Rebirth of Economic Reason ...

I have been been delighted with the sudden introduction of reasoning in our approach to economic matters of the country. For once we look at issues in the media and hear people talk using the best possible aspect of reason and economic understanding as possible. Talk is now based on issues and not tissues!

Look at how the issues of Zamtel, Debasing or the Kwacha, Corruption fight. We have as a country looked at these issues professionally and people who didn't know about them, have been educated. That's how we should handle matters that we face each day.

I hate the political talk that was all over Facebook with no logic on the matters at hand but behaving like total cadres. I think we could have done better with economic issues. We could have addressed the issues of weak tax revenues. Lack of employment and what can be done by those in authority to bring down the unemployment rate. Inflation rate (or has that now been pushed to the day we change to the debased currency?).

Infrastructure Development

What do we need to work on? I hate going to the airport which looks like its not the biggest airport in the country. Shouldn't we be thinking about building or upgrading our airports? Why not 3 terminals - at the least!

We badly need roads and this will boast our production and exports. Which roads should be first and why? We all know its expensive to maintain roads, so why not introduce toll-gates on roads to be constructed. Would actually encourage private sector to be involved in infrastructure development, especially when we eliminate the "public-ness" of some infrastructure like roads through introduction of toll chargers which will handle the issue of excludability even if there is still a non-rivalry element - all things equal of course :)!

Budgeting??

How come we have supplementary budgets all the time? Is it a failure to plan the budget? Are things being included with no budget line all the time? What has the constitution said about all this? Where are the laws and rules related to budgeting? I have not heard a soul talk about that. And I believe even the parliament over-sight on monies of the country should be strengthened further! Have we forgotten how money was used to construct and maintain roads which parliament was not told about? Is it such a short time that these issues have disappeared? We need a check on political hand in cash of the country, let them be involved in political direction. I really need to hear this as it will help our Kwacha economics in its movement and being!

Kwacha Backed

I know this issue is a thorn to some people but we need to address the kwacha. Not the political aspects as I never wish to divert to politics on this blog! But the economics of the kwacha. I believe this is the only thing that is important - to me anyway! If we work on making our Kwacha economics better, we will focus our attention on demand stimulating of kwacha backed goods (my attempt at making Zambian production a kwacha issue). The country will aim at being better in production, consumption of kwacha backed goods, getting a fair share of the mineral worth, etc. This is a way of addressing the weaknesses in our approach to economic issues and will make sure we put in place policies, infrastructure, rules and ideas to work for and produce kwacha backed goods! Proudly Zambia - that's Kwacha backing!

We need this rebirth of reason to be channelled to and focus on kwacha backed ideas, goods, services, policies, etc