(LUSAKATIMES) UPND tips govt. on steps to development

UPND tips govt. on steps to development
December 26, 2008

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has implored government to step up its efforts which are aimed at alleviating poverty among Zambians in 2009.

UPND chairman for information and publicity, Charles Kakoma told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that Zambians had been challenged with a lot of hardships during the year 2008, hence the need for government to cushion their sufferings by easing the impact of poverty in their lives.

Mr. Kakoma said government should devote most of its efforts towards poverty reduction, lowering of inflation rates and exchange rates, increasing employment opportunities and gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

He observed that although there were job losses in the mining industry, Zambia still had a window of hope especially in the agriculture sector.

Mr. Kakoma, who is also Member of Parliament for Zambezi East, expressed optimism that Zambia could still thrive amidst global economic meltdown.

He said the country could prevail over the world’s economic crisis through seizing every opportunity in the agriculture sector at both subsistence and commercial levels.

He pointed out that even in the face of the world’s economic crunch, Zambians still has a lot of sectors that could redeem her from challenges of poverty.

Mr. Kakoma cited the rural economic potential and small scale agricultural activities as some of the areas which could be effectives in developing the country’s economic base.

The MP explained that Zambia had a good rain pattern and a favourable dry weather that could support agricultural activities all year round.

And Mr. Kakoma has, on behalf of the UPND, wished Zambians a prosperous 2009 and urged them to work hard for their individual development, which would subsequently promote national development.

Recently, Zambia experienced among other economic challenges, a rise in food prices, job losses in the mines which closed due to plummeting copper prices on the world market. The country also experienced high exchange rates against the United States dollar and other foreign currencies.