ZAMBIANS should remain positive about the country’s economic outlook and not be dejected because it is always darker just before dawn.
There is need for Zambians from all walks of life to speak positively about the country’s economic future outlook and believe in the local economy as a way of ensuring quick makeover.
It is unfortunate that some citizens, especially politicians, are becoming perpetual faultfinders, ridiculing even the very national economy.
If the economy continues performing badly everyone will definitely, be affected, including  armchair critics and, therefore, it is difficult to fathom as to what some citizens benefit by blaming whatever challenge there is on the government.
In the recent past it has taken foreign dignitaries, like the United States (US) ambassador to Zambia and his Italian counterpart to counsel and remind Zambians that most of the current challenges the country is facing are global.
Isn’t it a paradox that while some citizens are seemingly apprehensive about some of these challenges, foreign investors have continued showing confidence in the Zambian economy?
According to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), investor confidence in the Zambian economy has continued soaring as evidenced by the agency recording a rise in investment prospects and inquiries.
Yes, this is despite some challenges, like load-shedding and the poor performance of the local currency, which the country has experienced in the last few months.
By advising the citizens to speak positively about the economy, we are not in any way suggesting that they should gloss over these challenges.
Challenges should be recognised and viewed as launching pad for positive things to come because, as they say, “to every challenge there is an opportunity.”
According to ZDA director general, Patrick Chisanga, more investors would still want to invest in Zambia and therefore that should tell you something.
That the country is still a viable investment market because the investors would not risk their funds if they knew that the economic future of Zambia was bleak.
The question which all Zambians should question themselves is what makes the investor community to remain seemingly upbeat about the future economic outlook of the southern African country, amid the current challenges?
Investors, like the PKF Zambia Chartered Accountants which was officially launched on Tuesday evening, are seemingly viewing the current challenges as a transitory setback which will change in no time.
If the statement from the ZDA is anything to go by, why is it that since the beginning of the second quarter of this year, the agency has been receiving influxes of new investment prospects and enquiries in various sectors of the economy?
These sectors include agriculture, energy, manufacturing, tourism and mining.
This year alone, the agency has received business delegations from France, South Korea, Italy, Germany, Japan, and South Africa.
In this vein, Zambians especially investors, should wake up and learn that perhaps these foreign investors want to position themselves to benefit from a possible economic boom.
It would be, therefore, worthwhile for the local investors and other economic players to explore ways of repositioning themselves too, to fully benefit from any such possible economic boom.
Above all, local investors and other economic players should be part of the economic recovery efforts, instead of continuing as armchair critics and grumblers.
The Zambian economy can only effectively be developed by Zambians who truly believe in it and not those who celebrate whenever it performs badly, as if they benefit from that.  Opinion