Stop talking, start working, President Lungu tells govt officials

President Edgar Lungu has directed all government leaders and Zambians to stop talking and start working in order to get the job done.

The Head of State has noted that there has been a lot of procrastination among those charged with implementing programmes and projects hence affecting delivery of service.

President Lungu has observed that since Zambia’s independence over 53 years ago there have been several action programmes by the many regimes that have governed the country without feasible success.

The president says he wants to be seen and judged differently hence his resolve to adopt a work and no talk approach to the many programmes being devised by government and the private sector to make Zambia green.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu said this when he officiated at a double event of Plant a Million Trees and Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign at Chakunkula Basic School in Munali Constituency in Lusaka.

He says the country recently launched the Plant a Million Trees and Make Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy campaign hence the need to start working to ensure that the programmes succeed.

President Lungu says people need to understand the importance and participate in planting trees and keeping surroundings clean.

The president led the way in sweeping the surroundings of the school where he and his entourage planted citrus fruit trees.

Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo and Ministers for Higher Education Nkandu Luo, General Education David Mabumba and Lands Jean Kapata and several permanent secretaries, government officials and other stakeholders joined in the cleaning and tree planting.

President Lungu also toured the school’s tree nursery and planted seedlings of various citrus trees that will be supplied to the Plant a Million tress Initiative for planting around Lusaka District.

And speaking earlier, Minister of Lands Jean Kapata said her ministry will ensure that it provides technical support to schools to develop and manage citrus fruits nurseries and orchards.

Minister of General Education David Mabumba made assurance that the over 4 million pupils in primary schools will all participate in the Keep Zambia Clean campaign and Plant a Million trees initiative.

Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo said there is need for patriotism among all Zambians to clean their backyards in order to ensure that the programme of cleaning the city and country succeeds.

Plant a Million Trees Initiative Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Chibesakunda urged Zambians to cultivate habits of planting economic trees such as citrus fruit to help replenish the millions of trees that have been cut over the years.

MTN Zambia acting Chief Executive Officer Mwenzi Mulenga said her organization is ready to support the implementation of campaigns to ensure that they become sustainable.

Ms. Mulenga said her organization will embark on a 21 day yellow care programme next month to help residents of Lusaka’s Ngombe Township to clean up their neighborhood.

And area Member of Parliament Nkandu Luo thanked President Lungu for coming to her constituency to kick start and implement the two programmes.

Every last Saturday of the month, businesses are expected to shut down and all Zambians to take up positions and participate in cleaning up their backyards and communities in order to make their surroundings clean, green and healthy.