Opinion: Ten questions PF wont answer

The reason why PF are so obsessed with the “SONTA” slogan is because it is merely a distraction to responding to the issues that really matter. PF want to define development with one dimension when actually development is a sophiscated goal to achieve. PF have a deceptive agenda of defining development with a narrow stretch of bitumen. You can take a road to the remotest part of Zambia, as long as you economic policies are poor, the market is small, the operating costs are high and you have policy inconsistencies, no investor will go there. The questions are:

1. WHICH ONE OF THEIR PRO-POOR POLICIES HAS EMPOWERED THE POOR?

The PF are a self-proclaimed pro-poor government. But to date they have not introduced a single policy that empowers the poor. In fact, they have done the opposite like removing subsidies, increased cost of living and underfunding crucial ministries. We are better off shifting to policies that promote businesses, because businesses employ more of the poor and provide tax revenue. “Pro-poor” is just some nonsensical rhetoric meant to hoodwink uninformed people.

2. WHERE ARE THE 500,000 JOBS FOR THE YOUTHS AS PROMISED BY THE PRESIDENT?

If the jobs the PF have announced so far were actually created, everyone in the country would have been employed by now, including unborn babies. Actually, PF have killed jobs and job opportunities. They destabilised the mines with poor policies that led to job losses. The foreign contractors continued to bring their own labour. They imposed a wage freeze after squandering the treasury. Today the rising interest rates entail that business will have to hold back their investments and can’t employ. That’s how clueless PF is on job creation.

3. WHAT IS PF’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN?

At the request of the PF Government, the IMF and government will be holding a meeting after elections. In their own words the PF government want to discuss “a funding arrangement”. This in reality is more debt. But we have these God fearing PF officials denying the fact that the Government is broke. This shows that with PF remaining in power, there is no recovery plan apart from the one on a shelf in Washington DC.

4. HOW MUCH DOES THE COST OF OUR ROADS COMPARE WITH OTHE COUNTRIES

If a kilometre of road costs US$ 1million in Zambia compared to US$470,000 in the region it means the tax payers have lost US$530,000 to the foreign contractor who has shared it with some corrupt PF official. A further disadvantage is that another government project that was in need of that US$ 530,000 will remain pending and the potential workers will remain jobless. That people is your SONTA. Further the reason why PF used Eurobonds and not World Bank money, is because the Bondholders don’t care a hoot about corruption i.e. where the US$530,000 went.

5. MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKETS, WHERE IS THE MONEY?

It’s very strange that the party which is hanging on to this slogan, can’t even buy a mattress in UTH. To still insist on this just because they raised the zero-tax PAYE threshold is also dishonest. Firstly that affects only few people in formal employment and secondly it took a few months last year to wipe out most of our disposable income. Effectively people have less money.

6. HOW MUCH IS OWED TO CONTRACTORS?

Contractors will rarely complain when they have not been paid for fear of losing another contract opportunity. This debt won’t be disclosed by government until when its budget speech time when it hidden in all sorts of economic jargon like domestic debt blah blah blah. So let’s only allow the contractors to SONTA so that they get paid.

7. HOW DO THEY CORRECT THE MONETARY POLICIES BLUNDERS?

When PF brought Dr. Kalyalya to BOZ he told them exactly what the opposition were telling them. The fiscal Indiscipline and inconsistent policies affected the monetary position of the country. Obviously the geniuses in cabinet had other reasons, the problems were global, China had abandoned us, the water level was low and in the words the Chief Govt spokesperson, only Jesus could sort out our problems.

8. WHAT IS THE REPAYMENT PLAN FOR THE DEBTS?

The prominent reason why Mr. Chikwanda over-borrowed was because according to him the debt was below the 40% of GDP threshold. Where the investments viable? PF didn’t check. Was tax revenue going to increase? PF didn’t check that. Where there other cheaper sources? PF didn’t check that. Is PF competent? Judge for yourselves.

9. HOW MANY ECONOMIC POLICY DISCUSSION HAS THE PRESIDENT MADE WITHOUT A WRITTEN SPEECH?

To speak off the script is an indication that one knows what he is doing. Unfortunately our President rarely does that and when he does. In his economic policy written statement either he is requesting some Minster to come up with modalities or announcing policies that he eventually contradicts in a matter of days or just repeating his previous speech. Lungu needs to own his policies, face up to the Zambians and explain the direction he is taking us. Right now businesses are in a limbo because Government has not been clear on many things including the future of energy costs, austerity measures, agenda with IMF which could have tax implications, subsidy status on fuel, mines tax regime and the referendum. True leadership would have had a clear direction on these matters.

10. HOW MUCH CREDIBILITY ARE THE PF REMAINING WITH?

The PF have failed the credibility test once too many. There is no single Ministry which hasn’t gone through policy inconstancies or reversals. Ministry of Finance flip-flopped forex policies. Min of Agric banned exports and reversed. Energy Ministry revised and reversed fuels and electricity costs. Chiefs have been de-gazetted and re-gazetted. The most immoral thing PF have done is to lie and repeat the lies. The number one problem we all face is the under-performing economy, surprising the economy is doing fine according to the President.

These in my view are the major concerns I have with this government, PF are not addressing our aspirations at all. Their reputation of lies is worrisome, it is better to choose a leader with some proven credibility.

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this article are not those of Zambian Eye