Government says it has recorded a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of about 6.1 percent out of the targeted 7 percent per annum.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said the development is one of the highest the country has ever recorded since independence.
Dr Musokotwane said the increased GDP has since contributed to the country’s social, economic and infrastructure development.
He however noted that the reduction in maternal mortality rate is likely going to make it possible for the nation to attain the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) five of reducing MMR to 162 per 100,000 live births by 2015.
The minister disclosed the developments in Lusaka today during the Mid Term Review of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) 2006-2010.
Mr. Musokotwane also disclosed that the 2007 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey indicates a reduction in HIV and AIDS prevalence rate of 14 percent for adults aged between 15-49 years, from 16 percent in 2001 and 2002.
He also observed that malaria prevalence levels have slightly reduced from 373 per 1000 population in 2002 to 358 per 1000 population in 2007 and are expected to drop further due to governments programs in the fight against malaria.
Meanwhile the Minister has expressed sadness on the continued poverty levels in the country.
He said a recorded reduction of 80 percent to 64 percent is not good for the nation adding that government is working towards creating an enabling environment for investments to help create more jobs and increase revenues in an effort to reducing poverty.
ZANIS
Well done! Keep up with the good work.
Mr. Minister i don’t know where you get and base your GDP. As economist this is far from the truth! Zambia’s GDP is deterioting to the worst levels. Please do not lie unless the figures you have produced are for Rupiah Banda only and not us
These figures are hard to believe considering that the monthly income per head in Zambia is still among the lowest in the world.
Until Zambians are able to put fruits on the table, I will never believe this nonsense.
Fruits on the table for everyone to see.Well done Mr Musokotwane.Keep it up.These are figures which cant be disputed.
Hahaha! GDP Growth! Even monkeys in State House will disagree. Why do you doctor the figures instead of telling the truth? That is why the freedom of information bill is needed in this country so that figures are tallied to ascertain the truth
Bane Solwezi chenda mabanga ati shani ama results? It is already two hours after the close of polls.
This is great > I was doubting even a 5 %. I would be interested to know which areas contributed to the growth.. #2 Good morning Z, if you are an economist you would not doubt that the economy is growing, you would only wonder about the rate. If you look at the global trenfd, I di not think any economy is sub – saharan Africa is shrinking, Actually the past ten years or so Sub Sahara has been growing at impressive rates.
” Zambia records about 6.1% GDP growth ”
The looting is going well. Unfortunately, GDP is just business activity within Zambia’s borders – irrespective of who benefits. Or what the nature of the business is. So when corporations steal $4 billion from the economy one year, but steal $5 billion from the economy the next year, GDP has gone up by $1 billion.
This point has already been made by former World Bank economist Joseph Stiglitz. Until 1997, the economy was measured by GNP, Gross National Product, which reflects economic activity by Zambian nationals – which I would expect tells a very different tale.
Hear hear MrK, i agree with you. The wealth distribution figures are very important… However w should not stop from rejoicing in this information< this is because it is simple logic that people are more likely to benefit in a growing economy as opposed to a shrinking economy.
# # nine chale. The change in monthly salaries will not increase overnight. It takes time for GDP growth to trickle down ( actually sometimes id doesnt ) …
IWE CHI MINISTER CHA FAKE, stop bothering us with those statistical figures which are also subjective sometimes, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & NOT ECONOMIC GROWTH: how many people have access to clean water? how many homes are electrified? minimum wages versus food basket, road networks, things that make sense to the common man not those irritating CSO doctored figures…ala!
growth on paper is welcome,but let it be accompanied by food on the table!to a simple zambian those figures dont mean a thing,let alone the abbreviation GDP.tell him he can apply for a job,his salary has increased,food prices are shrinking then he will understand you..i dont know what measures the government has put in place now to curb down malaria that werent in existance in 2002.can someone please enlighten me.
Economists are in-charge and opportunities increasingly at hand for ingenuous Zambians.
MUSOKOTWANE IWE, UBUFI BWEKABWEKA. WHERE DO U GET THOSE FIGURES.
The Pact is sweeping Solwezi urban and peri-urban but is lagging in deep dyoli….I hope VJ is not rgiing ka.
sharp shooter dont be a blind follower. limbi ni bawiso ba musokotwane so you want to make him look good. this is not a sitting room where you just praise your father just because he has brought a loaf of bread.
# thanx for the update
# 16 voters have already cast their votes and counting just started with final results coming out tomorrow. Solwezi Central has 30 polling stations with a total of 34,600 registered voters.The entire constituency took a heavy rains which may just make the usual apathetic Zambian voters’ turn out even lower evident from the 2006 Generation that recorded a 65% and 2008 a 41.9% voter turnout.i see nothing that will change the apathy culture.MMD has done enough issue based campaigning and just awaits to respect the ballot verdict. I pity the PF-UPND kaponyas imported into Solwezi for violence at a high bill.All parties must exit with dignity.
# 19 are you MMD?
I see PF cadres already posting Solwezi results from their head while those on the ground are tearing people’s heads with bottles.What if someone pulls a pistol and loads in them? This kind of frustration is very dangerous.
I see PF cadres already posting Solwezi results from their heads while those on the ground are tearing people’s heads with bottles.What if someone pulls a pistol and loads in them? This kind of frustration is very dangerous.
All parties campaigned be it insults or development pledges, voters have already cast their votes and has counting just started with final results expected to come out tomorrow.
Solwezi Central constituency has 30 polling stations with a total of 34,600 registered voters.Throughout the voting day, the entire constituency took some heavy rains which may just worsen the usual apathetic Zambian voters’ turn out even lower than ever before. i say this evident from the 2006 General election that recorded a 65% while 2008 a 41.9% voter turnout.I see nothing that will change the apathy culture except honoring the vision of Zambia’s fallen firebrand Hon.TetaMashimba (MHSRIP).
The Pact has won Solwezi through vote buying, it is a shame but am sure they will be considered free and fair since MMD has lost. Anyway we still have the majority.
MMD has done enough issue based campaigning and just awaits to accept with dignity the ballot verdict. I pity the PF-UPND kaponyas imported into Solwezi for violence at a high bill.All parties must exit with dignity and not killing people because violence begets violence.Bottling people’s heads the Chawma way may just deliver the unbelievable.
Zambia is bigger that thugs who imported them on empty stomach but treating to chibuku.
GDP is the measurement of the total value of goods and services produced in the country. GDP growth is a good measurement of where the economy. Zambia’s GDP growth of 6.1% is good no matter how much the anti-government faction will refuse to believe or be negative. Unless the anti-government faction has got contrary data, they should just shut it if they have nothing to say.
Zambia’s poverty reduction from 80% to 64% though commendable is worrying. I encourage all patriotic Zambians to exploits Zambia’s good investment climate and engage in business activities because business activities create jobs. If not, then we shall engage foreign investors to come take part in business activities in Zambia.
#17(Isi miyaka)
Unlike you who is an armchair critic,I criticise and give credit where its due.This is the time when major economies have had their GDPs shrink by bigger margins.Others are still bonafide members of the Recession Club and still struggling to get out and we have a Finance Minister who has posted an impressive 6.1% growth.Its awesome especially at this time!!
Fact about Zambia GDP:2003-4.2%,2004-4.0%,2005-4.6%,2006-5.0%,2007-6.2%,2008-6.8% AND NOW 6.1%.I dont praise from without .I get facts first.It is for this reason I find it hard to support Sata cos he has failed to tell us how he is going to undertake his 90 economic miracle.
Positivist pa Zed,
” The wealth distribution figures are very important… However w should not stop from rejoicing in this information< this is because it is simple logic that people are more likely to benefit in a growing economy as opposed to a shrinking economy "
I would like to see all the money made from mining being reinvested in the rest of the economy – the economic diversification everyone always talks about.
There are metrics that indicate wealth distribution, inequality, etc. Wouln't it be nice if the Finance Minister made an appearance because Zambia had reduced it's GINI Index.
Latest exist polls in solwezi out of 27 stations done upnd is leading kifita by a magin of 900 votes . Only 3 stations remaining. Source muvi tv news
Unofficial results from very credible sources in state media indicate that the MMD has bitten the dust. Tiye nayo PACT chwe chwe chwe chwe chwe.
THIS MAN IS JUST UNINSPIRING JUST LIKE HIS LEADER
Out of 28/30 polling stations PACT 5487, MMD 4249.
Kakeni katundu mukwai!
Right now, the way to go is to go for change of Governement whether growth rates go above 10% or not. Democratic ideals are much more important than economic growth figures without face.
Imwe, chilishani uko ku Solwezi?
#33, see entry #31. Baponoka ba MMD.
Meanwhile the Minister has expressed sadness on the continued poverty levels in the country
#34 …..Ba mambala! Ya ya ya! Are these firm results before I start singing…?
GUYZ, WHERE DOES ONE GET THE LATEST INFO ON SOLWEZI ELECTIONS? BA MMD BA ME-SOO-LER BUSHE TA B.A.L.A.N.Y.A?
The PACT has won by more than 1000 votes,confrimed from MUVI TV, wina alila
Who cooked up this figure?
Can someone tell me how the Minister computed GDP for 2009 before the year is over?!! It usually takes 4 months in the next year to get the figure. Strange.
#40 I think its based on the projected plan (FNDP2006-2010), not on the financial,so it a report from when the FNDP was started up untill now, which according to the minister is a mid term projection. GDP is used as a yardstick for measuring economic growth correlated with the standard of living, though the minister has expressed sadness on the continued poverty levels in the country, so i dont know how we are able to have an improved GDP but still no reciprocal improvement on living standards
#41. Thanks for that clarification. Yes GDP is the measure of total goods and services (or income) made (or earned) with in Zambia during the year. Economic growth on the other hand is the percentage change in real GDP. It need not immediately translate into better living standards because it does not capture the distribution of this growth among the rich and the poor, nor does it consider non-economic progress like health and education. The Minister should tell us what has been achieved and not the projected outcome. That we can find in the FNDP or MTEF.
You can announce whatever Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth you want, 6.1 or even 100% and I do not give a damn as long as this has zero impact on the tragic levels of poverty in the country. This country is not and has never been to war, we do not have any natural disasters like tsunamis or desertification and for this reason, there should be zero excuse for such insulting poverty levels wholly demeaning to our people. By Musokotwane’s own admission, he is saddened by continued poverty levels in the country, but one wonders why knowing the opportunity cost of approving budgets that give Banda millions to aimlessly travel the world for useless meetings half of which he spends seriously “Kayopering” leaving us unrepresented?
When measuring GDP you make reference to economic growth,you cant talk about GDP without a direct link to the masses who are going to be used as an improvement on the economic successes,you cannot mention GDP without a direct reference to the improvement of the general living standards.Its more like you have money in your bank yet your kids are hungry, and yet you are bragging that your business is doing well and scoring positives,the minister should have kept quiet on poverty levels coz its a contradiction in itself
Well well well, if Banda is sensible enough, which I doubt, he will after the defeat in Solwezi carry out a very serious postmotem of his leadership. Things are falling apart all around him, never in the history of this country has a ruling party with all available resources failed to retain safe seats during by elections. As I stated earlier, it would appear only Eastern Province where he hails from is still supporting him and given that he is seeking re-election, this man is doomed. I can also now see why he does not want to go to the convention because with results like these, what will stop Magande from trouncing Kansundila? The fear is real! No amount of “Marcopololing” will save Banda from a resounding defeat.
Teachers, nurses and doctors can not even get a pay increase in this so called GDP increase. Thus the brain drain of Zambians being in diaspora. Road infrastructure since MMD rule is non existent. They are looking for investors to refurbish Society hous. Zambia especially lusaka is filthy. GDP 6% does not mean a thing to Zambians as long as people are living beneath their living standards. MMD 20 years rule has not been of any benefit to local Zambians.
A leopard does not change it’s spots…MMd is like that Leopard whom in 20 years can not say they have improved education, employment, health , infrastructure …they are a useless party..KK UNIP tried.
Its good news that the economy has grown at that rate given the global economic turmoil. Having said that, it is extremely unlikely that Zambia will achieve the millennium development goals as several areas such as poverty reduction, gender equality and environmental sustainability continue to be neglected. Beyond the MDGs, we need to continue growing our economy and aim to push annual GDP growth to 10% as this is the rate that will see people move out of poverty and improve their standard of living.
Let’s get rid of the entire neoliberal, ‘attract foreign investment at all cost’ ideology, and start creating jobs that are meaningful to local people.
The government right now can start building dams, levies, roads, bridges, create farmland, and start getting serious about parastatals – no political interference with something as sacred as creating jobs for the nation.
I believe these figure completely. I am a living example of people who are making a postive contribution to mother Zambia. My passive income five years ago was almost zero. But at the moment with investiments I have made in varoius sectors of economy I am pround to say my passive income has grown tremendously. It a pity that some people what to criticize everything without tangible facts on their hands. Zambian lest learn to positive please!!! No one will develop our country but ourselves and that takes positive altitude towards life!!!
#51 things are good for you…that is great news BUT what about the rest of the Zambians. Let us know what investments you are in maybe people can join you and enjoy this income.