OPINION-WORLD BANK RANKING HEARTENING
The revelation of Zambia being ranked among the strongest performing Sub-Saharan Africa countries, in policy and institutional quality framework implementation by the World Bank could not have come at any better time than this.
We say this after noting that the enviable ranking is coming at a time when a record number of prophets of doom, arm chair critics, self-styled economists and a cadre of economic experts have been busy peddling half truths and lies concerning Zambia’s economic performance.
The same pack of ill-willed and unpatriotic clique have shamelessly lied to the world that Government is selling national assets to pay debt.
With the coming of social media which has become a fertile platform to share ignorance, lies are being peddled shamelessly since there is market for gullible consumers of kachepa-fuelled lies.
As a mainstream media, we are happy to disseminate credible information and we join other truth seekers like the World Bank by passing the information from such a reputable institution that has noted that contrary to the lies with have been deafened with, Zambia ranks 18th, scoring a rating of 3.3 per cent, above the SSA average of 3.1 per cent and the International Development Association (IDA) average of 3.2 per cent.
Mind you this information is not coming from a Patriotic Front (PF) secretariat or a government official trying to safeguard his job by sugar coating information and buttering stale bread. Nay.
This is coming from the 2017 World Bank Country Policy and
Institutional Assessment (CPIA), covering 38 Sub-Saharan Africa countries on four pillars-namely; economic management, structural policies, social inclusion and equity policies and public sector management and institutions.
The ranking at 3.3 per cent which is above the SSA threshold 3.1 per cent is a clear indication that Government’s economic policies and management are in the right direction and we think that Zambia’s road to positive growth is guaranteed.
In 2017 Zambia’s economic growth recorded to an estimated 3.9 per cent (from 3.8 per cent in 2016) on the back of a bumper crop harvest and better electricity supply.
Although faster economic recovery was dragged by large Government payment of arrears which exerted pressure on the financial sector, the prudent management of both fiscal and monitory policies by Government is testimony of the rating that Zambia has gained from the World Bank.
Isn’t this good news that should unite all of us for once to celebrate a development that would ultimately benefit everybody who claims to be a citizen of this great nation called Zambia?
As the fourth estate, we are worried at the sadistic penchant for celebrating negative news all in the name of offering ‘checks and balances’ ‘offering credible opposition’ which we find sickening to the point of nausea.
To quote Bill Gates headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad news is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.
Or yet still to quote American actor and comedian Tracy Morgan who once said bad news travels at the speed of light; good news travels like molasses.