Economist Questions JJ’s Free Hungry Lion Handouts
An economist, Tom Hansungule, has questioned the motive behind JJ’s free Hungry Lion meal handouts, arguing that Zambians need sustainable economic opportunities rather than temporary relief.
Hansungule said while it may appear generous for private individuals to partner with established restaurant brands such as Hungry Lion to distribute free meals, such initiatives would have a greater long-term impact if they focused on empowering citizens economically.
He suggested that Hungry Lion could partner with Mr Banda to provide business capital, educational opportunities or other forms of support that would enable beneficiaries to become self-reliant.
“Of course, it is frightening when you see private citizens partnering with a reputable restaurant like Hungry Lion to dish out free meals. It would be more meaningful if Hungry Lion partnered with Mr Banda to offer capital or even free education opportunities to citizens because that would make the beneficiaries self-sustainable,” Hansungule observed.
He argued that distributing free meals offers limited long-term benefits, questioning the value of lining up citizens at restaurants without a clear strategy for improving their livelihoods.
“Apart from anarchy, I do not see any benefit in lining up citizens at restaurants,” he said.
Hansungule further described the initiative as a populist agenda that should be curtailed by the relevant authorities, expressing concern about large crowds descending on restaurants without proper order and organisation.
He maintained that meaningful assistance should focus on addressing the underlying economic challenges facing citizens rather than providing short-term relief.
Hansungule also invoked biblical principles, arguing that benefactors should prioritise empowering others in ways that promote lasting independence.
He challenged Mr Banda to restructure his assistance programmes to adopt a more sustainable approach, saying that support which equips beneficiaries with the means to improve their own lives would have a more meaningful and lasting impact.