Vice President Mutale Nalumango says government has successfully stabilised Zambia’s economy and is now focused on accelerating growth to ensure citizens begin to experience the benefits of the reforms undertaken over the past four years and 10 months.
Speaking during the “Let the People Talk” programme on Radio Phoenix in Lusaka, Mrs Nalumango said the country had overcome major economic challenges inherited by the current administration through difficult but necessary reforms.
The Vice President said the next phase of government’s agenda is centred on economic expansion, job creation and increased productivity across key sectors.
“We have grown the GDP, now it’s time to build on the gains. The next five years is growth, and that is when the people will start feeling the real effects of the work that has been done in the economy,” she said.
On the energy sector, the Vice President maintained that lasting solutions are now being implemented to remedy the electricity challenges that were being faced in the country.
She attributed the power shortages to years of underinvestment in electricity generation, compounded by the 2024 drought which exposed the country’s heavy reliance on hydropower.
The Vice President said government has since embarked on an aggressive energy diversification programme through investments in solar and thermal power projects to increase electricity generation and strengthen energy security.
“This team has thought through the problem and decided that Zambia will not continue to depend only on hydropower. We have gone into solar and other sources because this is a permanent solution for the country,” she indicated.
Mrs Nalumango also defended government’s mining policies, saying they have restored investor confidence, safeguarded jobs and increased revenue to the treasury through improved investment and production.
She reaffirmed government’s target of increasing annual copper production to three million metric tonnes, expressing optimism that output could reach one million metric tonnes by the end of this year.
Mrs Nalumango further dismissed claims that mining companies were not paying taxes, noting that the sector remained one of government’s biggest sources of revenue while supporting thousands of livelihoods.
“The policies are good for Zambia. We want these mines to grow because they create jobs, pay taxes and support many families. If you scare investors away, you lose jobs, revenue and opportunities for our people,” she said.
The Vice President further said employment creation remains a priority across all sectors of the economy, adding that government is committed to strengthening human resource capacity wherever growth is being recorded.
She explained that while recruitment in sectors such as education, health and the security wings often attract greater public attention because of the large numbers employed at once, government is supporting employment in all productive sectors.
On debt restructuring, Mrs Nalumango noted that the process had provided the much-needed fiscal relief.
Meanwhile, she dismissed assertions that government intends to remove presidential term limits through constitutional amendments, stating that neither Cabinet nor the UPND leadership has discussed extending the presidential tenure beyond the current constitutional provisions.
She added that in response to the high cost of living, the government has expanded social protection programmes, including free education, social cash transfers and Cash for Work initiatives, to cushion vulnerable citizens as the economy continues to recover.
She further said government remains committed to promoting inclusive development, including improving access to opportunities for persons with disabilities and addressing barriers that limit their participation in national development.
Mrs Nalumango also attributed the growth in international tourist arrivals to government’s visa reforms, saying the country is targeting five million tourist arrivals over the next five years as part of efforts to diversify the economy.
Meanwhile, the Vice President reaffirmed President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to fighting corruption, stressing that the anti-corruption drive targets both past and present cases without discrimination.
She urged members of the public to report suspected corruption and provide credible evidence to enable law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders.
“The fight against corruption is not targeted at the past. It is the past, present and future. President Hichilema has declared zero tolerance to corruption, and anyone with evidence should report it so that the law can take its course,” she said.
