Sinazongwe β President Hakainde Hichilema has underscored his administrationβs resolve to accelerate rural development and improve the lives of ordinary citizens through tangible infrastructure and social investments.
Delivering the Presidentβs message on his behalf at the Maliko Lwiindi Traditional Ceremony in Sinazongwe District, Southern Province, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Gift Sialubalo, MP, said the governmentβs priority is to ensure that traditional ceremonies are not only platforms for cultural celebration but also reflections of the progress being made in communities.
βUnder the New Dawn Government, we have rolled out massive development programs aimed at transforming rural communities,β President Hichilema said. βThrough the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), schools are being rehabilitated, health facilities are being constructed, and roads are being upgraded to ensure that no community is left behind.β
He highlighted that the government has prioritized investment in education, agriculture, and health to uplift rural households. The minister cited ongoing projects such as the expansion of school infrastructure, provision of desks to eliminate floor-sitting in classrooms, and support to farmers through enhanced input distribution as part of the governmentβs development footprint.
βDevelopment is not about words but about action. Today, communities across the country can point to new classrooms, clinics, boreholes, bridges, and empowerment programs that are improving livelihoods.
The President also assured traditional leaders of continued collaboration in driving development, emphasizing that chiefs and their subjects are critical partners in ensuring that resources reach the grassroots.
The Maliko Lwiindi Ceremony, which celebrates harvest and thanksgiving among the Tonga-speaking people, was described as a reminder of the strong link between culture, agriculture, and sustainable development.
βThe significance of this ceremony lies not only in preserving our heritage but also in reflecting on how far we have come as a nation in addressing the needs of our people,β Hon. Sialubalo added.
The colourful event, attended by traditional leaders, government officials, and thousands of citizens, showcased cultural dances, music, and unity while underscoring governmentβs ongoing development agenda in rural Zambia.
