Zambia Must Shift from Stable Growth to Transformation
Recent growth projections across Africa reveal a continent advancing at two different speeds, with countries like Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda recording strong expansion above 7%. In contrast, others, such as South Africa and Angola, remain subdued.
At 4.3%, Zambia’s growth outlook reflects relative stability, but falls short of the level required to drive meaningful job creation, industrialisation, and poverty reduction. This places the country in a vulnerable middle position, growing but not transforming.
The emerging trend highlights a critical shift: African economies that are investing heavily in infrastructure, strengthening policy consistency and diversifying exports are pulling ahead. Meanwhile, commodity-dependent economies with structural bottlenecks risk stagnation.
For Zambia, the message is clear. Sustained growth must now be matched with deliberate structural reforms. This includes accelerating agricultural value addition, ensuring energy security, and expanding non-traditional exports to reduce overreliance on copper.
If well-managed, Zambia has the capacity to transition into a high-growth economy. However, without decisive policy action, the country risks being overtaken by faster reforming peers on the continent. The time to move from stability to transformation is now.
