Govt to be proactive in support of NGOs work – Munkombwe

 Govt to be proactive in support of NGOs work – Munkombwe

Livingstone, May 23, 2013, ZANIS — Southern Province Minister Daniel Mukombwe says government will always remain proactive in supporting the civil organizations as they supplements its development efforts.

Mr. Munkombwe government was committed to support various non-governmental organizations in their efforts to provide leadership and Christian
values in the country.

He said the Patriotic Front (PF) government   recognizes the role the religious organisations play in the promotion of Christian values and as such would support all efforts aimed at sustaining these values.

ZANIS reports that the provincial Minister said this today in a speech read on his behalf by Livingstone District Community Development Officer Stephen Chikate in the Tourist Capital.

This was during the flagging off   the Fundraising Hope Ride under the auspices of  Reaching A Generation Zambia.

Mr. Mukombwe said the government appreciates efforts by the organisation to fundraise money with aim of promoting good values through training of police officers in child protection, gender based violence, child abuse and other social ills that have eroded Christian values in the country.

The seven cyclists from Greensborough, North Carolina in the United States of America will cover three countries during their tour.

Mr. Mukombwe noted that Southern Province is one of the provinces in the country that has benefited from the Reaching A Generation’s Beyond Justice Campaign.

He said as a result of this, more than 30 police officers have so far received different skills which community members have started benefitting.

Mr. Mukombwe also appealed to Reaching A Generation not to restrict its campaign  to
fundraising only but also provide information to people on how ready Livingstone was to-co hosts the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly (UNWTO) with Zimbabwe in August, this year.

“ This thousand miles cycling journey  covering three countries in six days should not restrict to fundraising but also provide information to the people on how ready Livingstone is to co-host the UNWTO with the Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe in August this year,” said Mr. Mukombwe.

He observed that the United States of America remains an all weather friend that has supported a number of projects in the province and country and expressed hope that whatever resources will be raised through the fundraising campaign will be ploughed back to the community.

He also challenged local NGOs to emulate Reaching A Generation Zambia to promote Christian values in the country.

And Reaching Zambia Director, Mr. Gavin Njovu said the organization has already raised US$40,000 and hope to raise a similar amount  from the cycling tour.

He also said the money raised will be used to build capacity in the Zambia police ahead of the UNWTO.