BY IREEN MULENGA
The Ministry of National Development has commenced consultative engagements with multi-sectoral stakeholders to determine and agree on the priorities of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) currently being formulated.
Ministry of National Development Planning’s Permanent Secretary and Administration, Chola Chabala called on all participants to actively contribute to the formulation of 8NDP to yield positive results.
Mr Chabala called on all stakeholders from various sectors, including public and private sectors and civil society, when he officially opened the three-day consultation meeting that closes today.
“A National Development Plan is a key guiding development document for the country. It is, therefore, imperative that all stakeholders are included in the preparation of the Plan,” he said.
He said that Government appreciates the important role that stakeholders play in the national development process.
Mr Chabal said that deliberations were vital in arriving at effective and practical measures in coming up with the priority areas of the 8NDP, which will build on the successes of the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP).
And Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Finance and Economic Development, Mike Masiye said the formulation of the 8NDP was very important to the country’s development, hence urged all participants to freely contribute to the discussion.
Dr Masiye explained that the formulation of the 8NDP was a matter of great interest to all citizens.
He said that the 8NDP was being crafted at the time when Zambia and the global community in general, were faced with the challenge of COVID-19 and its effects.
This contained in a statement issued by Ministry of National Planning Spokesperson Chibaula Silwamba.
