Equity

Last Friday saw the Economics Association of Zambia and several collaborating NGO’s host an evening meeting on Equity, Growth and Development.

Prominent speakers from the University of Zambia, the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission, the Zambia Development Agency, and the Zambia National Tender Board presented the various challenges before the nation in respect o empowering Zambians and sustainably growing the economy.

The panel of experts highlighted the development initiatives within their institutions and were quick to point out that the public, business associations, NGO’s and any other interested parties were sincerely invited to submit recommendations, concerns, advice and criticisms that would assist in tailoring the programs towards Zambia’s development needs.

Many participants in the full house were concerned about access to resources by the ordinary person, and not least on the resource list, was access to affordable financing. Teachers, the youth, the disabled, the average employee, and the small scale business person lamented on this issue as a cross cutting setback on Zambia’s economic development program. In response to this outcry, both the Zambia Development Agency and the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission conceded that both institutions were putting in place some funds to support Zambians and Zambian businesses.

The question that every Zambian is grappling with is the question of Equity. What Equity does the average citizen have in the developing national economy? What Equity does the average Zambian have in the decision making process on economic development policy?

The answer may lie in the understanding that every Zambia has the responsibility to engage in some economic activity to support themselves and their families. Furthermore, every Zambian has the responsibility to positively contribute to the economic and social development of the community that they live in, and to the nation at large.

Every Zambian is challenged to have an informed opinion, and personally contribute to the decision making process on the development of Road and Rail infrastructure, effective Communication and Information systems, access to Land and Natural resources, development of Energy sources, improved Health Care systems, quality Education services, access to basic Food, access to Shelter, and, access to affordable Financial Services to name a few key areas.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning in his budget speech early this year invited the public to challenge his Ministry on the management of the fiscal budget and the economy in general. In addition, the Ministers of Commerce, Energy, Agriculture, Education, Health, Tourism, and Mines, all continuously challenge the general population to participate in developing the economy. Several dialogue programs such as the Private Sector Development program, the EU-Capacity Building PSD program, and the Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) have been set up specifically to challenge our citizens to participate and contribute to the economic development agenda.

The interesting factor to consider is that all Government Ministries have experts in their planning departments and yet they still see the need for the public, the private sector, and the NGO’s to contribute to policy making.

The simple reason for this is that whatever the Government plans is ultimately for the benefit of the nation which is made up of ordinary people. The Government therefore encourages the stakeholders to bring to the table their views, which in many cases are based on ‘good old common sense’, in addition to any experiences and expertise that Government may be lacking. Even Government recognizes its weakness in effectively participating in WTO, EU-EPA negotiations at a global level, and in SADC and COMESA negotiations at a regional level. The private sector and various NGO’s are beginning to collaborate and work with Government in these areas, but there is room for much more, and much wider partnership.

The Zambian citizen is a shareholder in every public institution. ZAMTEL, CELL-Z, ZNBC, DBZ, ZESCO, ZANACO, NSCB, CBU, UNZA, NHA, ZNBS and every Public Hospital, are all public institutions ultimately owned by the citizens and tax payers.

The old saying; ‘you have the economy that you deserve’ is the basic challenge to all citizens to question what is happening in the economy and to be part of the decision making process. When citizens sit back and let smaller groups of interested parties decide on their behalf, then the undesirable result is squarely because of lack of participation, and we only have ourselves to blame.

The challenge to take up Equity in the national economic development program cannot be left only to the NGO’s and the media. It is absolutely necessary for every Zambian to be informed on what is happening in the economy and to develop some ‘expertise’ in addition to the common sense that we all have, so that we can all contribute effectively. The average Zambian is required to vote for Zone Development Committees, Ward Development Committees, Civic Leaders, and Members of Parliament. If we are to make well informed choices coupled with ‘good common sense’, then the time for taking a laid back position must come to an end and we must all endeavor to be part of the team in the driving seat.

The quest for Equity in participating in the development agenda does have some pitfalls. Members of the public or Government officers must not be discouraged by disparaging remarks and biased retorts because society is made up of all sorts of characters. There will be those that are instruments of their pay masters, those that are mis-guided by short term gains, those that are driven by ego, and those that are mis-informed. In the end, ‘good common sense’ always shows the right way forward.

Published 14 August 2007