Fundanga urges govt to focus on food production

Fundanga urges govt to focus on food production
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sun 15 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

BANK of Zambia (BoZ) Governor Dr Caleb Fundanga says the government must grow the economy at a fast rate if poverty is to be eradicated. And Dr Fundanga says that he strongly feels that women have a lot of qualities when they venture into business than men.

Speaking at a Business Forum organised by Visit Livingstone Zambia at New Fairmount Hotel on Friday evening, Dr Fundanga said the government must focus on food production so that the nation can be able to feed itself.

"If there is anything good...is for a nation to feed itself. It is important that government focuses on food production to feed the nation, because it is very expensive to import maize from the USA. If we want to eradicate poverty, we must grow our economy at a fast rate. Government must focus on food production so that the nation can be able to feed itself," he said.

He added that so many people say that there were many qualities that women had when they ventured into business.

"I'm impressed that Livingstone women are very active in business. There are many qualities that women in business have as compared to men," he said.

Dr Fundanga said that the impact of the global economic impact on Zambia 's economy had a very big effect but was happy that Livingstone had an asset which was not depleting as copper.

"The Victoria Falls will be there even in a million years. That is the strength that Livingstone has, unlike in the Copperbelt which is dependant on the mining sector. Try not to make any other town get the status of the tourist capital away from you," he said.

Dr Fundanga said that the private sector was the engine of Zambia 's economy however the economic downturn had an effect and any attempts to introduce price controls would have been different.

"In the past, the private sector had to apply to get foreign exchange and the private sector was not on the priority list of those to get foreign exchange and now because of a free market system people are free to get anywhere in the world. However, government must build infrastructure to help the private sector grow the economy," he said.

Dr Fundanga was however saddened that the Livingstone community was not doing much to market the town.

"You probably have more lodges in Zambia and any other country that is your strength, but it is sad that there is no bank in Kazungula. I was there the other day and was saddened that you buy water imported from Botswana. You can even become billionaires out of producing furniture. We have so much and yet we do so little," said Dr Fundanga.