Govt must call for an ‘indaba’ over Zesco

NOTHING should be done to Zesco unless an “indaba” was called or indeed if President Hakainde Hichilema appointed a commission of inquiry, to investigate the full range of options.

Golden Party of Zambia president Jackson Silavwe has advised that Government should not be in a hurry to unbundle the utility to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Zesco, he said, could run profitability without IMF prescriptions if politics are taken out of the computation which had since seen the utility shrinking.

Mr Silavwe advised that Zesco needs homegrown solutions and not IMF-prescribed programmes.

He said the UPND administration should not be in a hurry to unbundle Zesco the IMF way, but to listern to what the majority Zambians are saying.

“The last time IMF intervened in Zambian economic affairs, the country experienced unimaginable joblessness and poverty levels not forgetting the high cost of living. And most people died of depression because they could not cope with the situation,” said Mr Silavwe.

He said Zambians do not support plans by the UNPD to unbundle Zesco because it will only increase poverty levels in the country.

Mr Silavwe advised the UPND government not to go ahead with the unbundling of Zesco.

He said the UPND administration is under immense pressure from the IMF loan deal, therefore Government wants to seal all the assets from Zesco so that it can be able to get the US $1.4 billion that have been applied for as loan.

“Zambia is not a stranger with the conditions by the IMF, and right now the country is still feeling the effects of the IMF which the former ruling party MMD caused on Zambians,” Mr Silavwe said.