The Editor Zambia
Zambia’s Improved economic fundamentals, including debt restructuring, a stronger Kwacha, reduction in the monetary policy rate, and reduced inflation are gradually easing the cost-of-living pressures to benefit the citizens.
The benefits of the stabilised economy have started trickling down to ordinary Zambians, contrary to assertions by some elements that positive economic outlook is meant to hoodwink Zambians ahead of elections. 
The truth is the lower inflation, restored fiscal discipline, a more stable currency, and reduced fuel costs have created a better operating environment for businesses. The markets have since started responding by passing the benefits to ordinary people.
This week, the Zambian Breweries Plc reduced prices on selected Mosi and Eagle beer products, citing improved economic conditions, easing inflation, and a more stable operating environment.
This comes few weeks after over 30 Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) member companies reduced prices on essential commodities, including mealie meal (down 13.3 percent), cooking oil (15 percent), sugar (five percent), and various food/non-food items.
The brewer has attributed the reductions to encouraging developments in the operating environment over recent months, including easing inflationary pressures and relative stability in the foreign exchange market.
Zambia Breweries, which is one of the big tax contributors to the national treasury outside the mining sector, points to improved energy availability, and a more stable power supply which has strengthened brewing operations and reduced production volatility.
The beer producing company admits that favourable government policies have continued to support a balanced and competitive framework that promotes affordability, compliance, and long-term industry sustainability.
Significantly, these developments by the private sector have not happened by chance or by accident, it is as a result of the hard work of President Hakainde Hichilema, who undertook difficult but necessary economic reforms to stabilise the economy
This development clearly indicates that markets have started responding to President Hichilema’s sound policies to rebuilding the economy, which was bad few years ago.
The reductions are attributed to a more stable Kwacha, lower production costs, and government-led initiatives to reduce the cost of living.
The move by Zambia Breweries is expected to enhance support for local agriculture as its brands such as the Eagle Lager are brewed using locally sourced cassava. Increased demand for these products directly supports thousands of Zambian cassava farmers and rural households.
The ZB announcement will offer consumer affordability, and the beer price reduction provides direct relief to consumers passing on savings gained from enhanced brewing efficiency and a stable power supply.
The move by the Zambia Breweries is designed to safeguard domestic revenue and protect local manufacturing jobs by keeping Zambian products competitive against unregulated trade.
Increased revenue for government, the reduction in commodity prices will lead to increased sales, which in turn will boost the government revenue through taxes as sales volumes will increase.
President Hakainde Hichilema inherited a dead economy, which was growing at negative -2.6 percent. The country had choked with debt with all credit rating, placing Zambia in default mode.
The tough decisions, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, prudent utilisation of public resources as well as sealing the loopholes, have started bearing results.
The markets are not being threatened by anyone, but they are just responding to positive economic fundamentals.
When the operating environment improves, the benefits should not stop at business; they must reach the consumer. This price rollback reflects Zambian Breweries’ commitment to affordability and communities supporting Zambia’s economic progress.
The response by the private sector annuls insinuations by some opposition political parties that the economic gains where temporary measures designed to hoodwink the electorate ahead of the August 13 polls.
In an attempt to mislead the citizens, some opposition political party leaders such as Sean Tembo, Fred M’membe and Brian Mundubile have alleged that the country’s power supply, currency performance and public sector appointments do not represent a genuine economic recovery but are an election year strategy aimed at influencing voters ahead of the August 13 general elections,
The Zambian people are not interested in cheap hallucination, but they want real practical alternative policies, if there are any at all.
