MUNDUBILE IS CAMPAIGNING WITH DANGEROUS ECONOMICS - MUSOKOTWANE

Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane has launched a stinging attack on NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, accusing him of campaigning with ideas that could drive Zambia's economy into serious trouble.

The attack comes after Mundubile questioned why the UPND government has built foreign exchange reserves to a record US$6.5 billion, arguing that the money should instead be spent on improving people's lives. He also suggested that low inflation means little when ordinary citizens are still struggling.

But Musokotwane says that thinking is not just wrong - it is dangerous.

According to the former  Finance and National Planning Minister, dismissing inflation and foreign exchange reserves is like a doctor telling patients that blood pressure, body temperature and blood sugar readings do not matter.

"You can't run a country without understanding these basics," he argued.

Musokotwane explained that foreign exchange reserves are like Zambia's emergency savings account. They help the country buy fuel, medicine and other imports, pay foreign debts on time and protect the Kwacha when global markets become rough.

He pointed to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, saying many countries are now struggling to import fuel because they do not have enough foreign currency. Zambia, he said, has managed to avoid major shortages because it has built strong reserves.

The minister also reminded voters that the Kwacha had weakened to above K22 per US dollar before the 2021 elections, blaming poor economic management by the previous administration. He warned that if Zambia followed Mundubile's suggestion of quickly spending the reserves, the dollar could shoot as high as K40.

He further questioned the quality of advisers surrounding the opposition leader, saying no serious economic team would allow a presidential candidate to dismiss inflation and foreign exchange reserves so casually.

JUST TO UNLOCK YOUR MIND

Brian Mundubile's campaign has developed a pattern. He starts with a crowd-pleasing promise... then economists start scratching their heads. First it was eight bags of fertiliser for every farmer. Then it was saying foreign exchange reserves don't matter. Now the Finance Minister is basically saying, "Ba mudala, that's not how an economy works." Politics can survive on slogans. An economy cannot.

Managing a country is different from managing a campaign rally. At a rally, applause is enough. In government, numbers don't clap they either balance or they don't.

That is why economists are increasingly asking whether some of Mundubile's promises are based on solid homework... or whether they are simply campaign sugar meant to sound sweet until election day.

[Brave Heart News | UnlockingMinds]