Opposition New Hope Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Youths have called upon the Minister of Finance Hon. Bwalya Ngandu to put in measures that will reduce hunger in the wake of the Covid 19.
The Minister of Finance Hon. Bwalya Ngandu on Monday announced further measures to reduce the impact of the COVID 19 on the Zambian Economy which included waving tax penalties and interests on affected businesses, extending medical supplies not subjected to import duty, the release of K500 million to pay retirees, K130 million to clear Government arrears, K 140 million to pay road contractors and a billion kwacha to clear Government suppliers.
New Hope MMD National Youth Secretary Mr. Gregory Mofu in a statement circulated this morning argued that these measures would hardly address the biggest impact of COVID which are lower income levels are rising hunger. Mr Mofu mentioned that in 2019, 40% of Zambian children were stunted, a situation that would only get worse with the Economic impacts of COVID_19. He predicted that the United Nation’s projection of 2.3 million Zambians living in hunger in 2020 would double seeing that the PF government has chosen to play a blind eye to COVID responses that directly affect the vulnerable.
“We as the New Hope MMD Youths have welcomed the measures introduced by the Minister of Finance Hon. Bwalya Ngandu. We are of the view that these measures will have a better effect than the last measures he announced of removing export duty on crocodile skin, however nothing is being done about food insecurity of households”, Mr. Mofu said.
Mr. Mofu said that these measures will not affect the neediest in society.
“We have noted that the measures by the PF government will not affect the ordinary Zambian and the neediest in our society. We expected the Minister to firstly zero rate VAT and further subsidize essential commodities such as on cooking oil, Mealie Meal, electricity and fuel. These are the things which affect Ordinary Zambians. We further expected the PF increase the Pay as You Earn exempt income to at least ZMW 4500 so that the working poor can have more to take home in this COVID 19 crisis. The measures announced will have little meaninful impact on the needy in society”, Mr. Mofu said.
Mr Mofu further called upon the Minister of Finance to put up measures that will reduce looming inflation from the devaluation of the kwacha.
“Lastly but not least, we have noted that the Minister has increased the number of medical supplies which will be not be subjected to import duty. As much as we welcome this move, with the devalued kwacha, the cost of these supplies will still be daily high as a task mask which would fetch 12 kwacha in January, will fetch 18.5 kwacha with PFs devalued kwacha”, Mr. Mofu said.
Responsible governments like Namibia and others are giving out money and food packages to their poor and vulnerable citizens. PF only knows how to steal money and hide it from Zambians
PF are busy eating buffets and barbecues every day and post their feasts on Facebook while the tax payers cannot even afford a decent meal for their families or bundles for Internet to watch the Facebook videos posted by greedy PF thieves. Otherwise the whole country would riot.
Good morning Zambia, as much as I appreciate MMD youth”s observation, I would like to add my voice . I made the same observation two days ago unfortunately, it cannot be absorbed because it’s coming from the komboni (kwa and not Ku). Ku mwesu tutila IFUMO LYANSALA TALYUMFWA kabili ati UWA MABELE TALAN GWA NSHILA. APA tapali ukubomfya isukulu bane nomba, because amasambililo nayafilwa kale, Please leaders let’s use WISDOM NOT INTELLIGENCE for us to survive this situation. You can plan and plan using intelligence but without wisdom you are planning in vein (NGA TE LESA ALEKULA NINSHI BAKAMULA BALEICUSHA FYE) lock is not a solution to this situation, feed the people, the common person and lockdown will make sense.
UULI NA MATWI YAKUMFWA NAOMFWE , UWAKWENSHA UBUSHIKU BA MUTASHA ILYO…
And naivety and stupidity will kill the mmd off . Is this new hope mmd or old hope ? Kikiki
The government of Namibia is giving its citizens cash to cope with the Coronavirus. This will help to ensure that a basic standard of living is maintained during the lockdown periods for the most vulnerable in society, at household level in all regions of the country.
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The MMD Youths are on point
Lungu should just announce BOWMAN LUSAMBO as his running mate in 2021, so that he can take over as President in 2026.
#BOWMANFORRUNNINGMATE2021
At least MMD left more than $ 2 billion in BOZ reserves. PF regime stole and misappropriated all the money with nothing to show up and BOZ is empty in reserves with people like KZ a PEP boasting of the PF regime
Personally i was expecting him put real relief measures like because of covid people dont have money so no more paying back loans for now. Iam about to lose my house because STANBIC want there money but business is slow.
HELP US ba PF!!!