THE pace at which Zambia emerges from being a least developed country (LDC) will have significant impact on the type of development finance Zambia can acces and where it can be used.
United Nations resident co-ordinator in Zambia Kannisaid the recently ended 4th Conference for Least Developed Countries in Turkey, Istanbul closed with a number of recommendations seeking to halve LDCs from 48 to 24 in the next ten years.
She said for Zambia this “points to a changing development finance landscape for the country, where the traditional sources and uses of Official Development Assistance (ODA) see a transition.”
She noted that ODA will flow more to areas in patterns that follow the middle-income countries – for more targeted interventions that look to address issues of inequity and exclusion, to better access global and regional public goods, and for niche areas of market development and job creation.
During the conference Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane revealed that Zambia is expected to graduate from being a LDC to a middle-income country and expects a gradual phase-out of certain types of aid following an increase in per capita income from US$330 in 2001 to about US$1,200 last year.
Ms Wignaraja also says newer forms of ODA, including that which flows through public-private partnerships and market-driven instruments such as climate financing will also become the norm for Zambia.
She said the second implication for Zambia’s progression can change the fundamentals of economic drivers of growth for the country and Zambia will have to become more competitive.
During the 4th LDC conference, LDCs’ delegates including Zambia, voiced the need to have greater access to international markets and appealed to the developed world for support in building the capacity of their public and private sectors’ economic and social institutions.
This demand was incorporated into key recommendations of the conference and developed countries have been advised to effect timely implementation of duty-free, quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all LDCs in line with Hong Kong declaration by the World Trade Organisation ministerial in 2005.
The West has also been urged to make more efforts for early conclusion of the Doha Trade talks.
She said with 46 percent of Zambia’s population under 15, realising the Vision 2030 lies in investing in its people and institutions to raise its bar on human development coupled with improving the quality of education, sharpening entrepreneurship skills and opening up markets so competition can thrive with government oversight.
She also noted that in the last 10 years the country has experienced sustained and significant economic growth, averaging over 5 percent adding that while this has pushed progress on some fronts such as in infrastructure development and primary school enrolment, the benefits must now be focused on improving the lives of the rural and urban poor.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Visionary leadership like never seen in Zambia before. Besides delivering unprecedented historic levels of development in Zambia, the MMD administration is also planning for our children and our children’s children. The economy is no longer stagnant but on a growth path. Therefore it makes sense that Zambia will one day graduate from being an LDC. Good job govt.
Mr Capitalist, I like reading your posts; if only to understand what ignorance means. Being able to post comments means that you air your opinion, and substantiate that opinion – not paraphrasing what the article says and even then getting wrong. The vies expressed by Ms Wignaraja are cautionary; reminding Zambia that the increase in per capita income will elevate Zambia into a category of countries that are not eligible for concessionary financing. Zambia should therefore, take active measures to ensure that it develops key areas like human capital to remain competitive. Indeed the Minister confirms that the growth in GDP means that this is likely to happen. In simple economics, the growth in GDP does not equate to development or shared national prosperity!
@ Zambian
Zambia has been taking many measures to ensure that alternative sources of finance are found. Part of this has been to grow the economy, get a sovereign credit rating and take measures to fund the budget locally. Over 70% of the budget is funded locally today in comparison to the less than 30% in the 1990s.
The MOFNP has talked extensively on this topic. They have been making many statements on these issues. How you can call me ignorant, and yet miss these many measures is a mystery to me.
Mr Capitalist, I think you have missed my point. In your initial post, you talk about development taking place In Zambia. You however do not relate your definition of development to any internationally accepted development indicators other than the growth in GDP per capita. While GDP per capital is a measure of sovereign wealth, it nevertheless does not take into account the income distribution. In the case of Zambia, the levels of poverty are increasing, meaning that the majority of Zambians are not benefiting from national prosperity. There is NO plan for you children’s children as you claim; will they get better healthcare? Will they get better education? Will they be individually richer? Yes there is a growing middleclass of Chinese and other foreigners while Zambians remain poor!
@ Zambian
I am looking at the Human Development Index right now and from what I can see, the HDI has actually been improving and in fact, in 2009 and 2010, Zambia was above the Sub-Saharan African average. Now you have stated poverty is increasing in Zambia but the HDI indicates otherwise.
I focused on GDP Per Capita because the article focused on GDP Per Capita. You claim you’re an ardent reader of my comments. If so, then you should have noticed by now that I tailor my comments to the topic at hand and nothing else.
Mr Capitalist, you claim that the leadership is delivering ‘unprecedented historic levels of development’ but the reality is that the Zambian HDI is worse that at 1970 levels. Yes the HDI has been improving, but it STILL lags behind the SADCC average. Yes poverty is increasing, in Zambia and statistics back me up on this. You claim that you focused on GDP per capita, but even in your original post, you do not mention this, I only made an assumption!
When the wise and dedicated are in-charge, they wheather all storms and deliver unparalleled national prosperity. RB and MMD Nafuti Nafuti with unprecedented development. Excellent fiscal and overall policy leadership.
Whom are you kidding?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha visionary leadership, yaba MMD, Vera Chiluba? Talk of ignorance. Chifubu marketeer is now visionary leader of MMD. She does not even know which one is her left hand. Zambia is a joke.
Excerpt fanatical lazy bones in PFstill feeding on 90 days miracle drivel daily paddling empty bath tubs in market centers and street corners, every hard working and entreprising Zambian is busy unshackling self from poverty. Zambia is on the move and the dependence socialist utopia has been rejected.
#4 Kalos2121
I think it is you who is a full blown certified joke. Learn to read before you expose your ignorance. We all hate MMD but we have to be honest and objectives in our hate. This article is not about Vera Chiluba. It is about United Nations resident co-ordinator making an observation and please leave the madam out of it.
Isalute you Gershom she is Vera Tembo now
H.E Rupiah Banda President of all Zambians and his MMD administration tenaciously working for a vibrant, united, secured, prosperous, respected and self enhancing tomorrow Zambia.
…and this is the same pro-growth foundation plunders regrouping under the PF burner are vainly panting to destroy in their quest to pick up on plunder from where they stopped in 2002. Every Zambian says to hell with these cankerworms whose only skill is plunder and useless acts of aberration. Every voter know them as contemporary political scalawag heavy in vanity and Harold Camping Doomsday Prophecy drivel all without value to the common man’s socio-economic gain.
Hey Gershom, it is you who did not read what Senior Citizen wrote and who was responding to. Next time don’t call me joke. Otherwise I will tell you more than you can comprehend. Whose picture do you see above? Whose cabinet does she below to? When did we start discussing UN? Jokers.
Hey Gershom, it is you who did not read what Senior Citizen wrote and who was responding to. Next time don’t call me joke. Otherwise I will tell you more than you can comprehend. Whose picture do you see above? Whose cabinet does she below to? When did we start discussing UN? Jokers. Leave the madam out of it? Is she your madam?
Gershom, I mentioned your madam. I can see why you got mad. Nobody touches your madam Vera. Hope she is not too old for you. But all the same #1 put her in his MMD praise. So, your madam is game bwana. Bite me.
#9 Kalos2121
I think you have Gremlins or bugs in your head and eyes. See a Doctor to check both. Are you sure, we reading the same comment on #1? Everbody can clearly see that #1 did not mention Vera at all. You are the first one to mention her on this thread and if you can follow simple civility rules, I doubt if you are even worth my bite. You must be just one of those Kaponyas who hallucinate. Nobody from comments 1-3 mentioned Vera. It is your hallucinations that made you believe that #1 mentioned Vera
Oh and by the way MMD is NOT Vera Chiluba, just in case you need that basic education in logic that you used to abscond from in primary school
Nafuti Nafuti. ni RB batata
I think it is Kenneth Kaunda who once wrote that ‘ a nation of matriculated road sweepers has got nothing to be proud of’. This a typical case of Zambia. Being re-classified from LDC to what ever class when the majority of its citizens are living in record poverty is nothing to be proud of. The only development is in the pockets of few individuals. People shall not live on statistics. Stuff your GDP and what ever statistics up your asses, I need a job!!!
No 12 Learn to appreciate that development starts somewhere….
Tafisa nga meno yamu kanwa….
With your thinking no wonder you do not have a JOB
I wonder hat Vera had to say in this meeting because every time that cow opens its mouth, Zambia is embarrassed real big time. The woman is functionally illiterate and how any president could have her in his cabinet vexes me deeply. The next thing you will see is Sata appointing Kalusha “Ananymous” Bwalya as Speaker of Parliament or Chief Justice, elyo ati lunye lwakwa Noah bebele.
Name: Senior Citizen | Country of residence: ZM | Written: Thursday, 15 October 2009 (10:44
I have used many variables to reach this conclusion. Should Mugara lose, as a democrat I will salute him and his party with dignity, but then will retire from blog politics and my business. Instead, will enter active politics which has never been on my calendar beyond blogging during free times. But I vow MMD victory in Kasama is undebatable.
Name: Senior Citizen | Country of residence: Zambia | Written: Friday, 16 October 2009 (15:39)
21001Someone has asked “Hello Mr Senior Citizen-are you going to retire from blogging” Quote
ANSWER
I’m a man of my words.
Is it just me? Any good news attracts negative reactions from mostly opposition supporters. I’m wondering if the developed countries behave the same. Good news for the country is good for MMD, PF, UPND or any political path you follow. Furthermore, development is not about more money in pockets in months, it takes a lot of structures to realise increased incomes for individuals. Infact individuals are part of the equation with hard work unlike what some people would want you to believe leaving a lot of people to expect more money in their pockets without hard work. Yes politics is our responsibility but for me hard work and economic responsibility is paramount for uplifting a people from poverty. Get me right, I’m not saying all people in poverty are lazy but that hard work is essential.
No.12, calm down. What is your trade and why don’t you have a job? Hopefully you are not one of the unemployable i.e. lacking relevant skills. You need to examine your situation honestly and work out what you need to do to get a job. Such as relocate to another town, more studies including CV writing and interviewing skills etc. Get some advice from recruitment agents. Bitterness won’t take you anywhere. The country is developing economically and sadly we all still have to work hard to position ourselves for the opportunities. Good luck.
#15 and #19…spare number 12,,n i dont understand y u r against her coz her comments r in favour of the UN development news,,she was actually reacting to comment number 4..bloggers read comments b4 u react to others. Back to the story,,UN is the economic watchdog of zambia or any LDC and thank God they r impressd with our economy,this shows how prudent the govt policies have been and in the long run we ll be the kings of southern africa providing the RB admin continues..ofcourse they r staying.
The MMD administration of Mwanawasa and RB has done so well that now, it is possible for Mr Sata to deliver in 90 days. He could not have done this in 2001, but now the example of exemplary leadership has been set and the right foundations have been laid. No going back Zambia.
Zambia is dear to us patriots such that we will never pull our hearts and hands-off from from her satety, growth, unity and enduring stability. We have the moral, spiritual and constitutional duty to keep protecting her from unholy hands and dreams of plunders that have a record of ruining her with their natural failure. We will never see our beloved country slide or fall again in the hands of the same callous plunders that dragged the country into an abyss of RB’s administration is tenaciously taking her out. We shudder to see a day of more useless Merzf scandals, ICASA scandals, Oil Scandals, US $10 million shooting claims scandal and all the impunity that destroyed the foundation UNIP left behind to build on our national pride.
#16 Just remember that Vera was appointed by late LPM and not RB. RB has not just fired her.
By the way, how is her Hope Foundation performing at the moment? Anyone among the bloggers with an idea?
# 23, Hope Foundation was a scam. It is dead. Chiluba stole money from that foundation too.
Developing Zambia is not a one man’s job. RB’s primary job and any president for that matter is to safeguard the constitution. We have the responsibility to develop our land and create jobs. The roads are bad, what are we doing about it? Are we participating in any developmental programme been undertaken by our local authorities? Have we ever helped write a developmental proposal for a bid to access funds for say street lighting? Have we tried to apply are innovative minds to setup businesses creating employment? We see that taxes are not been redistributed properly but do nothing about that. We now have foreigners minting gold in places that we have run away from. The Indians, the Chinese, the Somalians…Why do want RB to do everything for us. Let’s all do our bit to develop Zambia.
I want to commend all the bloggers that have commented positively on Zambia’s development. We must separate hate from economic development. When Zambia scores successes I feel its reason enough for all of us patriots to be happy and commend those responsible for such achievements. Regardless of whatever party is in government, if they have done something good, we must commend them. It saddens me to see that In Zambia opposition political parties critcise all what the sitting government is doing. The role of opposition political parties is to work with the gvnt of the day by providing checks and balances, but what we see here is total chaos. The opposition do not know their role. We are wasting so much time on useless things instead of developing.