Tackle unemployment, PNU advises State
By CHARLES MUSONDA IT is high time Government came out of the ordinary routine of doing things and addressed the triple dilemma of high unemployment, high income inequalities and high poverty levels, says Party for National Unity (PNU) president Highvie Hamududu.
“Going through the 2018 national budget under consideration in Parliament right now, I feel uninspired by lack of innovation and creativity to free budgetary resources for areas that have the greatest impact for inclusive development and improved service delivery.
“What you read through in the budget and the general attitude of the government is business as usual, but the problems that Zambia faces wouldn't just go away like that. Government needs a surgical approach to allocation of resources by cutting down avoidance expenditure and freezing some non-core cost centres in government,” Mr. Hamududu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday. He said there was enough room for government to manoeuvre within the budget to create the necessary fiscal space, without increasing the overall budget and improve allocations where there was greatest impact. “If government continues spreading budgetary resources so thinly, they will soon get into serious trouble. This is the best time to implement some carefully thought-out radical measures for economic growth and sustainable development. “The weather for agricultural production is good, and copper prices are on the upward trend. What remains is for Government to do the right things and it can be done. But I must advise Government that there will be a huge cost for inaction in the near future if the right steps are not taken during this providential time and opportunity,” Hamududu he said Mr. Hamududu called on the government to do everything correct and practical for agriculture to work and lift the majority out of poverty, re-engineer the public service for measurable results on the ground, and make local authorities functional “Invest in the youth through extensive skills development using existing school infrastructure during school holidays and facilitate funding for them to engage in productive activities. Government must also facilitate markets for Zambian producers and make the ‘Buy Zambia campaign' a reality. Let the citizens be at work and be part of the economic story. Stop politicking and work.”