UFSF Urges Policy Overhaul to Revive Zambia’s Economy

… Chisengalumbwe Urges Government to Address Flawed Policies, Not Blame Institutions Like ZESCO for Economic Woes

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 – (14-08-2024) – The United Front for a Strong Foundation, (UFSF) has issued a bold statement regarding Zambia’s struggling economy, asserting that the root cause lies in flawed government policies rather than the performance of institutions such as ZESCO.

Brian Chisengalumbwe, President of told Zambia24 in an exclusive interview on Wednesday afternoon that the overall outlook of the economy cannot be blamed on one entity

According to Chisengalumbwe the real economic issue is government policy, not ZESCO.

According to Chisengalumbwe, Zambia’s economy is being undermined at every level by misguided government intervention.

Institutions like the Bank of Zambia and ZESCO, he argued, cannot reverse this trend unless there is a comprehensive review of economic, social, and political policies.

Chisengalumbwe called for an urgent reassessment of Zambia’s overall economic strategy.

He believes that only through a complete overhaul of government policies will the country be able to unlock the potential of its people and rebuild a stronger, more competitive economy.

“The real problem is flawed government policy,” Chisengalumbwe declared.

“We must look at our economic, social, and political outlook if we are to address the pressing issues affecting Zambia today.”

“The problem goes beyond that and is rooted in natural factors, often seen as acts of God. The management of these processes is highly complex. No single entity can fully meet all the needs of the community.”

Chisengalumbwe’s comments come amidst growing criticism of ZESCO and its role in the ongoing electricity crisis.

However, he clarified that ZESCO, as a power provider, is not responsible for the country’s power shortfall, emphasizing that electricity generation relies on multiple sources, and it is the government’s responsibility to address the power deficit.

“If we want to solve the electricity problem, the government must address the power deficit,” he continued.

“ZESCO merely provides electricity; it is not the source of electricity itself. The focus should be on the government exploring alternative sources of power.”

According to Chisengalumbwe, the current economic downturn should not be directly linked to ZESCO or any other organization.

Instead, he argued that the issue lies with government policies that have stifled the growth and prosperity of local Zambians while empowering foreign business interests.

“Zambians have been denied opportunities to prosper and build wealth within their country or expand into other markets,” Chisengalumbwe explained.

“Instead, businesspeople from other countries are being empowered to come into Zambia and set up businesses like fuel stations or supply medicines to hospitals because Zambians lack the capacity.”

Chisengalumbwe’s remarks reflect a growing concern among local entrepreneurs and business owners, who feel overshadowed by foreign investors.

He pointed out that the money being spent in Zambia is Zambian money, and the government must do more to empower its citizens to grow the economy using local resources.

Citing a recent government purchase, Chisengalumbwe criticized the government’s decision to buy Zambeef’s Chiawa farm for $13.5 million in an effort to boost maize production and enhance food security.

The farm, spanning 8,000 hectares, is set to be managed by the Zambia National Service and Zambia Correctional Service.

However, Chisengalumbwe sees this move as problematic.

“The government is competing with farmers, producing products at a higher cost and selling them at a lower price, which undercuts local farmers,” he said.

The acquisition has also sparked controversy due to the lack of a competitive bidding process and concerns over the farm’s valuation compared to Zambeef’s market value, further raising doubts about the government’s approach to empowering local businesses.

Chisengalumbwe also took issue with the government’s involvement in media, particularly the state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), which he believes is unfairly competing with private media houses.

“The government collects taxes from all media houses but directs those funds to ZNBC, enabling them to undercut other media outlets and hinder their growth.”