Minister of National Development and Planning Lucky Mulusa says the negative aspersions about Zambia are unfounded because President Edgar Lungu has ensured the independence of all governance institutions.

This is according to a statement issued by Zambia’s First Secretary for Press and Public Relations in Brussels Lambwe Kachali.

Mulusa informed the European Commission Deputy Director for Development Cooperation (DEVCO), Klaus Rudischhauser, during a bilateral meeting in Brussels that President Lungu had ensured total independence of all arms of government to enhance transparency and accountability.

He said the negative aspersions about Zambia were unfounded as they lacked not only merit but were also premised on lack of understanding the way the country discharges its democratic responsibilities.
“No matter how you see it, Zambia has very good and strong institutions of governance, a fact that cannot be denied by anyone. What the law looks at, for instance, is not an individual per se, but the implications and consequences of a person’s actions,” Mulusa said.

He also said President Lungu’s vision was focused on competence as an overriding pillar of development.

He said effectively, this is manifested in the composition of his Cabinet which is a mixture of both ruling and opposition – qualified enough to meet the daily challenges affecting the country as well as hard working and development oriented.

Mulusa said the country is employing all necessary measures, strategically aimed to rejuvenate the economy within the shortest possible time.

He said so far, Zambia had continued to maintain economic certainty and stability and would remain so until it attained full potential.

“Even at a time when our economic down turn was at its lowest level between mid-2015 and mid-2016, we did not default on any of our internal or external obligations towards the domestic and foreign financial and capital markets,” Mulusa said.

And Rudischhauser said he was looking forward to deepening relations with Zambia in many areas of governance.

He added, the EU provides various frameworks from which Zambia could benefit financially.

Mulusa is in Brussels attending the European Development Days conference on behalf of President Lungu.

The Conference was organised by the European Commission and it brings together key development actors from around the globe to discuss new ideas and share experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships, bolster innovative ways of finding solutions to most pressing challenges of the time.

This year, the development community gathered to shape the debate around the main theme, “Investing in Development”.