MMD TO TRANSFORM ZAMBIA INTO DEVELOPED NATION USING TEN POINT MASTER PLAN – NEVERS MUMBA Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Presidential candidate Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba has unveiled his vision for Zambia in what he is calling the “The MMD Back In Government 10 Point Master Plan” detailing areas of immediate attention once voted into power on 20th January, 2015. This was on Monday 5th January 2015 at the Southern Sun Hotel during the Post Newspaper Press Freedom Committee discussion patronized by members of the press and members of the public. Dr Mumba said that the New Hope MMD, with its new slogan ‘The Hour for New Hope’ was seeking a fresh mandate from the people of Zambia to restore the country back to the path of prosperity and progress it left 3 years ago after their ill-fated experiment with the PF Government. In his preamble, he said that MMD is the only democratic party with a clear economic ideology anchored on private sector-driven, free market policies which helped jumpstart and transform Zambia from the depths of economic collapse and decline in 1991 to increased prosperity and enviable economic growth. Dr Mumba said that the MMD inherited a $3 billion economy and left it at $20 billion economy when it peacefully handed over power to the PF Government in 2011. He said that the new MMD shall be honest and truthful with the Zambian people, not making vague or false promises designed to hoodwink them as has happened with the current government. He said he would not promise things the country cannot deliver. Dr Mumba then proceeded to outline the Ten Point Master Plan. On the economy, Dr. Mumba explained that the New MMD government shall immediately revert to clear, stable and predictable economic policies to mitigate these negative effects and restore confidence and stability and shall transform the existing hostile business environment to an Investor-friendly and pro-business one. One of his first and most urgent priorities will be to review the entire Tax Regime which he said is an obstacle to business which stifles growth and therefore limits job creation. The current Corporate Tax at 35% is the 5th highest in the whole world while the African average is 28%, Europe 20%, South America 27% and Asia 22%. “Our high rates contribute to tax evasion and tax avoidance across the entire business spectrum. The new MMD shall review and overhaul the entire tax regime with a view to reduce all taxes over a five to ten year period. We shall work to bring Corporation Tax in line with the African average at a minimum, as we commit to systematically broadening the tax base so as to stimulate economic growth.” On Agriculture, Dr Mumba said that the vision of the New MMD is to make the Agricultural sector a core part of the engine of rapid economic growth, employment and empowerment for rural communities. He said he would shall transform Zambia to be the bread basket of the region and the rest of the world. He said the role of the FRA will be clearly defined to only concern itself with its original purpose of ensuring that food reserves are secured for national consumption. Dr. Mumba announced that he shall reorganize the Cooperative Movement to use it as the vehicle for allowing the private sector drive entire timely supply of farming inputs, collection and storage of produce in an efficient manner and Government will only intervene when necessary. The focus will be to leave the private sector to drive agricultural and Government’s role will be having clear policy framework to support the farming community. The Government will allow the private sector drive the construction of storage facilities new areas of produce to create efficiency. In a landmark proposal, Dr. Mumba said that the New Hope MMD Government shall allow the entire farming community to import all agricultural equipment and agricultural inputs duty free for 2 years. This shall result in an upsurge in productivity which will jump-start agriculture and attract value-addition processing.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 23:14:11 +0000