Zambia needs to be export oriented – EAZ

By NAMO PHIRI

ZAMBIANS need to embark on the route to be export oriented in order to grow the economy, Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) President Enoch Ngoma has said.

Mr Ngoma said, the only way this will be achieved is by scaling up the production in various key economic sectors. Mr Ngoma said, the country needs to focus on increasing production in agriculture and the mining sectors. “Currently the production is very low which is worrying for the economy. We need to ensure that we scale up production in maize so that we can have enough for consumption and then we export the surplus.

There is too much demand in terms of the agriculture produce in the region which needs to take advantage of,” he said. The association President further said “The challenges being faced at Konkola Copper Mine and Mopani Copper Mine has really disadvantaged production. Mr Ngoma said, it is important that the government see to it that the challenges are dealt with so that the two mining giants can back to their knees.

He said, if the two mining giants start producing more the country will be able to export in excess which will bring more foreign exchange thereby stabilizing the performance of the local currency.

Meanwhile Mr Ngoma said, there is need for holistic resource mobilization so that the country can see meaningful growth. He said, the treasury cannot be dependent on institutions like Zambia Information and Communication Authority for resource mobilisation.