MMD Spokesperson Dora Siliya has said the Government will not be distracted by vocal opposition political leaders from turning Mpulungu into a tourist destination just because of elections. Ms Siliya, who is Education Minister, said yesterday that the ruling MMD Government would develop every town by tapping existing potential.
She said Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who always attacked the Government’s efforts to take development to all parts of Zambia saddened MMD. Ms Siliya said in an interview the Government would not be dissuaded by Mr Sata’s attacks to better lives of its citizens.
She said the Government would turn Mpulungu into a fully-fledged tourist destination due to its various potential that could help develop the country’s tourism sector.
“People in Mpulungu want development and as MMD Government, we are responding and delivering positively to their calls. We are turning Mpulungu into a tourist destination and in this way local people are empowered,” Ms Siliya said.
She said the Government was taking development projects to Northern Province in sectors like education, agriculture and various empowerment programmes to eradicate poverty.
The MMD Government would always continue to consult the locals starting with wards and constituencies to know the kind of development projects citizens wanted.
She said Mr Sata should not mislead Zambians by insinuating the Government was not working when it had scored success in all sectors of the economy and citizens appreciated that.
Ms Siliya said late Mpulungu Member of Parliament (MP) Lameck Chibombamilimo was a member of MMD and Mr Sata should not create an impression of Mr Chibombamilimo that he was not.
“It’s important Mr Sata and other politicians deal with issue based campaigns and not create an impression that Mr Chibombamilimo was not one of our true member,” she said.
The MMD would always remain united and carry out its campaigns in a peaceful manner under the guidance of President Banda whose vision was delivering real development to citizens.
And Ms Siliya said plans have reached an advanced stage by the Government to construct universities in agriculture, tourism and mining sectors to enhance education standards in Zambia.
She said plans to build a university in North-Western Province were underway and private sectors could partner with the Government to make that project a reality and start works by 2011 or 2012.
[Times of Zambia]