THE huge investment which has started pouring into Lumwana in North-Western Province is no mean achievement as it will certainly boost economic development of the country.
Already the mine in Lumwana has started producing copper concentrates, which are being processed in readiness for export, earning the country the much-needed income.
With the coming of the multi-facility economic zone, more investment will flow in while 13,000 jobs will be created.
The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coupled with local investment in Lumwana will steer the country's economic strides forward and as Vice-President George Kunda announced in Solwezi yesterday, about $1.2 billion will be invested in the area.
FDI is a common strategy for national development in many nations, which Zambia has embraced. It is working well and needs support from all citizens.
The kind of development being undertaken in Solwezi and elsewhere needs support from the local people and trade union organisations, among others.
It is pleasing that preliminary works have commenced in the economic zone while the Government is in the process of issuing a statutory instrument.
This is a sign that the Government has already noted the urgent need to spread out development, even in the rural areas.
Local firms should therefore take advantage of the economic zone and enjoy the facilities that go with putting up a sustainable and integrated business environment.
In the economic zones, there are a number of facilities that make the cost of doing business low, such as a good road network, while social amenities such as schools and health centres are available within the areas.
Thus, employees in these areas would be able to access health and education facilities within the shortest possible radius.
They would not have to move long distances to get to the health centre while their children would have access to schools with the zones.
We therefore urge both local and foreign investors to invest their money in the economic zone in the offing in Lumwana so that development could be felt even in the outlying areas.
Investors should not restrict their operations in the urban areas.
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Encouraging report, though one needs to be cautious bearing in mind the vice president`s speech comes a few days before the parliamentary bye elections which the ruling MMD is desperate to win. Zambia has done extremely well in attracting FDI, but perhaps needs to be more balanced to ensure this FDI benefits both its citizenship and its Government, and also is sustainable in the longer term. Perhaps it should take a leaf from Botswana its resource rich peer. Otherwise the country is doomed to the "Poor Goverment and its people, but Resource Rich Country" syndrome. Without this balance Zambia`s current poor infrastructure will worsen whilst its Government will forever be begging for donner funding.