Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:04:31 +0000
Chikumbi Katebe and Linda Soko Tembo
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is today expected to flag off the first ever oil exploration project for Northern and Luapula provinces where Zambia’s potential of harbouring oil reserves is.
And President Lungu is tomorrow expected to grace the Bemba traditional ceremony, Ukusemfya pa Ng’wena held every year.
The President flags off the Tullow Zambia BV project which explores the Central African country’s potential of tapping into the Rift Valley system oil reserves already found in Uganda and Kenya respectively.
According to the programme of activities for the day, President Lungu commits Government’s efforts in searching for possibilities of petroleum products in Zambia.
The mineral explorations are meant to help diversify Zambia’s economy from dependency on mineral mining to petroleum in the region.
The exploration aims at yielding results by 2021 with expected investments of up to US$25 million.
The President is also expected to commission the construction of the Nseluka-Kayambi road in Mungwi.
It is a packed weekend for President Lungu that ends with the traditional ceremony at the Chitimukulu palace in Mungwi before returning to Lusaka.
And Kasama PF Member of Parliament Kelvin says all was set for the Ukusefya Pa Ng’wena traditional ceremony scheduled to begin tomorrow.
Mr. Sampa also said that UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba was free to attend if he wanted to as he was a “son of the soil.”
Mr. Sampa said that the province was well prepared for the ceremony and ready to receive visitors from all parts of Zambia.
Mr. Sampa said that the ceremony was also going to be witnessed by other traditional leaders from across the country, MPs and senior Government officials.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sampa said Mr Mwamba, popularly known as GBM was free to attend the ceremony if he so wished.
Mr. Sampa also pointed out that Mr. Mwamba was a son of the soil and that there was nothing wrong with him attending the ceremony
“You know these tradition ceremonies there is no restriction to who or who shouldn’t come as everybody is free to come even leaders from opposition are free to come. After all, you don’t choose where to belong and where to be born from,” he said.
