By ROGERS KALERO
ZAMBIANS living in the diaspora should work closely with foreign missions on how best they can contribute to develop various sectors of the economy and improve the lives of the people of Zambia under the ‘New Dawn’ government, UPND Alliance Media Director Mr Thabo Kawana has said.
Mr Kawana affirmed the New Dawn government’s commitment to cooperating with individuals and organisations in the diaspora so that they can be engaged in activities that would help to develop the country and improve people’s lives.
Mr Kawana was speaking in an interview with Tropicana Radio Show, a Zambia-themed programme aired on Lähiradio in Helsinki, Finland last Wednesday.
Mr. Kawana explained mechanisms through which Zambians abroad could engage government to assist in these initiatives.
“As I said earlier, Zambians abroad should work closely with foreign missions to see how best they can cooperate and bring out economic development. We have Zambians in diaspora who have the capacity to contribute to agriculture, tourism and other sectors of the economy,” Mr Kawana said Organisations like the Global Alliance of Zambian Health Practitioners (GAZHP) and the Organisation of Zambians Living In Australia (OZALIWA) were examples of diaspora initiatives currently active in securing medical equipment for use in Zambia.
“Such initiatives are welcome, and this responsible government which the people voted for will facilitate for such and make it easier for people so that such equipment is brought into the country, transported, and the efforts are well appreciated.
“There are many Zambians who require these services but the machines are not there. Therefore we need as many machines to be put in the centres. I can tell you that we have dialysis units in Lusaka, Chipata, Mansa, Ndola, Kitwe and so on, but completely nothing in Western Province, and the whole of Southern Province we only have in Livingstone,” he said
