Why vote for Charles Chanda of UPPZ?

Dear Editor,

WHILE great progress has been made by our country since independence, it is still facing numerous challenges.

The leaders have paid a deaf ear to this serious cancer as we see corruption and nepotism in all institutions in the country.

For a long time, our economy has been dependent on copper which is a diminishing asset, and little attention given to the manufacturing industry while little attention has been given to the agricultural sector.

What is being realised from the mines is not enough considering the unfavourable taxation system that favours the multinational companies and hence Zambians cannot compete and own mines.

The external shocks experienced in the world copper prices have affected the country. As a result, people are heavily taxed which leaves them with nothing in the pockets.

The prices of commodities have been skyrocketing caused mainly by the depreciation of the Kwacha against major currencies.

The business environment has been affected by high interest rates and hence both domestic and foreign businesses opt to borrow from outside the country. This affects growth of the businesses especially small-scale and medium enterprise. As a result, some businesses have closed down.

Since businesses create employment, the unfavourable business environment in Zambia means very few companies and hence leaving a big portion of the population unemployed, especially the youth.

The very few surviving industries and businesses have been affected by serious power outages due to load-shedding and unfavourable economic environment.

As a result, production and operations have become low and this has led to some industries and businesses closing down and hence people losing employment where they get the muchneeded income to support their families and contribute to government through tax.

The country has been contracting uncoordinated debt with no clear plan to invest or pay back.

Poverty levels are still high especially in the rural areas and can be as high as 81 percent in some provinces.

The average basic needs and nutrition basket for a family is over K7, 000, and yet very few people get that money as monthly salary in

Zambia. Zambians are just surviving by the Grace of God especially the poor who live on less than a dollar in a day.

Over 75 percent of our population are youths but these have not been well catered for. A look at our cabinet shows this clearly.

OWEN KWALOMBOTA, UPPZ member.