FDD President Edith Nawakwi says the current economic quagmire the country is facing should not be blamed on China as the country started sliding down way before the debacle in the Chinese economy.
Ms. Nawakwi observed the PF Government has ignored advise from from everyone including the international community against excessive borrowing but that the country is now suffering due to the recklessness of a few individuals who are not even feeling the impact of their reckless actions.
“The Zambian economy is in intensive care. The country started sliding down even before we had this debacle from China on the slowdown of the Chinese economy.
The economic mismanagement of Zambia is something that the world Bank and the the IMF have just been left with no commentary at all
The economic mismanagement of Zambia is something that the World Bank and the the IMF have just been left with no commentary at all. They tried to advise the Zambian Government against excessive borrowing, unbudgeted for massive capital infrastructure and a lot of wasteful public service expenditure and this Government did not take it so the effects of the Chinese economy heating up and losing track coupled with massive load shedding has just made Zambia a basket case.” said Ms. Nawakwi.
She noted that Government should squarely take up the blame of what is happening to country’s economy as opposed to blaming outside forces as the current economic challenges the country is facing are self made.
She also wondered why the PF is still in charge of the country’s affairs when they have admitted that the challenges the country is facing is beyond their capacity.
“This country is facing unprecedented load shedding and according to them, they can not produce power due to drought which are symptoms of poor economic management. Mines are closing down small businesses are closing down so when you link this to the Chinese economy we are back to the 1990s.
We shudder to think what is going to happen because there is massive laying off of workers especially in the mining and manufacturing sectors and their Spokesperson ( Government Spokesperson) has confessed that they have no solutions to our challenges and that only Jesus can sort out our problems which leaves one to wonder why they are still in charge of our country’s affairs.”
She added ” it is a clear case of Government ineptitude, mismanagement and lack of vision and focus.
We have a Minister of Finance whom we don’t know what he is doing in the office as he has never addressed the public on problems that the country is facing, we have a Minster of Energy who contracts 190,000 metric tons of crude oil which can not be refined in our refineries and you want to blame the international market, no! It’s the leaders in Government who are responsible for the mess we are in as a country.”
She further explained that the effects of the international market have minimum impacts on countries with long term economic policies.
“The international economy heats up from time to time, economics by its nature is cycling but countries with economies which have been cushioned by policies which are long term will turn to them even under this condition ( slow down in the Chinese economy). Look at Bostwana for example, I don’t think they are going through the same problems as ours. The Zambian people are not interested in the blame game being played by the Government but are interested in knowing what policies their Government, the PF Government is putting in place to make sure that we get out of this economic quagmire,” she explained.
And on Corruption the FDD President said Ministers will continue queuing at State House unless the centre of power is dismantled by decentralizing the political and economical governance of the country.
She noted that African countries and Zambia in particular will continue to record high levels of corruption as long as power continues to be deposited in an individual something she said will be a thing of the past when her Party assumes power in 2016.
Our Party believes that the solution to this endemic corruption is decentralization, let us demystify budgeting of our national resources. We need to budget according to regions and Districts and I think that this will be a decisive way of stamping out corruption, remove this centre which is basically that in Africa you have excessive power deposited in the presidency
“Our Party believes that the solution to this endemic corruption is decentralization, let us demystify budgeting of our national resources. We need to budget according to regions and Districts and I think that this will be a decisive way of stamping out corruption, remove this centre which is basically that in Africa you have excessive power deposited in the presidency.
We need to decentralise so that people begin to be in charge of their resources and feature and I think that unless Africa sorts out this Monarch type of arrangement we will not sort out problems. The FDD Party believes the only solution to eradicating poverty is through Agriculture using decentralization as a policy instrument to deliver support to the people. Our people can be supported so that they can be responsible for their lives and their future and decentralization is key to achieving that,”
It is something that all are worried about because we don’t know where we are going now in this country look at the civil servants they get poor and delayed salaries up to now no single worker has been paid his or her September monthly salary it is unfortunate
Ms.Nawakwi is right. The current mess squarely lies on the 4 year of PF chipantepante, Cimbwi no Plan policies. Up to now, Edgar and his incompetent team do not know how to tax the mines, do not know how to diversify the economy. Edgar has no priorities? Is buying 157 cars for DCs and establishing new ministries to please cronies justified. Why not use such money for income generating youth activities that will create sustainable jobs?
What shocks me is that while its easier to cane govt for all the percieved wrong things, the opposition is so impotent to offer alternatives. They can catalogue everything wrong about govt…..then what? people will not vote for you for saying that…..tell them your plans if you have any…what you will do differently to better their lives.
Nawakwi tell us what you accomplished when you were Finance Minister, Energy Minister?
If you could also shed more light on your Carrington Maize scandal as well
Incase you have forgotten Zambia started slowly picking up from 91 up to the time of RB when we had surplus reserves.(The Zambian middle class expanded during that time.You are all driving cars and flying all over the world now and building houses)Things deteriorated under Sata and have continued to do so.The opposition gives solutions but you do not care to read them.You just look at the headline and spew your insults…Zambia is for all of us even if you do not like Nawakwi search for any truth she has said and apply it. Even if Sata was not the best for the country but there are somethings he did which were good.No one is perfect. Lets learn from each other even if we may not always agree.
@Kalulu
Indeed you are rabbit! September salaries on 22nd day of the month? All you you chaps know is getting things for free! Get to work, put in your best and earn your income but what do see? Its people like Kalulu waiting for manner from heaven.
Civil servant are good people but they should realize that they don’t produce anything (they consume tax payers) so the more they work hard and deliver the necessary services to those who create the wealth, the better!
A woman of substance, credible, educated and experienced. Vote Nawakwi for head of state.
What was the essence of advertising to recruit new teachers and rescind their decisions at last deceiving people. People wasted money and time photocopying worthless papers knowing they will not recruit. The fact is there is no money to pay carter for teacher recruitment. Look they are struggling to pay the current number of civil servants. No recruitment for teachers, no salaries, no money in our pockets. Please Zambians learn a lesson from this. You were persuaded to vote for vision-less leaders.
What’s the day today? In case you are not sure, it’s 22/09/2015meaning not yet month end.
You are just a lazy boy. What do you do during the day? Just dreaming in the office and you waiting for a pay. Stop smoking daga starting thinking like a professional.
THIS PROBLEM LIES SQUARELY ON HUSBAND SNATCHERS!!! THEY HAVE THROWN THIS COUNTRY IN THIS QUAGMARE. THEY LEAVE GENUINE WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN STRANDED AND WITHOUT SUPPORT.
@Gen.
The Opposition is saying as solutions:
1. Reduce cabinet! – Our cabinet was already too too too bloated. But what does Edgar do?
2. Reduce public expenditure!! – By reducing public expenditure, you will reduce pressure on the Kwacha in the forex market. Don’t buy 157 2015 Hiluxes for DC’s. Reduce International trips, reduce on by-elections.
3. Diversify the economy!! – The best and most readily available means of diversification is intensify agriculture. Edgar just paid lip service to agriculture.
4. Unite the country!!! – Edgar and your PF are only focused at winning elections at all cost to extend of using violence or immoral and wicked underhand methods to derail the opposition
This women is just a nut case. Typical of most African politicians to just criticize for the sake of it. Deep down she knows this has more to do with our situation.
The nutcases are those people who have mismanaged the finances of this country and sold our children into financial slavery. A woman who tells things as they are should be praised.I agree that Zambia needs to be decentralised. Mayors,town clerks etc should head their respective towns.Councils should be run by competent people in towns who will generate their own money and develope their own towns This thing of sending money to Lusaka to fatten politicians has to stop.VIVA Nawakwi – she is an inspiration.A breath of fresh air in the midst of the halitosis generated by the current leadership.
Saulosi the diehard. Kambwili said only Jesus can sort out our problems. As a PF diehard do you agree with Kambwili’s indirect statement that the PF leadership is inept and clueless and has no ideas? What is your take on Lungu calling on the opposition for solutions? Is this not a further indictment on the visionless nature of Lungu? And yet like a tick you still cling to them and I do not know if it is shame that is stopping you from being objective and basing your statements on facts on the ground. Kwacha to dollar is at K10. We are so messed up that we have even depreciated against the rand. I would have thought by now that the multitude of crises facing this country right now, the lost jobs kuma mines, the detachment of Lungu to the people’s sufferings and his creation of ministries…
We’ve been down that road before. 🙂 Google: lunatics chikwanda maravi
Some of the challenges we are going thru is becoz of the same Nawakwi and MMD thy failed to prepare for the future and now she is busy blaming pf for everything.
MMD that inherited a bankrupt economy left by KK and his UNIP? MMD worked hard to free us of the debt that was killing us but now less than 10 years later we are back in the same boat if you excuse the pun. MMD had reserves, was able to subsidise mealie meal and fuel and were still able to pay for infrastructure projects without creating useless new districts that only exist on paper. Zambians voted for Sata with their own pens and I for one believe that they deserve the economic mess that they find themselves in as they were gullible enough to believe the rubbish spewed by Membe and Sata.
That’s what worries me about some of these politicians. When in office all they do is just fatten themselves for lactation as though they were Dairy cows! Now that the hand is far away from the cookie jar, they want to cry out the loudest! Ture that @ Peddle, why didn’t she plan when she was holding her portofilios? Imwe amai munaba ndalama za ziko la Zambia! I just hate Politicians!
Crap again from nawakwi. PF has borrowed carelessly yes but this can’t be the reason the economy is this state. The eurobonds will mature only in 10 years or so ie govt will only start paying out after ten years have elapsed from the date of borrowing. To think this block head even headed the MoF once upon a time makes me cry for mother Zambia.
Just admit that you don’t understand even elementary Economics bro. The debt crisis is not just about paying back the loans no. It starts right from the crises of crowding out, rising interest and exchange rates, inflation etc. These are all evils that arise as Government spends more and more. But since you cant understand these simple basics, I cant go any further than this.
@Chishimba Kambwili. What crowding out? The eurobond is EURO not local borrowing. Local bonds yes would
causes all the crap you are ranting about not EXTERNAL. Im not an economist yes but your understanding of the subject is warped. Explain how the eurobond has led to rising interest rates and exchange rate and inflation, don’t be shy or maybe you don’t even understand what you are on about.
The perfect economy is utopia. Economic growth requires consistent policies based on the nation’s determination to achieve maximum growth. The set of policies that prioritize infrastructure are late but they are here to stay. Any available resources will go towards the robust infrastructure the country needs to achieve growth. Grow tourism, grow crop production, grow livestock production, grow manufacturing, grow… The China factor is real. China’s impact on copper prices made the whole difference. Saying the contrary is self-deception.
Ms Nawakwi is the only politician who has been consistent in her politics and if the people of Zambia were to give this woman a chance, I am sure she will change the trajectory of this country for the better!
No, she can’t go to state house without a stable husband
GOOD OBSERVATION EDITH. I THINK YOU HAVE SHARP BRAINS. I BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU PUT BLAME ON CORRUPTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, YOU UNDERSTAND THE GAME THEY ARE PLAYING,THE LOOT!
Nawakwi cannot try and come out as if there is anything she can do. This woman is very fake! The other day she was condemning the President for splitting Ministries which where not operating optimally and instead of being sincere and commend the President, she starts barking.
Nawakwi, you were a cabinet Minister in MMD in four (4) portfolios, Finance, Energy, Agriculture and Labour, could you honestly point one thing or policy you left which could have helped the people you are today trying cheat? Shame on you, if anything you are the people Zambians must arrest for being careless.
This woman was just preoccupied with grabbing other people’s husbands and stealing the poor people money, we talking of millions of dollars i the Carlington maize scandal. Those who were very young then,…
Nawakwi, stop being bitter just bcoz u are not in government..?
With all due respect Madam Nawakwi, let’s just find solutions to our problems as Zambians without trying to compare ourselves to other counties. If I told you that Botswana has built a US$2 billion 600MW power station that has really failed to take off and work properly what would you say? If I told you Botswana is now rationing water ni Gaborone and other areas what would you say? Does any Zambian hear about this, no why? Because they support their Government of the day and don’t politicize everything, seen?
@kalulu, you are just a lazy boy. You should stop smoking daga, You fail to do nothing, what kind of an IT specialist are you. Don’t just sit and dream in the office without doing anything and only to be paid. You are very irresponsible.
@ Anadaris
Thank you for liars exposing this liar! This woman just wants to expose her ignorance, she is NOT PATRIOTIC AT ALL and most times than not she has no facts in whatever she rants!
The difference with these people and real politicians is that they think being in opposition is to oppose anything and everything Government does. But the truth is they are just bitter because President Lungu has leadership qualities they don’t possess and no wonder they will forever be in opposition.
Nawakwi must ask herself this question, how come she has no MPs in her party? Chifumu Banda has gone to sleep because there is no leadership in FDD.
The same is true to all the opposition sadly though, they have nothing to offer!
“Leadership qualities? Edgar’s Leadership qualities?
Kekeke kekeke. You made my day.
Anyway Lets wait for Jesus to come.
Where is Mr Magande? I would love to get a comment on the state of our economy. Why did PF ignore him?
Why did PF ignore him?
…
…
Just because he said the only position he could accept was that of Presidency!
Dear Edith Nawakwi, while I have much respect for your comments on the issue of corruption I must disagree. Decentralization will not cure this ill. The fact is that it will just give more opportunities to more people to steal more public money.
The solution is TRANSPARENCY in Government and an active Opposition and Free Press.
At present, the Zambian people have no idea how their money is being used (or misused) and this current PF leadership is happy to keep it that way, covering up their incompetence at financial discipline. That is why Lungu is afraid to hold a press conference. Someone will ask him where the US$ 193 million he secretly borrowed has gone. What we need is this-
1. A Freedom of Information act that WORKS, and
2. The sale of Government Media to the private…
What we need is this-
1. A Freedom of Information act that WORKS, and
2. The sale of Government Media to the private sector so they can be truly INDEPENDENT
3. An end to political interference and the incompetence of the ACC through political appointments
Then Zambia will work!