Cabinet Decisions from 9th Meeting Under President Hichilema’s Leadership
The Minister of Information and Media, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, MP, and Chief Government Spokesperson, delivered a comprehensive update today on the key decisions reached during the 9th Cabinet Meeting under the leadership of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema.
The meeting, convened on Thursday, 23rd May, 2024, at State House, focused on critical economic policies geared towards national development and welfare enhancement for all Zambian citizens.
Given the severe impacts of the ongoing drought, President Hichilema declared it a National Disaster and Emergency on 29th February, 2024.
Subsequently, a humanitarian appeal was issued on 16th April, 2024, leading to the development and approval of the Food Security Drought Response Plan spanning April 2024 to May 2025. The plan targets 84 severely affected districts, where urgent Government assistance is prioritized.
Currently, 84.5% of these districts have received maize under the distribution program, benefiting over 300,000 households. Additionally, the Government has received significant support from partners, totaling K30,588,430, alongside strategic efforts to bolster maize stocks.
Cabinet greenlit the Joint Design Document (JDD) outlining proposed projects for the second Millennium Challenge Compact for Zambia, paving the way for finalization and expected signing in November 2024.
Valued at US$450 million, this initiative aims to bolster road infrastructure and support agricultural and agro-processing sectors to alleviate poverty and stimulate economic growth.
The projects include enhancing transportation in agriculture corridors, increasing access to finance for agri-SMEs, and fortifying agriculture policy and institutional capacities.
In a bid to modernize trade infrastructure, Cabinet endorsed the management and development of infrastructure at the Kasumbalesa Border through a Public Private Partnership model.
This move seeks to transform Kasumbalesa into a world-class inter-country trade center, addressing existing trade informalities, infrastructure deficiencies, and unstructured developments.
Cabinet approved Zambia’s hosting of the 2024 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), scheduled for 25th May, 2024, in Lusaka. This event, organized by the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5, aims to celebrate outstanding achievements in sports across member countries, including Zambia.
This year’s edition holds special significance as it marks 25 years of the Region’s existence, with plans to recognize 25 individuals for their significant contributions to regional sports development.
