Three more chiefs in Muchinga back removal of subsidies

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Three more chiefs in Muchinga back removal of subsidies

 

Mpika, June 3, 2013, ZANIS —  As the nationwide debate on government’s removal of subsidies
on fuel and maize rages on,  three traditional rulers in Mpika District of Muchinga Province have added their voices in supporting the removal of subsidies.

 

 

And Chief Kopa said the Government should go flat out to explain to the people why it has decided to remove the subsidies.

 

 

And Muchinga Province Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda has assured the three chiefs that Government is working on new mechanisms to replace the subsidy policy that will directly trickle down to the ordinary Zambians.

 

 

The three chiefs  told the provincial minister Colonel Gerry Chanda that the removal of subsidies by the government on fuel and maize is long overdue.

 

The trio are, Chief Mukungule, Chief Chikwanda and Senior Chief Kopa.

ZANIS reports that the traditional rulers made the pronouncements when Muchinga Province Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda paid a courtesy call on each one of him at their respective palaces over the weekend.

 

The three chiefs have increased the number of traditional rulers in Muchinga Province supporting the removal of subsidies to five after Chieftainess Nawaitwika of the Namwanga people of Nakonde and Chief Katyetye of the Tambo people of Isoka commended the Government for the bold decision taken to remove the subsidies.

Chief Mukungule said he had never supported the subsidies on fuel and maize.

The traditional leader  added that the two subsidies had no impact on the lives of the poor majority in the rural areas.

He said that the subsidies had only benefited the few rich people who had become richer while the poor became poorer.

 

Chief Chikwanda said that the money saved from removal of subsidies should be channelled to infrastructure development in the country more especially in rural areas.

 

And Chief Kopa said the Government should go flat out to explain to the people why it has decided to remove the subsidies.

The chiefs said they have already started explaining the benefits of removing subsidies on the two products to their subjects so that they are not mislead.

 

They charged that the well-intended subsidies policy meant to benefit the poorest of the poor was prone to a lot of corrupt activities by the past administrations entrusted to handle subsidies because the policy had no time limit.

 

The traditional rulers said the implementation of subsidies was abused by the rich adding that the middleman benefited more than the common man.

 

They said Government should ensure that sectors such as the pointed out some of developmental road infrastructure development, health and education among others, received more money after the removal of the subsidies.

 

And Muchinga Province Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda has assured the three chiefs that Government is working on new mechanisms to replace the subsidy policy that will directly trickle down to the ordinary
Zambians.

 

He said the PF Government promised to look after the welfare of Zambians regardless of their political affiliations and this move is one among other ways of trying to harmonize the economy of the nation.

 

The minister added that removal of subsidies on maize and fuel is a bitter pill to swallow now but that it will be appreciated by all  citizens once they fully understand the concept behind it and begin to
see the benefits.

 

Colonel Chanda said there is no pride in hand-outs therefore Zambia cannot continue to depend on other countries to develop the country while colossal sums of money is spent on subsidizing maize and fuel which is only benefiting the already well to do people.

 

The minister cited the Social Cash Transfer scheme currently on pilot in some districts in the country as one of the schemes that the Government will scale up and ensure that it is spread to all the
districts.

 

Government recently removed subsidies on fuel and maize so as to channel the resources saved to infrastructure development.

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