singings the national anthem at the campaign rally. On his immediate
left is former Provincial Minister in MMD government Daniel Munkombwe,
former Member of Parliament Rev. Howard Sikwela and Candidate for PF
Lawrence Evans at Villa grounds in Livingstone
Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe has accused opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema of dishonesty over subsidies.
And justifying the removal of subsidies, Health Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga reiterated that maintaining subsidies would have perpetuated the current gap between the rich and poor people despite the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing at 7 per cent annually.
Mr. Munkombwe, a veteran politician says Mr. Hichilema as an economist is enlightened enough to know the long term benefits of the removal of fuel and maize subsidies than politicising the issue.
ZANIS reports that the provincial minister was speaking today when Health Deputy Minister, Christopher Mulenga called on him at his Office in Choma, the new Provincial Capital for Southern Province.
Mr. Munkombwe further accused Mr. Hichilema of being a paranoid and dishonest leader who thrives on the misery of the majority poor people as evident during the privatisation programme where he emerged as a major beneficiary of the programme.
He explained that the PF government is working tirelessly to reverse the under-development that was recorded under the previous MMD administration by equitable distribution of resources across the country.
Mr. Munkombwe challenged Mr. Hichilema to tell the nation when he started identifying himself with the majority poor people apart from boasting of his wealth that he got from the privatization programme.
Earlier, Health Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga reiterated that maintaining subsidies would have perpetuated the current gap between the rich and poor people despite the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing at 7 per cent annually
Mr. Mulenga explained that it was because of subsidies that Zambians have been complaining that despite the country’s GDP growing at 7 per cent annually, economic growth does not translate into tangible poverty reduction.
He said Zambia needs a strong and visionary leader like President Michael Sata who is ready to face grave political consequences for doing the right thing unlike cheer leaders who always to wants to deceive their people that things are ok when not.
Mr. Mulenga said the huge savings that will accrue from the removal of subsidies will be prudently utilised in developing the whole country without segregation.
The Health Deputy Minister is the Province to check on new and ongoing infrastructure development since the realignment of the Ministry of Health.
President Michael Sata realigned the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health in line with the PF manifesto in order to improve the sector.
He is accompanied By Southern Province Medical Officer, Dr. Lutangu Alisheke and other senior MoH officials.
ZANIS
HH is the last person i expected to complain about the subsidy removal.Being an economist am sure he knows better the benefit of the move the government has taken but again i kind of understand why he is doing what he is doing.In politics one has to jump on a band wagon which has popular appeal.Sad that the brother has preferred to play to the gallery than helping the average Zambian understand and know the benefits of the subsidy removal.
The fact remains that (as usual) the timing and lack of strategic thinking and implementation is the cause of the genuine disapproval and condemnation. Few can argue that TOO many subsidies on commodities are bad for the econmy but removing all of them on impulse and without considering impact on the public is a recipe for anarchy as we witnessing. Govt should have first “floated” the idea and after the “heat” from debate has died down, propose a fazed approach to remove subsidies on maize and not fuel. That would “cushion” the impact and people would not experience the immediate hardship. As it stands Govt with its deceptive approach, induced by-elections and extravagant leadership has dug its own grave and no one will believe the subsidy removal will benefit the common Zambian.
No one is arguing about the money that will be saved from the subsidy removal. what myself and I believe a lot of other Zambians are wondering is if that money will be spent on real issues or just to fund by-elections and maintaining the already bloated government.
If this government is asking us to sacrifice, why cant they start by sacrificing most, if not all, deputy ministers! How can you have a ministry with 3 D. Ministers and then go ahead and ask the people to sacrifice to save money. Isn’t that hypocritical? Aren’t these guys supposed to lead by example? Obama asked the Americans to sacrifice and he did that by leading by example, he cut his salary. What did our president do just when he came into office, he increased his salary and now his telling us to sacrifice???
Ubupuba kano fye buka bolala ba HHkano elyo na bu sangwapo.
Privatisatio…..sangwapo!
Wealth…………sangwapo!
UPND leadershi…… sangwapo!
Professional southern province opposition leader……sangwapo!
you want to sangwapo our country?…..sorry , we will never allow that to happen
Agitation Propaganda versus Integration Propaganda: The former leads people from resentment to rebellion; The latter aims at making people to adjust themselves to desired pattern.
Iwe kambwili fimofimo Sangwapo is opportunism. Make your situation better without sweating. Kucenjela
Iam very sure you know what you are talking about and that you too understand there is no guarantee savings will go towards the poor. May i also ask simple questions, what is the amount that is expected to be saved from this? How much have we been paying? Over what period? What is the safety net right now for the poor and how exactly are we going to help the poor?
Thats how it is in politics.The man(HH) has to play to the gallery in order to appeal to the masses.He knows how costly it could be to his political career if he supports the government. He is an economist who know its benefits, but he has a political career to think of so he has to throw away his economics to the wind.
Which govt in the world doesn’t subsidize certain commodities to cushion the masses? These are not just theoretical issues but prtactical and issues evrryone can feel and see. We will feel the effects in prices and thre resulting burden. At the same time we will if the govt means well if byelections will not go ahead. Otherwise the logical conclusion is that the money is meant to cover the stupid byelections. Anyway they can try to explain but its the masses to judge through what they will feel and see.
Iwe, the real issue here is what the bige has indicated. The social safety net for the poor. Zambia had authored the poverty reduction strategy paper where ephasisi was laid on how to cushion the effects of the restructuring on the poor people. Over 65% of zambians are poor, but have large families. these measures mean that mealie meal will cost kr70 or more for a 25kg bag and this coupled with high cost of fertilizers and high transport costs. Then how is this wealth going to be distributed. Ba PF this is the missing link. Educate us and tell the people how they are going to survive during this harsh period.
These two idiooots are not addressing the benefit of removing subsidies to the poor.
The removal increases cost so it is not a benefit. How then can theses fooools say the majority poor will benefit? It is clear that PF is not interested in cost saving but have other deceptive reasons like HH pointed out such as funding the dirty bye elections. How can a government interested in channeling resources to needy areas maintain an ever increasing ministerial establishment and ever increasing salaries for themselves, spend on needless perpetual elections and so forth? Sata and his PF want to continue lying that they are saving costs yet they only care about the one party project which they want to fund. This munkombwe and Sata were in MMD, why could they not change things then? These dirty…
It may not be “beneficial” in the immediate short term BUT in the long term the benefits are limitless if resources are managed prudently. Yes this “confused” gov’t has to do more in terms of PR to show that its a cost saving and lean gov’t by practising what its preaching.
Dont mix yo intelligence with dulness, in de 1st place its sacrifice n after de benefits will come when we save as govt. Hosptlz wil hav medcn unveztz wil b dconjstd n pipo wil len 2 be self reliant in terms proving food nt subsd meals, mulekosa.
munkombwe please leave politics to the young generation. even if your belly is empty do you have to sink this low? don’t you have grand children to take care of you? you want to be like these bemba proud for nothing i*****s who end up in homes for the destitute s here in kitwe? you are envious of the young man’s wealth, he is not an imbecile like you
Why is this news?
News is I got a pay rise and i am no earning £28,000 at only 27 which is £1,700 per month or over £400 per week
The truth is education is the key, for some of you what in the world are you doing at Lusaka times? Go and study
#Thanks
I get more than than without any degree. Don’t be boastful because there are some people who have acquired more than your minor achievements. Just be analytical , critical and comment on the subject.
I mean more than that
Ba Mushota, my cousin who dropped out of school in Grade 7 and runs a shop at Soweto market in Lusaka makes GBP1,700 weekly. Sometimes I even borrow money from him. BTW, his is much younger than you too. So stop bragging because leaving in the diaspora does not necessarily mean that you are rich.
@Mushota
After a promotion you’re only at 28000!!!???
You must have been born really poor -and there’s nothing wrong with that. Honey, you’re not even at 50,000 yet? At 27? Is this Per year?
I don’t know how you perceive the people you’re talking to on this blog! If only you knew!
( shaking my damn head)
Iwe chimbwi that is a salary for hookers like you, who even cares how much you get? It is funny how you boast about your life style yet and condemn issues about Zed and you still come to the Zambian blog, you will die of envy and trying to be a muzungu! Go and make comment on Scottish blogs kaili!
ba mushota that is a mere ZMW13,000 before tax we are getting and mitting more than this here in zed per two weeks after tax….and with the cost of living in the UK I pity you….what were you doing here in Zed before going to the UK by the way? I wonder beacuse if your head can be all over the moon with a ZMW taking before tax or even after tax then your goals are not well defined my darling
Is that all you are earning?
Mushota don’t forget your late father Remmy Mushota stole money to send you to school so forget that while you were able to attend st chakuti and chakuti university a school in chadiza had no text books. May i remind you that he and Patrick Katyoka went to the bank with suit cases to personally withdraw K2 billion -the famous K2 billion scandal. mwaya ku schoolu mwayamba nakuponta? dont forget that alot of zambians sacrificed for you to be there
As a proponent of the removal of subsidises this man is the last person the gov’t should be letting any where near a microphone to support their case. This confused gov’t is very fortunate in that they have an equally disorganised opposition that makes them look wiser.
*a proponent for
The Zambian govt is just too small to employ 80 ministers! This is just insane! In a country where half the budget is shamelessly accepted from donors! Whatever it is they are doing to project an image of progress, it is defeated by this apparent lack of priorities and prudent management.
I saw sense in removing the subsidies when I learnt that Kr 250 million can build five universities when we spend Kr 1.1billion on subsidies.anyway we be used.but I wonder how much money is spent on drinking by all Zambias in one day.if you use 50 pin x 30days =kr 1.5pin a month.I think are not serious savers in zed to extravagant.!!!
They more beer the consume the more money, its wealthy SA and foreign shareholders at SABMiller make. They are too preoccupied with the mosi to wake up relies what is happening around them.
Have you considered the amount of billions being spent on unnecessary by-elections at the expense of the poor Zambians who are unemployed ? They have problems affording three meals a day with subsidies. How is removing subsidies going to make it easier for them to afford the mealie meal ??? You imbeciles !! This has nothing to do with long term benefits at this juncture !!! The people will not be able to put food on the table, PERIOD !!! It is not rocket science !!!
I think it is a share waste of time thinking Man can change the world for the better. Human rulership is a failure and has always been. Development can be brought, yes, but how much development? I think watching politician fight is better than being in the battle which doesn’t wan’t yield any meaningful results…
U re right, if pipo put their trust in any man, HH inclusive de end result z disapointmnt.KK dictatr, FTJ crook, HH swindler @ ZPA, RB coruptn n theft, SATA subsd remval n numbr of min*z Mwanawasa de only n righteous man. HH we know him already.
Cyril you are damn right. One blogger said these ruling parties do the same thing they oppose when not in power. They just offer different excuses. We just Shoudnt vote mwe.
subsidies existed under levy,rb.during this period mukombwe was a minister and never saw anything wrong.does anyone expect this man to go against pf actions?ofcourseno,yes subsidies are a cost to the nation but a benefit to all zambians.mind you govt is the only institution that doesn’t make profit or loss.iam sure hh would be against subsidies if govt was a profit making body.mr mulenga how does subsids benifit a few?its the other way round sir
politics of the belly useless..HH stands for the poor..
Munkombwe you old dishonest gluttony…get lost and go and eat taxpayers money!
Removal of subs will help 1 to fund pf to win by elections 2 help pf to obnoxiously create one party state 3 help the cruel pf cartel settle scores and 4 pay tribunal costs to win the case at all costs. Pf’s sata has ordered deductions of 20% frm teachers salaries for July by elections and hikaumba is aware. Know it pf can’t win by election without using dirty methods of exchanging voters cards frm the poor hungry voters with cash. The cash is now exhausted hence the removal of subs to replenish it to sustain the dictator sata the devil.
Us the masses have now made up our minds and nothing will change our minds that young educated accomplished businessman in HH is the answer and next president of Zambia. They can go hung themselves if they don’t want. We have been cheated, insulted, exploited, brutalised and now being starved by these clueless hynas. Enough is enough.
Failure to explain and convince us now you have resorted into attacking HH? He is not the one who appointed a big useless cabinet guys. As for me and my family, mwanya 2016. Muli babufi sana
Just continue enjoying your meals old man!
Leave HH alone. Munkombwe….woooool big fool. Why remove subsidies and create BYE elections who would understand? K7.6 Billion spent on elections per constituent can build how many Hostels?
My plea to Zambians is kick these useless MP who defect,,,,out of the system. It is useless to cause unnecessary BYE elections. Whenever they defect lets consider them as good as dead period.
The die is cast, HH is our next president whether bufi, wenye, likes it or not.
THE REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES IS A BRAVE MOVE BY THE PF. BUT AS TO WHETHER THIS GIVES HH SOME POLITICAL CRUMBS TO MAUL I DOUBT. EVEN IN A SIMPLE BY ELECTION HH PERFORMS POORLY APART FROM SCAVANGING IN LUKULU. HOW DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL POLLS. BY 2016 THE MINOR TURBULANCES CAUSED BY THE REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES WILL HAVE DIED DOWN. I DONT KNOW WHAT HH WILL BE CLINGING ON. EVEN IF PF FAILED, I DONT THINK HH WILL BE THE ALTERNATIVE. MAYBE ANOTHER UPND LEADER. OR BETTER STILL ANOTHER POLITICAL PARTY.
Yes, HH is our next president in 2035, if he will be alive that is!
Has anybody in PF asked themselves why America and Europe maintain subsidies on agriculture? Do reasonable people recognise and appreciate that the Obama health care plan is anchored on subsidies and this was crucial for his re-election? Why, do you PF who were voted on reducing fuel prices in a hurry to remove so called subsidies, when you kept telling us the price was high becoz of corruption and high taxes? On which page in your manifesto is removal of subsidies mentioned? Why should you (PF) as empoyees tell us (employers/voters) that we should forego our lunch in order for you to make a road somewhere? Isn’t this good reason for you to be fired, with immediate effect!!
Did HH promise 90 days get rich more money in your pocket quick fix solution? Did HH appoint the biggest cabinet in sub saharan Africa? Did HH order armed forces to shoot Lozis? Did HH dethrone Senior Chief Mwamba? Did HH donate free fuel to Malawi? Did HH donate free maize to Zimbabwe? Did he call South Africans backwards? As a result of the above, all HH did was to call someone clueless Suntwe and another muzungu wopusa. Do I have a problem with that? Hell No!
SUCH PRONOUNCEMENTS AND DECISIONS, RIGHT OR WRONG CAN ONLY BE MADE BY THE FEW THAT ARE PRIVILEGED TO HOLD THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY, HH WILL NEVER HOLD SUCH A POSITION. AT LEAST NOT IN THE NEXT 30 OR 40 YEARS.
Munkombwe & pf are thugs who are even staying in luxurious apartments gobbling k72 million per months. I wish we can hav courageous pipo to take on these thieves in govt.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES. HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME GREY AREAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ADDRESS.
1. IF THE MIDDLE MEN WERE THE ONLY BENEFICIERIES OF THE SUBSIDIES, HOW DO THE POOR PEOPLE NOW BENEFIT FROM ITS REMOVAL?
2. IF WE HAVE TO SACRIFICE, WHY IS IT THAT THE MINISTERS AND SENIOR PF OFFICIALS ARE NO T SACRIFICING?
3. IF ZAMBIA IS POOR WHY DO WE HAVE A BLOATED CABINET?
4. HOW DOES MY MOTHER IN MANSA APPRECIATE THE REMOVAL OF THE M/MEAL SUBSIDY IF AT FIRST SHE USED TO BUY M/MEAL AT K55 NOW SHE HAS TO BUY IT AT K70. SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ABOUT THE MIDDLE MEN AND ETC.
5. WHAT OTHER SUBSIDY IS THE PF GOING TO REMOVE? SINCE WE ARE NEVER FORE-WARNED ABOUT SUCH MOVES AS A NATION.
6. WHAT TANGIBLE MEASURES HAS THE PF PUT IN PLACE TO CUSHION THE IMPACT OF…
Genuine support n good questions u’re right, the pf should explain all what u’ve observed if dey want pipo to rest otherwise dey ‘ll find it dificult. Gud explanations to this policy re de key to pipo’s acceptance of de same policy.
Chisenga where do you stand? The other minute you are condeming HH for speaking out the truth and now you cast aspersions on your poor finishing party? Why do you think HH cannot rule this country? wasnt the same said about president Sata by the MMD. Wake up, times are changing
Munkombwe is a very foolish black old man…… Time will catch up with you fools..
why removing my coment?
If HH had a heart for the poor he wouldn’t have stolen everything from the poor zambians during privatisation now he has turned to be a friend of those he stole from I don’t know if zambians will forgive him for that plunder and wants to be president oh my my foot he will steal the all nation
If he stole, why not send him to jail??? what are you and sata waiting for?????
Ellul distinguishes forms of propaganda as Agitation Propaganda and Integration Propaganda: The former leads people from resentment to rebellion; The latter aims at making people to adjust themselves to desired pattern. Propaganda operates with many kinds of truths: half truth, limited truth, or truth out of context. Propaganda serves to change opinions, it also aims to intensify existing trends, to sharpen and focus them and to lead people into action or into non-action.
meaning??????????????????????????
BOZA ! BUFI !
ULABEJA !!
Whether HH disagrees with the removal of subsidies or not is neither here nor there. What matters is whether this removal will help a common man/woman on the street. HH is not in government, please people who get paid by pf just explain the removal….Just explain, instead of attacking HH who is not even a factor!!!
BA hh, WHAT ECONOMICS DID YOU STUDY, IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS,
YOU ARE IN THE BOOKS THAT YOU STOLE, FROM THE PRIVITAZATION, NO ROOM FOR YOU, ULABEJA MUSA. PF IS HERE TO RULE ANOTHER 20 YEARS
Why are you discussing hh? And you rely on sebana wikute Munkombwe to tell you that hh said something in that regard? It is a pity indeed. Just discuss the issue at hand and not hh. Whether he studied Economics or not is not important; I am sure that there are more theories in Economics and the comprehension of different issues depends on which theory you support. I am not an Economist but I think most professions are like that. So what do you understand by removal of subsidies yourself?
Do I hear monkeys chattering in the trees …..
No, Nubian Hole, you heard ng’obes being ‘helped’ by some unprincipled cow herders!!!
Teddy, leave Nubian Princess alone. You mess with Nuby, you mess with me. Arse-hole!
Solola Bye!
This government and all of us as Zambians are a big joke. we enjoy petty talks all the time no wonder we are so behind most African states. Look at Rwanda’s success story, instead of learning from it we are busy embezzling Euro bonds to fund by elections. I can’t wait to see how many of us will soon be running to Rwanda for jobs and businesses instead of creating our own. For those of you who don’t follow African current affairs, “Rwanda has become a success story after that infamous ethnic cleansing, they have embarked on huge infrastructure development around the country.” The challenge for us is that, we need to mature our politics and governance beyond peaceful voting. Time to grow up all of us.
What a jackass of an old man.
In Zambia 2.5 million registered workers are paying tax. The government used the tax to subsidise cost of living for 13 million people. That means 11.5 million people have a free ride on education, health, social services, fuel, and food. The money used to subsidise fuel and maize could be used for education and health so that all 13 million people can benefit. That is, the 11.5 million people should bare the cost of living in terms to travelling and eating. In the long run, this will encourage people to work for their consumption. Fuel subsidies help major fuel consumers like the mines. I doubt that there would be loss in the transport sector even when they do not increase the fares. They are just worried the profit margin is a little narrower. UBZ here we come.
HH is an accomplished practical economist who fully understands the concept of subsidies in the economy of any nation. So far the PF cannot be trusted. The money that is being spent to fund their new bye-election Project far exceeds the amount set aside on subsidies meant to cushion the hardships of our poor communities. Yes the rich can afford to more on fuel and maize increase, but the poor will and are now ending up to pay more bus fares to enrich the wealthy PF politicians who own fleets of buses.
Since when did the PF regime begin to embrace the capitalist policies on a developing country. Farmers of Southern, Eastern and Central Provinces, who feed the nation, will register very low maize yields because the PF Govt failed to deliver farm inputs. Munkombwe must shut up.
I believe in what my government stands for, but I don’t trust the people running it.
People running the government are like lap dogs; they have no ambition whatsoever buhata nibusholi!!!
nothing new from jurasic park . Can’t trust these recycled relics. He sings praises for each govt that fills his belly. BUFI.
the pf goverment should be honest and just tell us the truth that they are making a loss by removing the of tax and the only way to cover up for those loses is by removing the subsidies.what is the impact?? 1 the cost of leaving will go high for everyone 2 the poor will continue geting por and poor.poor people dont have an income they depend they only get to have money by chance.
Can someone pliz put this dog to sleep its old and also has a urine bag like the chimpanzee
How old is Munkombwe kanshi? Still chewing Village chicken bones? Bakatuusha lisa aba bakoloki mwebantu? Awe twanaka neenu, owez u!!!
One function of a subsidy is to help stabilize and lower the price of an essential commodity, primarily for the sake of the poor in society. When you remove a subsidy on such an essential commodity, prices are going to go up and the poor are the ones most likely to suffer the most from such a consequence. Effectively then, when you remove a subsidy you are taking money from the pockets of the poor and putting it in the pockets of the rich. Otherwise, how much of a share will the poor have out of those other developments to which the money is now going to be re-directed? I see why it is “more money” in the pockets of the rich by way of robbing the pocket of the poor!
{
{I have|I’ve} been {surfing|browsing} online more than {three|3|2|4} hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. {It’s|It
is} pretty worth enough for me. {In my opinion|Personally|In my view}, if all
{webmasters|site owners|website owners|web owners}
and bloggers made good content as you did, the {internet|net|web} will be {much more|a lot more} useful than ever
before.|
I {couldn’t|could not} {resist|refrain from} commenting. {Very well|Perfectly|Well|Exceptionally well} written!|
{I will|I’ll} {right away|immediately} {take hold of|grab|clutch|grasp|seize|snatch} your {rss|rss feed} as I {can not|can’t} {in finding|find|to find} your {email|e-mail} subscription {link|hyperlink} or {newsletter|e-newsletter} service. Do {you have|you’ve}…
Mr. Munkombwe challenged Mr. Hichilema to tell the nation when he started identifying himself with the majority poor people apart from boasting of his wealth that he got from the privatization programme.