By TEDDY KUYELA
MINISTER of Information and Broadcasting Services Joseph Katema has urged the media to continue highlighting issues that will help develop the country.
Dr Katema said journalists should continue interpreting the various economic programmes meant to benefit Zambians.
He said this in Lusaka yesterday when he toured Jihai Agriculture Investment and Development Group, which grows mushrooms at the Lusaka East Multi-Facility Economic Zone.
Dr Katema said it may be difficult for people to appreciate the economic strides the country is making if certain economic activities are not simplified for them.
“The media should empower the people by giving them the information about the economic activities taking place in the country.
“The media should also ensure that it disseminates information about the vast investment opportunities taking place in this country so that investors can come and invest to help create wealth and employment opportunities for our people,” he said.
Dr Katema said journalists should take a leading role in highlighting Zambia’s vast investment potential, hence Government’s determination to increase professionalism of journalists in the private and public media.
He said journalists have a crucial role to help explain the economic policies and how these will translate into improved living standards of the Zambians.
The minister also invited Chinese businesses to invest in Zambia’s agriculture sector.
“I am very impressed with what I have seen here, especially that you are growing mushroom on a large scale meant for export and for sale in the country.
“I hope this will put Zambia on the world map that it is capable of producing mushroom on a large scale for export and I am also happy that the company has created employment for our people,” Dr Katema said.
Jihai Agriculture Investment and Development Group general manager Yao Yumwu pledged the company’s commitment to partnering with Government in introducing programmes that will help develop the agriculture sector.
“We have a responsibility to help Zambia develop its agriculture sector because China and Zambia share long-term economic ties which should be strengthened to help uplift the living standards of people between our two countries.
“Zambia’s agriculture sector is promising to develop soon and we will work hard to ensure that we turn this country into a mushroom production nation,” Mr Yumwu said.
He further urged Government to invest more in the agriculture sector to help create wealth and job opportunities.