UPND Will Write Off Loans To Youth And Women Groups

UPND deputy national youth chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has said that should his party win next year’s elections, they will write off all government loans distributed to women and youth groups in the run up to the election. 

In a statement on Thursday, Mr Liswaniso criticised the loans handed out by president Lungu as transparent and self serving. He called on women and young people receiving the loans to put the interests of the country ahead of their own.

“They must know that Lungu is dishing out these loans for the sole purpose of winning their votes. He is not interested in real, meaningful and more sustainable empowerment of youths and women. Once voted back, he will come back like a roaring lion for those loans. We want the nation to know that once in office, the United Party for National Development will write-off the loans being dished out by Mr Lungu and PF across the country. The UPND will work to empower Zambians right from the start. This we will do by ensuring that every Zambian, including PF members, can afford a decent livelihood,” he said. 

Overall the deputy chairman characterised President Lungu’s government as crooked and disastrous from the start.

“And he knows this. He knows he is not good for this country. His has been a government of thieves by thieves for thieves. And Lungu knows that his political fortunes have been steadily declining. He has hit rock bottom. But he is not ready to give up power. He must do all he can to maintain it – by hook or crook. He knows the moment he leaves office the country will learn about all his shoddy dealings,” he stated. 

He went so far as to say that the PF had been even more disastrous to Zambia than climate change and Covid-19. 

In terms of how the UPND would improve livelihoods for ordinary Zambians, Mr Liswaniso said they would start with electricity tariffs: reducing fuel prices by cutting middle men out of the supply chain.

The Kwacha would also be strengthened, he said. 

“We don’t see any reason why the kwacha should trade at more than K5 against the US dollar. Zambians will be empowered across the board through policy decisions by the working government of UPND under the capable and able leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema”. 

Mr Liswaniso concluded his statement by urging President Lungu to make good on his promise of creating 500,000 jobs for young people on the Copperbelt through mining, as well as paying state retirees their due. 

“For now, everything Mr Lungu does amounts to nothing as his behaviour is reminiscent of a terminally ill patient who leaves the care of trained health workers and goes searching for cure from traditionalists,” he ended. 

UPND deputy national youth chairman Gilbert Liswaniso