Implementation of policies is vital in every country in order to attain sustainable development. It is for this reason that the new government under His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema intend to implement policies through different aspects pertaining to manufacturing toward economic development.
Zambia has more than sufficient laws in relation to infrastructure developments. Hence, what required is the enforcement of these laws to allow for manufacturing institutions to begin operating accordingly. Therefore, the United Party for National Development (UPND) in its manifesto provides that the manufacturing sector holds the key to Zambia’s economic transformation by producing higher- value goods and services, generating better-paying jobs, and encouraging innovation and improved processes.
Despite Zambia’s great endowment in raw materials, energetic labour force, abundant land, water and vast minerals resources, the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP, lying at fewer than 10 percent, has been insufficient for wealth creation and employment. However, the UPND government in its manifesto states that they will revamp and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the economy and employment by committing themselves to maintain a stable economic landscape to reduce the cost of doing business, including streamlining license acquisition, easing tax compliance, visa processing and exemptions, and improving connectivity. Furthermore, they plan to put in place a robust tourism marketing strategy to incorporate all tourism products including traditional ceremonies, visual arts, culture, heritage sites and others.
In addition, their manifesto also provides that there will be improvement on data collection of tourism-related statistics to help make informed policy decisions and ensuring each province has an international airport for improved accessibility, while providing incentives for domestic and foreign airlines to ensure full utilization of airport facilities and transformation of Zambia into a regional tourist and transit hub.
Under the UPND manifesto it is also clearly stated that they will open up the northern tourism circuit (Northern, Luapula and Muchinga Provinces) to enhance tourist flows in that area of great potential and establish public policies and investment strategies that benefit and include local Zambians in the ownership and operation of tourism services and enterprises in the country.
In addition, involvement of communities in the management of Game Management Areas (GMAs) is meant to be enhanced through Community Resource Boards and enhance the benefits of GMAs and their conservation to local communities and wildlife. Along with the protection of our wildlife trough the tightening of regulations for hunting as well as the processing, sale, import and export of wild animals and trophies.
The UPND government, through its manifesto, promised to create an enabling environment supported by strong regulation to support Zambia’s financial sector development and evolution towards a digital economy. This includes strong data protection laws and reduced barriers to entry for innovative new entrants in the financial technology space (FinTechs).
Several ministerial statements on infrastructure development through manufacturing have been issued following the recent Kwacha appreciation against united state dollars and this has sent scores of economic commentators into a frenzy of excitement.
Fortunately, both the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) have provided some measure of guidance in terms of explanatory factors associated with the Kwacha appreciation. On 23rd July 2021, MoF explained that the appreciation of the Kwacha over the past two weeks “largely reflects changes in the supply of foreign exchange and broad improvements in market expectations. In this statement, it is provided that the rising of copper prices and production expansion are considered to have led to improved foreign exchange flows, with the trade balance rising to an estimated USD1.9 billion between January and May, compared with about USD0.58 billion in the corresponding period the previous year.
On 5th October, 2021 the Minister of Finance and National Planning Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane MP also made a statement regarding economy and manufacturing in the country which provides that there is an opportunity of a life time to transform the economy into one that grows strongly every year. Going forward, the war cry will repeatedly be economic growth.
Everything we plan and talk about will be about strong expansion in production. And this House has an important role in this war to get production up every year. Our debates, our speeches, our priorities in the budget: All must focus on growth and everything that it takes to realize that dream.
The Minister further stated that it may be expanding output in agriculture, manufacturing, tourist arrivals, goods transported; etc. And, of course, our mines must produce more since copper prices are forecast to remain very high in the next 15 years. It is for this reason that, on many occasions, UPND has expressed the intention to see copper production rise to three million tons in the next ten years. It is well observed that there have been a number of stories arising in the news, various Ministerial statements as well as under the UPND manifesto regarding manufacturing processes from the new government and hoping these strategic plans will be fulfilled as time drones ahead.