Key things Needed to Develop Zambia

What is needed?

1. We underrate the need for skills as a country. There is need for mainstream skills that make one employable and also entrepreneur skills. Manhattan was not built by the government of USA but by single business and each skyscraper is due to an enterprise like Rockefeller. So we need to iomprove skills of Zambians so they can start business and in return Zambia will improve.

2. Politics in Zambia are still problematic for the intellectual. We need the leaders to just one day say we need to put the interests of the country first before self. This will happen in say 10 yerars when most of the old guys have left.

3. Infrastructure is key. Many developed countries are developed because they don't keep doing the same things over and over. In Zambia we keep spending billions ont he same roads and buildings over and over and how can you develop? Developed countries spend once on something and build it forever. Many civilisations have left things which are still used today e.g. the sewage system of London is from the 18th century in places. How much of Zambia's infrastructure will still exist in 50 years?

4. The role of the engineer in development is underrated. Planning for simple things like drainage to reduce Cholera and Malaria can be better done if the engineer was allowed to take charge here. But we have planners from business doing this when they should be in business.

5. Investment in education is vital in both Zambian individuals and indeed the school sector.

6. The judiciary needs powers to operate independently. When this happens, we shall have a responsible government.

7. Investment in the ICT sector is vital to ensure we have cheaper communication and so get a lower cost of doing business.

8. Government investment in irrigation should be key. Visit Nakambala to see what 2 million USA can do to the economy of Zambia. If we can start producing outside the rain season crops that are needed, we should get our economy going well.

9. Lower public expenditure is key to save our resources. The most impressive office I visited this year was a government office when business is busy tightening the belt to break even.

10. We need more Zedians in the diaspora to invest back home. They may not necessarily have to come back but built a house or a business here so the balance of payment for Zambia is better.