The Committee of Citizens has advised the opposition in Zambia not make political capital out of the current global economic meltdown as it has affected not only Zambia but the whole World.
Organization Executive Director Gregory Chifire has said the opposition should instead work closely with the government in finding lasting solutions to the effects of the global crisis.
Mr. Chifire charged, in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka Saturday, that government should not be blamed for the recent job losses being experienced in the mining sector, general increase in commodity prices and the depreciation of the kwacha among other problems.
He explained that job losses in the mines and the depreciation of the Kwacha were due to the fall in metal prices on the world market adding that this has affected the country because copper is a major Forex Earner for Zambia and not the government of President Rupiah Banda.
The Director further condemned the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) for continued increase in mealie meal prices.
Mr. Chifire accused MAZ of not being sincere in the way it is handling mealie meal prices in the country.
He noted that despite the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) off loading maize on the market at a reasonable price, some mealiers have continued to effect high prices on the commodity.
He disclosed that his organization is aware of the cartel by the mealers to frustrate government’s effort of delivering to the people.
He further pointed out that demonstrations against government over mealie meal prices should not be entertained by well meaning Zambians.
ZANIS/MM/ENDS/MM
Politicians pa zed are stealing money and using public funds and namizilaling the credit crunch. What happened to the 2012 all africa games why did they pull out . All the mistakes RB and friends will make will now be attributed to the global recession.
As a resident of the UK,we are on a daily basis experiencing job cuts,increase in food prices and flactuation in exchange rates.
I never thought i would see tyhe day when the GBP would be 1:1 with the Euro!But alas,the global economic meltdown has affected us and Zambia as a small economy will experience worse deficits due to lack of a strong reserve.
Opposition should be realistic and work with govt. in trying to find lasting solutions to our periannual problems which have been worsened by the current situation.Kozo
Another bootlicker. Cifire, could he be Angela’s husband.
What has caused the closure of Luanshya mine Mr. Cifire, you seem to be more informed than everyone else, including Mr Maxwell Nkole the minister of mine who showed ignorance about the closure of Luanshya mines despite being on copper belt tour.
By the way what is this committee of citizens all about and what is your membership like? It must be a big committee looking at the country’s population size.
This global crisis is artificial chaos. America is about to change it’s currency to the amero so the powers that be have sort to create a false crisis that will make the poor even poorer .
5th
Who is this Myopic Cifire.Number 2 is also another Cifire.
Cifire and #2 be real guys!People are suffering.We dont want theoreticians like you.Zambia with all the available land,good rains can make it if only our leaders were action oriented than theoreticians like Cifire and #2.
Let every Minister,MP, Ps and the likes atleast be in forefront of producing food than wasting time quarrelling with the opposition.
Cifire just wants brown envelopes from RB,who doesnt know.
Cifire,pack you bags with your ART drugs and go to the farm Man.
Title of the article is confusing. Or is it a typing error?
[-x iwe Chifire stop cheating. Why aunt Botswana, Nambia suffering as much as Zambia. In Zambia planning is short supply.Leaders just :-@ and them ^:)^ praise for that while they starve. What has the global crisis to do with maize shortage????
LT cant even edit the title as if they are also blogging…this page is seen by the whole world … LT be serious…
The title is indeed something else, we appreciate your good work LT but such errors especially on titles should be scrutinized. Good morning everyone…
It is true that the global economic downturn is affecting Zambia. However, I have not seen or heard the opposition unduly capitalize on this issue. The credit crunch and the resulting economic slowdown are quite complex and Mr Cifire doesn’t understand what he is saying. There are various measures that the government should have undertaken to cushion our exposure during a possible downturn but they instead buried their heads in the sand and said Zambia would not be affected. Now that we are bearing the brunt of this downturn they want sympathy and will blame everything on the credit crunch and resulting economic slowdown.
” government should not be blamed for the recent job losses being experienced in the mining sector, general increase in commodity prices and the depreciation of the kwacha among other problems. ”
Except that it was the government that negotiated the Development Agreements, that saw it fit to follow the IMF’s economic policy prescriptions, which kept Zambia a raw commodity exporting country. The fact that Zambia missed out on benefiting from the boom in copper prices is just a symptom of that.
We need to tax the mines and use the money to expand agriculture and infrastructure. It is the only way forward. If it isn’t too late yet. There are reports of food shortages in Malawi.
Everything is global recession,who is this Chifire & whom does he represent.For sure Namibia,Botswana even swaziland ain’t going through dis.I thot Rb said tht is continuing wt LPM VISION but the economy is in shambles.I remember when LPM came into power thats wen Anglo pulled out of KCM bt managed to put things in order e.g DOLLAR ws 5pin bt managed to bring it pa 4pin.Opposite wt RB.So ba Chifire dont js blah blah!
Ooooooh and the global crunch has only been recognised after the ministers pay rise?Let us get real. :-?:o:o
yah problems will never end but i think more than ever before this nation really needs the hand of GOD.Only prayer will help us for its only GOD that will deliver us.
its so unfortunate at the loss of employment coz the number mentioned is not the fixed figure these people have families so its the entire families to suffer.
MATWORLD,GIRLY.
Good morning to you and wish you a very HAPPY SUNDAY.be BLESSED for you are HIGHLY FAVORED.
mmh pliz don’t blame mealers here ahah its their right to earn profit from their work, why should they run at losses its not their fault FRA has not maize sha!Don’t distribute blame amongst people.
The Govt is to blame,People the Govt seem to be so confused that Millers in the country can do whatever they want to do.
Iam at a loss as to the function of the Committee Of Citizens.For some reason its director thinks he has the mandate to pontificate on matters of state. Is he by any chance a spokesperson for the government? Zambian democracy is a most wonderful thing ; an unelected quasi official can advise the citizens to refrain from exercising their democratic rights.
=((:)):):x**==(%)[-o<^:)^:-l:-@:>:-:@):^o8->8-x8-};;)**==:))=((=))>-)
I know the boy as he was at CBU and he is not Angela’s husband.He is looking for a job.we know that the economic problems are global but we need pragmatic government to counter react to the problems and the opposition has the right to capitalise on government’s lack of vision.
18. Father Kwanzaa,
” The Govt is to blame,People the Govt seem to be so confused that Millers in the country can do whatever they want to do. ”
Don’t you love those ‘free markets’? No regulation against monopoly formation, kartels or price agreements.
Free markets are not free for the customers.
iwe ka greg, when government leaders increased their salaries and allowances, the global economic meltdown had already taken grip. the opposition are right to take the mickey out of nyama soya and co.