Sat, 26 Aug 2017 10:00:56 +0000
By Oscar Malipenga
ZAMBIA and Germany have signed a Financial and Technical Cooperation grant agreement worth 107.5 million Euros to contribute to poverty reduction within the context of the Seventh National Development Plan and the Zambia plus.
Finance Minister Felix Mutati, who signed the grant for the Zambian government, explained that it will be used in various areas that directly contribute to poverty reduction.
Immediately after signing the grant agreement, Mr Achim Burkart on behalf of the German government expressed concern over what he termed as “shrinking democratic space” since last year’s election.
“The recent application of a threatened state of emergency had rung the alarm clocks, adding that he was hopeful that the Zambian government would deal wisely with the issue in the weeks to come.
“The release of the opposition leader has been a very positive sign in this regard, and my government is looking forward to a reconciliation process that leaves the past behind and was concentrating on the future development of Zambia,” Mr Burkart said.
Mr Mutati said 31million Euros will go towards the get fit Zambia programme and 18.5 million Euros will be used towards sustainable electricity supply in the Southern division.
He said 5 million Euros will go towards decentralised development through district infrastructure while the urban water supply and sanitation in Chipata will gobble 8 million Euros.
Mr Mutati also explained that 8 million Euros will go towards rural water supply and sanitation (reduction of malnutrition and rural areas), 18 million Euros towards ecological urban development in Lusaka, 7 million Euros towards strengthening of local governance and 12 million Euros for national water supply and sanitation programme phase two.
“Today’s signing of the financial and technical cooperation grant agreement is as a result of rigorous and fruitful bilateral cooperation negotiations that took place in December 2016 in Berlin, Germany.
