Economy still sleeping in the woods

Dear Editor,

UPND has been in power for nearly four years, but our economic behind-the-scenes outlook still lingers in the woods. This is a scenario which we must all admit exists.
Even the much-talked about rising Kwacha power is artificial in the absence of high volumes of our export receipts. Common sense! It is therefore more than obvious that Zambia is in badly need of a novel approach to solve her economic challenges.
Other schools of thought think that the free-market ideas being pushed by our famous IMF and the World Bank should be dropped altogether because they are not helping our economy to grow.
Admittedly, our good or bad economic actions will one day be repaid as the cycle of life revolves.
Our mining sector, the largest forex earner is in doldrums for many frightening reasons. Similarly, our big second forex gatherer, tourism, is also in shambles because those who are supposed to know better are fast asleep.
Meanwhile on the ground, the common man is grappling with high cost of living.
Again, despite many debt relief initiatives by the IMF and World Bank, debt remains our biggest glitch preventing the country from achieving sustainable economic growth.
Our sick economy needs urgent attention if it has to deliver to the people’s expectations.

BEENWELL CHILUFYA,

Lusaka.