• Covid-19 has adversely disrupted attainment of SDGs to 2030.
• Sustainability agenda strongly needs to be championed in the remaining 9 years to 2030.
• EAZ will be hosting the second edition of the National Economic Summit in July this year.

Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) has observed that the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely disturbed attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to 2030.

Association President Dr. Lubinda Habazoka told Money FM News in a statement that the 17 SDGs include total alleviation of poverty, access to clean water, industry innovation and infrastructure, quality education, good health and well-being, affordable and clean energy, and economic growth, among others.

He said the Association is optimistic that sustainable recovery can only be private sector led, post the pandemic, in the midst of economic challenges brought about by rising inflation, currency depreciation, suppressed business pulse and waning investor sentiment.

Dr. Habazoka added that for this reason, EAZ will seek to stimulate private sector participation to enhance economic development, while partnering with Government to actualize the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP).

“Covid-19 has adversely disrupted attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to 2030 which Zambia, alongside its peers and other Emerging and Frontier Markets (EM’s) will seek to narrow the gap on.

“These 17 SDGs concern, but to mention a few, total alleviation of poverty, access to clean water, industry innovation & infrastructure, quality education, good health and well-being, affordable and clean energy, gender equality, decent work and economic growth. The sustainability agenda strongly needs to be championed in the remaining 9-years to 2030,” Dr. Habazoka noted.

And Dr. Habazoka disclosed that the Association will be hosting the second edition of the National Economic Summit in July this year in Livingstone to enhance stakeholder engagement.

He noted that government and the private sector have implemented a number of interventions proposed at the Inaugural 2019 National Economic Summit, the most important being the commencement of the stockpiling of gold by the Bank of Zambia for the first time in more than 3 decades.

Dr. Habazoka further called on government to also consider stockpiling minerals such as copper, cobalt and manganese alongside gold, as forecasts indicate that prices for the said metals will continue to rise as the world moves towards electronic vehicles.

“This particular intervention translates into the Zambian Government safeguarding mineral resources for future generations. As gold reserves continue to grow, our international financial position also improves. Against this backdrop, the EAZ would like to commend Government for this historic bold decision. We call upon Government to also consider stockpiling minerals such as copper, cobalt and manganese alongside gold.”

“Experience has confirmed that it is very possible to change the face of a country within a short period of time as witnessed by massive infrastructure development achieved in Zambia in the last 10 years,” he added.

The Summit will be held under the theme: Promoting Economic Resilience and Sustainability Post Covid-19 Pandemic (PERSP).