We can’t afford lockdown -Bwalya

ZAMBIA cannot afford a total or partial lockdown because it needs to keep the economy alive, hence the need for all to take collective responsibility and get vaccinated for Covid-19, says special assistant to the President, Anthony Bwalya.

Mr. Bwalya said on ZNBC Sunday interview that the country has an ailing economy that should be fixed as quickly as possible hence the need to weigh the risks that are associated with the lockdown.

He said President Hakainde Hichilema has emphasised that as a country we shouldn’t begin to contemplate partially or entirely locking the economy because we can’t afford it.

“We have an economy that was beaten down to the death. We are looking to rebuild and we need to rebuild fast so the focus should be aggressively taking responsibility as an individual as a family and collectively as a nation because we are the victim of the tragic consequences of the covid pandemic running rampant and uncontrolled,” he said.

Mr. Bwalya said the UPND administration’s main focus is to save lives and keep the country’s economy running because Zambians wouldn’t afford to continue leaving loved ones to the pandemic and losing jobs.

He said Zambians are responsible people and would do what is right to ensure that the spread of the pandemic is reduced by coming out in numbers and volunteering to be vaccinated.

“We need to emphasize that we don’t have time, we are running out of time and this President and administration, public health authorities are keeping a very close eye on our ability to respond as aggressively as we need to respond to Covid-19,” Mr Bwalya said.