Maravi

Get down to work, Chirwa urges Govt

Get down to work, Chirwa urges Govt
By Lambwe Kachali
Monday July 14, 2008 [04:00]

THE government should stop mourning over President Levy Mwanawasa's illness, MMD presidential aspirant Professor Clive Chirwa has said. And UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said the government should not come to a standstill because of President Mwanawasa's absence from the country. In an interview, Prof Chirwa said much as he wished President Mwanawasa a quick recovery, it was necessary for the government to show the nation that they were in control.

He said the depreciation of the kwacha and the inflation jump were a normal occurrence in times of a short-term crisis but that President Mwanawasa's illness could bring out speculators to start selling much of Zambian assets and then move to other profitable grounds.

Prof Chirwa explained that having both the kwacha's depreciation and the inflation jump were a rare occasion but could happen when the economic foundation is not strong to cushion the fluctuations.

"If this was a business, we would have seen loss of share values as the chief executive is taken to hospital. To alleviate the downward trend of the kwacha and rocketing of the inflation, the Cabinet led by the hard working VP Vice-President Rupiah Banda should stop mourning, the President is alive and should double their work rate in order to show the nation that they are in control. Market forces do not like governments with a face that is showing bruises when one member of the group has been temporarily taken out of action...because the result will be high inflation and currency depreciation. So let the Cabinet keep focused and deliver ever more beyond the call of duty," he advised.

Prof Chirwa said President Mwanawasa was a hard working man who worked tirelessly to deliver to Zambians' expectations.

"I have known for some time that the President was doing a lot, even jobs of some ministers. Those ministers and key personnel who were dragging their feet should now start running, not walking, but running so that we meet our national targets and improve our confidence level in the eyes of Zambians. This period should be make or break for those in ministerial powers and for those who influence policies. The train has no driver and hence the lieutenants should keep utmost discipline and appoint one person whom they will listen to in order to deliver on the plans and policies. No in-fighting but teamwork is the way forward under the leadership of the Vice-President R. Banda," he said.

Prof Chirwa wished President Mwanawasa quick recovery. He said he learnt about President Mwanawasa's sickness in China where he had gone to lecture to Chinese engineers.

"I was in China teaching Chinese engineers, which I do every year, when I learnt that the President was taken ill on duty in Egypt and was being transferred to Percy-Clamart Military Hospital in France. I then rang my PA campaign manager to quickly ascertain the facts. I waited a few days to make sure His Excellency was stable, before I requested permission to visit him. Unfortunately I was not allowed to visit his ward when I went to Clamart last weekend. What I did is to send him a "Get Well Soon" card and a bunch of flowers to keep his spirit up. I returned to the UK," Prof Chirwa said.

"I like the man, because he has tirelessly worked to improve the economy and we started seeing results from his policies. I know he is not a diplomat, he says what he thinks and this is how he has made things work. Many Zambians and I will want him to recover quickly so that he bounces back into his cockpit and fly our economic recovery."

And Hichilema said although citizens were devoting much of their time to praying for the President's quick recovery, the government should realise that they had a stronger obligation to work and continue with national programmes.

Hichilema, who gave an example of the rapid depreciation of the kwacha, said it was imperative for ministers and all government officials to work extra hard to avoid economic problems as the country did not know when the President would return.

Hichilema said with or without President Mwanawasa, the government should function and ensure that the country's programmes continued. However, he said the kwacha's depreciation was not a result of President Mwanawasa's illness as there were other factors.

"There are several issues. Most of these issues have an impact on the whole economy. For example, the issue of high fuel prices, which has resulted in an increase in food prices. The reduction in the budgetary allocation to Ministry of Agriculture, which has led to increase in the cost of fertiliser. All these are some of the factors which have negatively impacted on our economy," he said.

Hichilema said even before the President fell ill, the economic problems were predictable.

"This is because of the government's inability to deal with the daily challenges. I can assure you that this situation would obtain because other variables such as removal of subsidies on fuel and this was announced before President Mwanawasa fell ill, so are other variables I have just mentioned. Now all these things that you are seeing are now becoming clearer and I think it's a reflection on the state of the nation," he said.

Hichilema warned that if the situation was not reversed, the country would face a huge economic crisis.

Hichilema said the lower sections of the communities would be heavily affected and that the country's future could be bleak to an extent where the rich would remain rich and the poor, poorer.

President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke on June 29 in Egypt where he had gone to attend an African Union (AU) heads of state summit. President Mwanawasa was admitted to Sharm-el-Sheik International Hospital in the resort city of Sharm-el-Sheik in Egypt and was later evacuated to Percy Military Hospital in France on July 1 where he is still admitted.

Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD, PRESIDENCY, SUCCESSION

posted by MrK @ 4:07 AM