Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila says government, through the successive implementation of the Food Security Programme (FSP), has made steady progress in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor.

And Mwila says through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has further developed an Industrial Policy to support and accelerate Industrialisation in Zambia in line with other countries in the COMESA bloc with a view to address issues of productive capacity for enterprises in order to promote the production and consumption of local contents.

In a weekly Newsletter to News Diggers, Mwila bragged that PF had increased the number of beneficiaries of the food security programme from 27, 650 in the 2017/2018 farming season 80,000 in the 2018/2019 season.

“The PF Government, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, is bridging the gap between the rich and the poor countrywide through the successful implementation of the FSP. The FSP aims to increase food security at household level for vulnerable but viable farmers. For example, in 2017/2018 farming season; 27,650 benefited from FSP. The PF Government increased this number to 80,000 beneficiariesin 2018/2019 farming season. In order to promote urban and peri-urban economies, the PF Government has prioritised the development and implementation of Integrated Development Plans in the identified areas and regions with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship, creating urban industrial clusters, strengthening value-chain linkages, and improving infrastructure in formal settlements. The PF Government is also implementing measures targeting deprived segments of urban settings countrywide in form of infrastructure development and delivery, such as water and sanitation services, waste management, road and rail network and housing,” Mwila stated.

And Mwila stated that government had developed an Industrial Policy to support and accelerate Industrialisation in Zambia in line with other countries in the COMESA bloc with a view to address issues of productive capacity for enterprises in order to promote the production and consumption of local contents.

“The Ministry on Commerce, Trade and Industry developed an Industrial Policy to support and accelerate Industrialisation in Zambia in line with other countries in the COMESA bloc. The aim of the Industrial Policy is to address issues of productive capacity for enterprises to promote the production and consumption of local contents. Furthermore, the policy focuses on value-addition to products that are locally produced; uses cooperatives as viable business models to industrialise, and strengthens innovations and technologies required in production and eventual Industrialisation of Zambia. In addition, the PF Government is supporting collaborations among traditional leaders, cooperating partners, prospective investors and relevant stakeholders, to identify and secure land for the development of industrial parks, ultra- modern international airports, and other economic developments in rural areas countrywide. The aim is to significantly reduce developmental inequalities between urban and rural areas; strengthen agricultural productivity in rural areas; generate decent jobs and various economic activities – which are all key pillars of the overall goals of the PF as a pro-poor party,” stated Mwila.