Making Progress

The recent announcement that China has earmarked over USD5 billion for development of mining activities in Zambia is a measure of making progress.

Further, a figure of USD1.5 billion has been allocated to building the Kafue Gorge Lower power generation project that should produce an additional output of at least 900 Megawatts. This additional power will be required to meet the energy needs within the mining sector over the next five years.

It is interesting to note that several years ago the Chinese government offered to finance the very same power project at a cost of only USD750 million at the time. The cost has now doubled due to the passage of time and the pressure of rising costs.

As a country, we seem to have gone full circle. We started with the Chinese offer, then went on to look for private sector investors in the energy sector, then moved on to negotiate with the World Bank for financing, and finally came right back to the same Chinese offer that we had not jumped at when initially offered.

What has been the immediate cost to the nation? It cost twice the original price quoted five years ago. In addition, we have suffered blackouts, load shedding, and erratic power supply.

Are there some lessons to be learned from this experience? Is it possible to acknowledge that when we negotiate some concessionary development loans for the building of new infrastructure, we should bite the bullet and get on with it so that we efficiently implement the projects rather than procrastinating and finally finding ourselves having to pay double?

Making progress is about being resolute and acting on decisions taken. Making progress is about not missing the opportunities when they are in reach. Making progress is about investing now so as to reap in the future. Making progress is about planning, researching, strategizing, and investing in our future.

There have been ongoing discussions in respect to inadequate electricity generation in Zambia. It is common knowledge that the railway system in Zambia is in a deplorable state. We are all aware that many parts of the country are unreachable for the purposes of workable tourism packages.

Making progress is about addressing these well known issues through strategic partnerships with willing partners such as the Chinese, Indians and any other compatible countries and institutions that would like to develop a progressive relationship with Zambia such that all parties benefit and grow.

Zambia should not be content with building an additional electricity generating power station. Zambia must be looking into the next decade where electricity demand is expected to be four times the current requirements due to the expected growth of the mining sector and manufacturing investments. Zambia should be considering building at least two more power stations just to meet the shortfall of electricity demand between now and the year 2020.

Zambia should be seriously working on a mechanism to resurrect the railway transport system and upgrade it to meet the demands for cross country and inter country trade within the region. Zambia should be working to extend the railway network to all the major commercial border posts and develop links to the regional railway network.

Zambia should be assessing and developing an implementation plan to open up new areas for tourism through a network of international airports that will facilitate direct flights into the targeted areas. This will bring tourists from all over the world right into the key tourism areas and will bring development into many of the rural areas.

Making progress suggests that Zambia moves forward from discussions and dialogue, towards engagement with collaborating partners and implementation of programs and projects.

Making progress informs us that Zambia now has a variety of partners to choose from when doing global business. Making progress challenges us to side step the rhetoric and double talk, and look out for action and commitment to seeing things through to the logical conclusion.

China offers us an opportunity to change our traditional way of dealing with our social and economic woes. We can stop lamenting about the colonial past and disregard the consumption propaganda that is marketed in the media, and begin to take control of our own destiny by shifting our position to the driver’s seat and taking control.

Making progress compels us to acknowledge which are the successful and growing economies of the world and how they can positively impact on our own economy.

Making progress demands that we audit ourselves first, find out where our inadequacies are, and then plug in the loopholes to ensure that we are focused and capable of taking the country consistently forward each year.

Making progress should not only be measured by intangible documentation and pronouncements. It should also be measured by the improvement in the quality of life of each citizen and resident. It should also be measured by simple benchmarks such as quality of education, quality of healthcare, access to information and knowledge, and the systems in place to empower local people through economic activities and the freedom to make individual decisions on the development of a desired future.

Making progress is usually measured on the basis of where we are today in contrast to where we were yesterday.

Published 18 May 2010