Economy on the rebound – Lungu
President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu says the economy is steadily rebounding following various interventions by government.
And the President has thanked Saltech enterprises and Mukuyu ventures, the two firms contracted to build two correctional facilities in Mwembeshi for showing confidence in the economy.
President Lungu has also reaffirmed government’s resolve to upholding human rights by providing humane correctional services in the country.
He was speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two correctional facilities and 72 housing units in Mwembeshi this morning.
President Lungu said government has embarked on an ambitious programme to reform the prison service as part of PFs promise in 2011.
He announced that government has so far built five correctional centres in five provinces over the last four years and is still planning to build state of the art correctional facilities throughout the country.
The Head of State said prisons facilities are more than 200 per cent overcrowded with a population of more than 19,000 against the holding capacity of over 8,250 inmates.
President Lungu said the PF government remains committed to upholding human rights as enshrined in international and regional human rights conventions.
The President said the idea of correctional services is meant to give inmates a second chance unlike the past system which was penal in nature.
The President emphasised the need to uphold peace and unity as the country goes to the polls.
The project is expected to create 2,380 jobs at construction stage.
This will be first ever-Public Private Partnership modern correctional facilities.
At the same function, Minister of Home Affairs Davis Mwila said the development will cut down on the congestion in Prisons.
Meanwhile, Zambia Correctional Services Commissioner General Percy Chato said the two correctional facilities in Mwembeshi is symbolical of president Lungu’s concern for the welfare of inmates.
Mr Chato said this is also a demonstration the government is committed to transforming the facility to a truly correctional one.
He said the new facilities to be added were expected to cut down on congestion.