Mutale during the Vice-President’s question time, said the projects signify Government’s pledge to improve living standards of the people of Zambia.

She told the House that infrastructure projects were one of the many successes the PF was scoring with perpetual marks thereby fostering economic development.

“We are carrying out massive infrastructure projects which are one of the many successes of this PF Government to improve the welfare of people in all parts of the country, “she said.

On mealie-meal, Ms Wina said the Government was determined to ensure that the price of the commodity was reduced further in the country.

She was responding to UPND Kalabo MP Chinga Miyutu, who wanted to know why there was an escalating price of mealie-meal despite Government offloading maize stocks to millers.

Ms Wina said, although the millers received some stocks, there was a cartel of retailers that was selling mealie-meal at higher prices taking advantage of the global economic crisis.

She also reiterated that Government would only consider importing maize if the current stock would not be sufficient in view of eventualities citing a dry spell being experienced in some parts of the country that could cause a hunger crisis.