By OLIVER SAMBOKO
SOME youths in Lusaka have pleaded with President Hakainde Hichilema to fix the high cost of living in the country as he promised during his time in opposition.
The youths spoken to by the Daily Nation in Zingalume, said while they appreciated that the new dawn government had relatively managed to stop confusions in markets and bus stations, but that alone is not enough as citizens expect the Hichilema government to do more to end poverty.
Speaking on behalf of other youths, Kasupe Youths Alliance interim chairperson Naomy Chibuye said now that the UPND government has settled down and are now implementing their own budget, they should come up with practical solutions aimed at ending poverty through job creation and empowerment programmes.
She said failure by the UPND to honor its 2021 election campaign promises, the youths in the country will have no other options but to replace the new dawn government with a political party with practical solutions to the current challenges facing the country.
She reminded the UPND that their victory was largely attributed to the massive protest vote against the PF from the youth who desperately needed jobs, access to free and affordable education.
Ms Chibuye observed that despite the much talked about enhanced CDF and other empowerment programmes put in place by the new dawn government, many youths in the country have continued to live below the poverty datum line because of the harsh conditions attached to the same.
“We have heard the President talk about his determination to steer the country away from poverty, but the reality on the ground is the opposite because poverty is increasing by the day obviously because of the high cost of living,” she said.
