Government Using Covid-19 To Hide Economic Failure - NDC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused President Lungu and the PF government of using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse for its failure to manage Zambia’s economy. 

In a statement issued by the party’s chairman for economy and national development, Franklin Membe, the NDC highlighted a number of indicators of Zambia’s economic collapse, including a devaluation of the Kwacha by over 100% since President Lungu took office in 2016. 

Other worrying figures included a rise in inflation from 6% in 2016 to 16% today, with even locally produced food seeing a price hike of over 100%. 

The NDC said that none of these figures could be attributed to the recent pandemic but rather were the result of long-term economic mismanagement and institutionalised corruption. 

The NDC added that when a state is forced to hand out cash to its own starving population, this is a sign that the government has failed to raise people’s standard of living. 

“It is also an admission by PF that the 8 months left for them is not enough to develop the economy and, therefore, the decision to dish out cash and leave an empty treasury. The sharing of loot is extremely irresponsible and a clear demonstration of the PF government’s desire to destroy Zambia’s economy,” the statement surmised. 

As a final consideration, the NDC pointed out that Zambia has almost no control over its own mineral resources, with profits from mining companies rarely benefiting the population at large and taxes not being reflective of the true value of Zambia’s mineral wealth.