Maravi

Consider the masses’ cries on prices, Matoka advises govt

Consider the masses’ cries on prices, Matoka advises govt
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Mon 08 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT

UNIVERSITY of Zambia (UNZA) social development studies senior lecturer Dr Peter Matoka has observed that Zambia has been highly politicised and people can see through those wanting to exploit them.

And Dr Matoka has urged the government to be conscious of the cries of the masses over the increase in prices of essential commodities.

In an interview, Dr Matoka who is also a freedom fighter said as the country approaches the next elections, the ordinary voter expected political leaders to visit them frequently as they sell their manifestos.

He said the politicians’ tendency to rush to voters at the last minute with bribes and demands to woo support was a wrong way to go about things.

“…Because Zambia is highly politicised and people can see through those wanting to exploit them,” he said.

Dr Matoka said the culture of insults was completely new to Zambia and Africa in general.

He said it was natural to criticise and constructive criticism was always welcome.

Dr Matoka said offering positive suggestions to one another would be preferred to running to the press for headlines.

He said most people who had been criticised would very much welcome the critics’ visits to their offices or wherever they could see them so that their suggestions would be recorded and put to rest.

And Dr Matoka said the recent increase in fuel prices was a source of concern to the general public.

“Various reasons have been given to justify the rise but we hope the authorities are aware of the cries of the masses over these high prices which automatically affect the general public when it comes to the purchase of a few items of consumption and their maintenance,” he said.

“One would appeal to the authorities to try and assist the general public by either giving notice of prices in good time.”

Dr Matoka said there had been a lot of talk about the economy being in problems during the period of the global recession.

He said fortunately, there had been a resurgence in the country, especially in the mining sector where mines that were closed were opening and copper prices were rising.

Dr Matoka observed that fresh investment was pouring into Zambia from various quarters and one could say that the economy was on a good footing and promises to be better.

However, he said the rate of poverty in Zambia was extremely high not only in rural areas but very much so in urban areas.

Dr Matoka said the investment that was taking place in rural areas especially in the mining field was welcome as it helped to reduce poverty.

He said investment in rural areas helped to keep the population fully occupied instead of rushing to urban areas in search of employment.

Dr Matoka said there had been a lot of criticism on the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

“I have no right to speak on the NCC but it pains one to listen to various accusations which are baseless at the NCC. We have a variety of organisations represented. freedom fighters, church leaders and people drawn from respectable organisations,” he said.

“Now speaking for freedom fighters, these are people who sacrificed their comfort and their own lives to offer Zambia independence and these are people who have never been given pension, salaries. They did it for the love of the country. This is exactly what they are doing, offering themselves to help establish a constitution that the country will be proud of.”

He said it was not fair to think that they had gone to the NCC to make money.
Dr Matoka also said this applied to people from other organisations who would make more money at their respective organisations but got locked up at the NCC for hours to get Zambia a good constitution.

Labels: INFLATION, PETER MATOKA

posted by MrK @ 5:02 AM