Zambian President Dr. Edgar Lungu says while the country welcomes international investors the west should not dictate the terms when engaging with Africa on trade this comes at a time when the World Trade Organization (WTO) faces challenges after US President Donald Trump slammed the organization with protectionism. Many believe it’s time for international investors to look to Africa as an alternative market.
No same sex marriages for Zambia
Dr. Lungu said, he told some colleagues from the European Union that Zambia not ready for same sex marriages. He said you can’t come and teach us to marry each other as men; we are not ready and so if you are going to tie that you corporational development programmes to values such as sex between men and sex or between women then they have no place in Zambia. The President made it very clear that Zambia is very open to dialogue because of its different cultural backgrounds and values and as such when investors wish to penetrate Zambia, it will be on its terms. That is why we are conducive if God forbid 100 years down the line people agree to marry men to men and Zambians agree to that then it’ll be your time but for now we are saying no, the President said in an interview with SABC foreign editor Sophie Mukwena in Livingstone on the sidelines of the Economic summit organized by the Economics Association of Zambia.
Hydro power deficits but Zambia is diversifying
Dr. Lungu echoed concerns on power challenges and the negative impact on investment in the SADC region, citing over-dependency on hydro which has proved to be a curse because of the climate change. Electricity production has plummeted significantly making power rationing a norm but the President states that Zambia has diversified the smart way into solar energy harnessing the vast sunshine it enjoys. Other sources he made mention of are wind whose outlay may be costly at onset but cheaper in the long run.
Nuclear generation on Zambian cards
Dr. Lungu said Zambia has started projects on nuclear energy our students currently in Russia building competence as they prepare to manage nuclear plants locally in the future.
With energy challenges Zambia has learnt from the 2015-2016 energy poverty era, the copper producer has a pipe line of projects ranging from the kafue 750MW hydro firing into the grid 2020 to the Batoka 2400 set for 2024. Numerous solar projects are set to be ready starting November 2019 which will help ease deficit pressure. Zambia will be going nuclear in the near future will talks with various stakeholders ongoing.
Source: SABC sideline interview at EAZ summit.
