FODEP URGES GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BAN’S VISIT

FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says the visit by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon presents a great opportunity for the Zambian government to engage the UN system on how it can assist the country propel social and economic development.

FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi said government needs to maximize the UN Chief’s visit to the country and bring to the fore the positives the country possesses for the world to know what the country has to offer.

Mr. Chipenzi explained that the UN was the biggest system in the promotion of development and good governance, saying the presence of the UN Secretary General in the country was a great opportunity for the country to push its development agenda.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the world’s attention will be on Zambia during the UN Chief’s visit to the country and that it was imperative therefore that the country brings out the positives it has to offer to the world.

Mr. Chipenzi urged government to prepare a good package on what the country has in terms of tourism, the crusade against corruption and the stable democratic credential the country has built for itself to solicit foreign direct investment into the country.

The FODEP Executive Director also stated that government also need to bring out the challenges it is facing such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, under-development among others so that the UN system can help the country to address after Mr. Ban’s visit.

Mr. Ban is expected in the country on Friday February 24.

Whilst in the country Mr. Ban will meet President Michael Sata and other senior government officials and address a special session of the country’s National Assembly, where he is also due to interact with the leaders of several parliamentary bodies.

He will also visit a United Nations-supported initiative that uses life skills and sports to reach out to and inspire vulnerable children, including those who live in the streets.

The UN Secretary General will be accompanied by, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)Jacques Rogge, and will also visit the Olympic Youth Development Centre, a pilot project of the IOC ‘Sports for Hope Programme.

Mr. Ban will also have discussions with Zambian human rights clubs hosted by schools in Livingstone, before participating in a ‘tourism for development’ event in Victoria Falls national park.

From Zambia, Mr. Ban will go to Angola, where he will meet with President José Eduardo dos Santos, the President of the National Assembly, Antonio Paulo Kassoma, and Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo Chikoti, among other top officials.

ZANIS