STATE OF THE NATION IN 2017 AND HOW WE MARCH FORWARD TO FIRST WORLD ZAMBIA.

As Movement for National Transformation, MNT, a new political party, officially registered in March, of 2017, we have been busy mobiling our political Party structures on the ground in all provinces steadily, in some cases very fast. Our goal is to launch the party officially next year in April, 2018. Ours is a unique, daring, and compelling agenda to make Zambia a first world advanced economy and aggressively industrialized nation from 2021 and beyond ,not middle -income or third world relative development. Singapore has done it, United Arab Emirates, UAE will be a first world nation by 2021. From 1991, when they become a United States of nations, they have already built over 2000 state of the art universities. Their airline is third best in the world in a desert and water they are constructing quality infrastructure, not third world low quality roads and buildings. This is not utopian thinking. We must dare to think, and be competitive in the global community, and make Zambia proud and free. We must refuse mediocrity of all kinds in all sectors, especially mining, Agriculture, Health, education and tourism. We must leverage our strengths to mitigate our weaknesses in development.

As the year comes to an end in the next few days, there is much to reflect about as a nation, on how we have fared in 2017 to craft a new future in 2018. The battle for Zambia’s transformation continues, both spiritually, ideologically democratically, and economically. For us the nation still lacks in many areas such as the economy, political leadership, media freedoms, equitable implementation of the public order Act, and national vision respectively.

The beginning of the year saw a hostile environment, perpetuated by dictatorial tendencies of government against Opposition political Parties. We are happy to see a reasonable toning down of abuses of constitutional freedoms of expression, assembly, and association, as we have seen oposition parties renewing party registration, Mobilisation and organization in a peaceful, rather than hostile, and acrimonious environment. Our democracy must be contextualised and matured to be a civilized nation that is first world.

The current economic status since 2011, has continued in a turbulent stressful state, that has left many families starving, and broke without disposable income. This was exacerbated by the wage freeze, and work freeze. Whereas, the earning capacity of Citizens has not increased, but on the other hand various taxes have increased in both hidden, and direct taxes. This is the worst economic program we have had in the last 10 years, where rural poverty in some cases is above 70 %. In peri – urban areas it is above 50 %. Many families are jobless especially the young people graduating from various colleges and universities. The contradictory projections between the IMF and World Bank regarding the state of our economy and it’s growth only gives us a macro-economic picture that is statistical, hand to mouth policies of “hand bag “economics failing to practically mitigate real benefits of our populace and Citizenry. This if not corrected, will be the worst legacy of macro-economic policy, and strategic initiatives of any Minister of Finance to propel us to desired development. We must take the nation to economic growth, and dominance, not recovery from the current undisclosed decline. You do not recover unless you are down plain simple. Bank of Zambia has meanwhile tried to maintain the Kwacha dollars rate inflationary management. Real stability is hopeful, but not guaranteed.

The trajectory aforementioned, is leading us to a tedious, illusive, foggy, meandering road towards a vision 2030, as embedded in the Seventh National Development Plan, SNDP for a middle income country. This is a Wrong path, and bench mark as it is only a minimum, not ultimate goal for any nation. The UN externally driven sustainable development goals, were not only given to Zambia, even if decorated in the seventh National Development Plan. They were not designed to be maximum goals, but only minimums, for backward third world poor nations.

The weak- willed PF led government to fight corruption has paid either utter silence, or recent lip service to the much needed curbing and arresting of the vice. There is neither political will nor credible leadership to fight corruption. Those who seem to be champions of fighting corruption, while they were part of the same team of government, must not be deemed saints. The difference is the same. They should have resigned from the perceived corruption before championing the cause to fight the alleged corruption after they were fired.

Those who seem to be rabble rousers of the perceived corruption in various road construction, fire tenders, and as revealed in the Auditor General’s reports, all points to one thing only, that the PF has indulged in the vice and tolerated it. You cannot fight what you tolerate. For the President today to announce his resolve to fight corruption, is rather too late a proposition to the angry Zambians who have waited for answers to no avail. As MNT, we have a zero tolerance constitutional approach to corruption, through legal frameworks, independent ACC and integrity and ethics committees within the Civil service.

As Movement for National Transformation, MNT, our ideology and vision is to make Zambia the best country, which is FIRST WORLD ZAMBIA. This simply put, means development of an advanced economy, and aggressively industrialized nation to create decent jobs, and increase exports through manufacturing. We envisage increased productivity with our industrialisation agenda for transformation. Those who are now copying and quoting us after reading our constitution, and listening to various media interviews, have become the choir and we are now the conductor of authentic transformation. First world Zambia ideology and vision is an ultimate, not relative development plan and agenda, that cannot be compromised or we shall remain a backward third world poor nation as the rest of Africa, howbeit relative achievements of various countries. We appeal to all our youths, working class, and all Citizens to refuse the status of middle income nation agenda, as we 53 years after independence cannot pander to piece- meal development, or relative development. We want the best, and ultimate development which is first world nation status.

We must state it in no uncertain terms that, transformation cannot be attained through re-cycled politicians. We must in 2021, retire all those who have served at least two terms in parliament, and as presidential candidates whether from the opposition or the ruling parties, respectively.

As you plan your Industrial break, let us reflect on what our contribution will be to make Zambia the best first world nation in Africa, and in the SADC region. I call upon you to consider joining the movement for national transformation, MNT to make Zambia a first world nation by inboxing us your details. This will advance a diversified economy in mining, Agriculture, tourism, education and health, respectively.

As a nation, we must not vote on tribal, regional, or sentimental basis, which has not worked up to now since independence. Those who advance such politics, are outdated in 21st Century transformative leadership, and politics. Zambia needs a fresh vision, start, with fresh brains, mature democratic leadership, and visionary first world ideas to foster innovative thinking in military, policing, cyber, science and technology, and other information based new global trends. I wish you ALL a truly prosperous, and happy new year as we work together to make Zambia a first world nation in 2021 and beyond.

Issued by:
Daniel Mvula Shimunza

Your Founding President
Movement for National Transformation

First World Nation Ideology.