ECONOMIST Dr Trevor Hambayi says Zambia’s membership in regional trade blocs like COMESA and SADC has failed to yield tangible benefits, particularly in terms of trade growth. Dr Hambayi argues that most countries within these blocs are at similar levels of economic development as Zambia, limiting the effectiveness of trade agreements. Instead, he suggests Zambia should focus on strengthening bilateral ties with industrialised nations such as China, which recently offered a zero-tariff deal. In an interview, Sunday, Dr Hambayi noted that Zambia needs to carefully assess the structure and economic compatibility of regional partners before signing trade deals. “So, the membership within the regional bloc has not provided a lot of benefits to the country. And one of the areas...