Health is High on the Agenda as President Banda Opens National Nutrition Forum

LUSAKA, Zambia, February 17, 2011 - Today His Excellency, Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the
Republic of Zambia, officially opened the National Nutrition Consultative
Forum at a ceremony in Livingstone in the Southern Province.

The meeting focused on national food security and highlighted
President Banda's commitment to providing a better future for all Zambians,
not based on tribal or regional allegiances but on genuine need.

During President Banda's administration, he has made the issue
of food security a key priority, while investing in the future of farming as
a key means for boosting the Zambian economy. He has introduced several
initiatives including the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to tackle the
issue. As a result, Zambia has more than an 80% reduction in child
malnutrition and steadily decreasing food prices.

Under President Banda's leadership, the 2009/2010 season
recorded a maize bumper harvest of 2.8 million metric tonnes, the highest
ever in Zambia's history. The President also signed the Comprehensive African
Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to strengthen agricultural systems
across Africa.

President Banda said: "I am committed to achieving a better
place for Zambia in the world by establishing security, stability and
prosperity for all Zambians. Our government has delivered growth of just
under 7% despite the global recession, thanks to sound government policies.
As a result, we are on the journey to becoming a prosperous middle-income
country by 2030."

"We have been blessed with good land and resources. It is
crucial that we continue to work together to enhance the well-being of our
people. By maintaining steady food production and lower prices, we will be
able to create strong foundations on which to build tomorrow's Zambia."

At the recent launch of the Sixth National Development Plan
(SNDP), President Banda outlined his Government's commitment to cutting rural
poverty from 77 percent in 2006 to 50 percent in 2015. His pledge today
demonstrates his personal drive to see food and agriculture as key enablers
of this.

Dickson Jere / press at presidentbanda.com / SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT / PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS