Lusaka and Chongwe are adjoining cities in Lusaka Province, Zambia. Their mayors are from different political parties – but, with the support of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, they are jointly launching an Early Childhood Development program that will serve the children of both municipalities. Their common goal is for every child in Lusaka and Chongwe aged 0-5 to reach their full development potential.
His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, has made early childhood and foundational years development a national priority for the country, recognizing their importance to building human capital and realizing the country’s long-term development aspirations, as set out in the national development plan, Vision 2030. “We are committed to ensuring that children are raised in a better society,” says the President. “This we have to continue doing at family, national, and global levels. May God bless every family raising a child into a responsible citizen out there.”
Lusaka and Chongwe have commissioned a baseline survey of Early Childhood Development in the two cities. A joint Steering Committee and Technical Committee will design interventions across the municipalities that are targeted to the survey’s findings.
