President Hakainde Hichilema has announced a major reduction in the size of official presidential travel delegations as part of efforts to curb government expenditure.
Speaking at the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Silver Jubilee celebrations, President Hichilema said the number of officials travelling with the President has been cut from about 120 under the previous administration to around 25.
“Before our time in government, every time there was a UN General Assembly, over 100 to 120 public servants travelled to New York. Now, if the President travels, it’s 25 people,” he said.
He further revealed that his administration has also reduced the length of foreign trips to ensure prudent use of public resources.
The President reiterated his government’s strong commitment to education, stressing that the sector should be viewed not only as a social investment but also as a key driver of economic development. He pledged continued increased funding to support education.
Meanwhile, BETUZ disclosed that its membership has more than doubled, attributing the growth to the large-scale teacher recruitment programme implemented by the New Dawn administration.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations, held under the theme “Celebrating 25 Years of Unity, Innovation and Resilient Growth,” drew over 2,500 participants, including teachers, provincial education officers, DEBS officials, and head teachers from all ten provinces.