PMRC await Presidential directives on measures to ease liquidity, multilateral ties

BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes@SunZambian CRITICAL issues such as the fiscal measures instituted to ease liquidity in the economy, the Covid-19 bond and update on engagement with multilateral firms should be tackled by President Edgar Lungu as he addresses Parliament today.These are among the many expectations by the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC).The President is expected to attend to fiscal measures that the Government has instituted aimed at easing liquidity in the economy, says PMRC Executive Director, Bernadette Deka-Zulu.Ms Zulu said PMRC expected the President to give an update on the performance of the Covid-19 bond and its overall impact in alleviating the negative effects of the pandemic on the economy so far.She said in a statement yesterday that this may take the form of making additional payments of public service retiree benefits, road contractors and Government suppliers of goods and services.“We expect that the President will also update the nation on progress made in engaging multilateral organizations.“Besides the usual engagements with multilateral organisations on economic co-operation, with the advent of Covid-19, we recognise the fact that various multinational institutions have announced avenues of support and facilities to mitigate the impact of the pandemic,” she said.Ms Zulu indicated that PMRC expected the President to give an update on the progress made by the task force established and mandated to bring more Zambian products on the floor of major chain stores in shopping malls.The task force is comprised of representatives from South African owners of chain stores, the Zambia Association of Manufacturers, Zambia National Farmers Union and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Ms Zulu hoped that the local content strategy would also be emphasised.“This is in a bid to capitalise on the current situation which has presented a new opportunity for domestic agriculture and locally manufactured products to be sold in increased numbers,” she said. The Sun