…as he warns of potential seed crisis due to inadequate planning by the government
Lusaka, Zambia— Socialist Party President Dr. Fred M’membe says UPND government’s 2025 budget, neglects the pressing needs of Zambians.
In his State of the Nation address, earlier today, he highlighted the budget’s shortcomings across several critical sectors, including energy, mining, agriculture, and health.
Dr. M’membe painted a grim picture of the energy sector, criticizing the shift to higher tariffs under the guise of “cost-reflective tariffs.”
He argued that this move would only benefit a few at the expense of the majority.
He also noted that despite the government’s push for solar alternatives, high demand and costs, coupled with high-interest rates, make these solutions inaccessible to ordinary Zambians.
“Every bank wants a payslip to get a loan. The majority of Zambians are in the informal sector. Where will they get these payslips?” he questioned.
The Socialist Party leader expressed skepticism about the UPND’s plans to revive and expand the mining sector, pointing out that mining taxes remain unchanged, and there is no credible plan for increasing copper production.
“Scaling up copper production is largely dependent on the availability of reliable and sufficient energy supply. Mining consumes a lot of power, so where will this power come from?” he asked, dismissing the government’s proclamations as empty rhetoric.
Dr. M’membe also criticized the government’s approach to agriculture, particularly the focus on efficiency in distributing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) while neglecting the broader needs of small-scale farmers.
He warned of a potential seed crisis due to a poor farming season and inadequate planning by the government.
“The UPND government has been clueless on agriculture from inception. Poverty alleviation will not be dealt with under the UPND government,” he stated.
Regarding the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Dr. M’membe argued that increasing CDF allocations will not solve the country’s pressing problems due to corruption and inefficiency.
He also lamented the inadequate budget allocation to the health sector, which he linked to poor health outcomes exacerbated by energy and drought crises.
“Our people are dying every day, and the political leaders we have today don’t seem to care,” he said, emphasizing the need for a substantial increase in health funding.
ZEDIANS are own their own, have no leadership, the nation has no direction… it is all CHIMBWI no plan. If really these upnd chaps are born of a woman they must resign like yesterday please!!!!
Zambians are own their own, have no leadership, the nation has no direction… it is all CHIMBWI palibe plan.
UPND has great Plans. people are own their own.
No leadership, the nation has no direction… it is all CHIMBWI palibe plan.
Leadership tapaba, ichalo tachakwata ekochileya, bamukolwe bangwele tabakwata na plan awe. Iwe HH aisha!!!!
Intungulushi ichalo tachakwata, ichalo tachileya nangu kumo, iyikata tayi buluma. Mr HH aisha kabiyeni twanaka
Ngamwafyelwe of a woman upnd chitenifye resign like yesterday please
I has to use chines language above to pass the gate keeper ba LT / upnd cadres
@UFIMBENUMA, you can’t just put your thoughts together into one comment? Multiple comments by you are just a waste of space, in my POV!
I had to use chinese language above to pass the gate keeper ba LT / upnd cadres
Cash for work, social cash transfer? I always wonder why the opposition just spew untruths and expect them to stick.
What does it mean to be in a crisis, actually crises in our case? If only Fred M’membe would apply his mind to that? We have not even built a resilient economy yet. We still have a peasant class and a large urban informal sector.
It’s simple really. How can basics be met in a crisis or multiple crises? It’s like wanting to sit down and have a meal when your house is on fire.
We Zambian people are selfish. I have seen how other nationals group together wherever they are be it here in Zambia or Europe or Asia. For us once you see your fellow countryman the first thing that comes to mind is HOW DID THAT FELLOW MANAGE TO COME HERE?
This goes also to our leaders…. one becomes a minister one “forgets” where he’s coming from. He becomes a god.
@Deja Vu
Exactly…the Zambian mentality is sickening….and just like our Politicians they’re all the same….give pompwe Mmembe power and he will still be acting just like Pompwe Lungu or Pompwe HH….all useless…and now pompwe HH is justifying hiking electricity tariffs but in opposition he was against it….
Your social sector plans is to destroy like you did to Investrust Bank, Zambia airways etc