By Isaac Zulu
All the foreign trips that President Hakainde Hichilema has made so far have a prior objective centred on jobs, creation of investment and business opportunities that will benefit all Zambians, says Major Ben Phiri.
In a statement, Maj Phiri, who once served as Luapula Province permanent secretary, urged Zambians to look at the positive side of the foreign trips that President Hichilema has been undertaking, stating that their aggregate benefits are glaring and sundry.
“Since ascending to the highest office in the land, President Hakainde Hichilema has continued to demonstrate that he has a purpose in leadership intended to better the lives of the citizens in Zambia. All the trips he has undertaken outside the country have a prior meticulously choreographed objective centred on jobs, creation of investment and business opportunities for the ultimate benefit of all Zambians,” stated Maj Phiri. “The recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo ought to be looked at from the same perspective, considering that we have an age old and frosty relationship with our Northern neighbour; particularly in Kaputa area. Let us look at the positive side of these Presidential visits whose aggregate benefits are glaring and sundry.”
He pointed out that during his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Hichilema might have discussed a wide range of pertinent issues that are beneficial to Zambians, including the utilisation of the existing COMESA protocols on intra regional trade, which he said are of predictable foreign earners.
“Secondly, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a potentially lucrative market for goods and services produced in Zambia which can earn us the much desired foreign exchange. I want to believe that President Hichilema could have possibly tabled the issue of the deplorable state of the Sakania – Lubumbashi road with his counterpart Tsisekedi as this is a much more cost effective route to the mineral rich Katanga Province, which is 50 kilometres shorter than the Kasumbalesa one a fact that would certainly lower the cost of doing business,” explained Maj Phiri. “President Hichilema may also have discussed the possibility of practically utilising the existing COMESA protocols on intra regional trade within the economic grouping in areas such as the export of goats, mealie meal to Congo, through the front door; manufacturing of military garments for that country’s defence forces, etcetera; all of which are predictable foreign earners. I repeat, let us all look at the positive side of these Presidential visits whose benefits are glaring and sundry.”
