The Golden Party says Zambia needs a new economic order to respond and adapt to the new normal beyond short term economic stimulus packages recently prescribed.
Party President Jackson Silavwe says many countries in Africa, Zambia inclusive are experiencing economic shocks despite having recorded fewer clinical cases of Corona virus also known as Covid-19.
He said Zambia has registered multiple job losses, depreciation of kwacha against major convertibles such as the USD there by making businesses and the general cost of living a nightmare. Poverty levels have equally rocketed.
Mr Silavee said the assessments by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund show that the global economy has slowed down in growth in the year 2020 compared to the year 2019.
He said Global trade has slowed down as a result of the closure of borders and the lockdowns in major economies like the European Union (EU), China and the United States of America (USA).
“According to the Economic Commission for Africa(ECA), Corona virus blow to economic growth expected to drop from 3.2% to 1.8%. The secretary for ECA Miss Vera Songwe, further stated that the continents interconnectedness to affected economies of the EU, China and USA was causing ripple effects”, he added.
Mr Silavwe says the Zambian economy was projected to grow at 3.2%, it has now been revised be lower at around 2% as a direct consequence of the challenges facing the economy, chiefly due to the effects of the corona virus.
“Our major economic backbones such as the tourism and mining sector(s) have partially closed down. Hotels and lodges have recorded significant reduction in book rates. From 50% to less than 20% for the same period last year resulting in more job losses”, added Mr Silavwe.
He said Mining is one of the major contributo to the Zambian economy and a hub for employment for the Zambian youth.
Mr Silavwe said unemployment is already a major concern in zambia with both the private and public sectors hardly produces adquate jobs to cover the majority population especially new graduates.
He has called on the government of Zambia to initiate a solid long term economic plan in the COVID ERA beyond the recently announced short interventions.
Mr Silavwe said Zambia needs a grand economic RESET urgently to curb the adverse economic effects on our people.
“Further, we call upon the Economic Association of Zambia( EAZ) to hold an economic indaba that would look into the economy of Zambia critically during the Covid-19 economics. An economic Indaba held in good faith can provide solutions for a more resilient local economy for a prosperous Zambia”, he said.
A dreamer with no clue about wht he’s talking about. An economic conference is not something u call at short notice. It requires serious decisions about wht u want it to do at the end of it all. You need data on the status quo and the immediate past going back a few yrs. It’s no child’s play.
That’s not the solution, what Zambia needs is to federalize or better still split apart! Look at what happened with the thieving minister of health, he refuses to resign and all Luapulan “chieves” and politicians line up to support him in court. That’s their culture, thieving, we shan’t accept that as the norm, let’s just split Z.
All these Indabas and new economic orders, please…..we have global pandemic.
Let’s work together, not mistrust each other. Let’s stop creating problems.
If you are a politican UNITE THE PEOPLE. A new normal should be kindness, unity and looking out for each other not politiking. I really believe we need to reschedule elections for 2 years. To stop the violence and competition between parties.
Zambia needs new leaders, chapwa
Hoo so there is Golden Party?
Are they Gold diggers or what’s party all about?
WHEN WAS THIS PARTY FORMED? WHOSE VUVUZELA IS IT? IS IT NOT IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS THAT OF RIGHT MUSUNTWE OR REV. PWELE CHAMBA OR GHOST MULE?
Golden party kikiki
KZ,Stop laughing, you might end up with them .
Sponsored “Golden Party” creating more splinter groupings that only advantage the ruling party! Meetings to plan an economic path still the way forward? This is stagnation 50 years on the road! The animosity and polarization has dug too deep derailing attention to the economy! If the country is split and “Zambians” are asked to withdraw into their enclaves, peace will substitute the violence, no more finger pointing at ethnicity and tribalism for those alike and tolerant of each other will commune, internal and cross ethnic trading would flourish and how a central government gets funded would be by negotiation for each enclave would be responsible of its economy! There is no need to try to gather senses of reasonableness that we are all Zambians with equal rights when the likely…
We are tired of existing fake political parties founded on fake ideologies and misplaced economic policies involved in toxic politics but such if the golden party here can show a difference and offer alternative constructive criticism then we listen and see wether its a party of the future to replace those parties in oblivion Such new parties for democracy and alternative must be encouraged