‘Ambition doesn’t deliver outcomes,’ Economists urge govt to ensure Grow Zambia benefits households

He said the success of the agenda should ultimately be measured by whether it created jobs, increased household incomes, reduced poverty and improved quality of life, rather than by economic growth statistics alone.

EAZ said the eight targets should be properly costed, sequenced and incorporated into the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, with clear and measurable output indicators.

Musantu also called for the targets to be linked to the aspirations of Vision 2030, particularly sustained economic growth, poverty reduction and improved access to water, education and healthcare.

He said the government should ensure that economic gains reached rural households, women, young people and small businesses.

“Without deliberate action on these fronts, Zambia risks a scenario in which national output rises while poverty, informality and inequality remain stubbornly unchanged,” he said.

On agriculture, EAZ proposed regional crop specialisation and stronger cooperative aggregation to improve access to finance and create employment in rural areas.

The association also urged the government to address licensing, electricity and water constraints in the mining sector, strengthen local-content measures and support the formalisation of artisanal mining.

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