The Ministry of National Development and Planning has appealed to the media to continue providing checks and balances to the Government especially in relation to the implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP).
The Ministry says the media should further continue bringing public concerns and voices into the open by providing a platform for discussion.
National Development and Planning Minister Alexander Chiteme says with regards to the Seventh National Development Plan, there has been progress made in terms of Programme implementation.
Mr. Chiteme says the 7NDP has been disseminated to all provinces and to all districts.
“Further, the Plan has been translated into eight local languages so that it can be understood. You may wish to know that in principle, the 7NDP will be entering its 3rd year in operation and to this effect, the Ministry has compiled Annual Progress Reports to inform the citizenry on what has been achieved so far. I hereby call on all stakeholders to partner with my Ministry in our collective resolve to expedite the implementation of the 7NDP,” said.
Speaking at the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) 2018 media awards under the theme: awarding excellence in developing policy reporting, Mr. Alexander Chiteme says a positive image of a country promotes investor confidence, as well as promote tourism.
Mr. Chiteme says the economic strives that has been achieved as a nation could not have been appreciated had it not been for constant information dissemination by the media in the country.
Mr. Chiteme has since encouraged the media in the country to be responsible for the information they publish to the public.
He says that the media should strive to promote a positive Zambian image both locally and internationally.
He has further urged the media to take keen interest in reporting about the first ever electronic national censes to be conducted in 2020.
The minister was speaking in a speech read for him by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Development and Planning Mushuma Mulenga.
And speaking at the same event PMRC Executive Director Bernadette Deka says PMRC media award are aimed at encouraging the media in the country to engage in development policy reporting.
Ms Deka adds there is need for the media in the country to charge the mind set of Zambians in the way they report on various national matters.
She says that mind set charge will result in the development of the country.

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