JCTR Steps in to Improve lives of vulnerable

————- Kasama District Commissioner has commended the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) for supplementing government efforts aimed at improving the well being of vulnerable in communities.

 

Mr Kalanga Bwalya said efforts of improving people’s lives should not be left to government alone but needed broad based poverty and development approaches from different stakeholders.

 

Mr. Bwalya was speaking during the launch of the JCTR’s Households access to specific Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) research report for the Kasama urban case held at Prefix lodge yesterday.

 

He noted that the report would help put the district top on the agenda of national development as it will be used as a tool for attaining structural change that will help people live more dignified lives.

 

And speaking earlier, JCTR Programme Manager Andrew Simpasa expressed gratitude that the country has in the past decade recorded positive economic growth as reflected by key economic performance indicators.

 

Mr Simpasas cited the annual average growth which is estimated at about 6.4 percent while inflation is averaged at 9.5 percent from 2005 to date.

 

Mr. Simpasa however, expressed concern that the status of many Zambians has not changed significantly despite many developmental programmes and projects initiated and implemented by various stakeholders since the country’s independence.

 

Mr. Simpasa revealed that apart from Kasama, the exercise has also been conducted in selected urban districts which include Monze, Mongu, Livingstonee, Ndola and Kabwe.

 

The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights research seeks to highlight livelihood challenges with other stakeholders by providing information on the levels of households for onward transmission to relevant authorities.