ZAMBIA must urgently convert its improving economic performance into jobs and real business opportunities for ordinary citizens, United Federation of Employers in Zambia (UFEZ) president Humphrey Monde has said.
Dr Monde said while the country’s economy is estimated to have grown by about 5.8 percent in 2025, well above the Southern African Development Community (SADC) average of 2.2 percent, the real test lies in whether this growth will be felt in people’s homes and pockets.
Speaking during a media engagement this morning, he noted that for nearly 20 years, Zambia’s economy grew at an average rate of about four percent, a pace that failed to generate enough jobs for the country’s growing population, leaving many young people unemployed.
Dr Monde said the current rebound, driven by reforms in mining, agriculture, infrastructure and fiscal management, offers a rare opportunity to change that story if deliberate steps are taken to translate growth into employment.
According to him, Government’s projection of up to 6.4 percent growth in 2026 shows confidence in the reform agenda, adding that the country could even exceed that target if momentum in key sectors is sustained.
He believes the operationalisation of the 24-hour economy could play a key role in unlocking employment, particularly in the service, manufacturing and logistics sectors, by allowing businesses to run multiple shifts and better utilise existing infrastructure.
“UFEZ also believes that operationalization of the 24-Hour Economy, which we view as essentialfor expanding employment opportunities, enhancing service sector productivity, and leveraging Zambia’s strategic logistics position will help the country exceed current GDP growthprojections,” Dr Monde said.
However, Dr Monde warned that structural challenges such as poor road safety continue to drain economic gains, noting that road traffic accidents cost the country billions of kwacha every year in lost productivity, healthcare and infrastructure damage.
He urged Government to prioritise road safety reforms, including the establishment of truck parks, stronger enforcement of road regulations, increased use of technology on major transport corridors and shifting heavy cargo from road to rail.
Dr Monde also stressed the need for full digitisation of Government services, saying partial digitisation increases costs and delays processes which weakens investor confidence.
He added that land administration must be fully digitised to unlock land as capital for citizens and small businesses seeking access to finance.
By George Musonda
Kalemba December 31, 2025
