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Avoid taking problems to outsiders, Meyke advises opposition

Avoid taking problems to outsiders, Meyke advises opposition
By Kabanda Chulu and Mukosha Funga
Thu 14 June 2012, 13:24 CAT

GERMAN Ambassador to Zambia Frank Meyke yesterday urged opposition parties to avoid taking the country's problems to 'outsiders' because the differences can be resolved internally by Zambians.

And finance minister Alexander Chikwanda has said the strong macroeconomic fundamentals being experienced in the country will not benefit people unless government ministries stop endless meetings that lead nowhere.

And the German government has committed to give Zambia a K550 billion grant over a three year period aimed at poverty reduction, budget support, water resource, monitoring, strengthening good governance, promoting decentralisation and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

When asked about the Zambian case of opposition parties preferring to engage the international community on internal matters instead of dialogue with the government, Ambassador Meyke said there was need for effective governance with effective and vibrant opposition as good partners in order to attain success and prosperity.

"Extra effort is needed from all stakeholders, nobody can solve Zambia's problems but Zambians. But let us look at practices everywhere, with our problems in the euro zone we are confident that we shall sort them out and nobody could resolve them but ourselves. Of course we look around for best examples, trying to learn and trying to be united even when we have differences," Ambassador Meyke said.

"Right now there is big domestic topic in Germany relating to the fiscal compact with the EU which Chancellor Merkel is promoting and there is domestic opposition but this deal will result for the good of Europe so the opposition have put some arguments and would like to use this campaign issue since they would want people to see them offering constructive and effective debates...so even here in Zambia we wish the opposition and government to work together as partners in development."

During the signing ceremony for the financial and technical agreement, Ambassador Meyke said Germany was interested in supporting objectives of the Zambian government in improving the living conditions in the country such as poverty reduction, pro-poor growth and strengthening democracy and fighting corruption.

And Chikwanda, who is acting as President, said Zambia had managed its macroeconomic fundamentals despite facing challenges in employment creation and poverty reduction strategies.

"We should not rest, we should not be complacent, we need more vigorous action by government to double the pace of economic development even in the midst of difficulties in global economy as can be seen in the decline in our major exports like copper, sugar, coffee, this is a reflection of what is happening in the world," Chikwanda said.

"Also the EU crisis, there is no way Europe can catch a cold without us coughing so we need to brace ourselves for challenges coming but these are surmountable and Zambia cannot be insulated against global volatility so every Zambian should participate and we need ministries to move fast and stop endless meetings that lead nowhere."

He said the gesture by Germany bonded well with the government's development agenda which had prioritised agriculture; education and skills development, health services and decentralisation of local governance and housing as the cornerstone for the prosperity.

"The increase in grants to councils in 2012 budget is one first step taken towards decentralisation and we intend to upscale funding from 2013 and beyond," said Chikwanda.

"Furthermore, government remains committed to upholding good governance and the fight against corruption. Corruption is a cancer that distorts allocation of resources and rewards the lazy and dishonesty at the expense of hardworking people."

Labels: ALEXANDER CHIKWANDA, FRANK MEYKE, OPPOSITION

posted by MrK @ 4:07 PM