NEGATIVE public discourse or political interference can jeopardize funding into the energy sector and damage the reputation of companies, past president of the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), Dr Lubinda Haabazoka has warned. Writing about power trading, open access and diversification of Zambia’s energy sector, Haabazoka lamented that reckless statements, particularly from political actors, harm individual firms and undermine the broader goal of attaining universal energy access. “As someone often engaged by international stakeholders for investment insights, I am increasingly frustrated by the frequency of avoidable concerns raised from abroad. It is imperative that we, as a nation, exercise caution and foster a cooperative environment that builds investor confidence and supports national development,” he cautioned. He stated that the energy...