Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia (AAAZ) has hailed the Government on the reported 14.3 percent increase in trade volumes for 2025.
According to Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats), the country’s total trade rose from K530.3 billion in 2024 to K606.3 billion in 2025, covering the period January to November.
AAAZ Communications Officer, Melbourne Mushitu, described the performance as a positive indicator of improving economic activity and a reflection of progress in strengthening trade relations, economic diplomacy, and market confidence.
In a statement issued to Money News, Ms. Mushitu said the growth reflects the positive outcomes of strengthened economic diplomacy, improved regional cooperation within SADC, and enhanced trade facilitation measures, including upgraded trade corridors and more efficient border processes.
“AAAZ commends the Government for these efforts, which are essential in strengthening trade performance and expanding market access for Zambian products,” she added.
She, however, emphasized that such progress should not remain limited to official announcements and statistics.
Ms. Mushitu said access to information is critical, therefore, citizens must be able to understand what the trade volumes mean for their livelihoods, businesses, and communities.
“Economic growth must translate into real improvements in people’s daily lives, including job creation, opportunities in cross border trade, income generation, and sustainable development,” she emphasized.
“While the overall trade figures show positive growth, AAAZ notes that the real test of this performance lies in the ability of ordinary Zambians to participate in and benefit from the trade economy.”
She stated that this includes ensuring that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), women, and youth-led businesses, as well as informal traders, have improved access to markets, finance, and trade information.
“This also requires continued investment in infrastructure and trade facilitation to reduce the cost of doing business and support competitiveness. In this regard, AAAZ calls on Government to continue promoting transparency by providing simplified explanations of economic data in citizen-friendly formats,” Ms. Mushitu stressed.
She also encouraged the media to take keen interest in economic reporting, ensuring that trade and policy matters are explained, interrogated, and made accessible to the public.
“Furthermore, AAAZ urges Zambian citizens to stay engaged and informed, because every economic figure has real implications both positive and negative for the lives of ordinary people,” she urged.
“AAAZ further notes that the trade figures referenced in the Government announcement are based on data from ZamStats, and we urge continued publication of economic data in a timely and accessible manner.”
