Failure to arrest Kwacha deterioration has exposed UPND incompetence – PF

THE rate at which the Kwacha is deteriorating after being ranked the best performing currency just a few months ago has not only exposed the propaganda and campaign lies of the UPND government, but has also exposed its weak economic fundamentals and incompetence to manage the country, the Patriotic Front (PF) has said

Munalula Moola, the PF Copperbelt media director says the UPND government has lamentably failed to run the country’s economy because its campaign messages and promises were largely anchored on lies and propaganda.

In an interview in Kitwe at the weekend, Mr Moola said the failure to run the country as promised during the campaigns ahead of the August 12, 2021 elections was a clear indication that no government can manage its country’s economy with propaganda because the weak fundamentals will be exposed by the exchange rates.

“The UPND used all sorts of propaganda during the campaigns and because of the same propaganda, Zambians listened to them and voted for them. Unfortunately, after being voted into government, it is now more than one year, six months, they are still waffling.”

“I can tell you that you cannot manage the economy with propaganda. In fact, you can engage in all the propaganda, you want, but if the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rates will expose you. UPND promised Zambians that after winning elections, the Kwacha will appreciate against the United States dollar, but what is happening today? We are yet to see,’’ Mr Moola said

Mr Moola said, in an open economy with market determination of prices, exchange rates movements were the most important indicators of the underline macro-economy fundamentals.

Mr Moola said the failure by the UPND to lay a firm foundation for poverty alleviation and food security was a clear indication that the ruling party has no discernible plan to improve people’s lives

“The problem with the UPND is that it has no plan of poverty alleviation and food security, apart from cooperatives. This is why every time they have a meeting the topic is PF,” he said.

 No, take it easy, you bragged to be wise and intelligent, but you have not showed us anything apart from political witch-hunt and persecution.

“As PF, we have continued to remind President Hakainde Hichilema to honour his election campaign promises, he needs to honour his words. But every time we remind him to honour his promises, his henchmen or is it praise singers jump to his defence,’’ he said

He said the majority of Zambians were living in worsening poverty and hunger in communities because of the escalating prices of mealie meal and other foodstuffs.

“From the time the UPND formed government , the lives of the majority poverty-stricken Zambians has continued to worsen because the cost of mealie meal too high , let alone other food stuffs such as Fish, Chicken, Meat and even vegetables,” Mr Moola said