Unstable copper prices will delay Zambia’s economic recovery

It's funny how copper is still revered and held at a high mantle in Zamba. The vicissitudes of the Zambian economy continue to be inextricably linked to bullish copper prices. This mineral is still considered as the ultimate panacea for all of Zambia's backward economy. It is quite a shame that even economist held in high esteem in Zambia can go on singing the same tune with the same lyrics year after year. Is it a sign of simple minds that get incapaciated and devoid of thought when allowed to think out of the copper-box? Economists in Zambia must attempt to think about development scenarios without copper as a driver. Thoughts like, given other abundant natural resources, how would Zambia's development be modeled? It's critical for these economists to seize the opportunity to use abundant natural resources as key variables to factor in the development equation to replace copper and assume the role of key drivers. We want to see independent thinking that does not echo the monotonous thinking of yester years.

When Chibamba Kanyama said that unstable copper prices will delay Zambia's economy, is he implying that subdued copper prices will prevent government from searching for different ways of resuscitating the economy? The impression one gets from such utterances is that bear copper prices tend to paralyzed the thinking of some the local economists. Why doesn't Zambia take a leaf from Japan and South Korea, just to name the two, that cannot measure to Zambia's abundant natural resources. Copper as a natural resource in Zambia should not be considered as a blessing but a source of mind-paralysis. It seems that economic sense and sensibility elludes some of these economists which tend to be influenced the behaviour of copper prices on the London Metal Exchange. It also seems that when the price of copper dips, some people take leave of absence from rational thinking. 

Zambia requires economists that are capable of originating plausible solutions to the country's historical and current economic problems. That said, it is important that economists stop thinking about copper as the panacea that will deliver Zambia from all the historical and existing vagaries of economic ineptitude, lack of vision and foresight. If anything, Zambia needs broad-minded economists that are sufficiently exposed to how other developed countries confront their own share of economic problems.