MOST observers have described President Edgar Lungu’s speech to Parliament as an aspiration of what the Zambian Government would love to see.
This is good because before one does anything, especially positive, one has to aspire to do it and believe that they can do it.
Some people, individuals and leaders, fear to declare their aspirations lest they fail to achieve them and that is not progressive.
The Patriotic Front (PF) has, however, shown boldness since inception and has announced projections which some leaders would dread to even attempt pondering on for fear of failure to meet them.
For instance, in its inaugural Budget as the political party in Government, the administration declared that it targeted to create one million decent jobs during the party’s first term in office.
There were obviously factors why that could not be achieved and the critics, especially the opposition, dwelt on that.
Yes, four years down the lane, the scenario does not seem achievable but a point has been driven that one has to aim high in life to record meaningful achievement.
The one-million-jobs-per-year term target would not be attained partly because the economic growth rate is not big enough to absorb that number of job seekers.
To that effect, President Lungu says that in the last four years the Zambian economy has created 480,000 jobs in various sectors of the economy.
Admittedly, given the average rate of about 120,000 job opportunities posted per year in the last four years, it is highly unlikely that the one-million-jobs-per-term target could be achieved at the end of 2016.
That, however, is not the issue. The issue is the amount of effort which has gone into the job creation area as the result of the declaration.
Every ministry has seemingly been preoccupied with how to support the private players in its sector on the need to create more jobs.
Yes, job creation is not Government’s responsibility. Government’s duty is to create a suitable atmosphere for the private sector to thrive in and create jobs.
That does not mean that the Government should not be worried about the high levels of unemployment in the country.
As President Lungu says what is even more worrisome is that, “too many of our people still remain outside the formal sector.”
Given how dicey the issue of unemployment has become, discussing it shows a lot of courage on the part of the President and other Government officials.
Some leaders would have rather shied away from the subject all together!
Another tricky issue which Mr Lungu tackled head on in his speech was the electricity deficit which has led to unprecedented load-shedding of power.
This has had telling effects on the people’s lives, businesses and general lifestyle and Mr Lungu shared in the frustration it has caused on everyone.
He bravely, but empathetically, tackled the issue.
The energy sector accounted for a sizeable number of pages for his speech as he looked at both the possible short and long-term solutions.
“I come to address this house at the time when the nation is facing the most challenging energy shortage since the founding of this great nation.
“The power rationing due to reduced water levels in our power generation dams has impacted severely on the lives of our people,” he says before adding that:“I feel your pain, I share your frustrations. No one feels the anguish of the current power shortage more than I do. The burden of your frustrations falls squarely on my shoulders.”
In assuring the nation, he says the Government has partnered with Zimbabwe to explore the development of the 1,800 megawatt (MW) Batoka Gorge Power project by 2019.
Additionally, the government has engaged the private sector on the expansion of power generation at Kafue Lower Hydro Power Plant which is expected to bring on-stream 750 mw of power.
Other long-term projects include the up-scaling of power generation at Chishimba and Musonda Falls.
That would add to the grid more than 13 mw of power to the current total of 11 mw which is obtained from the two falls.
Mr Lungu went on to itemise more projects through which the Government aims to add more to the current generation capacity.
They include the upgrading of the Lusiwasi Hydro Power Project in Serenje, the commissioning of the coal-fired power station at Maamba, the Itezhi Tezhi Hydro Power project and the 150mw Kalungwishi Hydro Power Station in Lupuala Province.
Generally, the speech was insightful and cut across all economic aspects including some challenges, which some leaders would have shunned for obvious reasons.
As a prelude to the 2016 national budget, which is expected to be unveiled next month,  the presidential speech shows exactly the amount of work Members of Parliament (MPs) especially ministers have ahead of them.
Comments: 0977 246099, 0955 431442 or e-mail:jmuyanwa@gmail.com