Listen to the 1.86m voters also, economist urges
By Ludia Ngwadzai
ECONOMIST Kelvin Chisanga says the 1.86 million votes secured by National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile represent a significant section of the population whose economic concerns cannot be ignored.
Chisanga said in a statement President Hakainde Hichilema should not ignore the concerns raised by the 1.8 million voters who did not vote for him as he begins his second term.
He said the vote tally should serve as a reminder to government that delivery should be inclusive.
“At the same time, the 1.86 million votes secured by opposition [candidate] Brian Mundubile represent a significant section of the population whose economic concerns cannot be ignored. This is a clear sign that we must work out practical interventions,” Chisanga said.
The election result had given Hichilema a strong mandate to take Zambia’s economic transformation to the next level.
Hichilema secured 2,965,326 votes against Mundubile’s 1,856,217.
Chisanga said the outcome sent a clear message that the focus should now shift from political competition to economic delivery.
“The first term was largely about stabilising the economy through debt restructuring, fiscal consolidation, lower inflation and rebuilding investor confidence,” Chisanga said.
He said the second term should instead focus on translating those gains into jobs, higher incomes, stronger businesses and improved household purchasing power.
Chisanga said to deliver shared prosperity, government must prioritise sectors that directly affect livelihoods.
“Zambia must accelerate value addition in mining and agriculture, expand manufacturing, improve energy security, attract productive investment and strengthen local participation in economic activity,” he said.
He warned that success should not be judged only by macroeconomic data.
“The real measure of success in the second term will therefore not only be GDP growth or investment announcements. It will be whether ordinary Zambians can feel the economy improving in their daily lives. The first term was clear about repairing the economy. The second must be totally about delivering prosperity and economic effects on the ground level,” Chisanga said.
