Focus on the poor: Zambia's Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection urges Dr. Scott

Amidst a succession struggle in Zambia’s ruling Patriotric Front (PF) party ahead of a Presidential by-election scheduled for 20 January 2015, the Catholic Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection  (JCTR), Copperbelt branch, has urged acting President Dr. Guy Scott and leader of government business in Parliament to remain focused on poverty alleviation in the country.

According to a report carried by Zambia’s Post newspaper, today, JCTR provincial media and information officer, Tendai Posiana, expressed fear that programmes aimed at poverty reduction could be distracted by political agenda as the country prepares for the January 20, 2015 presidential by-election.

“We would like to urge Dr Guy Scott to remain focused and resolute  on poverty reduction in the country. He should not be distracted by  political agenda,” Posiana stated. She said the November Food and Basic Needs basket survey for a family of five in the towns of Kitwe, Luanshya, Mansa, Ndola and Solwezi had increased.

 “As 2014 draws to a close, statistics on the Basic Needs Basket survey for November 2014 released by JCTR, indicated increased cost of living by an average of K642.25  (about US$13) in the five provincial towns covered,” Posiana said.

 “As members of parliament continue debating the national budget for 2015, there is need for the Patriotic Front government to ease the poverty burden on households which is measured at 60 per cent,” she said. Posiana also challenged the government to mitigate household income inadequacies by increasing support to the social sectors, saying mealie-meal prices were beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

Source: The Post newspaper

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