Zambia confronts global economic crisis
By Pelekelo Liswaniso
The die has been cast and all eyes are now on Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka where the National Conference kicks off today to find solutions to the country’s pressing economic problems.
The next two days will either spell boom or doom for Zambia as more than 500 delegates deliberate for solutions to challenges facing various sectors of the national economy.
Uncertainty and instability in international financial, currency and commodity markets, coupled with doubts about the direction of monetary policy in some major developed countries, have contributed to a gloomy outlook for the world economy and this has presented considerable risks for developing countries like Zambia.
We salute President Banda’s government for convening this consultative meeting because it is timely and focused.
This consultative meeting is also a plus for Zambia because the country is probably the first in Africa to hold a meeting of such magnitude, so soon after the G20, the world’s most influential nations, met in London two days ago in search of solutions to the global crisis.
If leaders of the world’s richest nations can take the trouble to consult amongst themselves, what more with poor nations like Zambia? The conference is, in fact, a matter of life and death for us because the majority of our people are poor and the economic meltdown will worsen if not confronted in good time.
We obviously do not expect eminent personalities who have been invited to turn the meeting into a mere talking shop but to use the occasion to explore strategies that can offer hope and bring solutions to the country’s economic problems.
We are aware that the conference provides great temptation for politicians to engage in diatribes intended to catch the attention of voters, but we warn all those who may try to do so that the red card is already up for them.
It is a pity that the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) have boycotted the national conference.
The two opposition parties should have seized this opportunity to articulate their concerns and spell out their proposals on the global economic crisis instead of boycotting a national cause of this nature.
President Banda has adopted an open door policy that also embraces opposition political parties and it is disappointing that UPND and the PF have decided to shun the Indaba.
However, it is not too late for them to get to Mulungushi and join the rest of the delegates because their voices could make a difference.
The recent closures of the mines, which have led to thousands of people being jobless, are an indicator that not all is well in the economy.
Zambia’s stock markets have fallen and the Kwacha has depreciated to worrying levels, resulting in difficulties to engage in meaningful trade with other countries. Large financial institutions have also collapsed and this has had an adverse effect on Zambia.
Governments even in the wealthiest nations have had to come up with rescue packages to bail out their financial systems, and we hope rescue plans for Zambia will emerge from the conference.
It is during such times of crisis that unity of purpose is required and we call on all delegates to be patriotic, serve mother Zambia and help turn the economy around.
The die has been cast and all eyes are now on Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka where the National Conference kicks off today to find solutions to the country’s pressing economic problems.
The next two days will either spell boom or doom for Zambia as more than 500 delegates deliberate for solutions to challenges facing various sectors of the national economy.
Uncertainty and instability in international financial, currency and commodity markets, coupled with doubts about the direction of monetary policy in some major developed countries, have contributed to a gloomy outlook for the world economy and this has presented considerable risks for developing countries like Zambia.
We salute President Banda’s government for convening this consultative meeting because it is timely and focused.
This consultative meeting is also a plus for Zambia because the country is probably the first in Africa to hold a meeting of such magnitude, so soon after the G20, the world’s most influential nations, met in London two days ago in search of solutions to the global crisis.
If leaders of the world’s richest nations can take the trouble to consult amongst themselves, what more with poor nations like Zambia? The conference is, in fact, a matter of life and death for us because the majority of our people are poor and the economic meltdown will worsen if not confronted in good time.
We obviously do not expect eminent personalities who have been invited to turn the meeting into a mere talking shop but to use the occasion to explore strategies that can offer hope and bring solutions to the country’s economic problems.
We are aware that the conference provides great temptation for politicians to engage in diatribes intended to catch the attention of voters, but we warn all those who may try to do so that the red card is already up for them.
It is a pity that the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) have boycotted the national conference.
The two opposition parties should have seized this opportunity to articulate their concerns and spell out their proposals on the global economic crisis instead of boycotting a national cause of this nature.
President Banda has adopted an open door policy that also embraces opposition political parties and it is disappointing that UPND and the PF have decided to shun the Indaba.
However, it is not too late for them to get to Mulungushi and join the rest of the delegates because their voices could make a difference.
The recent closures of the mines, which have led to thousands of people being jobless, are an indicator that not all is well in the economy.
Zambia’s stock markets have fallen and the Kwacha has depreciated to worrying levels, resulting in difficulties to engage in meaningful trade with other countries. Large financial institutions have also collapsed and this has had an adverse effect on Zambia.
Governments even in the wealthiest nations have had to come up with rescue packages to bail out their financial systems, and we hope rescue plans for Zambia will emerge from the conference.
It is during such times of crisis that unity of purpose is required and we call on all delegates to be patriotic, serve mother Zambia and help turn the economy around.
posted by aydpels @ 4:06 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home