Balance between huge foreign reserves and people’s suffering – Mundubile

By NATION REPORET

…says it is a mockery to poverty-stricken Zambians for the UPND to continue bragging about increased foreign reserves in the midst of high and prohibitive cost of living 

BRIAN Mundubile has stood firm and doubled down on his criticism of the UPND government boasting of having US6.5 billion foreign reserves while endemic poverty has continued to cripple Zambians’ livelihoods. 

“I’m not ashamed to say it makes no economic sense for President Hakainde Hichilema and his government to boast of a US$6.5 billion reserve base when Zambians are starving and hospitals lack lifesaving drugs,” Mr Mundubile said.

Mr Mundubile, the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate and National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) leader said the UPND government had failed to pay local suppliers in as many years yet it was bragging of having accumulated foreign reserves.

Mr Mundubile, who is on a marathon campaign along with his running mate Makebi Zulu has pledged that under his government there shall be a balance between the country’s healthy reserves and the welfare of its citizens.

“Under our government, we shall strive to strike a balance between a healthy reserve base and ensuring poverty is under control because that is what good economic governance entails, he said.

He decried the fact that council workers had not been paid in most parts of the country yet there was a government boasting of posting big numbers in reserves only with the aim of pleasing donors and investors.

“Nurses and several government workers public service workers and in some cases farmers have not been paid so why boast. The domestic debt is beyond K250 billion, with a large chunk of it owed to suppliers and yet UPND and Mr Hichilema are boasting of reserves at Bank of Zambia. What sense is that?” Mr Mundubile wondered.

He said under his administration, Zambians’ welfare would rise above a bloated reserve while at the same time ensuring there were enough reserves.

Mr Mundubile disclosed that recently, the government paid K1 billion outstanding debt to Chinese businesses in Zambia while neglecting local debt suppliers who were Zambian.

He stated that the failure by the UPND government to pay local suppliers was an anomaly of quantum proportion because Zambian supplies if paid, would help oil the local economy, create jobs and reduce poverty.

“After the Chinese were paid, we suddenly heard sections of the UPND including the President saying they will be paying people money every week to help campaign, how is that?” asked Mundubile.

And Mr Mundubile has also questioned the UPND glowing statistics on rising of the country’s Gross Domestic Product growth and dropping inflation, which he said were not translating into reduced cost of living.

Ends.