President Rupiah Banda today officially opened the national Indaba aimed at mitigating the effects of the global economic crisis on the Zambian economy.
The national Indaba which is dubbed ”Global Economic Crisis, a Wake up Call for Zambia’s Economic Transformation” has attracted hundreds of delegates from different sectors in the country.
In his key note address to the delegates, President Banda called for change of mind set and attitude among citizens to achieve positive results.
President Banda said every citizen must be thinking of possible solutions to overcome the challenges that the country is facing.
He called for the inculcation of positive values and the inspiration of hard work youths for them to contribute to national development.
He said Zambia should learn from other countries that have devised measures to survive the current economic crisis.
President Banda said the crisis has adversely affected growth prospects in the country as it has impacted negatively on key sectors such as mining and tourism, resulting in job losses.
He further said the global economic recession has also negatively affected government’s ability to mobilize adequate resources, thereby constraining the available resources to support government programmes.
The President urged all the people living in Zambia to unite in order to overcome the challenges the country is going through as a result of the recession.
He urged the nation to recognize and support small scale businesses as they have the potential of growing into million dollar businesses.
He said the nation should move away from the tendency of thinking of multi million US dollar businesses as the only meaningful investments.
The President explained that the aim of the indaba is to share experiences and ideas on how to enhance broad based growth by exploiting available resources in the country to empower all citizens.
He said the indaba is expected to identify immediate policy interventions and explore opportunities created the global economic crisis.
And speaking during the same occasion, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati urged the delegates at the indaba to focus on finding solutions to the challenges the country is currently facing despite their differences.
Mr. Mutati urged the delegates to learn and consider interventions from other country’s experiences.
He said the challenges created by the prevailing global economic recession should be addressed by all stakeholders.
Meanwhile Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said Zambia has become vulnerable to the current economic crisis because of her high dependence on a single export commodity.
He however said government has taken measures to overcome the challenges by allocating funds in the 2009 budget for diversifying the economy by stepping up development in tourism, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
Among the high level delegates that attended the official opening were the first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, Second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba and Vice President George Kunda.
Others in attendance were cabinet ministers, Africa Development Bank President Ronald Kaberuka, and World bank Africa Region Vice President Obiageli Ezekwesili.
The national indaba is expected to end tomorrow.
ZANIS/CM/PK/ENDS
Good work Mr Rb
He should have done this before the budget was presented.
We await and see if the Indaba will be fruitful….
This will be another typical Zambian style gathering were the final resolutions reached are never implemented.
Whats there for the poor Zambians in the end?Nothing!!!!!!
Are there allowances attached to this indaba?
The usual nonsense. I am sure evryone shouted twalyagain when they heard of the indaba. Did anyone bother to carry out a postmoterm of the last indaba. I remember the same guys gathering back then…
How many indabas are we going to have? Are they not the same things people talk about? Problems of Zambia are well known and to them solutions have been found, but govnt does not implement them. Even this Indaba is discussing the same problems discussed in the previous one. To me , its waste of more money in this economic crisis. And already the budget is passed, so how are the resolutions going to be implemented. Awe mwandi you cant understand Zambia.
This indaba is nothing but just a talk show as nothing from the deliberations will be implemented.Once again tax payers money being wasted for nothing.
They should start by saving money in goverment. Some governement positions must be wiped out, the position of Distric Commissioner should one of those, Deputy ministers should be removed aswell, all those are areas in which this governement can save money. They should also start taxing foreign investors and realise some money from there. Above all fire Dora Siliya, coz she corrupt!
what indaba?
This my submission via satellite..
Reduce the number of government ministries to 14,
One minister, one deputy minister per ministry
Well done RB, hope it made sense to all these chaps around **==
This will be a big waste of time. Alot of talk and no action especially when the budget has already been aproved. Watch as this govt proves me right. It’s a good move but was implemented to late.
To admit that we are in an economic crisis is a good start ,to blindly deny that fact would be suicidal.I just hope the issue of electricity tariffs will be given considerable analysis. It does not make sense to me to admit that jobs have been lost , companies are operating minimally , others at the verge of closure and ironically increase electricity tariffs ……beats me
Was Lifwekelo invited? And was chi Regina there? and if so let’s hope she did not go near our Chief Justice.
there would be no need for an indaba if we had leadership. that is a waste of resources especially when the resolutions of the indaba can not be implemented. levy had one, what happened to the resolutions? gathering dust in some cabinet files somewhere!
Every generation comes with a new wind. For as long as the top seats in the government are reserved for the old men, there will be no changes in government that will make Zambia withstand the present economic pressures.
This Indiba is a share waste of time and money. RB is not a visionary and he will NEVER take Zambia anywhere. Let’s just be realistic. How many years has MMD been in government? And what new ideas do you think they will bring after 18 years of misrule. Zambians we need to wake up and smell the kachasu. Chiluba has destroyed this country. My fellow Zambians, don’t waste time and attend social gatherings that wont even bring any meaningful development to our country. It’s time for CHANGE. Yes we can!!!!!!!
Jamaco you the man. I feel you. VJ, RB, TETA, MULONGOTI, KATELE, SHIKAPWASHA, KUNDA and the rest ZWA. Dudes we need to run the affairs of this country. As young men and women we are in tune with the current situation.
18 years is too long a time to prove that “Yes you can do it”. And besides, MMD is running the show therefore, they need to perform. I say so because we can’t hold the opposition to ransom and say they have failed to perform. It is the MMD that is failing. Let us try others. MMD has had it’s chance and now it’s high time OTHERS tried.
This is all total nonsense from a team that does not know how to plan and forge the nation ahead. How indabas did Obama hold? MMD is run out of steam and the sooner they accept they need new blood and exposed citizens the better for the Country. Engage the diaspora and learn RB, Mulongoti, Teta, and all the illiterates who claim to know.
Zambia is bigger than any individual and that is why Levy was bold and mangananimous. 2011 takuli Njuka Mulongoti. Uleya na banada wobe nga tauchenjele.
Fellow Zambians , we have on our laps precisely more 24 solid months , before we hold elections .What happens between now and then for our people .Solutions , solutions and solutions . shall we be happy if they starved to death ……
On ‘He urged the nation to recognize and support small scale businesses as they have the potential of growing into million dollar businesses. He said the nation should move away from the tendency of thinking of multi million US dollar businesses as the only meaningful investments.’ now you are taking Mr President RB Banda.
Sadly, it appears the INDABA might be a big flop. I am checking for more data keenly about this.
Bafuna kumilanda ici cintu.
“In his key note address to the delegates, President Banda called for change of mind set and attitude among citizens to achieve positive results.” – I absolutely agree with this. Political bickering and insults will not get us anywhere. I also agree with the comment about helping small businesses but government needs to step in and allocate tax breaks and other incentives to allow small business to grow. It’s not enough to simply say support small business when they are taxed left, right and centre, or when employees can milk them of money through the Industrial Relations Court even though they infringed their contracts. Private business is our only hope of propelling the economy forward – it increases tax revenues, employs people, and encourages initiative and competition. On a final…
note, what the heck is Chiluba doing at the Indaba? However meaningful his contribution may be, we are in this mess largely because of his corrupt and careless presidency.