CTPD head of research Boyd Muleya says the Bank of Zambia Monetary Policy committee should maintain the policy rate at 8.5 percent. In a statement, Tuesday, Muleya said if there was any movement in the policy rate, it needed to be an upward adjustment so as to suppress demand pressures and moderate inflation in the...

FINANCE Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and IMF representative for Zambia Preya Sharma have discussed various aspects of strengthening the partnership between Zambia and the Fund. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, Tuesday, Sharma called on Dr Musokotwane on Tuesday. "IMF Resident Representative for Zambia Preya Sharma this morning paid a courtesy...

BRITISH High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley says the appointment of Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane as Finance Minister is very inspiring as he brings a huge amount of experience and expertise and won’t be shy to make fiscal decisions. And immediate past Minister of Finance Dr Bwalya Ng'andu says he will allow Dr Musokotwane to settle...

ECONOMIST Trevor Simumba has advised the UPND government to ensure that the exchange rate is held at K14 or K15 to a dollar for at least two years, warning of serious repercussions should it be allowed to appreciate any further. And Simumba has called for the immediate removal and replacement of Bank of Zambia Governor...

FINANCIAL analyst Maambo Hamaundu says for the kwacha to continue on the path of appreciation, President Hakainde Hichilema needs to make certain decisions that will maintain the confidence which his election generated within the financial market. The kwacha has been on an upward trend against major convertible currencies and on Monday closed at K16.72 to...

DETERMINATION. Fortitude. Willpower. Grit. All words describing Zambians on election day. Air thick with anticipation, there was no telling who would emerge victorious in the August 12 elections. Multitudes of voters assembled in various locations with a common goal–to make their vote count. Some geared themselves with food, chairs and even laptops while they braved...

ECONOMIST Chibamba Kanyama says while the UPND government is able to deliver on its campaign promises, the party will find it difficult to strike a balance between that and dealing with possible IMF conditionalities. And economist Professor Oliver Saasa says he is confident that the UPND has capacity to manage Zambia's resources more efficiently. Speaking...

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has purchased 477,500.75 metric tonnes of grade A maize out of its intended target of 500,000 metric tonnes for the 2021 crop marketing season. In a statement, Saturday, FRA public relations coordinator John Chipandwe said the cost of maize purchased so far was K1.4 billion. He said the Agency was...

SOME bureau de change in Lusaka are holding on to the Kwacha after the local currency traded below K17.55 to a dollar for the first time since March 2020, A check around Lusaka found that most bureau de change were holding on to the kwacha, stating that it was in short supply. C&A Bureau de...

THE kwacha has rallied to K17.55 per dollar for the first time since March 2020, according to Bloomberg data. The local currency opened the day at K18.875 per dollar and has continued to appreciate in what experts say is a sign of confidence in the country's President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema. After outgoing President Edgar Lungu conceded...