By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
FINANCE and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane has admitted persistent high levels of poverty and inequality but that the government’s development efforts being pursued may start bearing fruits.
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Dr Musokotwane is deeply concerned that poverty and inequality had remained high as revealed in the latest living conditions monitoring survey.
He emphasised at the Fourth National Development Coordinating Committee (NDCC) meeting in Lusaka Friday that these issues need to be urgently addressed.
He said this in a speech read by Patrick Kangwa, Secretary to the Cabinet.
“As guided by His Excellency the President during the opening of the third session of the thirteenth national assembly in September this year, we must build on the socio-economic gains we have thus far recoded for improved livelihoods and a better Zambia.
“There are some persistent development issues that need to be addressed of course, poverty and inequality for instance, remain high as revealed in the latest living conditions monitoring survey,” Dr Musokotwane said. He also noted that Zambia was still vulnerable to external shocks as seen from the effects of changes in prices of key commodities on the global markets.
Dr Musokotwane said these issues should preoccupy participants in the NDCC meetings. “We must rally together to address these and other challenges and make more progress in all spheres of development.
“Our commitment must be demonstrated by our actions and the results that we record. I am hopeful that during this meeting, we will have the opportunity to be updated on the progress we are making in this regard,” he said.
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