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PRESIDENT HICHILEMA OFFICIALLY OPENS THE NATIONAL SKILLS, PRODUCTIVITY AND JOBS SUMMIT

03rd December 2024… President Hakainde Hichilema addressed the Summit, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba, he emphasized Zambia’s focus on bridging skills gaps, boosting productivity, and creating decent jobs. Key highlights from the speech include:
• President Hakainde Hichilema highlighted the National Skills, Productivity, and Jobs Summit as a critical step in addressing Zambia’s economic challenges and fostering job creation, skills development, and productivity growth.
• He emphasized the importance of linking job seekers with employers, both locally and internationally, and improving skills to meet industry demands through internships, apprenticeships, and industrial attachments.
• The President stressed the need for technical and vocational education (TVET) and STEM fields to prepare the workforce for modern economic demands.
• Acknowledging Zambia’s surplus of skilled labour, particularly in education and health, he advocated exporting labour to reduce unemployment and boost global influence.
• He outlined the government’s focus on creating sustainable, decent jobs in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and IT.
• President Hichilema underlined the role of productivity as central to economic transformation and called for stronger collaboration among government, private sector, and educational institutions.
• He announced initiatives such as the Zambia National Service Skills Development Program and enhanced ICT access to equip citizens with digital and entrepreneurial skills.
• The speech also highlighted achievements in free education, construction of classroom blocks, and partnerships with the private sector to expand training opportunities.
• In conclusion, he called for stakeholders to turn summit discussions into actionable strategies for empowering citizens, improving productivity, and ensuring no one is left behind in Zambia’s development journey.
Below are some picture highlights from day 1 of the event.
Let’s turn discussions into action for a productive Zambia where no one is left behind.
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Official Launch of the 10th ZUFIAW Annual Sports Festival at OYDC

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Brenda M. Tambatamba, officially opened the 10th ZUFIAW Annual Sports Festival at OYDC in Lusaka today. The speech delivered by the Minister highlighted the importance of a healthy workplace and a healthy worker with the following highlights:
• The festival’s theme, “Championing a Collaborative and Healthy Working Environment in the Delivery of Financial Services for Economic Growth,” aligns with the Government’s vision of fostering a progressive, healthy, happier, and productive workforce in Zambia.
• The Minister emphasized the critical link between the quality of the working environment and the broader economic outcomes, underscoring that collaborative and healthy workplaces are key to ensuring employees are motivated and engaged to deliver high-quality services.
• The festival symbolizes unity, teamwork, and individual well-being, values crucial for Zambia’s national development.
• The Minister highlighted the role of sports in promoting physical and mental health, which is important in all areas of human activity.
• Employers and trade unions were urged to develop and implement policies promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for workers through events like the sports festival.
• The Government reaffirmed its commitment to sports development due to its critical role in uniting the country, creating employment, and contributing to economic development.
• The Minister encouraged the application of teamwork, mutual respect, and dedication—principles learned through sports—to the workplace, fostering a healthy working environment where every person feels valued and motivated.
• The Minister officially declared the 10th ZUFIAW Sports Festival open, encouraging participants to engage actively and embrace the festival’s lessons.