Sata’s speech to parley did not respond to people’s needs – SACCORD

The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has observed that President Michael Sata’s Friday speech to Parliament has not responded to the immediate and long term needs of the people of Zambia.

Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says the Zambian people have been very consistent with regards the issues they think need to be addressed with urgency.

Mr. Cheembe says while SACCORD commends President Sata for meeting his obligation to address the house, in his speech the President failed to give direction to the constitution making process.

Mr. Cheembe has told Qfm news in a statement that his organization is of the view that the Head of the State has also failed to provide clear direction on the promotion and protection of human rights in the country besides failing to provide direction on how to address youth unemployment.

He says SACCORD would wanted to hear from the President to indicate how such issues would be addressed considering that 2015 is the only year the Patriotic Front (PF) as a government have to implement its manifesto as well as meet the many promises that the party made to Zambians.

And Mr. Cheembe states that while his organization takes note of President Sata’s pronouncements with regards to increasing the bed spaces at three higher learning institutions namely University of Zambia, Copperbelt University and Mulungushi University, including the construction of new health training centres at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital and Senanga district, the lack of a human resource development program for current and new institutions might only go to work against these efforts.

He says SACCORD particularly commends the President for his clear direction on decentralization, industrialization through Industrial Development Corporation (INDECO) and his desire to see more women and children being protected in the country.

The SACCORD Executive Director adds that his organization we would like to see President Sata to guide on how financial abuses recorded in the Auditor General’s reports will be addressed in order to safeguard public resources.