By FLAVIOR CHISHALA –
THE Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) has advised opposition political parties in the country to render workable alternative solutions to the depreciation of the Kwacha rather than their continued criticism.
ZUFIAW general secretary Chingati Msiska appealed to the Government to find a long-term solution to the depreciation of the local currency as short-term solutions did not create a major impact. Mr Msiska said the Government and opposition political parties should sit with the labour movement and other stakeholders and find solutions to the current problem.
“We further call upon opposition political parties to give serious alternative measures to the Government as this is neither the time to blame one another nor to have unnecessary differences,” Mr Msiska said.
He said the labour movement had observed with concern the rapid depreciation of the Kwacha against foreign currencies such as the United States dollar, the British pound and the euro. As such the union called on all stakeholders and relevant decision-makers to quickly come up with workable strategies in resolving the matter. Mr Msiska said this during a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday. He said although the economic challenge was a global problem, Zambia was the worst hit country as the cost of living had risento alarming levels.
He said that this had made it difficult for people to lead decent and fulfilling lives.