SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN NEEDED – NEVERS

By Lumbiwe Mwanza

THE Government should consider short-term measures as it is working on implementing long-term strategies aimed at reducing the cost of living, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Nevers Mumba has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Dr. Mumba, who is also former vice president, said that as the Government was striving to manage the country’s economy by restructuring the existing debt, short-term measures of increasing production should be put in place.

He said that increasing production using short-term economic options will help cushion the economic challenges.

“Our hearts go out to all Zambians facing economic hardships. The Government should speed up the process of ensuring that production exceeds consumption amidst efforts of managing huge levels of debt. It is only at that point when the long term measures being put in place start yielding positive results that citizens will feel the positive change but currently the citizens’ uproar over high cost of living will need an answer,” Dr. Mumba said.

He said that the Government’s response to the existing economic challenges was commendable but needed a backup of short-term measures.

“It is incumbent upon the Government to take the needed risks to ensure that Zambians are able to afford the basic commodities,” he said.

He explained that implementing economic initiatives in the short-term would help cushion the hardships faced by citizens and ensure that assistance reached the targeted citizens.

He said that implementing a workable short-term Economic Recovery Plan should be focused at empowering more citizens, propelling business and stimulating the economy.

He said that initiatives and measures should be fairly broad-based and well-targeted to help stabilise domestic economic and business conditions as well as enable the economy to recover sustainably.