Zambia: President Hakainde Hichilema announced that the government will continue to support to initiatives providing equitable access to education in the country. President Hichilema made these remarks during the launch of the Muchila Smart village project.
The event was hosted in Namwala District in Southern Province with several members of the government in attendance. Government has initiated several measures to ensure children across Zambia have equal access to education tools and facilities.
The President stated that every child regardless of the status of the parent deserved access improved education standards.
He claimed that the educational facilities will be able to make their lives better for the people.
He said this is why government will make it possible and facilitate for improved infrastructure in rural schools for the children to compete favourably with their urban counterparts.
President Hakainde Hichilema said while he was in China last year, he lobbied for the Smart village to be built across the country in an effort to improve connectivity and help children learn in a conducive environment, as a way of bettering the lives of all Zambians through partnerships with other countries.
He noted that it is also the desire of government to take development to all parts of the country without any exceptions hence the concept of the Smart village which has been launched to improve access to connectivity and learning standards through the digital hub.
The President further thanked the Chinese government and Huawei technologies Zambia for the support to digitize rural parts of the country.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema has challenged political leaders in the country to offer constructive criticism, unlike politics of insults.
He added that Politicians should compete on how to deliver to the people of Zambia than opposing everything that government is doing.
President Hakainde Hichilema has also urged farmers to build resilience this farming season by embracing irrigation farming, noting that the government will provide all the farming inputs as a way of increasing food production.
And Huawei Technologies Vice president, Phil Li has pledged his company’s continued support to bridge the digital gap in rural areas by connecting 100 villages to improve communication and connectivity. Phil explained that this is because inclusive connectivity and electricity plays a vital role in fostering development in any given area hence will work with the Zambian government to ensure that no village is left behind in terms of development.
He said it is against this background that Huawei will support Zambia’s digitalising agenda for it to attain industrialisation in key economic sectors.
Phil further explained that the Smart village concept is targeted at ensuring that children in both urban and rural areas have equal opportunities in accessing education.
“ We want to work with the Zambian government to take development to all parts of the country, this is why we have been encouraging our Chinese business colleagues to establish their business in rural areas and provide the corporate social responsibility that uplifts the lives of people,” said Mr Phil.
Meanwhile, Charge d’Affairs at the Chinese Embassy, Wang Sheng said the launch of the Smart village concept confirms the two countries’ continued resolve to strengthen their bilateral relations.
Mr Wang explained that the Smart village concept which will be rolled out to all 10 provinces of Zambia, will benefit 150,000 learners and create 5,000 jobs.
Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the rolling of the project, to other 100 villages in all the10 provinces of the country, said the project will boost connectivity that will help small businesses to improve their activities.