By NATION REPORTER
FORMER President Edgar Lungu has expressed optimism that there could be improvements in the mining sector if what Zambians are hearing about Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) could be comprehensively implemented.
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And former President Lungu has cautioned that things may get worse in 2024 as he believes the UPND will cling on to power and subsequently win a new mandate in 2026.
Former President Lungu says the hope of improvements in the mining sector would only be achievable if the local suppliers and contractors could be paid and taken on board in the re-opened mining operations.
Former President Lungu also said the foreign exchange situation was what would determine what 2024 would bring to the table for Zambia.
“Debt restructuring and the rhetoric surrounding this matter should be put to closure, otherwise kuwaya waya fye! 2024, nipano tuli (otherwise 2024 will just be a struggle. We are here to witness it,” said former President Lungu.”
“But do not lose hope, Zambians. Like I have said before, God will soon give us a more caring and visionary leadership to take us out of these hardships,” the former head of State said.
Exclusively reviewing the year 2023 and giving a preview the year 2024, former President Lungu said Zambians had a turbulent political and economic 2023 and should brace for even harder political and economic times in 2024.
“It’s been a year of high cost of living, political harassment, persecution, retribution and many political arrests, victimization. In 2024, President Hichilema, using the police and other law enforcement agencies, will arbitrary arrest all those perceived to be opposing him or supporting the opposition.”
“There will be an increase in caderism as he will turn a blind eye to those die-hard UPND ruffians who think they have not been recognised or rewarded sufficiently. His (President Hichilema) remarks that UPND youths are free to trade in markets is a harbinger of the reintroduction of new levels of caderism in markets and bus stops. Signs are already there. A rise in caderism is on the horizon,” former President Lungu said.
The former head of State, however, urged Zambians to unite in the face of the anticipated hardships next year, saying: “This is important to do because it is not about the opposition politics, it is about Zambia.
And asked for his views on the fight against corruption by the new dawn administration in the year 2024, former President Lungu said: “The fight against corruption will be scaled up against political opponents and a few selected businessesmen perceived to be competing with or to be a threat to President Hichilema’s businesses or those of his associates.”
On the anticipated high cost of living for the year 2024, former president Lungu said: “The cost of living will reach such levels that katwishi mwandini abantu ifyo chikaba (I don’t know how people will react). Kaya! (I don’t know!). The panacea to this lies in introducing subsidies in some key sectors of the economy, including mealie meal for a while. Unfortunately, the coffers have been leaked dry!”
On the performance of the agriculture sector in the coming year, former President Lungu said: “Forget about agriculture in 2024. In the last three farming seasons, it has been a mess and it shall be worse next farming season and hunger will, therefore, reach unprecedented levels and so will poverty generally. During our time, these people (UPND) said PF meant Paya Farmer (kill the farmer). But our farmers never shared fertiliser in medas and plates. We had enough fertilisers, which was delivered in time. No wonder we used to have those bumper harvests.
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