By CHILA NAMAIKO –
PARLIAMENT heard on Tuesday that President Edgar Lungu’s international trips among them, attending summits and State visits, are attracting more foreign investors and financial assistance to Zambia.

. MBULU

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Rayford Mbulu told the House that President Lungu has so far undertaken 11 international trips from January 20 to September 30, 2015.
Late President Michael Sata, during his tenure of office, undertook 21 international trips, among them, attending summits and state visits.
“Mr Speaker, may I begin by emphasising that the President is the country’s number one diplomat and in this regard, he is obliged to travel abroad in order to attain national goals and objectives.
This demonstrates the country’s highest level of commitment, strengthening bilateral, continental and multinational relations and attaining goals of national and global interests,” Mr Mbulu said.
He was responding to UPND Lukulu West Member of Parliament (MP) Misheck Mutelo who wanted to know how many foreign trips Mr Sata undertook and how many had been undertaken by President Lungu.
Mr Lungu had visited, among other nations, China, Mozambique, and Botswana on State and official visits, as well as attending summits such as the recent African Union in Ethiopia.
Among other benefits accrued from such trips included, increased infrastructure development in the construction of hospitals, improved road networks and schools as a result of having good relations with countries that were giving Zambia technological and financial assistance.
Mr Mbulu told the House that there were less presidential trips during Mr Sata’s regime as compared to that of Mr Lungu owing to different leadership style.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga said the total external debt stock as of November 2015 was US$6, 409, 637, 798.27, while the national debt as of December 2015 was US$8,653,517,157.94.
He told the House that Government needed to contract debts in order to finance the budget, but that it was doing so with caution.
Mr Mvunga, who was responding to PF Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo, who wanted to know among other matters, the total external debt stock as of November 2015, said Government needed to borrow funds to continue injecting in capital projects such as upgrading of road infrastructure to stimulate the economy and attract private-sector investments.