Africa-Press – Zambia. 1. Kwacha
Detailed explaination of short, medium and long term measures that the government is taking to curtail the continuous depreciating Kwacha. Any deliberate policy?
2. Mines
Plans to boost production next year. Including progress on KCM, MCM with details of agreements and detailed profile of investors especially for MCM in the wake of the enactment of the ATI bill. What’s the deliberate plan for Zambians to own mines to keep dollars in Zambia and invest profits locally to spur job creation/boost spending? Conclusion on Chingola mine accident and measures to avoid such in the future. Any hope for “illegal miners” to get real jobs or improve their working conditions as per campaign promise 2 plus years after ?
3. Drought
Detailed alternative/proactive plans in place in the face of climate change to deal with looming drought which has posed risk both to food security, energy, water plus any other.
4 Tribalism
Message of assurance of government’s commitment to foster unity and peace and strong warning to those pushing tribal agenda for selfish motives. Assurance that opportunities and challenges will be shared equally without any bias including political affiliation i.e. Land Minister Dr. Muchima’s utterances.
5. Foreign/Domestic Policy
An assurance that in 2024 foreign trips will be cut by 75% and focus will be on domestic policy to also cut down on costs. What’s mended is mended what’s not is not. Solutions are in our backyard.
6: Debt restructuring
Clear update on discussions between official and private creditors to reach deal for the long awaited Zambia’s debt restructuring program. Is politics at play ? Is Zambia being used as a pawn in politics between East and West looking at the fact that Zambia has clearly aligned with West while heavily indebted to China which may have angered Beijing? Is it time to change foreign policy to demonstrate non alignment and maybe China won’t mind too much the Comparability of Treatment principle ? Will China trust the move ?
7. Hope
What hope lies ahead in the face of various challenges facing the country, for businesses that are struggling, for the millions of unemployed youths, for the households grappling with the high cost of living, for the local/foreign investors frustrated with the inefficient government systems, for the Zambians dismayed at some politics at play such as perceived government wasting time meddling in PF wrangles, Land Minister’s statement of prioritizing UPND cadres for land, musicians/artists who feel left out when a small group of musicians are given audience for artists matters when in fact those invited are friends of the ruling party plus many others? What message of hope is there for the Zambian people going in 2024 which will clock 3 years of UPND by August 2024.
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