“Let us build Zambian opportunities,” pleads UPPZ’s Charles Chanda
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By Derrick Sinjela and Theresa Kalenga in Lusaka, Zambia
UNITED Prosperous and Peaceful (UPPZ) leader Charles Chanda is urging President Hakainde Hichilema to dialogue with him as mining can resolve Zambia’s teething unemployment, income inequality and high poverty, a tripartite woe that has not soared young people.
Offering to complement government effort, in a Monday 30th August 2021 Online Facebook Media Engagement themed: ‘Let Us Arise and Take Investment Setiously’, Mr. Chanda argued that ‘Bally’ alone cannot fix the vulnerability confronting the Zambian people.
An entreprenuer in his own right, President Chanda is pleading with the New Dawn UPND Alliance Government, led by a business peer, Mr. Hichilema to schedule a solution based dialogue which will created 2, 000 jobs overnight.
Advised Chanda:”I have the capacity to run these mines, which enterprise, I have run for three years. These opportunities come once in a blue moon or lifetime, when you miss one, such a chance never comes. Zambian people or the young generation must not waste a lot of resources and time on social media as it cannot put food on the table, pay your rent, buy one a suit for your birthday but will send you 2,000 likes,” advised Chanda.
The UPPZ leader says it is not a good attitude failing to direct people once such a delegation walk on a wrong path.
“If you know the right way that leads to a particular destination, and you see people going on a different direction, it will be very unfortunate once you keep quiet. You need to tell that person to change course and take a right direction,” advised Chanda.
The UPPZ leader emphasised that an urge to motivate a seemingly hopeless community of citizens is what is encouraging him to guide prospective individual participation in emerald mining.
Though, a relatively small investment, Chanda is urging Zambians to cherish such a small beggining.
“You need to be proud of this enterprise as it is one involving indigenous investors, with no single foreign capital being invested in the priceless emerald mines, in the last three years,” Chanda prodded.
Further, Chanda is proud that since inception, the mining enterprise has had no single ngwee or Kwacha being invested, with most being personal income.
The UPPZ leader wondered that if he can single-handedly plough money, in such a venture it is ironic that National Pensions Savings Authority (NAPSA), is failing to emulate him.
Chanda is extremely troubled that though NAPSA collects what he termed free money, it is worrying that once one retires, such individuals are never paid terminal benefits at once.
“If I can do this as an individual, what stops organisations like NAPSA that gets free money, which is supposed to be invested so that when workers retire, such recipients are paid a lump sum? What can stop NAPSA from doing what I am doing, it is just a thought,” noted Chanda.
Preaching co-owners, Chanda is urging parents to to contribute K10, 000 paid in two instalments in a US$10 million mining opening on Wednesday 1st September 2021.
Chanda says each investor had an opportunity to have a child employed in 200 employment openings available.
“We are doing this so as to encourage young people to grow as responsible citizens. The 200 young people will work in weekly shifts of 20 people and earn salaries on their labour. Parents must learn to sacrifice and contribute to employment creation,” advised Chanda
The UPPZ leader argued that if government was or becomes wise, and provided a contribution, in exchange for 1, 000 job opportunities, such a deliberate policy decision would be embraced.
“If government came on board and said to me, Mr. Chanda, here is a list of 1, 000 youths and this is our contribution, I would gladly welcome such a contribution,” said an optimistic UPPZ President.
Added Chanda:”If this is done, young people will become productive. There will be no need for youths to go into markets. We can sort out the teething issue of Jerabos and cadrism.I have four mines and we can solve this problem easily”.
Chanda urged the New Deal UPND Alliance Adminstration to desist from using the police to resolve vending as such action is not a complete solution.
“Do not use the police. You need to sit down with them. These are the same people that voted for you, so do not forcibly remove them through police action. You did not initially use the police, during your quest to get into government,when you were campaigning, you used promises. We had sweet words and these young people were encouraged, when they heard our word, so you can not come now and want to use force. If you do that, God will find a way of fighting for the collective aspirations of these young people, desperately looking for employment and income opportunities. We need to become parents,” said Chanda in an apparent reference to Seventh (7th) Republican President, Mr. Hichilema.
Chanda reiterated that once one assumes a leadership role as a Head of State, dialogue is essential.
In an appparent reference to Inspector General of Police, Mr. Lemmy Kajoba, Chanda argued that his being offered a job is not to address the youth unemployment.
“I am opening my hands, sit down with me. I will give you the things I need, I can assimilate 2, 000 young people. We want a Zambia that opens opportunities, and we can do it as citizens and make Zambia,” said Chanda.