Former Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga and prominent economist Lubinda Haabazoka have welcomed President Hakaïnde Hichilema’s Grow Zambia Agenda, describing the proposals as a positive move in the right direction towards growth of the Zambian economy.
Dr Fundanga said the targets outlined in the President’s speech, including increasing production of soya beans, wheat, sugar and maize, expanding electricity generation, raising copper production and boosting tourist visits, were both good and attainable. He expressed optimism that, with deliberate planning and effective implementation, the proposed targets could be achieved, but said they would require responsible facilitators to back the vision, measurable indicators to track progress and corrective measures where necessary.
Dr Fundanga said in an interview with the Sunday Times that setting ambitious targets was important for driving economic growth, but Government and other stakeholders needed to ensure that the necessary policies, investments and institutional mechanisms were put in place to translate the targets into tangible results.
He expressed particular excitement about the planned increase in sugar and wheat production, noting that increased agricultural production could strengthen food security, create jobs and support value addition, while higher…
