03/04/2026
Zambia’s economy right now is being shaped by two big forces: what’s happening at home, and what’s happening far beyond our borders.
On the local front, one of the most impactful tools for development has been the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This isn’t just money being allocated on paper it’s visible in communities. Schools are being built and expanded, clinics are coming closer to people, and small infrastructure projects are opening up areas that were previously left out. These are not abstract achievements; they’re things people can point to in their everyday lives.
What makes the CDF stand out is how it pushes decision-making closer to the people. Communities are no longer waiting for everything to be decided from Lusaka they are identifying their own priorities. And when projects are implemented, local contractors, builders, and suppliers are the ones doing the work. That means jobs, income, and business opportunities are being created right there in the constituency. It’s a more grounded way of growing the economy from the bottom up.
The empowerment side of the CDF is just as important. Through grants and loans, small businesses are getting a chance to start or expand. For many people, this is the first real opportunity to participate in the economy in a meaningful way. Over time, that kind of participation builds stronger, more self-sustaining communities, which is exactly what long-term economic growth depends on.
At the same time, not everything affecting Zambia’s economy is within our control. The issue of rising fuel prices is a good example. What we are seeing is largely tied to global instability, especially the ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East. That region plays a major role in global oil supply, so when there’s uncertainty there, prices tend to spike everywhere.
For a country like Zambia, which imports its fuel, those global shocks are felt directly. When fuel prices go up, transport becomes more expensive, and that cost