Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has urged President Edgar Lungu to use his State of the Nation address this Friday to inspire hope in the people that better days are ahead.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe in a statement notes that the State of the Nation is weak, and that as the President opens Parliament, it is expected that issues pertaining to the economy, energy crisis, the constitution and the mining industry will be comprehensively addressed.
Mr Cheembe says SACCORD expects the President to be comprehensive in addressing the issue of load shedding in terms of solutions to mitigating the crisis, but also the future outlook that seek to prevent the country from experiencing such an energy crisis.
He says it is hoped that the President will rise above board and move away from negative energy by comparing the country’s crisis to other countries in the region that do not have similar energy potential to Zambia.
Mr Cheembe says President Lungu is expected to give practical measures to diversify the energy sector in the country in the short, medium and long-term.
He says on the economic front, it is expected that President Lungu will provide guidance on how the country will diversify its economy in the shortest possible time.
He adds that it is hoped that diversification of the economy will also aggressively address employment creation in the country which is struggling with severe youth unemployment.
Mr Cheembe further states that it is also expected that President Lungu will inform the nation on plans that the Government has to reduce on the costly international travels with entourages that gobble a lot of resources for a struggling economy like Zambia’s.
He adds that President Lungu is expected to offer attractive incentives to the mining companies through constructive dialogue as opposed to adopting a policy of intimidation and directives to companies that are facing economic hardship.
He notes that such a policy will only seek to chase away investors to the detriment of the nation.
On the constitution making process, Mr Cheembe says the President should consider holding a referendum to enact a new constitution before the 2016 tripartite elections and thereby provide confidence in stakeholders once again in this process.
He says the piecemeal proposal to enact the constitution through Parliament risks jeopardizing the people’s wish as there is no guarantee that Parliament will uphold all the submissions of the people before the Technical Committee.