By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
FIVE members of the German Parliament “Bundestag” have arrived in the country on a three day visit to get a first-hand impression of the focal areas of German-Zambia Cooperation in the fields of water and sanitation.
The other area of interest during the Members of Parliament (MP)’s visit is on good governance, decentralisation, public financial management as well as support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), energy, agriculture and wildlife management.
This is according to a statement released by German Embassy’s press and public relations officer Carolin Bernecker.
The delegation would meet with high-ranking representatives of the Zambian Government, including Republican Vice-President Inonge Wina, Local Government and Housing Minister, John Phiri, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister, Christopher Yaluma and Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Given Lubinda.
Speaker of National Assembly Patrick Matibini, would also receive the delegation.
Ms Bernecker explained that in their discussions, the MPs would focus on ways to further support Zambia in her endeavor to fight poverty, to foster inclusive growth and development, to combat corruption and to diversify the economy.
“I want to state that the team would also touch on important issues of regional integration and the creation of an enabling environment for the private sector, especially in the field of renewable energy,” she said.
Further parts of the programme comprise a discussion with various stakeholders in the agricultural sector (ZNFU, NGOs, research institutions, private companies and other cooperating partners).
A field trip to South Luangwa National Park and the surrounding Game Management Areas would be conducted to learn about the current poaching crisis, the role of ZAWA in wildlife protection and the development of Zambia’s tourism sector.
She added that the total volume of these programmes adds up to K1.6 billion for the period 2014 – 2016 which was benefiting local communities.
The MP’s includes Dagmar Woehrl, Heinz-Joachim Barchmann, Peter Meiwald, Sascha Raabe and Peter Stein who are all members of the Parliamentary Committee for Development Cooperation.
The team would play a key role for the endorsement of bilateral cooperation programmes between Germany and Zambia and that the MPs affirmed excellent and trustful relations between Germany and Zambia for more than 50 years since independence.