President Hakainde Hichilema has called for speedy and effective implementation of projects in order to accelerate economic growth in the country.
Mr Hichilema has since commended Powerful Diligent Varecious (PDV) metals, for setting up a steel industry in Zambia which is expected to accelerate infrastructure development in the country.
ZANIS reports that speaking during the commissioning of a multi-million steel plant in the Lusaka Multi-facility Economic Zone (LSMEZ) in Lusaka, Mr Hichilema advised Zambians to take a leaf from the Chinese who have managed to deliver a plant within 10 months.
The head of State also challenged his Ministers, especially acting Commerce, Trade and Industry Paul Kabuswe, to work hard and ensure various investment opportunities are established in all the provinces to avoid people from traveling to Lusaka for jobs.
“As a chief marketing manager for the country, I feel elated for this huge steel investment PDV metals has established here in the LSMEZ, I can also state that there are other companies like ceramic tiles among others which are housed here,” he said.
He explained that running a country needs focused leaders, and that his administration is poised to roll out various developmental programmes in partnership with countries such as China.
The President noted that it is pleasing for the country to have a steel industry with the capacity to export to neighbouring countries in the region.
“This steel plant will be key in providing raw materials for the country’s infrastructure growth, so we must change our work culture, stop wasting time on unproductive issues like peddling lies on social platforms,” he said.
The President further expressed happiness to PDV metals for their plan to start generating power at the same plant in the second phase of the project.
He urged the Chinese investors to explore other areas of investment such as in mining, and that there is a need to explore and exploit the huge iron deposits that are dotted across the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema has called on the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security to arrest people that are peddling lies and tarnishing the image of innocent citizens by using social media platforms.
He said that government will not take lightly people who are fond of destroying other people’s characters, and that he expects the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security to deal with perpetrators decisively.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Acting Minister, Paul Kabuswe commended PDV steel industry for the huge investment in the country, indicating that the industry is an addition to other already revived companies such as Mopani, KCM, Shaft 28 mine in Luanshya among others.
He added that the Commissioned PDV metals will assist in actualizing iron mining companies which the country expects to embark on in the country following huge deposits of the mineral.
Mr Kabuswe also used the platform to thank the President for his visionary and robust leadership in ensuring that the mining and other sectors are resuscitated in the country.
Earlier, PDV chairman, Zeng Jun commended President Hichilema for his visionary leadership which is helping to attract investment opportunities in the country.
He said the PDV steel metal plant is the largest in Southern Africa with the capacity to export its products to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda among other countries.
The Chairman explained that the steel plant has in its first phase created over 500 jobs and that the number is expected to increase in the second phase of its operation.
PDV, is a factory designed according to special steel production processes, specialising in high quality construction products for special fields.
