By Amb Emmanuel Mwamba
Her recent response in the National Assembly sparked social-media ridicule. “Is the economy doing well or her economy is doing well?”
Her Honour the Vice-President, W.K. Nalumango appears sober and honest in the conduct of her civic and political affairs.
She is measured and doesn’t appear to resort to emotions.
So I don’t understand her gaffes and frequent miscommunication.
And this is mostly on display during the “Vice-President Question Time” every Friday in the National Assembly.
When asked in November 2021 by Chama South, Hon. Davison Mungandu why government had suddenly increased the price of fuel when President Hakainde had pledged to reduce it, her answers were startling.
In her answer, she waffled through and justified the increase by stating; “We have to increase fuel prices a bit so that we can reduce them”.
Similarly, last week, Mporokoso MP and leader of the Opposition, Hon. Brian Mundubile asked the Vice-President on when Zambians will see some semblance or direction of the economy and a reduction in the high cost of living currently being experienced by citizens.
She cited the inflation rate that has seen some reduction and emphasized ; “The economy is performing very well” basing her justification on a single indicator.
PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
The Vice President has a powerful team led by the Permanent Secretary in charge of Parliamentary Business Affairs at Cabinet Office.
It must be noted that written questions for oral answers are submitted well in advance to the Clerk of the National Assembly and to the Vice President’s office and the team is expected to research and prepare possible answers and talking notes.
It is therefore worrying that the quality of answers from Hon. Nalumango in the National Assembly have been poor, unprepared, unresearched and in many cases lack tact.
My appeal is therefore to her team to get to work and prepare her adequately for the Friday questions.
In our parliamentary system, the President is not available to answer national issues in the House, except through the Leader of Business in Parliament, who in this case is Hon. W. K. Nalumango.
The New Dawn Government can choose to squander this opportunity by providing answers that are not answers at all as is the case now, or can use this chance as a platform to address and tackle national issues affecting the country.
Things usually get worse before they get better. This is often the case when you take certain medications: from time to time medicine may initially make your condition seem worse, before the disease is cured. The Vice President is doing a great job in her answers to questions asked during the National Assembly. Her answers are justifiable. For instance, when it comes to matters of the country’s economy, the first indicator to consider is the inflation rate which is doing better than where we are coming from? Considering the economic damages left by the previous regime and the positive correlation between inflation rate and economic growth rate, we are optimistic that the country is economically on the the right track. The New Dawn Administration is following a course that is likely to result in success. We know that sometimes things seem to get difficult when you are repairing the economy before they get better. The appearance of a dismantled engine of a broken car is not good but the outcome after a good mechanic fixes it is pleasant. It’s the same with our economy. Imagine what Zambia would have been like had the previous regime won the August 2022 general elections? Do you think we would have been any better with thier record of making the country reel from colossal debt, corruption, and runaway inflation. Do you think these people who are now criticizing the New Dawn Administration would have done better. We still remember thier government’s spending indiscipline and
gross economic mismanagement bordering on incompetence. It seems unfair to bring up these issues but at the same time you will agree with me that it is easier to listen and be corrected by other opposition politicians who do not have a record of a ballooning debt, which tripled under their watch, reaching a cumulative US$19 billion in gross economic mismanagement bordering on incompetence. The government is blamed for the ballooning debt, which tripled under the PF’s watch, reaching a cumulative US$19 billion in 2021. The country’s resources and its future are now mortgaged to international creditors.