Maravi

Anglican clergy urges govt to adopt pro-poor policies

Anglican clergy urges govt to adopt pro-poor policies
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sunday, January 04, 2009 6:59:58 PM

ANGLICAN Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo has urged the government to come up with pro-poor policies that can help reduce poverty levels in the country. In his end of year message, Bishop Mchombo said the government should put in place measures that would help raise living standards of the people.

“The year 2008 was a very critical year, I think poverty levels for our people have been very grinding and if you go round the villages, you can see that there should be a deliberate policy to help people especially in rural areas to come out of poverty,” Bishop Mchombo said.

He said poverty reduction could easily be done by promoting the agricultural sector in the country.

“We know that copper is a wasting asset and most of our industries again depend on copper so whatever happens to the copper industry, everybody else is affected, so the best way I think is to go into agro industry. The agro industry can uplift the living standards of our people, there are a quite a lot of our people such as peasant farmers, these are the people who are feeding the nation.

What is required is to ensure that they are given good equipment, they are allowed to access big equipment through the provision of big or small loans,” Bishop Mchombo said.

He also appealed to the government to work out strategies that would cushion the impact of the global economic crisis.

Bishop Mchombo urged Zambians to remain focused and hopeful despite the economic challenges that they were currently facing.

“I think we should turn these challenges we are facing into opportunities for better things, I think as Zambia, we can match forward and we have to focus again on our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Mchombo.

Labels: BISHOP MCHOMBO

posted by MrK @ 7:01 PM