Zambia is pregnant with opportunities but the country is facing delicate economic risks that demands focused leadership. Given the strong focus that Michael Sata placed on social infrastructure in transport, health and education, coupled with ramping up of social cash transfers it is reasonable to assume that poverty will hopefully fall in the next few years.
If PF can focus on sorting out the politics of the country, including delivering a new constitution, the future for Zambia may well be very bright. That is a big "if". At the moment the PF leaders appear completely oblivious to the economic potential and risks facing the country. The risks have been there for the last year or so, other risks were triggered by the Budget 2015, and yet others by Michael Sata's death. Surprisingly, though it was public knowledge he was sick, PF appeared to have made no contingency planning.
In future posts, we hope to explore some of the economic risks facing Zambia. We cannot do without saying a few words on the political context following Sata's death. We have always said the political economy is important. Economics follows politics and vice versa.
[view whole blog post ]