The First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Malungo Chisangano, MP on Monday, 31 st October, 2022 toured Feria and Rufunsa Constituency offices on a familiarization mission and to further carry out the implementation of the Tree Planting Campaign, launched by the Speaker of the National Assembly Rt. Hon. Nelly B. K Mutti, MP in July 2022.

While on the familiarization tour of the Feira Constituency Office, Hon. Chisangano was brought to date with the challenges that the staff at the Constituency Office and the Member of Parliament are grappling with in carrying out their work in the constituency. The area Member of Parliament and staff also highlighted the opportunities that exist for the office to leverage in order to increase awareness about the work of the National Assembly and to enhance the functionality of the Constituency Office.

Speaking during the interactive meeting with the First Deputy Speaker, the Feira Member of Parliament Mr. Emmanuel Tembo, MP thanked her for visiting his constituency to hear first-hand the prevailing circumstances at the Constituency Office and the Constituency at large. He added that it was very encouraging and motivating when Presiding Officers visited Members of Parliament and their constituents so that they are abreast with the challenges and opportunities prevailing in the constituencies in order to address them accordingly.

Speaking during the tree planting exercise, First Deputy Speaker Chisangano encouraged Feira constituents to diversify the economic ventures in the Constituency into other areas including timber and Wood processing. She added that in order for the people of Feira to achieve this, they needed to stop indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal burning. She also encouraged them to plant more trees in their environment including their gardens, schools and around their homes and villages. She further urged Feira Constituents to join hands with the area Member of Parliament in achieving the one thousand (1000) tree planting target in their constituency.

During the tour of Rufunsa Constituency Office, the Deputy Speaker learnt from the Member of Parliament and Constituency Office staff the challenges being faced at the Constituency Office and in the entire Constituency. She also learnt of the opportunities that can be leveraged to enhance the work of the National Assembly in the Constituency.

The area Member of Parliament and Lusaka Province Minister, Hon. Sheal Mulyata, MP heartily expressed gratitude to Hon. Chisangano for visiting her Constituency stating that she had been encouraged by the visit as it had presented an opportunity for her, the staff in her office and her constituents to make known to the Leadership in Parliament the various social and economic issues prevailing in her constituency.

Speaking during the tree planting exercise, First Deputy Speaker Chisangano commended Hon. Sheal Mulyata for her support in the tree planting exercise in Lusaka province and now in her constituency. She added that her efforts were a demonstration of her commitment to championing natural resource conservation in the country, informed by her understanding of the economic benefits of a healthy environment. Hon. Chisangano further impressed upon the people of Rufunsa Constituency to take the Tree Planting Campaign seriously and to take ownership of it in their respective residences. She added that this was one of the ways in which their constituency and the nation at large could contribute to the attainment of global goals on climate action and sustainable use of natural resources such as forests.

The familiarization tours of Constituency Offices and the implementation of the Tree Planting Campaign by Presiding Officers is intended to be carried out across all the one hundred fifty six (156) Constituencies.