The Socialist Party (SP) of Zambia says it sees the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as an opportunity to reduce poverty and enhance equity in Zambia.
However, according to SP, AfCFTA can only help reduce poverty in Zambia in the context of socialist economic policies.
The Socialist Party’s General Secretary and first vice-president, Dr Cosmas Musumali, revealed this known while responding to a question about how SP considered the AfCFTA agreement and how it aligned with the party’s manifesto promise on developing peasant agriculture.
AfCFTA came into force on May 30, 2019, and started trading on January 1, 2021. Its Secretariat is based in Accra, the national capital of Ghana.
“It is not possible to achieve these aspirations in Zambia without a socialist oriented-economic programme,” says Dr. Musumali.
“Our investments in agriculture aim at achieving the production of healthy food for all, the adoption of agroecology, adoption of mechanisation compatible with nature and rural labour, adoption of cooperative agribusiness, agricultural education, as well as empowering peasants and the people in the rural areas as keepers of the collective goods of nature,” he added.
“These are the prerequisites for our food sovereignty as well as for turning this natural resources endowed country into a hub for manufactured food exports,” he explained.
“Our socialist government will systematically link investments in peasant agriculture to value addition through food processing and the expansion of continental export markets.”
“Special attention will be played to the attainment of viable economies of scale, product branding, flexible export financing and improved logistical arrangements. These are critical in order to catapult us into being a major continental player in the AfCFTA,” according to him.
Do you have a story, video for African entertainment? WhatsApp Us on +233543452542
You can also email us at [email protected]
