Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) says the 2025 National Budget must address critical issues such as climate change, food security, and water scarcity, if the country is to achieve the targeted 5% GDP growth next year.
EAZ President, Oswald Mungule, said in a statement to RCV News in Lusaka today, that this is because climate change, food security, and water scarcity have the potential to disrupt Zambia’s socio-economic stability.
Dr. Mungule said the 2025 National Budget must be a decisive tool in promoting economic resilience and inclusive growth.
And Dr. Mungule said the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), in 2025 budget could be more strategically allocated to high-impact projects that stimulate economic growth and create jobs at the community level, instead of being widely distributed.
“The current CDF model spreads resources thinly across multiple constituencies, diluting their overall impact,” said Dr. Mungule.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mungule said the budget must equally respond to the urgent call to build resilience against both external and internal shocks.
He said the budget should focus on energy, mining, and manufacturing, for Zambia to mitigate the impacts of global and domestic challenges.
By Eva Hatontola
