By ADRIAN MWANZA
ZAMBIA’S economy is projected for an upswing and the performance of the kwacha is not superficial as claimed by certain members of the opposition.
Patriotic Front (PF) member Charity Lumpa who is also former Board chairperson for ZANACO Bank said in Lusaka yesterday in a virtual rally, the Kwacha was poised for greater gains due to a number of programs that had been put in place by the Government.
Ms Lumpa said unlike some claims that the gains were artificial, she assured Zambians that the upward trajectory was genuine because the dollar was now getting in the economy through taxes from mines and other industries.
“If you look at the mines today there was about US$60 million in supplies during the same period last year but the figure has reached US$ 600 million this year an indication that there is an improvement,” she said.
She said that this was a good indicator which would help the economy blossom since the country had excess dollars in the economy.
Ms Lumpa said that government was on the verge of getting a US$ 50 million facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and if that money was prudently used could even reach a billion dollars in the economy.
She said government had also embarked on empowering women in the country and pumped in of K65 million for 75,000 women.
Ms Lumpa said women empowerment was key because they played a key role in the development of the country.
“Government has gone flat out to empower women and right now there are projects like the expansion of the social cash transfer aiming at empowering women in the country,” she said.
Ms Lumpa also said that there was need to empower the church because they were key stakeholders in development.
And speaking at the same event Chishimba Kambwili said that Zambians needed to stick to the PF because they had brought development in all corners of Zambia.
Mr Kambwili said that it took China 30 years to develop China and that Zambia was heading in that trajectory.
He said he was dismayed by the UPND who were saying that the PF was not doing anything when they had ensured that load shedding was done away with and schools had also been constructed.
“It will not be good if the PF is removed at 10 years but Zambians should consider giving them at least 15 to 20 years so that they finish their developmental agenda,” Mr Kambwili said.
