Govt calls on Luapula leadership to widely disseminate social protection, disability policies

The government has called for wider dissemination of the revised National Social Protection Policy and National Disability Policy, stressing the need for inclusive participation across communities in Luapula Province.

Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Chief Planner for Development Cooperation, Jonathan Mwamba, said the updated policies, launched earlier this year, responded to emerging national challenges.

He spoke during a courtesy call on Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Prudence Kangwa, who was represented by Acting Permanent Secretary, Evans Sikabbubba, alongside officials from the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

Mwamba identified key challenges, including climate change, disability inclusion, and other cross-cutting issues, noting that the revised documents reflected government policy directions and the UPND manifesto.

“We are here to interact with stakeholders so that the content of these policies is understood and effectively implemented in a coordinated manner,” Mwamba said.

In response, Acting Permanent Secretary, Sikabbubba welcomed the delegation, emphasizing that policy frameworks guided development efforts.

He urged the ministry to leverage Luapula’s community radio stations, traditional leaders, and local languages to ensure rural and hard-to-reach communities fully understand the policies.

“These national documents are not just for offices, but for the people in the community – the real beneficiaries,” Sikabbubba said.

He stressed that no one should be left behind, including persons with disabilities, and called for dissemination to be treated as an ongoing process with periodic reviews and impact assessments.

The revised National Social Protection Policy and National Disability Policy replace the 2014 frameworks and are expected to anchor Zambia’s efforts in promoting social inclusion, protecting vulnerable groups, and responding to evolving national priorities.

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