Renowned Lusaka based economist Oliver Saasa has underscored the need for politicians to reduce political squabbles for the country to continue enjoying the good economic performance it has recorded in recent years.
Professor Saasa noted that political squabbles have the potential to dampen the good economic strides the country has posted over the years.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it was imperative that politicians engage in dialogue to sort out their political differences as opposed to causing unnecessary tension in the country.
Prof. Saasa pointed out that a good political environment was cardinal for the growth of the economy as investors can only invest in a country that was politically stable.
He said well meaning citizens should not allow politics to disrupt the good economic indicators that the country has managed to achieve.
And Prof. Saasa has urged the Zambian government to take advantage of the visit by the nine World Bank Senior Executive Directors who are expected in the country tomorrow.
He said government should engage the world economic body on various economic challenges it was currently facing.
He said it was important to highlight challenges the country has faced in sectors such agriculture, railway and tourism to see how the World Bank can help out in maximising the potential which these sectors have for the growth of the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, another Lusaka based economist Trevor Simuumba, said government should be honest about challenges it was facing during meetings with the World Bank Executive Directors.
Mr. Simuumba said honesty will help the country to receive the necessary support it requires to address whatever challenges it was facing.
He told ZANIS in a separate interview that it was also important that the Zambian government and the private sector speak with a united voice in order to have clear discussions with the World Bank officials.
He also encouraged government to have regular meetings with the private sector to discuss challenges the latter were facing in their day to day operations.
Mr. Simuumba noted that it was not ideal for government to only listen to the labour market because the owners of enterprises were the ones who were struggling to make profits.
And the Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) said the country should set an agenda for the meetings with the World Bank officials as opposed to a situation where international organisations dictate the programme during such discussions.
PSDA chairperson Yusuf Dodia said much as the World Bank was useful to the development of the country, Zambia should be in the driving seat on issues that will need to be discussed.
Mr. Dodia observed that this was an important opportunity for the country to discuss with the World Bank on how it can effectively work with the Zambian government to foster development in the country.
He advised government to table among other issues the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP), the expansion of the railway system in the country, the country’s tourism potential and issues affecting the agriculture sector.
He said these were some of the major issues that would propel economic development in the country.
ZANIS
I have been in Zambia and there is nothing good performance wise
I didn’t enjoy myself there and I have little appetite to return anytime soon
Thanks
Ba Mushota mwaishilepita lushenshye! That is assuming you even visited Zambia.
Mushota harbors a secret love for Zambia.
DEAR OLIVER SAASA, I LIKE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND SOBRIETY.
AT LEAST SINCE THIS HAS NOW COME FROM YOU, LET THE GUYS WHO HAVE THE POWER BETTER BEHAVE AND SWALLOW THEIR PRIDE.
IF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT DEVELOPING THIS COUNTRY, LET THEM EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH TO THE OPPOSITION AND STOP ALL POLITICAL PERSECUTIONS.
YES WE CAN AND WE CAN START AFRESH. LOVE AND FORGIVENESS ARE KEY.
WHERE IS THE CHURCH IN ALL THESE IMPORTANT MATTERS?
Ba ZANIS/LT please, with due respect to my former lecturer in development studies (Prof. O.S) I have corrected you several times that Prof. Oliver Saasa is NOT an economist by training, and I shudder to hear every time you refer to him as a renowned Economist. Being able to comment on topical or economic issues doesn’t make one an economist.
Oliver,
To talk to someone, that someone must give you an ear. Kaunda gave the ooposition an ear thats how multi partism came into being, Chiluba listened that why the third term fell off, Mwanawasa allowed the Opposition to flourish, RB allowed the Post to insult him, those are the kind of leaders that wanted dialogue. Sata does not want dialogue but he is preoccupied with killing the opposition. You cannot dialogue with such a man. That is the problem my brother, we have a leader who has completely run out of ideas or who has no ideas at all. So what do you discuss with such a one?
His lack of ideas.
Prof. The government hold the instruments of power. That is the Police,and all defence and security. They ‘control’ commerce, trade & finance. They appoint the judiciary and choose what information to present to the legislature and the leader of government business is appointed by the executive. They have it all Prof! they can poison the atmosphere for dialogue or create one for national consensus. But to the contrary, opposition leaders are arrested on flimsy grounds, government ministers are engaged in raising ethnic tension. (Tonga under oaths story for example) The executive appointees are about 98% from one ethnic grouping! Come on Professor! Tell how can squabbles cease?
The professor couldn’t have said it better. With the current crop of old politicians our country isn’t heading anywhere . Development will only remain a far fetched dream. Zambia needs a revolution, an uprising to usher in a new generation of leaders capable of critical thinking and vision to drive this country forward!
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Fake Professor,
what good economic performance are you talking about? It is true, You have really been bought also like these cheap MPs prostitutes.
If Oliver wants to engage in politics, he should be prepared for the consequences.
I for once agree with Mushota. I have not seen any improvements. the country is so dirty and litered with papers everywhere you go and I have no desire to go back soon especially that there’s too much political and human rights abuses.
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