Zambians should adjust to eating cheaper and more nutritious foods as opposed to relying on nshima, VicePresident Inonge Wina has advised. Mrs Wina said foods such as millet, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and cassava have numerous health benefits. “The gradual shift from predominantly maize-based meals is good for the nation as more nutritious foods will have space at our tables,” Mrs Wina said in a statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Stephen Mwansa.

The Vice-President was speaking when chairperson of the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) chairperson Isaac Ngoma visited her to discuss matters of development. “The switch to more nutritious foods is one of the low cost and effective ways of addressing stunting and malnutrition in the country.

“It will also act as an assurance of food security at domestic and community levels,” Mrs Wina said. She thanked Chief Chitambo of Serenje for asking citizens to promote and revert to more traditional foods that have greater health value. “I also wish to commend hotels, lodges and restaurants that are promoting traditional dishes as part of their service offerings,” she said. Mrs Wina urged CSPR to continue playing the interface role between Government and the grassroots through its network of community and faith-based organisations.

The Vice-President has since directed ministries, provinces and spending agencies to create conducive platforms to engage non-state actors in the execution and delivery of government programmes. And Mr Ngoma thanked Government for undertaking austerity measures to increase the resource envelope. Mr Ngoma requested Government to put more emphasis on implementing programmes that will have greater impact on society. He said focus should be placed on domestic resource mobilisation and prudent debt managem