Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) UPND refuses to participate in National Indaba

UPND refuses to participate in National Indaba
Thursday, April 2, 2009, 15:12

Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says it would not participate in the national indaba this weekend.

Party leader Hakainde Hichilema said during a press briefing in Lusaka today that UPND wrote recommendations to government last year in December on how to deal with the global Financial crisis prior to the presentation of the 2009 budget.

Mr. Hichilema said UPND was proactive on the matter and tried to engage in consultation because it had projected the impact of the world economic recession on Zambia’s economy.

Mr. Hichilema said it was too late for the government to call for an Indaba when parliament had already approved the budget.

He said that the forum should have been called before the budget approval so that the recommendations that would have financial implications could be incorporated into the national budget.

He further said government had scrapped off wind fall tax which could have been retained with amendments alleging that government’s move was contrary to the consensus that the UPND and President Rupiah Banda had reached when they had a meeting on the 12th of March, 2009.

Mr. Hichilema also accused the government for making an amendment to the Mines and Mineral Development Act that barred the Zambians from owning mines with foreigners as partners.

He advised the government to consider the involvement of the local people in the country’s economic activities aimed at restoring the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, the opposition party says the National Constitution Conference (NCC) deliberations should be concluded by the end of June 2009.

Mr. Hichilema that this will enable government to cut on excessive spending and channel the resources to paramount areas such as the health and education systems.

He also recommended that the ZESCO limited should not be allowed to increase the electricity tariffs by the proposed 66 per cent as more than 80 per cent of Zambians were unable to access electricity.

He noted that once the tariffs have been increased, the demand of charcoal would rise posing a threat to the environment as efforts to discourage environmental degradation would be affected.

ZANIS/MP/ENDS/MM

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SUMMIT, UPND, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 3:53 PM