Vice President, Mutale Nalumango has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for being a visionary leader whose administration has enacted progressive laws that cut across the nation, citing that the new legislation that demonstrates care and love for Zambians.

Mrs Nalumango, who was speaking during the Presidential assent ceremony for five Bills at State House today, said the Bills assented to, are just examples of many reforms passed during the current government’s five years term.

“For the care that the President has, for the love that the visionary leader has, and indeed the support from the institutions that have been part to the development of these roles and the Zambians, we can see, are excited to get these laws that have been put in place,” she said.

Mrs Nalumango highlighted increased women’s representation in decision making as a key achievement of the UPND administration.

“The women folk have cried for a long time for representation in decision making and I think, we have all seen what is happening in our country, women are leading very important institutions in our country. This must be encouraging to the youths, the students, the female students that you are not waiting for nothing,” she said.

She said President Hichilema’s decision to put free education into law, rather than leave it to policy, was meant to protect it from political changes.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance member, Highvie Hamududu said Zambia has made huge steps against poverty, unemployment and inequality by legislating free education.

Meanwhile, Learners representative, Emma Chanda commended government for honoring pupils with the Free Education Bill, saying the law restores dignity and hope for children who previously dropped out of school due to lack of fees.