AS I take a month-long break from this forum while on my annual leave, I just want to trace how long a way this column has come.
From June 2012 – when it started – to last week, this column has touched many areas, and one can only hope that its original objectives are still intact and being met.
The other hope is that, while achieving the individual objectives, it has also squarely fitted in the triple role of educating, informing and entertaining the readers.
To briefly explain the column’s objectives, I would like to look at the very first article, which heralded the beginning of the now almost-four-year-old column.
In that first column, it was indicated that the write up would look at some economic policies, trends and their possible effects on the people in the country and beyond.
Over the years, we have done just that, but, of course, with you the readers as the best judges!
Generally, the column has covered issues to do with agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, local and foreign trade, foreign economic policies as well as regional economic communities.
Issues like the Economic Partnership Agreements, maize marketing system, Farmers Input Support Programme, cooperative movement, the budget, types of economy as well as some international events like the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) have not been left out.
Occasionally, we have featured feedbacks from the readers and experts in the relevant fields to further elaborate on the issues and give the subjects that independent touch.
In terms of popularity among the readers, the article on that Nigerian Prophet, Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua on the annual prophecy, which we featured a fortnight ago, has beaten them all.
This is so, given the number of readers who reacted to its publication and got in touch through e-mails, phone calls and text messages.
Others personally walked to Times of Zambia offices on Lusaka’s Freedom Way to air their views on the matter.
On distant second to that article on Prophet TB Joshua is one on ZCCM- Investment Holding, which highlighted the then imminent offloading of the company’s shares to the members of the public, through the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE).
Every time we featured that issue in this column, the responses were overwhelming, but can still not beat the last two articles already alluded to.
It is just unfortunate that some people, thinking that I work for the investment holding, still call me asking me questions which can only be answered by a ZCCM-IH spokesperson.
In the same vein some people are still calling me requesting prayers for them as they assume that I work with Prophet TB Joshua.
Before taking such a move, readers should fully know whom they intend communicating to, to avoid being duped or misled by some unscrupulous people.
While I am a believer, who strongly believes in God’s healing powers and other miracles, my job in this case is merely analysing what has been said and done.
That aside, over the years we have looked at the efforts of the Bank of  Zambia (BoZ) in addressing issues like the high lending interest rates and the adequate capitalisation of the commercial banks in the country.
Do you remember the base lending rate (BLR)?
And of course you know the monetary policy rate, which the central bank has been setting as a benchmark rate.
Among the issues on which the column took a critical stance was the government’s target of one million jobs in five years which the column felt and still feels was rather over ambitious.
This was measured against the status quo then and the size of the formal workforce which existed in the country at that time.
A total of four national budgets – for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 – have been discussed during the period while many policies have been looked at.
From time to time we have diverted to look at other issues which may not neccessarily fall under policy analysis but are connected to the implementation of the policies.
It is my sincere hope that after the break, we will be able to refine the direction of this forum so as to make reading even better and enjoyable for you.
I hope that your expectations from this columnist have, over the years, been met.
For now on I can only encourage you to continue following this forum while a colleague sits in for me during my short break starting next week.
Continue giving the column the support and encouragement through the feedbacks you provide.
Bye for now and God bless you!
For contribution call: 0977246099, 0955431442 or e-mail: jmuyanwa@gmail.com