By CHILA NAMAIKO –
A ZAMBIAN diplomat Anthony Mukwita, has said Zambia’s unique reputation as an investment destination and a politically stable country has inspired more foreign investors and donor community support.
Some independent studies by renowned organisations among them, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Forbes, have also revealed that Zambia was a haven of investment with President Edgar Lungu working hard to foster peace and unity.
Mr Mukwita who is Charge d’ affairs at the Zambian mission in Stockholm, Sweden, said Mr Lungu’s commitment to national duty was increasing investors’ confidence in the country.
“What people know about Zambia outside is that, it is the country you ought to invest money in, if you want your investment to be safe,” he said.
Mr Mukwita said this on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)’s Sunday interview programme on Sunday evening.
He said, although Zambia, like any other nation was faced with some economic challenges, the country had remained a thriving investment destination inspiring investors.
He said the current global economic meltdown in which Zambia was not spared, could be attributed to growth reduction in China, one of the largest copper importers.
“The IMF has downgraded the global Gross Domestic Product growth three-times in a year while China’s growth has experienced the slowest growth in 25 years. If China’s growth slows as our biggest partner that buys our copper, we inevitably have to feel the pinch, we are not an Island,” he said.
He praised President Lungu for scoring many economic successes citing the US$4 billion investment in the energy sector, a development which was creating numerous local jobs.
Other achievements were, the successful delivery of a people-driven republican Constitution to the people of Zambia, providing a stimulus package for retrenched miners on the Copperbelt, on-going upgrading of 8000 km of roads countrywide, and construction of 650 health posts.
“All these are milestone achievements under President Lungu that makes it easier for us as diplomats to market the country abroad,” he said.
He hailed the Swedish government for its monetary support of half a billion Kwacha in grant aid that would help Zambia provide quality health services.
Zambia and Sweden enjoy a cordial bilateral relationship particularly after Mr Lungu met that country’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofvan twice at the African Union meeting in Ethiopia and at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.
Mr Mukwita was confident that Zambia would overcome its economic challenges through support and collaboration with many other nations.