FAO, NEPAD get Zambia invitation

From JERRY MUNTHALI in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
PRESIDENT Sata has invited Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) director general Jose Grazanio Da Silva for an on-the-spot check of the organisation’s various programmes it is supporting in Zambia.
The President emphasised that a visit to Zambia and an engagement with local technocrats are the only practical way that will assist FAO to appreciate the situation on the ground and tailor specific programmes for the country.
President Sata said this on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with Dr da Silva.
According to a statement issued here yesterday by special assistant to the President for press and public relations George Chellah, the meeting discussed several aspects of FAO’s contribution to national, regional and world efforts to improve food security and other matters of mutual interest.
And Dr da Silva expressed gratitude to President Sata for the efforts being made to achieve mutual co-operation between Zambia and FAO.
And later, President Sata held bilateral talks with New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) chief executive officer Ibrahim Mayaki on the side-lines of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU).
During the meeting, the President invited Dr Mayaki to come to Zambia to see how NEPAD can move forward and continue providing support in a more pragmatic way.
“If you have some time you come to Zambia and we can be in a position to offer more. We are trying to break away from this practice of you being in urban areas, come to Zambia and we will give you a minister to take you to rural areas so that you can meet the poor of the poorest,” Mr Sata said.
Dr Mayaki said NEPAD has been working on some agriculture interventions in Zambia for some time now and is ready to do more.
“We will be pleased to hear instructions and guidance on how we can move forward in a more pragmatic way. We really would like to count on your support and guidance on how we can improve and do more,” Dr Mayaki said.
And President Sata says Zambia has made significant strides in the eradication of malaria, which has resulted in the reduction of the infant mortality rate.
Speaking when he met Roll Back Malaria executive director Fatoumata Nafo-Traore on the side-lines of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the AU heads of State and government summit here on Thursday, Mr Sata said Zambia has worked hard to control malaria and reduce the infant mortality rate.