Shimunza Looks At Lungu’s One Year In Office
Movement for National Transformation(MNT) leader Daniel Mvula Shimunza has taken time to look at President Edgar Lungu’s performance since the last disputed election.
Below is a full statement:
We the Movement for National Transformation (MNT), would like to thank God, and congratulate our President for the Republic of Zambia after one year of work, since the last contentious elections. We wish His Excellency the President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, More strength, health, and God’s grace to execute the business of the nation with wisdom, justice, and righteousness, as the foundations of democratic good governance. We pray that the theme in the parliamentary address today: “Moving towards a Smart and prosperous Zambia in peace and tranquility without leaving anyone behind” will only be meaningful and feasible, if there is a change of political culture and policy directives working for all Zambians.
MNT is of the view that the PF- led Government in the last one year has done fairly well in various sectors such as; infrastructure and road development, relatively in water and sanitation through the Millennium Challenge Account, relative reductions in fuel, interest rates, Meali meal prices and consideration to reduce the farmers maize floor price. However, we observe that the government in the last one year has not done very well in the other areas which need great consideration such as;
A) Education sector still needs a lot of interventions to improve the quality of education in both rural and urban schools. Free education for primary has left a lot of schools without required funding for head teachers struggling, without even computers, toilets, desks, and other incentives for pupils. In Higher education government has not done well as many students and parents are failing to pay for fees and the bursary system has not worked well as it is not inclusive.
B) Health infrastructure has improved but still many cannot access services. The contentious recently introduced mandatory “test and treat” is a sign of lack of consultative processes. Staffing and work culture must be increased for efficient hospital services for all Zambians.
C) Sanitation and Water is relatively well done but requires extension to rural communities and shanty compounds.
D) Job creation has not been well-done as many Zambians are casualised workers without disposable income and no liquidity in the circulation. The economy has been more statistical and “handbag hand to mouth” than sustainable to grow the economy to over 6% GDP. This is due to “chronic short-term” goals of macro-economic policy and transactional approach which is not transformative.
E) Fight against corruption has been weak in the last one year and requires that attention be given to curb single sourcing and tolerating the vice.
F) Political values, and promotion of unity, peace and security has been threatened because of abuse of the Public order act, lack of the independence of the Judiciary, upholdance of the rule of law, and abuse of the criminal justice system through police brutality as seen against some political leaders. The threatened state of emergency must be reversed as it is not a good testimony of freedoms of the Zambian people. It reflects on the failure of government to promote unity, peace, and security thereby occasioning security threats and tensions in the nation. Therefore, MNT proposes the following reforms which must be considered going forward:
(a) Reform the holistic macro- economic diversified fiscal policy to curb over spending, outward looking policies and fiscal frugality or discipline for inward looking policies
(b) Reform the 2018 Budget which must be reflective of the 7 NDP and must boost economic growth not overspending
(c) Reform the Mining policy to include and empower Small Miners to become Multinational Players. New explorations including oil exploration must be for Zambians not investors as a mature democratic state
(d) Reform third world infrastructure and roads that is not self-sustaining lacking longevity
(e) Reform the educational policy which is not providing free education practically
(f) Reform E-voucher perennial agricultural policies to promote a more effective system that is practical services to the farmers
(g) Reform cadreism in government for professionalism. The party must not be equal or pari paassu with government which needs change.
(h) Job creation must be descent and smart jobs for Zambians not as casual workers
(i) Chain stores must be for Zambians not foreigners, we need real investors to support economic growth
(j) Poverty levels must be practically curbed in ranging between rural poverty over 70 % -80 % and urban levels respectively
Issued By:
Daniel Mvula Shimunza
Founding President MNT
Shimunzadaniel@gamil.com