STATEMENT ON THE BLACK FRIDAY CAMPAIGN ISSUED ON FRIDAY, 30TH AUGUST, 2013 ISSUED AT FODEP HOUSE BY INTERIM CHAIRPERSON, MCDONALD CHIPENZI. (Presented to Northern Region By Phillimon Phiri - President for the Forum for AGE Justice International) Dear colleagues, This day marks now four (4) months since a consortium of civil society organisations declared Black Friday Campaign necessitated by Government’s unilateral removal of subsidies from fuel and agricultural products in May 2013. A number of developments have happened since then and among them is the CSOs’ attempt to seek dialogue with the Republican President. Our letter to him has not been responded to more than a month since we wrote to him and delivered it at State House. We don’t know whether this is a way of snubbing those of us who are trying to promote dialogue as a way of resolving contentious issues in the country. You also recall that after the attack on us on 31st May, 2013 at BIGOCA in Matero Township by the PF cadres and the consequent court process, the consortium’s activities seemed to have subsided to give room to members to prepare themselves for the court process. The court process ended on July 25, 2013 after an apology from the accused, one Mr. Heita Bwalya, to the attacked. Today, we have convened here to outline the next strategy in our Black Friday Campaign activities and recount the impact of the removal of the subsidies on fuel and agricultural products on the economy and lives of the ordinary but poor Zambians. To this effect we make the following observations: 1. Government has not disclosed how much savings have been raised from the removal of subsidies on fuel and agricultural products since May 2013; 2. Government has not disclosed how many schools, hospitals, clinics that have been constructed or about to be constructed out of the savings from subsidies as promised at the time of removal; 3. The previous administration managed to build schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure and further established fuel price parity across the country with subsidies in place; 4. Government has not come up with any tangible interventions to cushion the impact of the removal of subsidies on fuel and agricultural products on the poor. We then ask ourselves a question where are the savings raised from the removal of subsidies since government has not disclosed the amount raised and what it has been used for. In this regard, we tend to agree with Hon. Robert Sichinga, the Minister of Agricultural and Livestock who at one time argued that there were no savings out of the removal of agricultural products but that the so called savings would be channeled towards the purchase of maize during this year’s marketing season because government had no enough money to purchase the crop and that it could not borrow from the banks due to its indebtedness. Since the removal of subsidies in May 2013, we have, however, seen an upward trend in commodity prices consequently affecting the poor Zambians who constitute 68% of the population. As we talk today, the cost of a 50Kg bag of Cement is at ZMK80 leading to bidders in the construction industry raising their bids. This has raised the cost of construction be it a road, house or anything in Zambia and the poor are now failing to upgrade their homes as construction materials such as iron sheets and cements is unaffordable. Mealie meal prices is hovering in the same range in most rural parts of the country, though in the newly created Sikongo District, mealie meal is at ZMK90/25kg breakfast making Nshima, a staple meal to the 68% poor of the population, unaffordable. Notwithstanding the cost of foodstuff and basic essentials such as kapenta, beans, cook oil, soap transport costs, the standard of living in the country in general has become unbearable. These costs are skyrocketing without any measures being put in place by government to reduce the sufferings of the poor despite government spending a staggering amount of ZMKR44m on unnecessary by-elections this year alone and continue to support one of Africa’s huge “Cabinet” in the recent times after Kenya’s unity government a few years ago. To this end, we demand government’s disclosure of how much savings have been raised from the removal of subsidies and what it has been used for? As a follow-up, we will be seeking an audience with the Ministry of Finance to seek information on this matter because the Zambia people have been waiting to hear how productive their sacrifice is. Another concern is the constitution making process which has dragged on longer than necessary with no definite timelines put in place by either the government or the Technical Committee Drafting the new Constitution. The process has been left to the mercy of those charged with the responsibility to draft it. This uncertainty in the completion of the drafting of the new constitution is not only a drain on national resources but also affects planning of government and other stakeholders. The insistence by the government to proceed with the registration of NGOs under the bogus NGO Act No. 16 of 2009 is a shame to say the least especially from a government and party that promised people in general and NGOs in particular through the embedment of this promise in their party manifest on page 49 bullet no. 4 to review the NGO Act once assuming power. It is for this reason that we reject the NGO registration process currently underway and spearheaded by the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health (MoCDMC). This consortium will explore any means possible and join hands with likeminded NGOs in finding mechanisms to make the NGO registration process flop or stop it altogether. Finally, with the guidance from the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) on the illegality of the continued stay of the Acting Chief Justice, we are of the view that the concerned person steps aside with immediate effect to pave way for the appointment of a qualified person to assume the responsibility of the highest office of justice in Zambia. Therefore, apart from the removal of subsidies and other issues of governance in general, as black Friday campaigners, we urge members of the public and likeminded stakeholders to put black attires every Friday to press for: 1. The release of the figures on how much savings have been raised from the removal of fuel an agricultural products subsidies since May 2013 and what they have been used for; 2. The simultaneous submission of the final Draft Constitution by the Technical Committee by 30th September, 2013 to the Republican President and the general public as promised; 3. An Immediate review of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009 and the immediate suspension of the so called registration process of NGOs under this infamous NGO Act which has been rejected not only by NGOs but the PF as a political party whilst in opposition; 4. The stepping aside or removal, whichever case is applicable, of the Acting Chief Justice now that LAZ has guided the nation on the matter regarding her continued occupancy of her office; With the foregoing, we continue to be encouraged to forge ahead undeterred in our resolve to spread the campaign until our demands are met. . Unless we see serious movement on the above demands from those responsible, Black Friday Campaign continues unabated in Zambia. To this end, we shall continue to sensitise our constituencies in this “Coalition of the willing” across the country using various outreach strategies including door-to-door campaign to disseminate our demands. Regards
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 11:22:47 +0000
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