Thursday, March 28, 2024

Its sad for Many Zambians to live in poverty 53 years after Independence-NGOCC

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Non-Government Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has expressed sadness that 53 years after independence, 54.5 % of citizens still live in abject poverty in Zambia.

In a statement to pan African Radio news, NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale said it is clear that the majority of the citizens are not fully independent as they are still under economic slavery in their own country.

Ms Mwale  says in a as much as she appreciates the positive plans outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP, but it is saddening that half a century through after independence, Zambia can still have majority citizens having challenges with accessing quality medical facilities and clean drinking water and sanitation.

She  has alleged that this has resulted in increased mortality rates for women and children. It is therefore imperative that these challenges are redressed in a more concerted manner if the country is to realize its development goals.

Meanwhile, Ms. Mwale has stressed the need for more targeted interventions that will help in reducing the existing inequalities and poverty levels in the country, especially in rural areas.

“It is sad that fifty-three years after independence, 54.5 % of citizens still live in abject poverty in Zambia” Ms. Mwale said

10 COMMENTS

  1. How are we going to eradicate poverty as a nation? I believe the answer lies in production.
    Production in the sense of manufacturing products and selling locally and exporting what may. There is need to conduct research in what we can manufacture as a nation. If at all this has already been done, then we need to engage implementation of such findings. Agriculture seems like a good place to start. how can we process our raw produce into finished products to be able to realise more value from them? Are our policies aligned to support local produce/products? Are there support mechanisms in place to cushion new starters or help existing manufactures to do more? Are the wages paid to our workers sufficient to support them and their families?
    I believe these few issues can help alleviate…

  2. It is indeed true. Celebrating independence in poverty. When America celebrates independence from Britain it really makes lots of sense as it is richer than its colonial master

  3. Some Zambians are not living in poverty! I know one from Chawama that is VERY RICH after getting 20 MILLION in only one year!

    Please Mr. Executive Director Engwase Mwale tell us about the SUCCESS STORIES, not all the FAILURES! And don’t frighten us with stories of being under economic slavery in our own country. The 10 BILLION of repayment for the kaloba will only START after 2021, long after the rich Zambians have run away with their loot! Just ask Chikwanda how he is enjoying!

  4. The poverty in Zambia is self-inflicted, because since independence at each election cycle, we have made bad choices and we are reaping the consequences. The leadership in Zambia does not care about this situation because they do not respect the citizens. The starting point is proper leadership to set the agenda. Leadership with integrity to protect the constitution, transparent about all government activities especially procurement contracts and debt contraction, accountable for their actions. Leadership that obeys the law it legislates.

    Since impendence the leadership has done exactly the opposite. Kuanda changed a market system that was working perfectly and brought humanism which died under the weight of its own inconsistencies. He also squandered £900m left by the British, and…

  5. by the time he left office he had accrued a debt of $7bn.
    Chilula squandered the best mandate and become corrupt, Mwanawasa began the crusade against corruption but only paid lip service to the vice and nobody was convicted. Sata institutionalized corruption and Lungu has taken corruption and plunder of resources and mismanagement to a whole new level.

  6. UNIP left the poverty prevalence at 56%, but when MMD sold companies and squandered the money it increased to 85%. These Yuma NGOs were conspicuously quiet because FTJ shut them up with the slush fund. Crooks had a field day, some ended up with shares in every company they sold. Today they’re boasting that they’ve money but they can’t explain how they made it. Engwase how has poverty reduced from 85 to 54.4%? If you can’t explain then keep quiet

  7. @Alibaba spot on, poverty in Zambia is self-inflicted, voting on wako ni wako lines will make many zambian eat their dung, you would rather have your tribesman in power than see a more qualified leader from a minority tribe rule Zambia. God is not a tribalist.

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