• We need to reboot the economy under the new normal.
• Stop Procurement of fuel as government.
• Allow farmers to export maize to neighboring countries.

A Political Party has observed the need to reboot the country’s economy under the framework of the new normal by taking up five key achievable strategic measures.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President Felix Mutati said there is need for government to come up with a sustainable solution to the persistent fuel shortages by not constructing taxations to follow transactions but have taxations to deal with the business environment in the fuel sector.
Mr. Mutati stated that in order to address the fuel shortages, government must also stop the procurement of fuel but leave it to the private sector to do so while its role must be limited to policing, licensing and regulation.
“Over the last few days and weeks we have been experiencing a shortage of fuel in various parts of Zambia. We need to construct a sustainable solution to this issue and my advice is that do not construct taxation to follow transaction, construct taxation to deal with the business environment in the fuel sector. Stop the procurement of fuel as government and let the private sector be responsible to buy.”
“In most of our neighboring countries, governments don’t procure fuel but the private sector does and the prices are competitive. If you leave it to the private sector, they will do a decent job,” Mr Mutati said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mutati advised government to allow maize exports to the neighboring countries in order for farmers to earn Foreign Exchange to sustain their livelihood.
“In the Agriculture sector, there are things that we can do immediately, the things that we need to do is to allow that farmer in Chipata to be able to sale his or her maize in Malawi in order for him to get that dollar to feed his family. Exports should not be about selective issuance of permits. The focus of government should be productivity and not the issuance of export permits, allow the people to make money too,” he stated.
He further urged government to avoid borrowing for infrastructure development as part of the rebooting process.