Communications and Transport Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa says the increased number of motor vehicles in Zambia is a positive indicator that the country’s economy is growing.
Professor Lungwangwa said this development is due to government’s effective implementation of various social-economic policies.
He said the country could now boast of about half a million vehicles on its streets, indicating that the economy was growing and citizens were now in a position to afford buying vehicles of their choice.
The Minister said this in Livingstone recently when he met civil servants and heads of government departments to get first hand information on their concerns and challenges.
Professor Lungwangwa said Zambia was set to surpass other countries on the continent in terms of development due to its impressive growth rate.
He said the nation’s vision of turning into a middle income country by the year 2030 was imminent despite some critics claiming that government had not achieved any tangible results in terms of implementing developmental programs.
Professor Lungwangwa urged civil servants to continue implementing government’s developmental programs if the country was to sustain and subsequently increase its rate of economic development.
ZANIS
Lungwangwa you are so glib. All these motor accidents is because of congestion on roads. The accident that just killed 13 young people was a 26 sitter vehicle which was loaded with 45 passengers.
Work on improving and building more roads and proper inspection of vehicles not just blabbering because every ichisasa is on the road. Ubupuba bulecita nokusempauka!
More cars, more accidents. Now that you are aware that the number of cars on Zambian roads have increased, take measures to prevent accidents and illegal driving. Its shocking when you go to these night clubs and you see a guys dead drunk with car keys in his hands. Do something and protect innocent lives. If the police wants to make money, hang around night clubs on Friday and Saturday nights in civil clothes and apprehend drivers who stagger to the drivers seat … Night clubs in USA are full of cops and so people know that the most stupid thing to do is drive under the influence, try it here and you will see the changes
Improved roads, stiffer traffic regulations are what we need to celebrate about not the number of cars on the roads. Are these cars road worthy. Do they go inspection year after you to maintain their status. These are things that must be done before celebrations. Cars that are not rad worthy shoud be removed.
Imwe finkonsa mitwe how many times are we going to tell you that the seemingly high number of cars on our basic road network isn’t a sign of Economic growth. Please talk about employment rate and other economic indicators not cars please. Most of them aren’t even taxed, insured nor road worthy.
It not the sign that the economy is booming, one can buy a car for 1000 dolars from japan now
Someone tell these PF dander heads that more vehicles mean more fuel attendants, more mechanics, more spare parts shops, translating into more employment and reduced poverty. Add to that the comfort of kwenda bwikele for the owners and hitch hikers.
Am also wondering how dull these kaponyas can be… They don’t see an economic opportunity in this sector of the economy. They are also deliberately forgetting that it’s not only in this sector where we can see positive gains… talk of agriculture, finance, construction, mining, tourism and manufacturing these sectors have seen upward movements in growth. You would wonder what these PF kaponyas are on??? It’s seems there support is so sentimental.
For a second hand car to cost $ 1000, that surely must be scrap value from place of origin. I think we should not be content with what others have discarded – salaula. Let us demand for better for we surely deserve better. This is irrespective of which party is holding power
I wonder what will happen to lungwangwa after mmd is booted out cos he has stopped thinking like one with a phd one wonders what variables he used to arrive at such declarations cant he see the poverty that is driving young men into car deals? stupid ***** .
Which econmic growth you son of a gun? Don’t you realise that these cheap vehicles are being dumped on the Zambian soil?
#6. Do you send children to school to be mechanics and petrol attendants
We need brand new cars and fast trains not 2nd hand junk cars in the city.
petro attendant is employment according to MMD
Very foolish Lungwangwa. You have betrayed your people in Western Province. Your political party is killing your people in Western province, and you have kept quiet. Sebana njikute politics.
Build more roads in Zambia !!
Irrational thinking by PF cadres beats anything……….jeez.one wonders where to start from….
These junks on the road have no environmetal credentials. THINK…
Wow Professor, I am not necessarily sure that the economics is adding up here. More cars on the roads means more development? Let’s try and put things in context, I cannot even remember the last time that the country commissioned the building of new roads, Govt continues to fund the repair and upgrade of existing roads with limited expansions that have failed to keep up with the # of cars on the road today. The result is heavy traffic congestion, particularly in the capital causing delays = lost time = losses in earnings/income for time sensitive transactions = losses for the economy. I am not buying the petrol attendant and spare parts shop argument. If someone has an alternative theory to this please share so that we can all learn.
Prof Lungwangwa, please stop playing politics. It’s amazing how seemingly intelligent Zambians can reduce themselves to quacking ducks, all for political expedience. The number of vehicles is no way a measure of a sound economy. Tell us about the unemployment(formal) rate. Give us the contribution of Zambians to GDP. Tell us the number of Zambians living below the poverty datum line. Tell us how many Zambians have access to good health care. Don’t show your ignorance sir.
Cars can’t be a good economic growth indicator dull MMD chaps,but unemployment levels,good housing and sanitation,acess to quality social services and high per capita income among other good indicators. Most vehicles on our roads are owned by afew people from the upper strata. Now I understand why Rupiah thinks he has done well,so he is counting cars on the roads.
Viva Sata come 2011.
If Sata is elected, every Zambian will be driving a brand new BMW in 90 days! Of course more cars on the road is a sign that economic growth because people have the money to actually buy the cars as well as run them. If the number of Zambians able to afford to buy a $1000 second-hand car from Japan is increasing surely that is a step in the right direction? It means that people have more disposable incomes period. Even in rich countries people buy second-hand cars. Lets not forget that no matter how rich a country gets, not everybody in that country can be a CEO which means that you will still need mechanics and petrol station attendants.
Zambia’s economic indicator. What about number of people walking or jogging, what will that indicate? Number of boats indicates what again? What about bicycles? What about the number of drunks? What about the shortage of burial plots? Awe but pa ZED pabali insamushi.
This man is dull. My fiance and myself were laughing with that headline. Another example why I think there are lots more dull ministers than the ones that should be there. Zambian men at ‘most’ can embarass themselves, I am glad I chose a scottish man. Thanks
#20….Mushota, is your fiancée a true Scott or just an immigrant like you? If so true Scotts wear kilts without underwear…let us know…have fun
If Sata is elected, every Zambian will be a homosexual in 90 days. This is our policy in PF to allow people to marry each other as long as they are in love whether same sex or not. It is development to have people choosing the type of marriage. In 90 days we will have to get more money from the west by allowing homosexuality in our country. Viva PF. Donchi Kubeba.
What an *****! You think you can measure the wealthy of a country by the number cars on the road? Have you considered why their are many road accidents in the country, the so called new cars in the streets are not new, they have been scrapped in Japan and other developed countries. In simple terms they are not road worth. You can’t go around praising death traps,which people are driving and dying in numbers. The death rate is so high for a country like Zambia, these are the issues you be talking about and trying to find the solution to this major problem. Having wrong people in ministerial positions is having a negative impact on the development of the country
@ Mushota, is it the Scottsh man who is dull for choosing you who has no identity or yourself? You are really suffering from inferiority complex my dear. You are very dull and u are not ashmed of yourself. I cant blame you because you are out of you mind. Just let the Scottsh man enjoy.
More cars,Prof Lungwangwa,also mean a higher import bill adversely affecting our balance of trade which is healthy now with surpluses.Our oil import bill will grow more and more with additional cars which will need more spares imported.One major reason the US always has a huge trade deficit is the high oil import bill.Add to that the coming gridlock on Lusaka’s streets which i wish you’d visit Nairobi’s jams to see how serious its going to be for us with our poorly designed roads.
Ya Mwe bantu Twa Chula. This NO. 20 Mushota prostitute is back. I wish her period never finished.
Napenene ukutali uyu Mushota na ba fiance bakwe!!
#26 I didn’t know she was only experiencing that thing, someone reported that Mushota was arrested????
We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution.
Enable us to purchase new cars baba. Not ma 5th hands!
Dull prof at it again!
Improve the road network, should we all go through Lusaka to connect to other provinces?
Enable Zambians to buy new cars, why should we be crucified for buying cars under 10 years old!
Prof these keep japan clean cars?of coarse now that there was an earth qeke,you expect cars with radio active material.We want to buy cars from show rooms like toyota zambia,cfao nissaan,isuzu,pilatas etc. The gov in south africa burned the importation of secondhand cars years ago.why should zambia be a dumping ground for used cars?we want the fiat and land rover plants back in zed so to assemble new cars and create proper employment.
and we call such people professor,no wonder I have lost respect for these titles,if you got a title,you have to prove you are worth it. This man’s reasoning is very blurred…Zambians can afford cars of their choices? silly,you tax 2005 models so high that people go for 1995 models which just increase pollution in the country. Other countries like Namibia have policies to prevent their countries from becoming damping sites for old vehicles..and yet you suckers are busy chasing for carbon tax when you are responsible for the pollution by encouraging old vehicles.
Same as sayin economy is doin fine because lots of people can now buy SALAULA
I have to agree with the sentiments expressed by the majority. He should know better than to be so condescending and it smacks of complacency on his part. A shame as he should know better. He really ought to be talking about Government policy on the transport sector and possibly the car industry in Zambia. Second hand cars, while welcome, cannot possibly be the ultimate aspiration of a Govt, even and LDC like Zambia. That said I think he is right to suggest that life is relatively better and these cars are a crude, albeit, controversial indicator. Some will disagree but there is progress, but let us guard against complacency.
That statement is appropriate to other countries eg SA were vehicles are manufactured internally. How can you be proud of junk being dumped in your backyard? Shallow thinking.
If a professor can think like that, what about cadres like william banda?
More cars on the road but renewing of drivers licenses is taking too long, I don’t know what is happening. I have been driving for the past 11 years and my license expired last December and the same month I applied and paid for a renewal and each time I go there I am told it is not yet ready. My job envolves moving around and each time the provisional expires I have to have it endorsed for a months extention. That is why Zambia can not develop in some areas.
This is how dull some proffessors can be.You are letting us down big man,Think on how you will make the road since vehicles have increased.In 1964 we had the same roads and few vehicles on the road.Today we have the same roads and many vehicles on the road.Now that it is like this,wat are you doing about it as a minister?
What is this Lungwangwa a professor in? Some one tell me because his thinking is soo shallow that i serious doubt his credentials.
Your Money at Work. Cwe-cwe-cwe
Mr Lungwangwa, first, U might need to do something about that mass of fat you’re carrying. Secondry, those so called cars u’re talking about are those exellent air polluters which the Japanese govenrment has banned in their county (thanks to their stiff regulations). Thirdly, improve on the (eyesore of) roads in the country, dont just be a cadre.
Zambians driving?so are these cars for mobility or for luxury??i prefer zambians to diversify from this culture of buying used cars from japan and move on to buying trucks establish a transport company or buy tractors,combine harvester for faming or either a Grader,Damper,
Tipper for mining and road construction.This is the area Zambians have neglected and created room for foreigners like chinese nationals who come with such equipment and take most of the contractual works offered by Govt.so wake up Zedians Pacro & Banks are still open.
Prof. These cars are not for productive purposes but luxury. Its all consumption and worse still most of them are bought from bank loans at high interest rates reducing their disposable income.
I would have been happy if this motor vehicles were coming direct from the assembly line to this roads on some used and unwanted cars and you say that is development, what a shame!
More cars so what. these are just death traps. The Govt should get back to old days and ban the importation of salaula cars. Most Zambian chaps are just excited being behind the wheels otherwise these cars are not adding value to the well being of pipo. I would have appreciated if Prof. Lungwangwa stated that there are 5,000 tractors country wide.
Useless newz!!!Will people in rural areas eat cars?
Sadly, a similar remark was made in a neighboring country by a prominent person – that it was a sign of development! Africa, we have a long way to go!
#20 Mushota please twapapata, just stick to the subject and leave Zambian men alone. You are fond of diverting attantion you prostitute.One wonders how you met that guy who is using you for your survival. Zambian men are intelligent, caring, loving and responsible. Learn to be true to yourself. You must have been dumped by a Zambian man before due to your arrogance.
this is sad reading that a Minister decides to depart from the truth. Zambia as a nation we are lossing millions of dollas through the congestions on our roads since most the the time we are keeping cars running without any movement.a distance which should take ten minutes now taking 60minutes, 40minutes just burning fuel for nothing. So we are importing feul only to run stationary cars. What are the other costs to the economy (indirect cost) increased time to do business, increase stress on motorists (increased health bills), increased polution (climate change acceleration). What we need is true development mad MMD build morden roads. Go to Kenya and ask how they are doing this.
UK supports international day of phobia and transphobia. And Sata was recently there, it adds up!!!!!!!!!! What do others say I have just checked out uk in zambia face book and website pages http://www.facebook.com/pages/UK-in-Zambia/202148536471223; http://ukinzambia.fco.gov.uk/en/
TC I love you comment. hats down
Does it mean mechanics, are dull for you to discredit our careers,
foolish reasoning by so called minister
#31, You are very right. As a country we should not be proud because our roads are congested with salaula cars and we mistake that for development. # #37, the last time I checked Minister Lungwangwa was professor of Education. Please forgive him for reading economic development indicators the other round.
#50 friend yo best place is assembly plant. Mmd has no respect for you
Nutty and fake Professor
Zambia is now a big junkyard for sub-standard japanese cars and some minister is happy about it. God help us! is this economic growth mwebantu?
Got to agree with the minister here. sent a car to my mother I bought from Japan for $2500. It was to help her with school fees for the 8 nieces and nephwes she looks after.
Yes that is a sign of the economy developing because the car broke down within 4 months because of the excellent roads in Mansa. I had to send spares so could barely get it back on the road. The chap who drives it keeps dodging the police because a few things are missing. if cornered he only has to pay the police and off he goes.
Now that is development. All plums yapping from outside the country should shut it because our economy will soon be neck and neck with China’s.
Iam a very good mechanic. MMD has given us good business. No matter how your car is servicing is a must. Civil servants for the first time can afford a vehicle. 2nd, 3rd or 5th name it. It is just a start. There is after all nothing new. The metals used to manufacture new vehicles have been recircled… OoooH wa swaba. How do you speak Bemba to a Prof frm Kwa hae indeed you are a drunken Bemba chaps no wonder you cant rule..
there is something wrongs in zambian politics,look at chitala,mpombo,mulongoti jst mention few all those men make sure that rb wins the last elections and they discampaign sata like hell,those mmd poloticians wat they is to stay in power forever.sata is mmd product why we zambians we can’t see that the only change is H.H because the Man qualifies to at plot one.we marry young ladies because they are able to everything peferctly,now old woman can,t do anything there job is to advise,same apply to politicians old politician their job is to advise not work they can’t reason instead they will dosing in cabinet meetings.Is time for zambia to change viva hh hhh.
we should move away from those tribe politic especially we bembas coz we don’t respect other tribes sata does qualify to the president but coz we bembas we are too big headed ,we are busy supporting him then our country will go down forever,if we remove the bembe tribe from him Am tellling you sata is nothing.He is too old the job is to fatick it needs someone who think propely look at rb everthing is mess.viva HHHHHHH.
Cheap Japanese vehicles right ? Hmm….and he calls himself a professor ? What he doesn`t know is that sending those cheap vehicles to developing countries like Zambia is just a way for rich countries to find and use an alternative dumping site.Zambia comes in handy in that line.
# 58
mulenga alex or is it Hamulenga, you missed the article completely. It has nothing to do with HH, but everything to do with Prof. Lungwangwa calling the many imported second hand vehicles development! Ofcourse the many second hand cars are not a sign of development as the road network has literally almost remained the same, save for a few. The implication is that Zambians are burning more fule in congestions, lossing man hours worked, polluting the enviroment by gasses and in another 10 years a lot of scrap all over contaminating land and water. If anyone sensible sees this as a sign of economic development, I will be damned! Zambians need to buy more trucks, tractors, combine harvesters, ships (lake Tanganyika) etc. These are signs of economic development for vehicular machines!
# 50 think of making cars like in Iran ,China,Israel US.Britain are doing .
comment 58 n 59 you re telling the truth **** you
61,you are very silly coz you don’t accept the truth
driving or buying of second hand cars is not an indicator of economic development we chipubawe . Buying of new expensive hybride cars with minimal enviromental distruction is the real meaning of eco-dev .LAST KICKS OF A D…NG HORSE
This an insensitive comment/speech made by a careless MMD minister who is out of touch with what is happening on the grassroot/ground level.
Only MMD politicians and their relatives stealing money through illicit and corruptions deals are buying extra vehicles.
Go to shanty towns if you will find an ordinary Zambia driving as you are saying Minister!!!!!
Geoffrey Lungwangwa i thought as a professor you can not make childish and insensitive speeches like this one!!!
500,000 vehicles in a population of (say) 15 million, that’s one for every 30 men, women and child. I very much doubt that in the big cities. certainally not in the rural areas where there are not even roads. Where did this figure come from?
It saddens me to hear leader with titles like Prof giving such a shallow analysis about the direction the country is taking. No doubt Zambia has made steps in the right direction economically, however that can not be seen at grass root because the corruption that RB and allowed and is part of of. Besides, work on the road net you guys. It’s fun driving on those roads in LSK anymore.
There could be a lot of cars yes, but surely that does not imply boost in economy! Develop roads, make all towns attractive, not only lusaka should be seen to be doing well. More over these cars are sikolokolos, when you visit some parts of zambia you literally get chocked by fumes, not from the mining fumes like before but from these rotten cars on the roads. Mr Minister is a big disappointment kwena.
Let us all get fed up with this mediocrity. What we need is improved leadership who will think about the people and not themselves and this ecomony will improve a great deal
#16 
I am proud to see guys like you who think outside the box and allow logic to prevail.Unlike,those sons of a cheap prostitutes called Patriot and Snr Citizen at the embassy who keep calling a black pot white, thinking it will turn white.As at yesterdays statistics of the World Bank,8% of Zambians have bank a/cs,19.7% have access to electricity,65% live on less than $2 a day,73.8% unemployment.This indeed is a great achievement by the MMD in just 20 years.We have to realise that the IMF will always praise corrupt LDCs because they want business.They are uncomfortable with Chinese presence in Africa becoz they are losing business to cheap Chinese loans.The IMF used to praise Mobutu the same way they are doing to RB and look at DRC today.Look at the quality of Zambian education today
The last President of Brazil performed wonders in Brazil and yet he had very humble educational background but had leadership skills.The fact that Bwezani got a degree in economic history doesn’t make him a visionary leader.Look at Kagame and you see a visionary and serious Leader.Out of 13 million Zambians, there surely must be credible leaders out there who can do a better job and ove the country forward.There is no infrastrucure in Zambia, you have a bumper harvest but no storage facilities, build schools without Teachers,hospitals without trained medical staff.RB is a joke and an alcoholic
In Singapore and most Asian countries, any car that is over 5years old is removed from the road.There are a lot of road accidents in Zambia today than at any other time.Traffic police are corrupt, Car fitness tests are rigged,RDA is packed with cadres and the list goes on.Yet we have a Prof who thinks this is development indeed.Railway network is non existant,,73.8% are unemployed, the nation is ravaged by the AIDS pandemic and yet the GRZ is pre-occupied with demonising the opposition instead of addressing these challenges and Snr Citizen & co are busy licking RBs anus.What a shame