It is heartening to hear that a party that is bent on overhauling the Zambian economy has announced that the country is aiming at diversifying the economy from dependence on copper mining to other sectors such as agriculture, energy and tourism.
While this is not news for us in the media, what is news is that it is coming from a working Government that has several projects to show for it.
The diversification song has been sang by all previous governments, albeit little effort to effect it to wean the country from its wretched dependence on copper.
Now that it is coming from the Patriotic Front, a pro-poor and progressive party, we believe the Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba who has not just said the country is aiming at diversifying but admitted that this can only be done with the assistance of all-weather friendly countries like Germany.
True to the minister’s observation, Germany has been one of Zambia’s major cooperating partners which had continued to support the country in various economic and social spheres such as good governance, public financial management, decentralisation for development and water sanitation.
Since the beginning of commercial mining of copper after it was accidentally discovered by William Collier who shot a Roan antelope and found green rocks where the animal had fallen indicating copper deposits, Zambia’s dependence on copper has been desperate.
Copper is responsible for major political and economic events in this country; from federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, removal of UNIP from power and several other events that have shaped the history of this country.
As the sole Zambia’s foreign exchange earner, there is urgent need for the country to enhance policies and programmes that will help to move away from this over dependence.
It is good to realise that authorities have now become conscious to the reality that the days of flourishing copper revenues are over since the mineral is a finishing asset.
The copper bowl is going on the empty level calling for drastic measures to find other sources of foreign exchange that can sustain the country.
We feel in future, Zambia should not only be associated with the Mosi Oa Tunya Falls and copper but become identified with several other commercial activities.
As things stand, when you mention Zambia abroad what comes to the minds of foreigners is copper.
This image can be changed with massive political will which has already been exhibited by the PF government through the foreign affairs Minister.
In any country, a mono economy is always tricky business especially when a country depends on a finishing asset like copper.
Readers would wonder why we are hailing the PF government’s pronouncement to diversify the economy by weaning it from copper.
Our trust in the PF government to effect practical diversification in this country is based on several other fulfilled developmental programmes that has seen the party deliver in areas like road construction.
It is for this reason that we feel the mere fact that the Foreign Affairs Minister has assured the country that the government would soon be steering the diversification boat from over dependence on copper to other sectors needs massive support.
There is really need for all stakeholders to put heads together and see how Zambia can wean herself from dependence on copper to other sectors such as agriculture, energy and tourism. OPINION