ACTIONAID ZAMBIA CRITICIZES FINANCE MINISTER’S ELECTION WARNING OUTCOME
By Justina Matandiko
ActionAid Zambia Country Director Faides Tembatemaba has criticized Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane’s warning that economic progress could stall if the UPND does not retain power in the August 13th general elections.
Ms. Tembatemaba says such sentiments risk personalizing national development, arguing that Zambia’s economic trajectory should rest on strong institutions, not the fortunes of a single political party.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Ms. Tembatemaba states that in a democratic setup, government institutions are anchored by technocrats who drive policy implementation and ensure continuity beyond election cycles.
She has stressed that the executive is mandated to make decisions, but institutions must outlive political transitions.
Ms. Tembatemaba has since challenged the UPND to be ready to pass on the baton if Zambians decide otherwise in the August 2026 poll, emphasizing that national development should not be tied to one party’s fate.
Her statement follows remarks by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, who has warned that economic progress could stall if the UPND does not retain power in this year’s general elections.
PHOENIX NEWS
If I may ask this lady, what is wrong with the minister appealing to the electorate no to vote in a new political party? Politics is a competition about policies and development programs where everyone is free to campaign for their party. Sometimes there is great wisdom in keeping quiet when we are not sure of what we want to say. Madam, just advise your preferred political party to also freely campaign. it’s a democracy now. The PF dictatorship is gone for good.
Tambatamba is in no position to lecture on a fact.
Where institutions are weak what the minister states is inevitable. What part of Zambia does she live in? Each political party has its perception and policies. If a Party is elect that doesnt believe in tbe current policies…its is inevitable that there will be a policy change and shift. The question will such a move be good for the nation? In the long term where are we saying we would like the state to be?
When we keep changing policies no serious investor would want to invest in Zambia. No stability would pervail in our economy and what would our society turn out to be in such a situation?
Ms Tambatamba should stop living in “lala land” citizens deserve to know the truth and consequences of their choices. Let her stop thinking sugar coating issues makes great leadership. If she does that in her home…she must be a bad mother.
Ms. Tembatemaba, what Dr. Musokotwane said is the plain truth. If you have been listening to sone of the promises being made by candidates like Mr. Kalaba, you would agree with him.
It is not strong institutions which guarantee development. Institutions are only as good as the people running them. Why do you think law and order collapsed under PF? Was it because we didn’t have strong institutional structures? No. Everything imploded because of the calibre of people running those institutions. The Inspector General of police was a PF cadre, so cadres became more powerful than the police.
If you have thugs and thieves running the police or judiciary, it does not matter how strong that institutions is. It will collapse.
Most of the presidential candidates have exhibited populist tendencies (legalising illegal mining, giving all Zambians land, giving all Zambians access to clean water, taking 10% of PAYE and giving to civil servants as salaries, et al). That is a recipe for reversing the economic gains made under the UPND government and before we can blink, we will be under a huge debt burden for the third time in living memory.
What school did this girl go to? It is a known fact that political direction has a direct influence on the economy of a country. PF for example, what did they do to the economy? People must think before talking!!