VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina yesterday told Parliament that it may take some time for Zambia’s economy to benefit from the recovery of the price of copper on the international market.
Mrs Wina said the rising copper price does not automatically guarantee benefits to the Zambian economy.
She said this in response to a question from Nchanga Member of Parliament (MP) Wylbur Simuusa (PF), who wanted to know whether operations of mines on the Copperbelt would be restored following recovery of the copper price on the international market.
This was during the 30-minute Vice-President’s question time
Mrs Wina said the benefits may take time to manifest.
“It may take time to benefit Zambia’s economy. It is a long process and not a one-day thing,” she said.
And Mrs Wina said Zambia’s future economic outlook is very bright.
“Our economic future is very bright. The indicators are there,” Mrs Wina said.
She was responding to a question from Kalabo MP Chinga Miyutu (UPND), who wanted to know the prospects of Zambia’s future.
“Will Zambians have a good life?” Mr Miyutu asked.
The Vice-President explained that Government is diversifying the economy to trigger growth.
“Inflation is triggered by many factors and our export earnings were under pressure but we are on a path to recovery with the measures we have put in place,” Mrs Wina said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Wina has praised the women of Zambia for turning up in numbers to celebrate the International Women’s Day, which fell on March 8.
“Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate the women of Zambia who came together to celebrate International Women’s Day,” Mrs Wina said.
She said the Patriotic Front (PF) under the leadership of President Lungu has, without doubt, demonstrated its will to promote gender equality.
“President Lungu has opened the door to women. I, therefore, call upon women to participate in politics. This is a crucial period, so I call upon them to come forward and be adopted,” Mrs Wina said.
Yah, everything takes time under PF, she even said Kariba will take time to fill up.
Ni Global issue, ba PF, it will take time to come. The is thinking in simplicity terms. When there is a negative it takes no time to affect the country and the positive you are informing the nation that it will take time. For how long has the price for crude will has crushed on the international markets? Still Zambian are paying as if it is business as usual. PF your time is up.
These pf chaps remind me of that grade 5 story of a man who told his family that the pumpkins they had prepared to have for supper had gone bad and asked his family to throw the pumpkins in the disused dried up water well and told his family to hold on till morning for him to go and look for food, alas his wife and children in the middle of the night got awoken by cracking and munching sounds, when they got up and peeped in the well only to find the big pot-bellied husband/father hammering them pumpkins. There’s no difference between pf and this dude, telling Zambians to hold on, while the pot bellies grow bigger.
@DIVIDE AND RULE
You have got it exactly correct. What she is doing by that crooked statement of hers is to prepare Zambians to accept that there won’t be immediate benefits to them as a result of the high copper prices. Zambians should be happy that at a future unspecified date the high prices will yield benefits, but it’s not now. So when they pocket the money now no one will ask questions. Do you wonder why vultures like Max Mwale have already smelt the carcass and have shamelessly positioned themselves to benefit NOW from copper?
This is the most transparent govt ever. Honestly speaking how do you expect things to improve overnight .
Clueless old woman. And if these are the kind of women we get as leaders then god help mother zambia. As Dennis Like we would say “we are in trouble!!!!!!” Might as well stick with the clueless men.
But bO Inonge one or two of your ministers has already said copper prices are improving hence change will be seen sooner than latter. One said we will soon start drinking our Jameson at a fairly good price. Another of your kind said miners who were put on forced leave must not worry as things will improve and they will be recalled. Which one do we take? You also have propensity to tell blue … , going by what you denied on the flow of the house (parliament) . That said I do not mean to say I trust your two ministers. “GET THIS OUT”.