• He is someone regarded as a hero of peace and unity.
• Without unity and peace there can never be economic stability.
• Mr. Banda managed to maintain economic stability even after the country faced a very tragic situation following the demise of a sitting President.

An Economist has observed that late former President Rupiah Banda contributed immensely to the country’s economic growth.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Emmanuel Zulu said Mr. Banda managed to maintain a single digit inflation rate and stable exchange rate, as the Kwacha was trading between K5 and K6 against the US dollar when he took over from late President Levy Mwanawasa in 2008.
Mr. Zulu noted that Zambia’s fourth Republican President was also able to maintain economic stability even after the country lost a sitting Head of State.
“He is someone that we regard as a hero of peace and unity because we know that without unity and peace you cannot have economic stability. He has been a unifier and someone who has been looked up to as a father figure.”
‘So if you are looking at his contribution to economic growth in Zambia, we are looking at the period he took from the late President Levy Mwanawasa where the country achieved a single digit inflation and we saw the exchange rate, the Kwacha was actually trading between K5 and K6 against the US dollar, something that he actually maintained when he took over,” Mr. Zulu said.
He stressed the need for Zambians to celebrate Mr. Banda’s life for his immeasurable contribution in ensuring economic stability.
Mr. Zulu further observed that Mr. Banda was a unifier as he ensured a peaceful transition of power between former Head of State Edgar Lungu and President Hakainde Hichilema after the August 2021 General elections.
He said the situation was tense because the country was not sure of what was going to happen during the transition period.
“That was a threat to investors and even the economy itself but we saw the late Rupiah Bwezani Banda coming through and ensuring that there is a peaceful transition between the political parties and again coming back to ensure that there is that stability which is very conducive for investors to come in and invest in the country and also for stability as an economy which we needed. We will always remember him as a uniting figure,” he stated.
Zambia’s fourth Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda, 85, died at his home on Friday 11th March 2022, after a short battle with colon cancer.
Mr. Banda, who was in power from 2008 to 2011, will be put to rest on Friday 18th March 2022, at the Presidential burial site in Lusaka.