.WINA

By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

VICE President Inonge Wina has paid tribute to late African Development Bank (AfDB) resident representative Freddie Kwesiga for championing not only Zambia’s national economic agenda but also women empowerment.
Ms Wina said Dr Kwesiga dedicated his efforts to bringing development to the African continent and thanked him for his passion to spearhead Zambia’s growth agenda.
Dr Kwesiga died on February 1, this year and was put to rest in his home country, Kenya.
Ms Wina said this during a church service to celebrate the life of Dr Kwesiga held at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka on Wednesday.
“Dr Kwesiga was an inspirational person to women entrepreneurs in the country. He was not only diligent in mobilising resources for big projects such as the rehabilitation of Kariba Dam , Kazungula project and the water supply and sanitation project but was also concerned about the welfare of poor people in the communities,” the Vice President said.
Among the landmark projects and studies initiated during Dr Kwesiga’s tenure in office in Zambia were the Kazungula Bridge project, Itezhi-Tezhi Power project, Maamba Power Project, Nacala Corridor Project, Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation, Kariba Dam Rehabilitation and Mpulungu Port expansion.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda also paid tribute to Dr Kwesiga describing him as being instrumental in leading the AfDB’s role in contributing support to the Government development agenda, which extensively covered support to agriculture, infrastructure, energy and other poverty reducing initiatives.
Dr Kwesiga made it his personal ambition to contribute to the transformation of lives, especially for the poor and marginalised, through the AfDB by supporting and facilitating processes that empowered them with resources, knowledge, skills, voice and confidence.
Mr Chikwanda said Dr Kwesiga was also instrumental in mitigating the negative effects of poverty, food and fuel insecurity caused by environmental degradation through projects such as the climate resilience project in the river basins of Western Province and in Itezhi-Tezhi in Central Province.
“The Government of Zambia will miss his services and commitment to the African Development Bank and through the Bank, his contributions to the welfare of the people of Zambia,” he said.