Government Shifts Focus To Delivering Growth For Ordinary Zambians

The United Party for National Development Government is preparing to shift its focus from stabilising Zambia’s economy to ensuring that ordinary citizens feel meaningful growth in their pockets, Moomba Member of Parliament Fred Chaatila has said. An economist by training, the…

The United Party for National Development Government is preparing to shift its focus from stabilising Zambia’s economy to ensuring that ordinary citizens feel meaningful growth in their pockets, Moomba Member of Parliament Fred Chaatila has said.

An economist by training, the lawmaker said the second-term agenda would centre on accelerating economic activity, creating decent jobs and raising household incomes through increased investment in productive sectors.

He tied this directly to the Grow Zambia Agenda, President Hakainde Hichilema’s framework for expanding economic opportunities, saying it would ensure that gains recorded during the first term translate into tangible improvements for ordinary Zambians.

Greater emphasis would be placed on sectors capable of creating employment and generating wealth, particularly agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and small and medium-sized enterprises, the Moomba MP added.

The first term’s economic stabilisation, he argued, had laid a foundation on which a more productive and inclusive economy could now be built.

“The focus now should be on making sure that ordinary citizens begin feeling the economic gains that have been recorded,” he said.

Growth should not be measured merely by macroeconomic indicators, according to the lawmaker, but should result in increased investment, more employment opportunities, improved household incomes and better public services.

Agriculture, he noted, remained critical to the country’s economic transformation because of its potential to create jobs, enhance food production and provide income opportunities for millions of citizens.

Mining and manufacturing were also singled out as key drivers of expansion, with increased activity in both sectors expected to stimulate value addition, investment and employment.

The renewed mandate given to the ruling party, Mr Chaatila said, offered an opportunity to consolidate progress made during the first term while addressing the economic challenges still affecting ordinary Zambians.

He said the second term should therefore be defined by greater productivity, increased investment and inclusive development.

Zambians were urged to support initiatives aimed at growing the economy, with the lawmaker stressing that sustainable development could only be achieved through cooperation among Government, the private sector and citizens.

A growing economy, he added, required collective responsibility: Government creating the right policy environment, businesses investing, and citizens participating productively in economic activities.

The ultimate measure of economic success, Mr Chaatila concluded, should be improved living standards, particularly through better incomes, employment opportunities and access to quality public services.

The country now had an opportunity to build on the foundation laid during the first term, turning it into broader prosperity for Zambians.

The next stage of scrutiny for Government will be whether the productivity and job-creation targets outlined translate into measurable improvements in household incomes over the coming months.