Milupi calls on govt to invest in youths
Milupi calls on govt to invest in youthsBy Sututu Katundu
Sat 25 Dec. 2010, 04:00 CAT
INVESTING in the youth is critical to the development of the country, says opposition ADD president Charles Milupi.
Featuring on ZNBC’s Frank Talk programme, Milupi said every government had the responsibility to ensure that the youth were adequately prepared for future endeavours.
“When we talk about youths being the ones who are going to ensure the perpetration of the state, we are not just talking about presidents, ministers, teachers. It is all levels of society, that is the bricklayers, plumbers, doctors and others, and leaders need to ensure that all levels in society are adequately prepared to live for tomorrow,” he said.
He said nations like China had advanced rapidly because they invested in quality education with the same approach having been taken in the Koreans who were creating their own products.
He said in Zambia disparities had been created at every level between the poor and the rich, high density to low density, rural and urban areas.
He described as scandalous how issues of poverty were being addressed.
Milupi said lack of education and knowledge had led to the abuse of public resources; hence the need to retain the civil service to professionals.
He said appointing party cadres into the civil service frustrated professionals and disturbed their working culture.
And commenting on the mining sector, Milupi said it was not contributing sufficiently to the national treasury.
He said the figures and percentages being talked about did not reflect the true picture.
Milupi said late president Levy Mwanawasa recognised the huge resource at the country’s disposal and brought in laws basically to increase mineral royalty and windfall tax in addition to corporate tax to ensure the nation benefited from the mining sector.
He said Zambia would have gained US$600 million, about K3 trillion, if the law had still been in place.
Milupi said despite the strides that were being talked about, the majority of Zambians could only afford one meal a day and were unable to send their children to school.
He bemoaned the state of infrastructure in the country and noted with concern the high interest rates at the banks that discouraged people from borrowing to expand their businesses and contribute to the economy.
Milupi said the government had a responsibility to address issues that would reduce the suffering of the people.
Labels: CHARLES MILUPI, WINDFALL TAX, YOUTHS
posted by MrK @ 7:12 AM
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