• From independence, the country has developed six national development plans.
• Government is formulating the Eighth National Development Plan aimed at transforming the economic situation in the country.
• The seventh national development plan comes to an end in December of this year.

Ministry of National Development Planning says it is imperative that all stakeholders are included in the preparation of the 8th National Development plan as it is a key guiding development document for the country.

Speaking during a consultation on the formulation of the Eighth National Development Plan, Ministry Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala, however, noted preparations of development plans is not new a phenomena to Zambia.

Mr. Chabala explained that from independence, the country has developed six national development plans covering a broad range of thematic areas with the current being the seventh national development plan which comes to an end in December this year.

He stated that government appreciates the important role that key stakeholders, play in the national development process.

“In developing the eighth national development plan, let me assure all colleagues gathered here that government is convinced that as stakeholders we will move as a united force to deliver on this important national assignment,” assured the Permanent secretary.

“In this regard, we will need to agree on what the issues are, what needs to be done and cardinal will be to agree on the priorities of the plan bearing in mind that we cannot do everything in just the next five years but we can still make significant steps toward attainment of the vision 2030,” he said.

Further, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development Dr. Mike Masiye says the formulation of the plan comes at a time when the country is grappling with effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Masiye noted government is formulating the Eighth National Development Plan aimed at transforming the economic situation in the country.

He disclosed the Plan is in line with the National Planning and Budgeting Act no.1 of 2020 which stipulates that the National Development Plan shall form the basis of all medium term and National Budget estimates.

“As you all may be aware, the seventh national development plan that has guided the country’s development trajectory over these past five years, comes to an end in December of this year, hence, the need to formulate it’s successor plan, which is also in line with the national planning and budgeting act no.1 of 2020,” he disclosed.

“The same act also stipulates that the national development plan shall form the basis of all medium term and national budget estimates,” stated Dr. Masiye.

The Deputy Secretary further noted as part of the 8NDP formulation process, government, through the Ministry of National Development Planning is undertaking consultations with various stakeholders to build consensus on priority areas to be addressed during the plan period.

“The consultations take a ’whole of society’ approach in line with the spirit of not leaving any one behind in the sustainable development discourse of our country,” he explained.

Dr. Masiye said in undertaking these consultations, government will continue using the integrated multi-sectoral approach adopted in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP).