• Zambians expect government to implement economic reforms.
• They expect reforms that will put the country on a more sustainable fiscal footing.
• HH’s Administration must address high youth unemployment

Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR) says Zambians expect government to implement economic reforms that will put the country on a more sustainable fiscal footing, liquidate foreign debt, and secure a bailout loan package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
JCTR Executive Director Fr. Alex Muyebe told Money FM News that citizens also expect President Hakainde Hichilema’s Administration to address high youth unemployment, and general economic decline as evidenced from the high cost of living and unsustainable external debt.
Fr. Muyebe stated that the jobless youths and women are eager to see the new government introduce deliberate efforts to create jobs and business opportunities for the young people and women, who made up the majority of the voters on 12th August, 2021.
“It is gratifying to learn that President Hakainde Hichilema is getting down to work to deliver on promises and expectations. HH and his team has an arduous task to fix a shrinking economy and put it on a growth trajectory,” Fr. Muyebe said.
Meanwhile, Fr. Muyebe stressed the need for government to strengthen democracy anchored on the rule of law, respect of human rights and people’s liberties as a catalyst for economic recovery and national development.
He said this must also include legal reforms to address retrogressive provisions in the Public Order Act, introduction of the access to information law to enhance transparency and accountability, and reforms of other contentious pieces of legislation in the country’s laws.
“Time for these reforms is now when the new administration is still trying to impress or trying to pretend that they are a different crop of leaders from their predecessors. The wheels of reforms must start turning now within the first 100 days of HH’s inauguration and before the new tenant at Plot 1 and his new administration begin to get comfortable and entrenched in destructive political virus of complacency and disdain for good counsel from well-meaning stakeholders,” he added.
Fr. Muyebe further advised the Head of State to be insightful in identifying elements of passive aggressiveness within his team where some individuals will pretend to be with him and pretend to share his vision.
“These individuals will slowly and surely begin to work for his downfall. A servant leader must be strong enough to embrace a counter-cultural way of doing business even at the expense of rocking a boat or losing close allies or friend,” Fr. Muyebe advised.