Zambia not economically independent – Kabimba

By MUBITA KATETE

ECONOMIC Front president Wynter Kabimba says Zambia remains economically dependent despite attaining political independence in 1964, arguing that the country’s reliance on external financing raises questions about its ability to independently determine its development priorities.

Mr Kabimba said political freedom could not be considered complete when the country still depended on foreign support to finance its national budget and aspects of its democratic processes.

Speaking on Diamond TV, the former Cabinet minister said Zambia needed to move beyond celebrating its political independence and confront the economic challenges that continued to limit its self-reliance.

“Well, it depends on how you want to define independence. Are we politically independent? Yes. Are we economically independent? No,” Mr Kabimba said.

He questioned the contradiction of a democratic country relying on external partners to finance its democratic processes, saying such dependence undermined the principle of self-determination.

“We are a democracy, but we can’t finance our own democracy. Listen to the contradiction. Somebody else must do so,” he said.

Mr Kabimba said Zambia needed to critically examine its economic relationship with cooperating partners and work towards building the capacity to finance its national budget through domestic revenue.

He argued that the country should gradually reduce its reliance on external financial assistance and establish relationships with other countries based on mutual interests rather than continued dependence.

Mr Kabimba said achieving economic independence required an honest national conversation about the country’s economic challenges and the historical factors that had shaped its current position.

“We must start debating these issues without any form of fear, timidity or shyness,” he said.

He further urged African countries to take greater responsibility for their economic future by strengthening their capacity to mobilise domestic resources and finance their own development priorities.

Mr Kabimba said Zambia’s attainment of political independence should be accompanied by deliberate efforts to achieve economic self-reliance and greater control over its economic affairs.

ENDS