By JUDITH NAMUTOWE and KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has called for peace and stability for Zambia to continue attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) following President Michael Sata’s death.
ZDA director general Patrick Chisanga said there was need for political leaders to maintain peace and stability which were a prerequisite to continued attraction of FDIs into the country.
“Our political leaders have a duty to ensure that this impressive record which has been responsible for attracting so much FDIs into the country continues,” Mr Chisanga said.
He said Mr Sata was the biggest catalyst behind consolidating investor confidence into the country, because he had been resilient in upholding the rule of law.
“All investors feel safe in Zambia. So I can only appeal to political leaders in the country to ensure we maintain peace and unity.
“This is the time Zambians need to rally together more than ever, so that we can continue to be a beacon of political stability which Zambia has been known for,” he said.
He said Mr Sata’s advancement of infrastructure development in the country was cardinal.
This is because for any investor to come into Zambia, they first consider peace and stability to see how politically-stable the country is and infrastructure to see how easy it would be for them to do business.
He said Zambia had recorded progress because of the economic reforms Mr Sata inspired and put in place.
Meanwhile, farmers in Mumbwa have said they will remember President Michael Sata for facilitating early delivery of inputs and the recapitalisation of the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).
District Farmers Association (DFA) chairperson Namukulo Hayumbu said in an interview in Mumbwa that the early delivery of inputs during the 2013/2014 resulted in the bumper harvest the country has experienced this year.
“We will remember our President for facilitating the early input delivery as well as the recapitalisation of NCZ which will go a long way in contributing to food security in the country,” she said.
She said during his three-year reign the district experienced massive road infrastructure development which has facilitated for easy transportation of farming inputs and produce.
Mrs Hayumbu said the incoming president should pick up from where Mr Sata left off if the economic development was to continue at the fast pace.
Mr Hayumbu said this would enable farmers and agro-input dealers transport the produce and inputs to the door step of farmers, thereby reducing transportation costs.
Jabulani Kanguluma, a smallholder farmer of Nangoma area, said in a separate interview that the next president should continue prioritising agriculture.