I will, from time to time, be using my mobile phone to blog as I only seem free on the phone (android phone's blogger app works wonders). My first blog starts with what I consider three best thing to come to the Zambian economy.
Many will talk about what the budget has not addressed for their political needs, but I'll look at what it has and what these mean for the economy.
1. Duty Free for Capital Goods and Equipment
2. Development of Water Ways
3. Revenue Collection of Statutory Bodies
Duty Free for Capital Goods and Equipment
No country can ever talk about development without investing in capital goods and equipment. I believe this is the rationale used to come up with such a move. Therefore, it is expected that the country is aiming at repositioning itself as a manufacturing and industrial nation. There is great belief in investment in manufacturing. I believe this year's budget will address some of the things I have been complaining about all this time. The need to move from a "mall" oriented country to an industrial base ready to produce whatever the country desires and more. So the removal of duty on capital goods and equipment will bring re-energized approach at manufacturing - at least thats what I expect.
Truly, thats one thing that has been lacking for some time in Zambia. We need to focus on development ideas that put manufacturing in the fore front. We can't expect job creation from gov, but we can push the private sector in implementing desirable outcomes in job creation.
I strongly believe this is a measure that has come timely for this country to pick up on developmental side of our economy.
Development of Water Ways
How bad is our water ways? Have you ever seen how people using rivers and lakes for transportation purposes?
I think Government's initiative to look at water ways is welcome. I actually want to be able to move in yacht with no worries, not those banana boats that are all over. I actually look at using that in the same way as bunji jumping! Its for dare devils!
Seriously, this is an opportunity for those involved in tourism and live in areas close to lakes and water bodies to invest in boats and yachts so that value addition is brought to our water ways and a livelihood created for people through tourism activities on our water bodies. after all, we have the largest chunk of fresh water bodies in SADC. Its about time we used them to bring money and jobs for our people.
So we can now all go out there and get the gear for some water fun.
Revenue Collection of Statutory Bodies
No one single matter has been on my mind for a long time like this one. I always think its better for a family with four salaries to utilize better use for its income to budget together so they can contribute little from the three. when however, one contributes and the rest choose how to use the money, that is actually far from planning.
But that's how things were in government. You have people making money and hiking their pay while the rest of Government has to share the little money they had. We ended up with massive buildings for a board, when Ministries don't even have a coat of paint on their walls. What kind of government would allow that?
We should harmonize this situation and allow government to run effectively. You can't expect government officials to operate effectively when they are paid low and an authority under them has officers getting over K70million, more than 10 times more than their principle officers. That is a recipe for not only corruption, but failure of the system.
This measure as far as I'm concerned, will make this government produce better than expected results.
Conclusion
Overall budget proposals so far are great. I think, with proper implementation of this, we expect changes in our economy in years to come. We just need to organize our manufacturing sector and develop water ways to improve people's livelihood and encourage tourism.
Many will talk about what the budget has not addressed for their political needs, but I'll look at what it has and what these mean for the economy.
1. Duty Free for Capital Goods and Equipment
2. Development of Water Ways
3. Revenue Collection of Statutory Bodies
Duty Free for Capital Goods and Equipment
No country can ever talk about development without investing in capital goods and equipment. I believe this is the rationale used to come up with such a move. Therefore, it is expected that the country is aiming at repositioning itself as a manufacturing and industrial nation. There is great belief in investment in manufacturing. I believe this year's budget will address some of the things I have been complaining about all this time. The need to move from a "mall" oriented country to an industrial base ready to produce whatever the country desires and more. So the removal of duty on capital goods and equipment will bring re-energized approach at manufacturing - at least thats what I expect.
Truly, thats one thing that has been lacking for some time in Zambia. We need to focus on development ideas that put manufacturing in the fore front. We can't expect job creation from gov, but we can push the private sector in implementing desirable outcomes in job creation.
I strongly believe this is a measure that has come timely for this country to pick up on developmental side of our economy.
Development of Water Ways
How bad is our water ways? Have you ever seen how people using rivers and lakes for transportation purposes?
I think Government's initiative to look at water ways is welcome. I actually want to be able to move in yacht with no worries, not those banana boats that are all over. I actually look at using that in the same way as bunji jumping! Its for dare devils!
Seriously, this is an opportunity for those involved in tourism and live in areas close to lakes and water bodies to invest in boats and yachts so that value addition is brought to our water ways and a livelihood created for people through tourism activities on our water bodies. after all, we have the largest chunk of fresh water bodies in SADC. Its about time we used them to bring money and jobs for our people.
So we can now all go out there and get the gear for some water fun.
Revenue Collection of Statutory Bodies
No one single matter has been on my mind for a long time like this one. I always think its better for a family with four salaries to utilize better use for its income to budget together so they can contribute little from the three. when however, one contributes and the rest choose how to use the money, that is actually far from planning.
But that's how things were in government. You have people making money and hiking their pay while the rest of Government has to share the little money they had. We ended up with massive buildings for a board, when Ministries don't even have a coat of paint on their walls. What kind of government would allow that?
We should harmonize this situation and allow government to run effectively. You can't expect government officials to operate effectively when they are paid low and an authority under them has officers getting over K70million, more than 10 times more than their principle officers. That is a recipe for not only corruption, but failure of the system.
This measure as far as I'm concerned, will make this government produce better than expected results.
Conclusion
Overall budget proposals so far are great. I think, with proper implementation of this, we expect changes in our economy in years to come. We just need to organize our manufacturing sector and develop water ways to improve people's livelihood and encourage tourism.
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