Government committed to develop rural areas

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering economic development in rural areas through the creation of manufacturing industries country wide.

Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Belinda Kawandami said government attaches importance to spreading economic development to the rural community hence the need to set up industries to add value to local produce.

Ms Kawandami was speaking in Mungule today when she visited women ahead of the International Women’s Day which falls on 8th March.

Ms Kawandami said government was going to engage stakeholders in the creation of manufacturing industries in rural areas to enhance value addition to local farm produce.

She explained that government will also embark on training programs tailored for rural women to offer them with guidelines on entrepreneurial skills development to add value to their businesses.

She stated that the country is endowed with various natural resources such as vast land, water and trees among others which only need to be exploited for economic benefits.

She further urged women across the country to engage into crop diversification to ensure that they grow crops that can easily be transformed into finished products.

The Deputy Minister explained that the production of crops such as cotton, groundnuts and soya beans among others can promote value addition to the products and enhance economic independence.

Ms Kawandami who implored women to form clubs that will help them coordinate their activities, donated K1000 rebase for the smooth creation and registration of their clubs.

Earlier, the Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister paid a courtesy call on Chief Mungule expressing happiness at the welfare of the chief who had recovered from a critical illness.

And Chief Mungule thanked government for the care rendered to her during her illness.

The traditional leader further thanked government for the initiative to spread economic growth to her chiefdom saying it will help in alleviating poverty and enhance economic development to the rural community.

Speaking on behalf of the local women, Ruth Malola appealed to government to come to their aid by offering financial support and technical guidelines to help them establish ways of ensuring the
expansion of the projects.