By CLAVER MUTINTA
DEPUTY Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Richwell Siamunene says the removal of fuel and maize subsidies is meant to create prosperity and not to injure the people of Zambia.
The removal of subsidies on fuel and maize has attracted mixed reactions from some interest groups, including the international community.
Mr Siamunene said in an interview in Lusaka on Wednesday that the government has created a situation where all sectors of economy are allocated resources to help them to expand.
“The removal of subsidies is not meant to injure the people of Zambia, it is intended that we must create a prosperous Zambia. How do we do that?
We should make sure that we make difficult decisions and focus on whatever business venture we start,” he said.
During the UNIP regime, the economy of Zambia almost collapsed because of subsidies which were applied at the expense of financing capital projects, he said.
He said a country can only generate more money if other infrastructure is developed.
Mr Siamunene said for the economy to continue developing, government should do something extraordinary, instead of continuing to spend money where there are no benefits.
“In rural areas, people don’t buy mealie-meal… they have hammer mills. Why can’t we take the money to rural areas and buy hammermills so that rural dwellers can also benefit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Siamunene said the government has bought 200 hybrid goats from Namibia to enhance local dwarf breed in Sinazongwe.
He said when the local goat breed is enhanced, high value animals will be produced.
“This is an activity that we appreciate in Sinazongwe and we are happy that the government has come to our aid. Traders will buy the goats from Kanchindu breeding centre in Sinazongwe,” he said.
Mr Siamunene, who is expelled UPND member of Parliament for Sinazongwe, said most people trading in goats especially in Kasumbalesa are buying the animals from the Gwembe valley.
He said climatic conditions in Gwembe valley are favourable for goat rearing, adding that the government did well to take the initiative to boost goat breeding in the area.
“Government has realised that to do something meaningful, we should not import ideas or economic activities and impose them on the people.
They [government] looked at what people are currently doing. We are rearing goats in the Gwembe valley, particularly in Sinazongwe,” he said.
Mr Siamunene said such economic activity will create employment opportunities in Sinazongwe.
And Mr Siamunene said Sinazongwe has a lot of tourism potential which has not been fully exploited for the benefit of the people.
He said the ongoing construction of the Bottom road and other roads will help the corporate world and individuals to have access to tourist attractions and invest in them.
“Once the Bottom road is done, some people will stop using the main road. They can use the Bottom road and see Lake Kariba and other natural tourist sites within the Gwembe valley,” Mr Siamunene said.
He said when rural areas like Sinazongwe are developed, urban dwellers will migrate in search of employment opportunities.
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