Wignaraja happy with progress in Muchinga Province

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—The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Coordinator, Kanni Wignaraja, says she is impressed with how Muchinga Province is taking shape.

Ms Wignaraja says five UN agencies are helping  in shaping the province through its support on various developmental projects in many sectors in Muchinga Province.

She said that the UN through, its agencies, is investing in sectors such as health, agriculture and education while the same time creating jobs which will grow fast in the province.

The UN Resident Coordinator said it is important to look at a full picture of the UN support to the new province, adding that the UN is aware of the challenges that come with the creation of new districts and provinces in the country.

Ms Wignaraja, who is on a tour of Muchinga Province to check on the different infrastructure and developmental projects, said this in an interview with Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali yesterday.

She said the UN Agency is currently supporting projects in three districts in the province, namely Chama, Nakonde and Shiwangándu.

Ms Wignaraja said the UN agencies, like the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), were doing a lot of work in maternal and child healthy and also supporting the magistrate court in Nakonde district.

The Resident Coordinator said in Chama district the UNDP is supporting rice cultivation and climate adaptation in terms of conservation farming which is entering into Phase Two.

Ms Wignaraja has described Phase One of the project in Chama as successful and   has opened up the area for more investors.

Ms Wignaraja said the project is aimed at improving the quality of rice, maize and other crop production.

On livestock she said the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), through the International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD), is promoting livestock development and production which can be the biggest income earner for the province if the quality and stock of beef production and restocking of small livestock is improved.

Ms Wignaraja said the organization is also supporting hydro power electricity generation in the province, citing the recent establishing of a mini hydro power station in Shiwangándu district.

She further said that the UN will also start supporting the education sector though the support areas are not yet identified but that there will be an improvement in education, health and agriculture among others.

Speaking earlier, Muchinga Province Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS), Jewis Chabi, talked about cross cutting issues such as the restocking of livestock at Mbesuma state ranch, the construction of roads in the province in line with the link Zambia 2000 road project and improved rice production.

The DPS mentioned other areas of concern as the improvement of the health and education sectors.

The UN Resident Coordinator who is accompanied by her husband, Barun Chandra and her personal assistant, Margret Kasonso, have so far visited all the ten provinces in the country.

She also visited Chinsali Girls Secondary School, Paul Mushindo University site and Lubwa Mission.

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