Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction has commended the SADC heads of state for the recognition and political will demonstrated towards regional industrialisation at the just ended SADC heads of state summit in Harare.
CSPR Executive Director Kryticous Nshindano says CSPR hopes this commitment by SADC leaders will not be a mare political gesture.
Mr Nshindano has since called on President Edgar Lungu and the Ministry of commerce to take full advantage of this and ensure the country’s industrialisation and job creation strategy is actualised and more resources channelled to this.
He says CSPR believes this is the only way for promoting sustainable decent jobs and poverty reduction through the promotion of local participation in the economy especially SME’s.
Mr Nshindano notes that Zambia has been enjoying positive economic growth for over a decade now with no impact on poverty reduction and human development.
He says among the reason for this is the fact that this has been driven by foreign capital and weak industrial base coupled with high inequality.
Mr Nshindano explains that the country has continuously remained a net exporter of raw materials earning it marginal benefits with limited job creation capacity since most of the investment in the country is in mining, which is highly mechanised.
He states that this not only exposes the country to external risks due to fluctuations of the global markets but also undermines the country’s ability to diversify the economy.
He adds that this has made Zambia’s economy vulnerable and exposed to external factors as recently experienced with the falling copper prices and the depreciation of the kwacha.
Mr Nshindano says as a country with high poverty levels averaging over 60%, there is need to prioritise policies that are pro poor and benefit the majority leaving in poverty.