FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza has questioned President Edgar Lungu’s call to all entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses to increase their production to help stabilise the Kwacha. In a statement released to the media, FDD wondered how companies will increase production in the face of load shedding and what they described as the general economic meltdown.
Below is the full statement
LUNGU IS LOST, IRRESPONSIBLE AND A TIME WASTER
The statement by President Edgar Lungu on the current economic crisis is completely hollow and a waste of Government ink and paper. There are literally no tangible practical solutions that Mr Lungu is offering to address the rapid depreciation of the Kwacha, the crippling load shedding and the general economic meltdown.
Instead of taking personal responsibility for the economic mismanagement, Mr Lungu in his usual “It’s not my problem” attitude opted to blame China for the current massive power cuts and the rapid deterioration of the Kwacha.
However, as FDD, we want to applaud Mr Lungu for finally admitting what we have always been saying that the economy has collapsed. We are in a deep crisis.
First, we want to state categorically that it is totally unacceptable and highly irresponsible for a President, the Head of Government to refuse to take responsibility but instead opt to blame other countries for the mess that him and his PF Government have plunged us in. We find the President and his Government’s attitude of justifying our suffering by claiming that even other countries are going through similar situations to be really nauseating.
How can any reasonable parent tell his children that it’s okay for them to go hungry since the children of their neighbour are also sleeping on empty stomachs? What kind of reasoning is that? Is it China that reduced mineral royalty tax from 20% to 9%? Is it China that refused to introduce windfall tax? Is it China that is creating unplanned and unbudgeted for districts? Is it China that is orchestrating the senseless by elections? Is it China that is stopping PF from investing in Agriculture, health care, education, manufacturing and processing industries? Is it China that is employing cadres in sensitive and important Government positions?
Is it China that used 13.4 billion Kwacha on an unbudgeted for expenditures? Is it China that created a 20 billion Kwacha budget deficit? Is it China that is fuelling and abetting the theft and corruption in the PF Government? Mukazinkhalako na nsoni aLungu! Be a man and take responsibility of your own actions. These are the consequences of having a person with no vision, no plan, no ambition and no character as your President. We are paying a heavy price.
Now, let us dissect President Lungu’s press release line by line. The President admits that the Kwacha is deteriorating partly due to the huge trade deficit with traditional exports declining by over 26 percent. What is the President’s solution to this? Nothing. His solution is that it is China’s fault that our industries are dead.
The President says he has directed the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Zambia to be monitoring the falling Kwacha and appraising him on how low the Kwacha is sinking on a daily basis. Really? Mr President just sitting down, doing nothing but just observing how the sick the Kwacha is becoming daily is your solution to our depreciating currency? No practical steps to be taken? Sorry! Mr President, we are in a crisis and we expect you and your Government to give us a clear menu of practical intervention measures you are taking to address the situation, not empty rhetorics. Give us solutions. That’s what you were elected to do.
Listen to this: The President is urging all entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses to increase their production. Increase production? How? How can businesses increase their production when there is no power? How can they increase their production amidst massive load shedding, high fuel prices, high electricity tariffs, high cost of transport and a weak Kwacha? Does this President even have basic knowledge of the factors of production? Mr President, the cost of doing business is very high and that is adversely affecting productivity. Deal with it.
The president has directed all Government institutions to rationalise and minimise all areas that engender foreign currency expenditures. How will Government institutions achieve that when they depend on imports since as a country we manufacturing nothing apart from such things as Yoyo, Chibuku, tujilijili and maheu? Does this man know what is going on? How can you reduce importation of foreign goods when you are not producing anything of value locally? You have not invested in the manufacturing and processing industries. Mr President are you insinuating that these Government institutions should be purchasing products in Kwacha on the foreign markets? Sorry bwana, that is not possible, the Kwacha is not an internationally recognised currency like the Dollar.
The President further enjoins private businesses to reduce foreign currency exchange costs. How? How is that possible? We depend on imports since we produce nothing locally.
The President says Government has signed a contract with Aggreko to supply up to 148MW. Mr President in case you didn’t know, we have a shortfall of over 560MW and with Zesco further reducing it’s production to 305MW your 148MW is nothing. It will have no impact whatsoever.
The president is encouraging all of us to use alternative sources of energy such as gas and solar. Very well. Just how affordable and accessible are these alternative sources of energy to the majority poor Zambians?
It is clear that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is lost, irresponsible and a time waster who has neither the clue nor the capacity to effectively manage our economy and steer this country to greater social and economic prowess. The onus lies upon each and every patriotic Zambian to get rid of this inept, corrupt, good for nothing government and elect a team of leaders who have the passion, commitment and capacity to deal with this economic crunch and secure the future of our motherland.
Issued by:
Antonio Mwanza,
FDD spokesperson.
wow! wow! wow! FDD! today is sunday!! lungu is nursing a serious hangover, am not sure he heard you!, give him time to wake up!!!
This is a very apt statement from a party lead by one intellectual lady, madam Edith Nawakwi. If Zambians knew what was good for them, they would vote for the lady & like her British counterpart, Lady Thatcher, Lady Nawakwi has the wit, the determination and resolve to tackle these challenges and bring about radical change to Zambia, the kind required to forge a new and bright future for Zambia. Vote Edith Nawakwi ladies and gentleman, she is your Thatcher in making!
When Edgar said he had no vision, he meant. The PF are now trying to give him a vision but it is too late. We have unprecedented economic problems and it shall get worse. Edgar is the worst president we have had
@Antonio: Well spoken brother….and remember that the…. “team of leaders who have the passion, commitment and capacity to deal with this economic crunch and secure the future of our motherland”….are in the UPND! Please join now when the Iron still hot…you and Edith should be part of that team because you have a lot to contribute!!
These well-articulated points by Antonio Mwanza should be noted by all Zambians who want good governance.The PF’s failed political and social-economic policies are impoverishing us.
Edgar Lungu should hold a press conference without delay.
This FDD bastard is coward, he is loud for nothing just to wow citizens for his own benefit. Who told you that wearing shirt with eye tossing bright colours is patriotism?
Uli chippubba……
@ Viyazi Tembo
“bastard and coward”, is that definition of yourself 1mbecile?
So government reduced Mineral royalties from 20% to 9% and yet we are subsidizing Mining companies on the electricity they use!
Isn’t this the highest level of irresponsibility? Because ultimately, these mining companies are getting our copper for free!
By the way government promised to conduct a forensic audit of the mines last year. How far have they gone? Why are they mute?
PF is a treacherous government!!!
She is the Iron Lady Nawakwi, well spoken, this is the lady with vision.
Thumbs up , ni forward too.
…And is it China which obtained a loan on behalf of Zimbabwe?
Let the President lead by example. Let him cut down his salary and allowances and those of ministers! Let him also reduce the extravagant number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers!!
FDD are the ones who are time wasters. Every time I hear Edith Nawakwi and Mwanza speak on issues I get a serious sense of directionless. They lack relevance and their talk is cheap. Truth be told Nawakwi and Mwanza are among the many politicians who when given the chance to lead Zambia will take us nowhere. I wish Zambians could swiftly see that its the same guys; directionless, no vision for the country and after personal gain.
I DO NOT KNOW YOU BUT GOING BY YOUR POSTING YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A MAN WITH A HEAD WITHOUT BRAIN IN IT. THE ANALYSIS MR. MWANZA HAS MADE IS APT, VERY CORRECT AND OBJECTIVE. THE STATEMENT FROM STATE HOUSE DEMONSTRATED LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE PROBLEMS THE COUNTRY IS FACING. BY ACCEPTING AND ALLOWING THE STATEMENT TO BE ISSUED DEMONSTRATED INEPTITUDE, IGNORANCE AND LACK OF INTELLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THE STATEMENT DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AND CONTAINED NO SUBSTANCE.
…I can’t wait to see the response from Sunday Chanda….that is if there will any….its like a boxer who has been showered with 12 unanswered blows within 30 seconds such that he ends up ‘dazzled’ and for a moment not knowing what to do….
…..I’m waiting to hear the counter reaction to the questions…..’is it China who……’
A real President would immediately call a PRESS CONFERENCE and address these issues.
But we all know that we only have a FAKE President that is too scared to even manage such a simple task.
His response will be running away on another foreign trip and hoping Zambians will have forgotten about this before he comes back.
That is his crooked lawyer style!
And if holds a Press Conference, will the water levels in the Kariba Dam rise,or the exhcange rate will be 1 to 1 with the pound, you imbecile! Press Conference just to satisfy a few idots like you, Antonio and under 5, malabishi..fotseke man!
Antonio and some of his friends in the opposition are working for the cartel apparatus. Since Antonio has chosen to work for the evil cartel, I have to be honest with him. Antonio, you are working for the pillage of mother Zambia. You work against Zambia, maybe without being aware of it. Please stop taking Zambians for idi0ts; why are you and HH still refusing to give Zambians a costed plan of infrastructure development which includes expansion of capacities in production of hydroelectricity? Assuming you are roughly 43 years age; technically the Zambian stopped investing in electricity generation when you were 3 years old. Now the cartel barons don’t want you to know this information, they prefer you like Pilato continue promulgating a false history.
@alternative
Giving Zambia a “costed plan” is really not the job of the opposition!
It is the job of the GOVERNMENT!!!!!!
And even after FOUR YEARS of PF we still have to see them start on this.
stupid editors
Antonio and some of his friends in the opposition are working for the # cartel apparatus. Since Antonio has chosen to work for the evil #cartel, I have to be honest with him. Antonio, you are working for the pillage of mother Zambia. You work against Zambia, maybe without being aware of it. Please stop taking Zambians for idi0ts; why are you and #HH still refusing to give Zambians a costed plan of infrastructure development which includes expansion of capacities in production of hydroelectricity? My assumption is that you are roughly 43 years; technically the Zambian stopped investing in electricity generation when you were years old. Now the cartel barons don’t want you to this information, they prefer you like Pilato to continue promulgating a false history.
@ Alternative to the cartel
Bravo. Well said!!!
Show them level of intelligentsia of the average PF supporter. Does Jackass Chama pays you in peanuts or bananas?
Some of you bloggers never want to hear the truth and are totally blinded by allegiance to a party that has finished of Zambia. I suppose mudyela pamodzi. I don’t support Nawakwi because she is a hypocrite. What Antonio mWanzahas articulated is true. PF look within yourselves and stop the self denial. Only till you admit your shortcomings will you move onto resolving issues plaguing the country. Take on board people with the expertise if you are to overcome the problems Zambia is facing.
My chicken production is going down due to load shading. I feel my money stolen from me due to load shading. Some one may say how? I pay DSTV monthly which l don’t watch…etc because of load shading.. my money is being stolen
At UNZA, we would say “Antonio hammer them!”
Thumbs up ba FDD…..and add whether it’s China that:
Borrowed billions of dollars through kaloba
Increased the price of fuel
Made PF construct roads etc without counting the cost
bi kopo va pf cant even understand what antonio mwanza is saying . this clearly confirms what sata said about them useless mps, ministers and cadres i recall lungu was still a monister by then.
Very good and valued points for those that understand. Zambia is in trouble
Well articulated Antonio. Politics aside, we need to be concerned, as Zambians, with the quality of leadership we have. A leader takes responsibility of the mess done and gets the credit on successes scored. It’s high time we became a generation that holds our leaders accountable for whatever goes on in the country. They are being paid tax payers money, our money for being in the high office hence the need to deliver to Zambia. Things are not okay right now and a responsible person takes it upon himself to explain to the electorates and give direction to the nation. In this time of crisis, we need tangible solutions, bench marked and measurable. As it is, there was no substance.
What can u add to that sense sense sense god save us from PF please