Govt to diversify farming in W/Province

FINANCE Minister Alexander Chikwanda has said Government is targeting to accelerate diversified agricultural development in Western Province by focusing on fish, cashew and rice farming.
The minister was speaking during a high-level economic exchange dialogue with Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta in Lusaka yesterday.
“The people of Western Province are very hard working and resourceful, which is why we want the community development plans under your leadership to succeed by giving you the necessary logistical support,” Mr Chikwanda said.
In a statement released by Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta, Mr Chikwanda also congratulated the senior chief for his appointment as a Board member of Peace Parks International and for establishing the Inyambo Development Trust.
Mr Chikwanda said the initiative to create the Inyambo Development Trust had exemplified Senior Chief Inyambo Yetas’ vision, passion and commitment to development in Zambia.
“Economic exchange dialogues such as this one cement relations across the width and breadth of the country, and facilitate performance benchmarking, as success in one part has a positive social demonstration effect on other parts of Zambia,” he said.
Mr Chikwanda commended the Barotse Royal Establishment for the visionary leadership which had resulted in the setting-up of sustainable community development projects in Mwandi and Sesheke districts by Senior Chief Yeta.
“We shall forever remain indebted to your unitary and visionary leadership not only for the development of Western Province, but the nation at large,” Mr Chikwanda said.
The senior chief described Sesheke and Mwandi districts in Western Province as tourist destinations and key components to Livingstone, the co-host city of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly.
He disclosed that a joint programme called SIMALAHA Community Conservancy had been introduced in partnership with Chief Sekute to create a wildlife park aimed at empowering the local people through shared community wildlife resources.
“We are in the process of producing an integrated tourism product that is going to attract tourists and create opportunities for wealth creation for our people. In fact the Zambian Government, through the Minister of Tourism (Sylvia Masebo) has already granted authority for ZAWA to supply seed animals to the conservancy,” said Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta.
SIMALAHA Community Conservancy is located on an important eco-tourism corridor and is part of the larger Kavango – Zambezi (KAZA) Trans Frontier.