The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has launched the National Volunteer Policy to help guide the activities of volunteers in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the policy and commemoration of the International Volunteer Day in Lusaka yesterday, Community Development and Social Services Minister Doreen Mwamba said the policy would provide strategies and legal framework required for the effective and efficient management of volunteer activities.
Ms Mwamba said that the government was therefore ready to foster strong relationships with volunteers to end poverty in Zambia.
She said the policy would provide an enabling environment to make it easier for volunteers to work.
“The Government of Zambia recognised and appreciates the contribution that volunteers make at different levels in our society. The Government and the United Nations systems have both benefited through integrating volunteerism in the national and global development agenda,” Ms Mwamba said.
She said Zambia like many other countries in the world needed the efforts of more volunteers to be able to mitigate shortages mostly at community level.
Ms Mwamba said the Zambian Government would continue forging partnerships with every Zambian as volunteerism was concerned and collaborate with other stakeholders in advocating and promoting volunteerism in the country.
Speaking at the same event, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Beatrice Mutali said the system would continue welcoming volunteers and involving them in its work as change agents.
Ms Mutali said it was through the volunteers that citizens voices were amplified, ensuring that the concerns of the people were at the heart of its work.
The commemoration was held under the theme Solidarity through volunteering with Government glowing tribute to all volunteers across the country for their viable contribution to the welfare of the nation.
