PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says the government is removing children from the streets and rehabilitating them.
In his address as he officially opened the second session of Parliament on Friday, the President said his government is concerned with the increasing number of children living on the streets.
“As such, government is removing, rehabilitating and re-integrating street children into society to transform them into productive citizens,” he said.
“To further enhance the wellbeing of children in our country, the children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022, has been enacted to comprehensively promote and protect the rights and welfare of our children.”
President Hichilema also said the government is revising the national policy on disability to enhance the welfare of persons with disabilities and promote their effective participation in national development programmes.
The President also indicated that the government shall continue to prioritise food and nutrition security through diversified food production initiatives, and ensuring the attainment of the sustainable development goal on ensuring zero hunger.
“We are pleased to report that the country is food secure, with over 1.2 million tonnes of surplus maize,” President Hichilema said.
He added that to guarantee and enhance national food and nutrition security, the government is implementing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), supporting over one million small and medium-scale farmers with fertilisers and seed to produce more food for Zambians.
“In addition, government is implementing the food security pack programme to ensure food security at household level for vulnerable but viable farmers, by providing basic farming inputs, such as fertiliser as well as cereal and legume seeds to vulnerable households, particularly female-headed households,” President Hichilema said.
He further said the government remains committed to implementing various interventions aimed at improving access to clean and safe drinking water and adequate sanitation as well as ensuring national water security.
On environmental sustainability, the President noted that Zambia’s socio-economic transformation agenda is anchored on the principles of sustainable development.
“We are resolute to develop without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To this end, we are implementing programmes aimed at strengthening climate change adaptation and mitigation, and promoting sustainable environmental and natural resource management,” said President Hichilema.
CAPTION: Photo for illustration
Kalemba September 15, 2022
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