Government has re-affirmed its commitment to stabilize the country’s fiscal environment to enable the financial markets provide impetus for growth.

Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary for Budget and Economic Affairs Mukuli Chikuba said government is focusing on growing the economy through key sectors in order to increase Foreign Direct Investment into the Country.

Speaking when he featured the Quarterly economic review discussion hosted by the Zambia National Commercial Bank, Mr. Chikuba said the Country’s economy is projected to grow by 3 to 4 percent in the medium term and that this should improve as Foreign Direct Investment continues to come into the Country.

“Part of the policy trajectory or the components that make up the policy trajectory from where we are going forward is in the first year to attain macro-economic stability and stabilize the fiscal environment so that in the medium to long term the financial markets can provide the needed impetuous for growth.

“We are stabilizing the economy because we want investments to come in and improve further our macroeconomic projection going forward. We expect the economy to grow by 3-4 percent in the medium term, “ he said.

FDI is coming back into the country will further these projections.

The Permanent Secretary pointed out that what has happened in the mining sector with First Quantum Ltd announcing its investment of $1.5 billion is as

a result of the stability that government has established.

Mr. Chikuba emphatically stated that for this sector to grow, there was need for FDI to come in.

And speaking during the same discussion, Bank of Zambia Head of Economics Jonathan Chipili said the positive shifts in the micro- economic environment of the country, the cost of borrowing is expected to be lowered.

Mr Chipili expressed optimism that this will trigger a positive impact on economic growth.

“With the shift in the macro-economic environment, borrowing costs should begin to come down. Despite remaining sticky, there is a bit of curvature in lending rates, pointing downwards.

“ With this, borrowers should begin to see the benefits, ” he said

Meanwhile, ZANACO Head Economic Research Patrick Chileshe said the Kwacha’s strong performance is keeping prices of imported consumer goods stable.

Mr Chileshe said that the trend is at the same time muting production costs adding that positivity in the economy is helping to counter capital flight risk from rising external interest rates.

“The exchange rate is the most important factor in Zambia’s inflation dynamics. Zambia’s consumer basket is heavily tilted towards imported consumer items, which are usually priced in US Dollar so when the currency is appreciating, the direct effects are that the kwacha price of imported items start going down, although sometimes there is inertia by traders who maintain the same prices,” he said.

The quarterly economic review discussion panelists consisted of Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary in charge of Budget and Economic Affairs, Mukuli Chikuba, Bank of Zambia ( BOZ ) Head of Economics Dr. Jonathan Chipili, ZANACO Chief Risk Officer Mutisunge Zulu and ZANACO Head Economic Research, Dr Patrick Chileshe.

This is according to a press statement released by ZANACO Head Communications Verona Nkolola.

First Lady Mutinta Hichilema says children living with Autism, just like any other child, have unlimited potential that must be fully developed and allowed to blossom.

Mrs. Hichilema noted that children living with autism need specialized developmental healing and nurturing techniques, specifically structures designed to lessen their physical limitations in order to make it easier for them to perform regular daily functions as well as fully utilize their abilities.

Mrs. Hichilema was speaking in Kabwe district during the ground breaking ceremony for the Caleb Centre for children living with autism.

The First Lady arrived in Kabwe to officiate at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a centre in Luasanse ward for children living with Autism.

 Provincial Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe led other government and UPND officials to welcome  Mrs  Hichilema  ahead of her official engagements.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition.

Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop.

People still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD.

People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.

There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people.

The abilities of people with ASD can vary significantly. For example, some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal.

Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others can work and live with little to no support.

Copperbelt Province Minister, Elisha Matambo has said that the government has put in place several macroeconomic fundamentals to revive the country’s economy.

Mr Matambo said the new administration has put in place a tax administration system that has given a positive investment signal that Zambia is ready for business in the mining sector.

Mr Matambo said this when Bank of Zambia Governor, Denny Kalyalya called on him at his office in Ndola yesterday.

He stated that strides have also been made to revive the economy of the Copperbelt stating that government is working with various stakeholders to revamp the industrial area in Ndola to create more jobs for the local people.

Mr Matambo said despite some industries not being operational, Copperbelt remains the engine of the country’s economy.

He commended Dr. Kalyalya and his team for ensuring that government’s agenda to revive the economy is attained.

Mr. Matambo cited the single digit inflation rate attainment, stability of the Kwacha and the friendly business environment as key macro-economic indicators currently prevailing.

And Dr. Kalyalya said he is pleased to note that a lot of economic activities are happening on the Copperbelt.

Dr. Kalyalya said an increase in economic activities is an indication of economic growth.

He is accompanied to the Copperbelt by his deputy operations, Francis Chipimo.

Zambia expects to increase its tobacco harvest by a quarter and generate $92 million from leaf sales at the close of the marketing season in September.

By August 12 2022, the country’s tobacco growers had sold 35 million kg of leaf through the approval sales floors against projected sales of 33 million kg.

Flue-cured Virginia accounted for 27 million kg and burley represented 6 million kg of the leaf sales.

Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri told the International Tobacco Growers Association’s Africa Congress in Lusaka that the sector had performed well during the season despite various headwinds coupled with low investment.

He said the government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment.

“The government is now in the process of enacting a new legal framework for the industry that will bring about effective regulation and foresee improved private stakeholder participation across the tobacco value chain,” said Mr Phiri.

Zambia’s eighth national development plan emphasizes crop diversification and increasing profitability among all actors within the value chain.

“The government is now in the process of enacting a new legal framework for the industry that will bring about effective regulation and foresee improved private stakeholder participation across the tobacco value chain,” said Mr Phiri.