By Isaac Zulu
President Hakainde Hichilema says his administration has delivered “on our promise of education for all, for the disadvantaged family members alongside private school systems for those that are able afford.”
In an interview with Father Paul Samasumo of Vatican radio, in Rome, President Hichilema said his government was “walking the talk.”
“The important thing is that we are only implementing our policy offerings to the people of Zambia. When we went to seek election to the people of Zambia, we made the people of Zambia aware… we made it known to them that there are things that we believe are important, are fundamental and are basics. These include education. It is the best investment and we are walking that talk,” President Hichilema said. “That is why in our first budget, remember, this is February we are just in our second month of the UPND budget which commenced in January and we have delivered on our promise of education for all, for the disadvantaged family members alongside private school systems for those that are able afford. But society cares more for those that are disadvantaged. That’s why we offered education for all, free education grade one to 12, as a beginning.
President Hichilema said the government was looking at attending to colleges and universities “although we are now but partially, not fully.”
“So because of the value of education, society without education, without skills. How can it develop? How can you deliver economic development without skills? How can you produce more food in a more efficient way without know how agriculture, irrigation, genetics in terms of seed and husbandry? So this is important. It changes society. Youlook at Singapore, they focused on education. Clearly, it has made a difference…it has paid dividends,” he said.
President Hakainde Hichilema has said that divisions that were witnessed in the country prior to the August 12 general elections were dehumanising to the Zambian people.
He said he was working towards ensuing that the country was united, saying he criticised the previous government as being lopsided, but that all the regions were now represented in his government.
Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has said that the UPND administration has increased and devolved the Constituency Development Fund with a view to ensuring that people decide on developmental priorities.
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