M’membe calls for urgent action on rising poverty, alleged worsening mental health of citizens

Socialist Party leader, Dr. Fred M’membe, has called on President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration to urgently tackle the alleged cases of suicide among teachers and other civil servants struggling with debt.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, M’membe expressed concern that financial pressures, coupled with stress, anxiety, and depression, were severely affecting the mental health of public workers.

He alleged that some teachers were resorting to suicide due to their inability to repay loans from various lending institutions.

“The country is losing more people every day because of the high cost of living, hypertension, and in extreme cases, suicide—all of which are caused by stress,” M’membe said.

He described his visits to communities across the country as heartbreaking, stating that he had encountered widespread grief, sadness, and desperation due to the rising cost of living.

“Words fail me to best describe the level of grief, sadness, anger, and hunger I have come across during my visits to households and communities,” he said.

M’membe added that the economic challenges were taking a severe toll on families, with many unable to afford basic necessities like food, rent, and transport.

He noted that the economic crisis was not just a financial issue but a public health emergency comparable to a pandemic.

M’membe warned that the inability to meet daily needs was exacerbating mental and physical health issues, causing families to break under the strain.

“Blood pressures are rising exponentially with the cost of living. Far too many people in the country today can barely afford one or two meals a day,” M’membe said.

He urged the government to prioritise addressing these issues, describing the current levels of poverty, hunger, and despair as unprecedented and devastating.

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