By SYLVESTER MWALE –
AS the year 2013 comes to an end after tomorrow, it is inevitable that each one is reflecting and reviewing their personal lives in the past 12 months with a view of improving on many aspects in the next 365 days ahead.
Like individuals, many organisations, companies and many other institutions have gone on recess where they are also reviewing their performance for 2013 and planning for next 12 months.
Positive developments have taken place in various sectors since January 2013, but it would be unfair to suggest that there have never been disappointments and regrets along the way.
Being the last Sunday of the year, the Sunday Times has decided to highlight some of the important aspects of development that have taken place in the past 12 months as well as challenges and failures.
Road infrastructure
This is probably the most visible and viable development every ordinary Zambian can attest to! It is not a concoction of figures but a physical development that has been taking place across the country.
While President Michael Sata launched the Link Zambia-8000 Road Project late last year, most of its works have taken place in 2013 with many roads in different parts of the country enjoying a facelift.
The K7.9 billion five-year road project has resulted into drastic improvements of connectivity in many parts of the country.
Besides the Link Zambia-8000, the Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA) is implementing the Pave Zambia-2000 which was launched in September this year.
According to RDA, the project will be implemented at cost of K1.6 billion to pave approximately 2,000 kilometres of township roads in 10 provincial centres.
The Pave Zambia-2000 will also offer direct employment to about 20,000 youths who will in turn acquire skills which they would be able to utilise beyond the project.
The upgrading of Chiptata-Vubwi Road in Eastern Province, the Kitwe-Chingola dual carriage way on the Copperbelt, Nabwalya-Mfuwe Road in Muchinga, Monze-Nico in Southern and Chiengi-Kaputa-Luchinga in Luapula Province are among the roads being tarred.
Others are Mansa-Luwingu in Northern and Luapula, Matambo-Luangwa Bridge, Samfya-Chinsali as well as the 100-kilometre Chinsali-Mulilansolo in Muchinga Province.
It is also important to note that while roads have taken centre stage, other infrastructure such as houses, office buildings, hotels, lodges and stadia have equally on track.
For instance, the Government this year signed 17 contracts valued at K17 million for the construction of 180 housing units in 17 newly-created districts in eight provinces.
Like roads, this will not only help in enhancing accommodation in the new districts but create employment during the construction phase of the houses.
As a result, the 2013 has continued to witness the sprawling of illegal structures while the local authorities seem to have lost control of the situation.
Economy
Zambia’s economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of an average of six per cent since 2005.
The country’s year-end inflation rate increased to 7.1 per cent from seven per cent recorded in November 2013, meaning that prices increased by 7.1 per cent between December 2012 and December 2013 on average.
This year also saw Zambia posting its first trade deficit of K327 million since May 2009 when the country registered its last trade deficit of K275 million.
The country’s major export products in November 2013 were from the intermediate goods category comprising copper cathodes and sections of refined copper which accounted for 83.3 per cent.
While growth in 2012 was driven largely by continued expansion in agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, transport, finance and agriculture, the successful issuance of US $750 million Euro Bond late last year has given another urge.
However, there was a Budget deficit for 2013 which became one of the highlights in the year largely due to implementation of unbudgeted programmes.
For instance, it was announced in July that although the Government was on course with execution of the 2013 Budget there was a K900 million shortfall to finance the K2.5-billion expenditure budgeted for June 2013 alone.
According to Minister of Finance, Alexander Chikwanda, there were also factors such as the huge expenditure on maize purchases by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and the oil import bill before the subsidies on fuel were removed.
On the other hand, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) failed to meet its target in revenue collection after just managing K21-billion tax in 2013 as at December 16 against the planned K23.5 billion for the year.
Additionally, the harmonisation of salaries for civil servants which has seen significant increase in wages for public workers has boosted the household income. However, the measure seemed to have partly contributed to the 2013 budget deficit as well as sky-rocketed the prices of food stuff.
Therefore, it must be stated that despite marked improvements in general economic performance in 2013, Zambia has yet to achieve significant gains in social and human development.
Experts feel that the country’s growth will remain redundant unless there is a corresponding increase in job creation and progress on poverty reduction.
Agriculture
Although the sector is on strong footing towards bigger contribution to the country’s economy, it has faced various challenges which have raised alarm in some quotas of society.
Late payment of farmers by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) after buying their produce as well as late delivery of inputs for the 2013/14 farming season has had a negative impact on the sector.
The removal of subsidies by the Government has also sparked increased prices of maize which has subsequently increased the price of mealie meal, especially in border towns.
While agriculture is seen as an alternative to mining as the country’s mainstay of the economy, the Government has received a lot of whips for seemingly failing to implement policies that would promote it.
It is hoped that the late delivery of inputs coupled with the seeming unreliable rainfall pattern for this season would not result into reduced productivity in the sector.
Tourism
This is one of the sectors that have continued to show significant signs of growth under the Patriotic Front Government with increased tourist visitation and continued sprawling of hotels and lodges in various parts of the country.
Besides, the country was placed on the world map in August 2013 with the co-hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly which took place in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Although there are concerns that Zambia is an expensive destination for tourists, the co-hosting of the world event which attracted about 2,000 delegates is set to increase tourism visitation in the country.
The event exposed the country’s rich cultural heritage as well as various tourist attractions that could spark the interest of international tourists.
Politics
This has been probably the most happening field with appointments and disappointments to political office coming in equal measure at various levels.
While the resignation from Cabinet last week of Kasama Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) is still reverberating in the minds of many Zambians, 2013 also witnessed revocation of a number of appointments by President Sata.
Kabwata MP Given Lubinda was embroiled in a long protracted battle with some cadres who accused him of being treacherous which later led to a charge and subsequent six-month suspension from the party early this year.
Next was Chama South MP, Effron Lungu who was serving as Foreign Affairs minister but his services were terminated suddenly before being replaced by Wilber Simuusa.
Another long and protracted battle of cadres appeared to have come to nothing when cadres insisted that PF secretary General Wynter Kabimba who is also Justice Minister must go.
On the other hand, opposition leaders Nevers Mumba for MMD and UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema have been in and out of courts as they answer to various charges.
Mr Hichilema was arrested in February for allegedly proposing violence in Livingstone but he was later in the year discharged through a nolle prosequi while his counterpart Dr Mumba had to thank the court for forgiving him on his contempt of court charges.
It is clear that much as the 2013 had been a successful year, it was accompanied by its own challenges that need to be addressed in order to meet the aspirations of the majority Zambians.
Although figures have continued to rise on employment, deliberate efforts to create more jobs could be the only way many citizens can appreciate the economic growth of the country.
