Zambia has recorded significant economic strides, which include a bumper harvest and an increase of foreign reserves to US$2 billion during the 20 months President Rupiah Banda has been in office, Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Government's sound economic policies had resulted in the country recording a bumper harvest, which he said had positively influenced the downward pricing of mealie meal.

"For the first time in the history of Zambia, the country's foreign reserves have hit all time high of around $2 billion and a trade surplus resulting in the country becoming a net exporter as opposed to net importer," he said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday.

Featuring on Hot FM's Hot Seat radio programme in Lusaka yesterday, Gen Shikapwasha said President Banda's engagements abroad had raked in billions of dollars in foreign direct investment, mining, agriculture and other economic sectors.

"This is contrary to detractors who have kept on saying the president's trips abroad have been a waste of resources," he said. He also cited Zambia's single digit inflation rate, and the thousands of jobs that have been created on the Copperbelt.

At the height of the global economic crunch, thousands of jobs had been lost but these had been recovered as part of the new investment flows in the country.

Gen Shikapwasha, who is Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said the achievements scored by Government had translated into construction of more schools, roads, hospitals and other infrastructure, to uplift the living standards of the people.

And commenting on the fight against corruption, Gen Shikapwasha dismissed accusations that Government was shielding plunderers, saying Government had instead continued to put in place measures to strengthen the fight against corruption.

He cited the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) policy, enactment of the Whistle Blowers Act, and other administrative and legislative interventions, as efforts by the Government in fighting the vice.

He said the PF/UPND Pact was non-existent because it lacked vision for the people of Zambia. "We told them from the beginning that the pact won't stand as it lacked vision for the people," Gen Shikapwasha said.