ZAMBIA stands to benefit from President Rupiah Banda’s recent visit to China through economic development agreements such as the Zesco loan from China Export Bank. Agricultutre and Co-operative Minister Peter Daka said a Zambian entrepreneur had clinched a US$ 3 billion partnership with a Chinese company to generate electricity from bio-mass.
He said in an interview on Monday that President Banda went to China to solicit for support in many sectors.
Mr Daka said that Zesco held talks with China Export Bank for the assistance to expand Kariba North Bank power station, which would raise the power generation by another 360 mega watts.
The idea was such that if power generation was increased then farmers would have water throughout the year because they would use irrigated water in farming and that would help ensure food security.
Many institutions benefited from the trip and that a local entrepreneur signed a US$ 3 billion partnership with a Chinese company aimed at producing electricity from bio-mass.
Mr Daka said Patriotic front (PF) president Michael Sata was wrong to condemn the trip and it was a sign that he was now panicking because he had no political future because politics of hatred were long gone.
Mr Daka who was last week acting Finance Minister also said President Banda’s government had performed well from the time he took over Government.
President Banda’s administration was on course and for the first time in 30 years the country had achieved US$1.8 billion reserves and saved 1,700 jobs at Luanshya mine.
If the 1,700 jobs were lost, Pf leader Mr Sata could have been in forefront condemning Government that it was not caring.
“Mr Sata should learn to respect others because there is no way he can be assaulting the national leadership. How would he feel if he will ever be president,” he said.
From April to October, there was no rain and people in Luapula Province and other areas could benefit from the irrigated water which Mr Sata should support instead of criticising.
Mr Daka said Mr Sata showed he could afford to hire a plane but when he went to Eastern Province he wanted to show that he was poor and went round radio stations condemning President Banda and the two ministers.
[Times of Zambia]