By SAM PHIRI –

WHEN late president Michael Sata was asked about his vision for Zambia after being sworn in as fifth Head of State, his answer was resolutely clear:
“Now that God has given me this mandate as the President of Zambia, my main mission is to change the face of this country so that development can reach all corners of Zambia.”
Interesting! In fine-tuning his mission, late Mr Sata anchored his vision in the revised Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).
Sadly the ugly face of death struck and prevented him from fulfilling his vision in full though luck fell in his successor’s hands; reigning President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who shared the same vision.
On his part President Lungu applied a high degree of wisdom coupled with selflessness as he never allowed his ascendancy to the highest office of the land derail the set working vision as he also said:  “The PF has unprecedented ongoing projects in the construction sector such as roads, schools; housing units, new district infrastructure and hospitals. So it would be naïve and folly for me to imagine that I can implement a new vision in the remaining short period before 2016.”
Now, unlike those who are naturally filled with hasty ambitions of making their presence felt, from the onset Mr Lungu established an easy-taking method and well calculated political path that automatically gave Zambia a glimmer of what kind of leader he would make.
The revised SNDP which defines the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) bearing of the developmental agenda has been well implemented to extensively transform the face of Zambia.
Most places that have received a fair share of development are simply beyond comprehension as they define the pro-poor policy agenda by the PF.
New districts like Lunga where people are not familiar with vehicles as it is an isolated island on Lake Bangweulu, with water transport as the only means of even ferrying building materials has received a major facelift.
Hundreds of women and youths have been employed to ferry sand using plastic buckets to the construction site as there are no vehicles that would do so.
Impressively, the infrastructure at this hard-to-reach area has reached an advanced stage more than other areas with road access.
This has cheered the Lunga residents.
“We have never had such infrastructure in this area and with news that the Government will even bring solar power in this area, surely leaves us with no option but give them another mandate in office,” Jackson Chishala a Lunga resident said.
When these plans were being spelt out by the Government, many people could hardly believe the actualisation of these highly ambitious pronouncements but now the story has changed.
Four years in office, the PF Government can boast having actualised its unprecedented vision of changing the face of Zambia by taking development close to the people especially in forgotten areas.
Decentralisation
For an ordinary eye that has grown up in privileged environments, it is amazing how the PF Government has spread out development in almost unreachable areas.

These developmental projects especially in newly established districts, and road infrastructure have opened up Zambia for potential investment such that in the next few years, production will be on an the increase.
These projects have clearly defined and explained the actualisation of the decentralisation process in Zambia.
With most developmental projects nearing completion, Government says it stands to be challenged by any pessimist on the impressive progress recorded in the far flung rural communities of the country.
Works and Supply Deputy Minister Mutaba Mwali who toured more than 26 created districts, said the Government made it clear from its inception that it would change the face of Zambia through actualising the decentralisation policy and rolling out massive infrastructure development.
The deputy minister said from what he had seen, there was impressive progress such that soon Zambia would open up investments in different sectors.
“We are proud as Government to see that what was merely on paper just few years ago has been translated into definite physical projects almost ready to be handed over to us before the end of the year,” he said.
Other newly established districts that are receiving a fare share of development include: Luwampa Mitete, Limulunga, Sikiokngo, Nalolo, Sioma, Mwandi, Mulobezi, Zimba, Chikankata, Siavonga, Chirundu, Shibuyunji, Rufunsa, Nyimba, Sinda, Vubwi and
Chadiza.
Others are Mafinga, Shiwang’andu, Nsama, Chilipili, Chembe, Lunga, Kazungula, Mwansabombwe, Ikilenge, Manyinga, Luano, Chisamba and Lufwanyama.
Lufwanyama District Commissioner Aswell Lubungo praised Government for bringing development closer to the people.
He said for a long time, development had eluded Lufwanyama District but that with the PF in government, the district had recorded unprecedented levels of development.
“We have 33 modern housing units, a post office and a modern administrative block among others, which will serve as a hub of business in the district. We are grateful to the President Mr Edgar Lungu for carrying on this great vision,” he says.
Other than the district infrastructure, Dr Mwali also took time to inspect the road infrastructure on Isoka – Muyombe -Chama road via Mafinga district constructed by the new contractor China Civil.
Dr Mwali was impressed with what he saw especially the edging of the Chilumbi mountain stretch that stood as a major obstacle to construction the road.
“The works are very encouraging so far although the contractor China Civil engineering should consider making proper detours to enable motor vehicles pass,” he said.
Many newly established districts will soon open up to development thereby actualising the decentralisation of governance.
Every newly established district has a new post office, administrative block, 33 housing units a police station and civic centre.
Other districts that have incredible stories are Ngabwe and Luano districts in the central province of Zambia; difficult to reach with pontoons evolved to get to the other end.
Chief Mukuwe of the Lenje speaking people in Ngabwe District is happy with the development and says time has come for his subjects to enjoy good services being offered from nearby area.
He explains that most of his subjects could not obtain national registration cards and voters cards because of the distance to the nearest centre in Kabwe that stretches close to 150 kilometres.
The traditional leader was however, thankful to the Government for the new infrastructure development taking shape in his chiefdom.
“We are very grateful to Government for remembering this region and bringing meaningful development in this area. With this development, most people who had not yet obtained NRC because of the long distance to Kabwe will now find it easy, please convey our gratitude to the President,” he told Dr Mwali.
Hearing and mere reading may not give one the correct picture of what the PF Government has done in the years it has ruled, but get on the ground, see the hard-to-believe infrastructure development and appreciate the word ‘decentralisation’.