ZAMBIA IS GRINDING TO A HALT BEFORE OUR EYES!!
12 October 2024
What we see playing out before our eyes, in this country, is nothing short of amazing. Our country is experiencing extreme problems in almost every area that matters to the lives of its citizens. These problems, have been escalating almost on a daily basis since the UPND took power.
Much as we criticised the UPND in Government for decisions they made and which we as New Heritage Party thought would lead us into problems, in our heart of hearts, hoped against hope that the UPND would take these well-meant pieces of advice, but with their ears plugged shut, eyes blinkered and heads woozy from their newly established relation with the IMF and their new found masters, they have not only managed to slow down the little progress that was left by their predecessors, they have completely halted even the attempt by our people to forge ahead. We were hopeful that our brothers and sisters in the UPND would do the right thing by the Zambians, after all, Zambia is our collective land and heritage..
Alas, it has now become apparent to all, that our criticisms and hopes were all in vain that what we greatly feared is coming to pass before our very eyes, Zambia is grinding to halt.
Why do we say so? We currently have:
A very high cost of living that the UPND Government has failed to contain.
Very high rates of interest;
The worst foreign exchange rate that the country has ever experienced and that the Bank of Zambia has failed to contain;
Lack of liquidity in the economy;
A police state in full bloom
The highest number of loadshedding hours ever experienced in the country;
Resultant water shortages; and now as if the all the above were not enough
The country has run out of fuel.
Can the situation get any worse than this? Without electricity, industry is shutting down. Prior to this, the country has been having fuel, albeit, expensive fuel. This meant that the country could move from point A to point B. Without fuel, it becomes impossible for the economy to move, it is surely grinding to a halt.
What can be done about this?
Effect a (legitimate) regime change in 2026 at the polls. A regime change in 2026 on voting day is required in order to remove the most obvious obstacle – the UPND in Government – as this is what is blocking other players from bringing solutions to the table. The last time we experienced the grinding to a halt of our nation, was in the UNIP days. It was only after a regime change that we saw a reversal of the damage done.
Come up with a Govt of National Unity dedicated to the restoration and rebuilding of the nation including:
Giving hope and dignity back to Zambians by getting the nation back to work
Reclaiming our sovereignty over our natural resources to restore the wealth of this nation back to the legitimate owners – the Zambians – and to decriminalise our people in relation to their access to this wealth, especially the young people in the mineral rich areas such as Rufunsa, Mumbwa, Copperbelt and North Western Province but who are labelled “illegal”miners and yet the minerals are found on their land. They are shot at and brutalised just so that foreigners can have access their wealth.
Getting the nation back on track through the conducting of a sectoral clean up and introduction of policies that will see the reversal of the current national malaise.
Putting Zambia and Zambians first in all decisions made relating to the nation
It is almost impossible for the people that have caused the problems that the country is faced with, be the ones to reverse the same.
It is abundantly clear, from the foregoing, that the UPND Government has failed and failed spectacularly and cannot redeem itself out of this economic and governance quagmire.
Fellow Zambians, let us for the sake of our country and its future generations, join the people’s movement, join us in UKA and together, let us liberate this country from the shackles of poverty.
CHISHALA KATEKA
President – New Heritage Party.