Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:19:04 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
POLITICAL stakeholders should support and debate the aspirations of the Seventh National Development Plan as it is key to citizen’s general welfare, says Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Chimfwembe Mweenge.
Mr. Mweenge said Government was moving in the expected direction and commended the launch of the Seventh National Development Plan saying the basis of politics should be to offer services to people’s needs socially, politically and economically.
He urged all political stakeholders to support the vision of the development plan and hold the Government accountable by offering checks and balances saying the cost of living was still too high.
In an interview the Daily Nation, he said politics should be a uniting factor through progressive ideas and manifestos and that the focus on the past elections was time consuming and unproductive.
“Government is moving in the direction which we expected and we commend them on the launch of the Seventh National Development Plan. We urge political players to rally behind and support this initiative as it is about offering people service, “he said.
The non-governmental organisation urged political parties not to divide the nation but that they channel their energy on development issues.
He commended the sound ideas of NAREP, Party for National Unity (PNU) and Patriots for Economic for Progress and encouraged the ruling Patriotic Front to contemplate on them.
The NGO said that the opposition should make their presence felt by offering sound ideas and reduce on unnecessary politicking.
“I would also like to urge the ruling PF to ponder on sound ideas such as those from NAREP and Patriots for Economic Freedom,” he said.
And Mr. Mweenge has urged the Government to make the content of the Seventh National Development Plan in smaller dossiers and local languages for easy understanding for citizens’ benefit.
President Edgar Lungu launched the Seventh National Development Plan in Lusaka last week.
