Chief government spokesman, Cornelius Mweetwa has announced that Cabinet has finally approved the proposal for a 24-hour economy. This is long overdue. As far as we can recall, the Chiluba administration had briefly ‘fantasied’ about the idea of a 24-hour economy but dropped the ball along the way, leaving many of our citizens high and dry!
Walks in a pragmatic politician with an impeccable business background and deep understanding of our economy….. he ensures that the concept sees the light of the day! Where are his roses?
This is the challenge we’ve with most of our opposition leaders…..they seem to have a penchant for opening their mouths anyhow even when they know they’ve little or nothing to say. One good example is Harry Kalaba who’s desperately trying to salvage his fast waning political career as we approach the day of reckoning.
Take for instance, what he’s written on his Facebook page: “You can’t open an economy for 24 hours when there is no economy to talk about. Where the economy operates for 24 hours, there is activity in that economy and people have money to spend.”
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy…..what sort of reasoning is this?
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for George Mtonga, a Zambian based in the US to put things into perspective. He offered the Citizens First leader a good lecture, “this economy produces $5.8B in reserves and has increased tax revenues from US$100B to US$ 250B. Your lack of understanding of economics is a critical part of why you can never make a good president!”
On another page that we follow, Chabwela Mwanza equally shared interesting insights. He offered, “the 24-hour economy is about creating an environment where businesses can operate beyond the traditional 9-to-5. That means more shifts, more jobs, and more productivity. It allows industries like healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and services to run round the clock, boosting economic output and attracting investment.”
We won’t pretend to be schooled in matters of the economy and delve deeper into the subject. We shall instead share a humble analogy easier for every Jim and Jack on the streets to comprehend.
Why is it that refugees from the Great Lakes region seem to be doing far much better than our people…..not in Kabulonga, but in shanty compounds even if they came to our country with nothing?
They fully understand the meaning of a 24 hour economy! While our people want to open their shops at 10 AM after nursing terrible HOs, and call it a day by 4 PM to go drinking or rush “kuma lodge,” their shops are already open at 4 AM. They’re keen to go on until midnight when they’ve ‘kolopad’ each and every coin! And today, they’re proud owners of properties and running thriving businesses everywhere while we keep ourselves preoccupied with mundane things like disappearing essential bodily parts!
As for those bringing up the issue of security, this is where the Zambia Police Service comes in. Instead of mounting unnecessary check points to go and eat Hungry Lion afterwards, we expect the IG to deploy them into the townships to conduct patrols using the CDF Landcruisers which Bally has given them.
Salute!
Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst
Zambezi
Harry Kalaba is becoming more irrelevant by the day
Zambians are looking for tangible and sound economic plans that are going to move people out of poverty including restoring the middle class which is dying under UPND. Simplistic things like 24 hour economy will not change anything, what with lack of liquidity in the market