CELEBRATING ECONOMIC STATISTICS AMID WORSENING PUBLIC HARDSHIP

CELEBRATING ECONOMIC STATISTICS AMID WORSENING PUBLIC HARDSHIP

Over the past five years, the United Party for National Development (UPND) government of President Hakainde Hichilema has persistently lauded various macroeconomic indicators—boasting a 7.7% GDP growth, inflation stabilization at 6.6%, a currency valued at K17 to the dollar, and foreign reserves exceeding $6.5 billion.

Yet, this parade of statistics masks a harsh reality: these figures have failed to permeate the daily lives of ordinary Zambians, many of whom face escalating economic adversity.

This is why Brian Mundubile, president of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), is correct in saying that focusing on foreign reserves at the expense of the suffering masses is unacceptable.

While the government celebrates abstract numbers, the cost of living has skyrocketed, pushing more citizens below the poverty line, now alarmingly at 70.6%.

This glaring contradiction exposes a tragic disconnect between the ruling administration and the people they purport to serve.

Economic growth, measured by GDP alone, is hollow if it does not translate into tangible improvements—such as affordable food, accessible healthcare, and stable employment—for the majority.

The UPND’s fixation on headline statistics appears misplaced, even callous, given the surge in poverty and hardship.

By prioritizing these numbers over substantive policy action to alleviate economic suffering, the government is deepening social alienation and political disillusionment.

The celebration of such metrics without meaningful redistribution or social protection exposes a governance failure: economic gains accruing to elites while the poor endure relentless strain.

In essence, UPND’s rhetoric undercuts its legitimacy, revealing a leadership out of touch with its people’s daily realities.

Unless there is a decisive pivot towards inclusive policies that directly enhance livelihoods, this gulf will only widen—fueling frustration and undermining sustainable development.

Economic statistics must serve the people, not become a smokescreen concealing their struggle.