In light of the recent closure at Mopani Copper mine, the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has announced the launch of its UPND Business Consultation Survey as part of the consultation process in further developing its policy platform for the 2016-2021 elections.
The party also plans to launch a Business Manifesto together with its 2016-2021 Election Manifesto, following the survey and further consultations with civil society, experts and members of the public.
On the occasion of the launch, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema made the following remarks:
“The costs of bad economic management and failed leadership are being felt across Zambia right now. We can’t afford another Mopani.
“Power shortages and currency instability are hitting businesses that have already had to demonstrate great resilience in riding out the policy instability and confusion of recent years.
“Unfortunately we are hearing regular reports of SMEs closing, and some of our biggest employers in the private sector have now suspended their operations.
“As we have been touring across the country we have been consulting everywhere we go on the policies and programs our citizens would like to see from their Government. This survey provides a welcome opportunity for more detailed input from a range of businesses.
“Our major criticism of the PF approach has been the failure to properly consult and develop a clear plan and vision for the economy, which provides a stable and supportive environment for Zambian businesses and attracts international investment.
“The UPND recognises the vital role that entrepreneurs, businessmen and women and investors play in creating jobs and driving sustainable economic growth in Zambia. Given recent challenges, the UPND is now undertaking additional efforts to refine and further develop its policies on supporting businesses and industries that will create employment, develop value-add industries and diversify the economy. This is the sensible way to increase protection from future fluctuations in commodity prices.
“We are also consulting respondents about how we can create more opportunities for young Zambians in particular, such as through apprenticeship schemes and skills training initiatives. This will help us calculate what is manageable to deliver to the Zambian people before promising the world and delivering very little.”
You are all dull in your pf paya people party.viva hh viva GBM and people of our mother Zambia.
Viva people of zambia. away with this tribe party. who is gbm after all the man can not be trusted with power who beats his wife every day.PF will still win come 2016.
ba chilomba mulibalwele sana.hh is a thief and cheat.
hh wasn’t in government you idiot .you can’t even see how your of is killing people. Cimbwi no plan.
your hichilema will never be president of zambia no matter what. southern province as taught other tribes that tongas are very selfish. January, 2015 bye elections have shown that this party can not be trusted. Imagine a tonga boss operating in petauke recruiting a night watch from choma are you telling me that they are not people in petauke who can work as a watch man?
The same man called HH is the one who sold Luanshya Mine Mopani KCM to the investors and now he wants has opened a consultancy business for what.He looted the mines and what guarantee is there that he wont loot the country. Our true God will Edgar through all this problems and make victor in 2016
Wasn’t too sure King Cobra Sata managed to brain-wash so many of us. How ironic that his legacy still lives.
you are more than dull. Was HH the head of state that he could go ahead and authorise a sale ??? You have definately been brainwashed!!
In the 1970’s copper prices fell, Zambia took out BIG loans from the IMF and World bank (same as we are doing now)….now tell me can you remember what happened…or do you forget the cues we had to stand in just to by a loaf of bread ???????????
UPND dreamers it won’t work. HH just wants to come and loot the Treasury like he did under privitisation. Try as he may he is still losing come 2016
@K and Mambwe you are not God to fortell.stop discouraging as who want development.your Lungu has already failed so why should we continue with as?
Even the PF presido suffers load shedding. What a disgrace.
look at your pf president.loadshedding
Freemasons
to our supprise this wont land squarely in pf ears neither can see senseble
I meant song and not son
and also that we should mobilise and massively vote for UPND
Get supporters & people who turn out in massive numbers to go register as voters. For a long time PF used to get massive turnouts at their rallies but their supporters DID NOT vote bacause they were not registered. This is the trick – get People to register as voters and to vote for your party.
Dear Zambians
I have never seen a political party that has prepared itself so much to govern a country than UPND.
Young educated leadership is the way to go.
America has achieved so much under Obama that if it was a white man, they will be singing a third term son as they had started for Regan
I suggest we all
God bless Zambia