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First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Attractor Chisangano, has announced that plans to construct a new and modern Parliamentary Chamber were underway with an estimated cost of US$140 million.
Chisangano said as a result of the reforms, the National Assembly had embarked on the physical space development of the current building, which had become severely limited.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly said this when she paid a courtesy call on the Zambian Consulate in Dubai and the Northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
Chisangano was received by the Consul General-Designate, Professor Nkombo Muuka, and diplomatic staff at the Dubai and Northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates Embassy.
“With the view to reposition the Zambian Parliament to perform its functions more effectively, the institution has been implementing parliamentary reforms since 2002,” she stated.
Chisanga identified the reforms as the increase in the number of Member of Parliament to 156 to enhance citizen representation in the House, and establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office to enhance budget scrutiny.
She said others were the expansion of Parliament Radio and the establishment of Parliament Television to enhance parliamentary engagement with the public.
“I wish to request the Consulate to join hands with the National Assembly of Zambia in finding possible partners to assist in implementing and enhancing these reforms,” Chisangano requested.
She placed particular emphasis on building a new and modern Parliamentary Chamber.
Chisangano encouraged the Consul-General and his diplomatic colleagues to continue carrying out their duties with utmost professionalism.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly emphasized the need for the staff to bear in mind that the responsibility of marketing Zambia across all sectors, including tourism rested on their shoulders.
In his welcome remarks, Muuka emphasized the profound significance the Consulate in Dubai attached to visits from Zambia, spanning across business professionals, legislature and other stakeholders.
“These engagements serve as a vital avenue for fostering meaningful dialogue, obtaining valuable marketing intelligence, sharing innovative business ideas and staying abreast of the latest developments in Zambia,” he said.
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Muuka stated that the Consulate in Dubai was well-equipped to address the essential question regarding the definition of success for the Zambian Mission in the UAE.
According to Muuka, the answer lay in the Consulate’s comprehensive roadmap, the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan.
“The plan, which is comprised of seven imperatives and corresponding key performance indicators (KPIs) aims at broadening and deepening the bilateral ties between Zambia and the UAE,” he said.
Muuka noted that the strategy emphasised the broader scope of Economic Diplomacy and especially Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and cultivating Joint Venture arrangements between companies in the UAE and the private sector in Zambia.
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