ZAMBIANS should adopt the spirit of hard work from the Chinese instead of complaining that the foreigners are taking over their jobs.
Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme, in urging Zambians to work hard, said locals should stop complaining about the Chinese but be innovative.
He said this after attending mass at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church in Kitwe on Sunday
Mr Chiteme noted that Government has acquired a US$50 million grant for promoting aquaculture in the country but Zambians have shown little or no interest in the funding.
“I want to appeal to our youths to change their mindset and understand that only hard work will make them rich,” he said.
He said it is Zambians that are selling huge chunks of land to the Chinese and other foreigners who are making good use of it.
Mr Chiteme said citizens should take advantage of the aquaculture fund to venture into fish farming instead of just waiting for white-collar jobs.
He said Zambia should consider promoting the going back to the land programme to encourage people to venture into farming instead of just crowding urban areas and waiting for formal employment.
And in his homily, Fr Augustine Mwewa said God will punish Zambians for continuously complaining about poverty despite being blessed with abundant resources.
He encouraged parishioners to trust God as their source of providence and not be overtaken by their situations in life.
Fr Mwewa also encouraged newly-ordained priest Father Mark Ngwenya to trust in God in his priestly journey.
Meanwhile, Mr Chiteme is concerned about the slow pace at which some of the projects are being implemented in Central Province.
He said President Edgar Lungu is committed to ensuring that development projects are completed within the stipulated periods for the benefit of the people.
The minister was speaking when he inspected development projects in Central Province.