Govt shares resources equally - Veep

Ann Zulu

GOVERNMENT does not discriminate in the distribution of resources and equipment to its citizens, says Vice-President Inonge Wina.

Vice-President Inonge Wina.

Mrs Wina told Parliament yesterday that every part of Zambia was important to Government in terms of empowerment and distribution of resources.

The Vice President assured that Government was determined to create wealth among its citizens by distributing equipment such as tractors and other vital machinery to women cooperatives as well as youth clubs in chiefdoms in all provinces.

She was responding to a question by UPND Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo who alleged that Government did not fairly distribute tractors and accessories administered by the Ministry of Gender to chiefdoms.

This was during the Vice-President's 30-minute question time in Parliament yesterday.

She said the Ministry of Gender conducted an assessment in all the 10 provinces of Zambia before distributing the tractors and their accessories.

"Government does not discriminate the distribution of resources, equipment and machinery in this country. Government is determined to create wealth among our people," she said.

She, however, took a swipe at the opposition MP and his party (UPND) for not complaining about the unequal distribution of the 650 health posts dotted around Zambia.

Ms. Wina said Southern Province received the largest share of the health posts over other provinces in the country.

And the Vice-President has disclosed that the entire country would be connected to telecommunications by 2020.

Ms. Wins said Government, working with the private sector, was putting up close to 500 telecommunication towers throughout Zambia in order to improve connectivity in all chiefdoms including Chasefu constituency in Lundazi district in Eastern Province which is reportedly experiencing poor mobile network.

"All parts of Zambia will be connected with telecommunication towers by 2019 and beyond. Government is working closely with the private sector to improve mobile communication in rural areas but there are limitations," she said.

PF Chasefu MP Gerald Zimba asked the Vice-President what plans Government had to improve mobile telecommunication in his constituency and bemoaned the poor services there.

Meanwhile, the Vice President has disclosed that Government has released funds for the construction of the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriage way.

Ms. Wins said the road played an economic role in Zambia in terms of connectivity and transportation of goods and services.

Ms. Wina assured PF Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili that Government attached great importance to the road.

Mr. Kambwili alleged that the contractor had failed to do the job and wondered why the contract could not be terminated and the project allocated to another contractor.