By Amos Sikaonga 
By Cecilia Chiluba
Minister of Finance and National Planning has observed that Zambia’s macroeconomic environment is showing remarkable signs of recovery from the devastating effects of the drought experienced in 2024.
According to Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, the stability signifies the sound economic reforms that government has been implementing since 2021.
Officiating at 2025 First Quarter National Development Coordinating Committee (NDCC) in Lusaka, Dr. Musokotwane said the steady progress is reflected in the country’s economic indicators such as the fourth quarter of 2024, which recorded a GDP growth rate of 8.6 percent, the highest quarterly growth for the year.
“While the annual GDP growth for 2024 stood at a solid 4.0 percent, these figures are not mere statistics, they represent the real impact of our policies and reforms on the lives of our people.”
“The gains we are witnessing stem from our deliberate and targeted efforts to strengthen key sectors of the economy,” Dr. Musokotwane noted.
He also observed consistent expansion in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, which continues to serve as a critical enabler of economic transformation and job creation.
Dr. Musokotwane added that investments in the construction sector, particularly at the sub-national level through the expanded Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations, have spurred local development and job creation.
“Similarly, the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors have attracted increased private investments, with strong public policy support, thereby laying a strong foundation for structural transformation. Equally important, the government has remained committed to investing in the social sectors.
“Through scaled-up social protection interventions, we are enhancing human capital and safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society. This holistic approach to development is central to the spirit and aspirations of the eighth national development plan (8NDP), that of leaving no one behind,” he said.
He emphasized the need for National Development Coordinating Committee to strengthen implementation mechanisms of the 8NDP, with only two years remaining before the plan reaches its conclusion.
Dr. Musokotwane urged the Committee to prioritize implementation of key programmes are adequately prioritized and ensure that resources are directed towards interventions with the highest potential for impact.
“An accelerated and focused approach to implementation is not just desirable, it is imperative.”
“2025 must be seen as a year of consolidation and momentum. It is the year to build on the foundation laid over the past years, to reinforce the partnerships we have established, and to scale up our efforts toward achieving the Zambia we all envision. This is not a time for complacency, it is a time for renewed commitment, for bold action, and for unity of purpose,” he remarked.
Cecilia Chiluba