100% Secure Payment
© 2025 Copyright:
BoutEssays. All rights reserved
Development means improvement in the social and economic conditions of a country. It also refers to improvements in the way an area’s natural and human resources are managed. It embraces the application of certain economic and technical measures to utilize available resources to instigate economic growth and improve the quality of people’s quality of lives.
Get original essayOne of the key aspects of development is the effective management of resources. This involves not only utilizing resources in a sustainable manner but also ensuring that they are used to generate maximum benefit for society. In this sense, development is not just about economic growth but also about promoting social equity and justice. This requires a balance between economic and social goals, which can only be achieved through a well-planned and coordinated development strategy.
Another important aspect of development is the role of technology. Technological innovation has played a critical role in driving economic growth and improving the quality of life in many countries. It has helped to increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve access to essential goods and services. However, technology also has its downsides, particularly in terms of its impact on the environment and the potential for widening social and economic inequalities. Therefore, it is important to ensure that technology is developed and applied in a responsible and sustainable manner.
In addition, development also involves creating the necessary conditions for economic growth to occur. This requires a stable political environment, good governance, the rule of law, and a supportive institutional framework. It also requires investment in education and training, infrastructure, and research and development. These investments create the necessary foundations for economic growth to occur and provide opportunities for people to improve their standard of living.
Moreover, the concept of development has evolved over time, reflecting changing social and economic conditions. Early conceptions of development were focused on increasing economic output and achieving higher levels of industrialization. Today, development is viewed more holistically, encompassing economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It is seen as a process of sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits all members of society, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized.
An appropriate mixture of domestic savings, international investment and international aid would provide the fuel to drive the process through stages of growth which would eventually develop the entire population.
When discussing development, it is important to consider the various perspectives that exist, as well as the different factors that contribute to the process. One key factor that has been identified is the need for an appropriate mixture of domestic savings, international investment, and international aid. By combining these three elements, it is believed that the fuel necessary to drive the process of development can be obtained, leading to growth and progress for the entire population.
However, it is important to note that different academics have interpreted the concept of development in different ways. While some view it as a finite process with limits, others see it as a potentially infinite concept of progress. For example, scholars such as Condorcet, Hegel, Kant, and Max have all conceived and interpreted development differently.
From an economic perspective, Schumpeter has used the term development to refer to unfolding, evolution, innovation, and revelation. This suggests that development is a dynamic process that involves continuous change and adaptation, rather than a static or finite state.
Similarly, Robert Chambers has defined rural development as a strategy to enable underprivileged rural men and women to fend for themselves and their children. In this context, development refers to all efforts designed to offer welfare programs, aids, and resources to ease poverty, transform rural areas, and provide basic needs to the poor to ensure their continuous survival and that of future generations.
Dudley Seers, on the other hand, argues that the level of unemployment, levels of inequality, and poverty levels are the three most important factors that can be used to define development. For Seers, all three of these must be at very low levels before a society can be considered developed. Any rise in one of these central challenges would thus prevent a society from being called developed.
Overall, the concept of development is a complex one that requires consideration of multiple factors and perspectives. While some may view it as a finite process with limits, others see it as an ongoing, dynamic process that involves continuous change and adaptation. Similarly, different scholars have emphasized the importance of different factors in defining development, such as poverty levels, inequality, and unemployment. By considering these different perspectives, it is possible to gain a more nuanced understanding of what development entails and how it can be achieved.
Development studies are an area of study that looks at inequality in the world and strives to find solutions to improve the lives of citizens in developing countries such as Zambia. Getting to grips with development studies requires delving in other disciplines such as economics, political science, psychology, sociology, history, geography, communication, anthropology, health sciences, resource and environmental science. It attempts to address pressing issues by studying cultural and political development. Through examining the past, present and the future, development studies finds cultural links between political and economic bodies and the lives of ordinary people. More significantly, to enact practical solutions designed to build reasonable societies.
Similarly, the questions that development studies attempts to address is regarding equal pay, while the strategy is to advance diversity and inclusiveness so that there is an opportunity to thrive regardless of age, gender or any other status.
This is a long term standpoint plan which aims at achieving a thriving middle-income nation status by the year 2030. This will be realized by creating an enabling environment for sustainable socio-economic development. It is Zambia’s first ever written plan and it expresses the aspirations and plans of the Zambian people that ought to be accomplished. The vision 2030 plan is grounded on policy oriented research on key national strategic issues and on a process of discussion and dialogue.
Similarly, the vision sketches the necessary long term paths of the socio-economic pointers to satisfy the aspirations of the people in the country and it articulates possible alternative development scenarios at different points through the target year.
Since 1964, the government has equipped and implemented medium-term plans to encourage sustainable socio-economic development. Nevertheless, these plans were never anchored on a national vision. The lack of a vision contributed to the fragmented character of development efforts in the past.
The document starts with a statement of the vision and outlines of the challenges, goals and strategies.
By the year 2023, Zambians aspire to live in a strong dynamic middle-income industrial nation that delivers opportunities for refining the well being of all, embodying values of socio-economic justice, underpinned by the principles of gender, democracy, respect for human rights, good tradition and family values, positive attitude towards work, peaceful coexistence and private-public partnerships.
The nation ought to have an economy which is competitive, self-sustaining, dynamic and resilient to any shocks, supports stability and the safety of systems and is free from donor dependence. Furthermore, it should have stable social and cultural systems that support human capital development.
Vision 2030 enunciates long term plans for growth to achieve desirable socio-economic outcomes by 2030. The vision is operationalized over five-year national development plans, most recently the revised 6th national development plan (2013-2016), which was revised in 2013. The execution of vision 2030 mandates the involvement of the government, individuals, the private sector civil society, cooperating partners and other stakeholders.
The macroeconomic framework for Zambia was established to focus on stimulating economic recovery and building resilience to protect livelihoods and protect the vulnerable groups and individuals. In the medium term, it would focus more on containing the spread of the corona virus, mitigating the effects of the pandemic and re-establishing macroeconomic stability as well as growth. Additionally, the biggest priority would be to move towards achieving fiscal fitness and restoring debt sustainability, dismantling domestic arrears and safeguarding social protection spending
In the medium term, the overall macroeconomic objective will be to accelerate implementation of reforms as outlined in the economic stabilization and growth programme and austerity measures announced by the president of the republic of Zambia.
The objectives for the 2019-2021medium term are as follows:
The seventh national development plan is the blue print for the country’s development in the next five years. The government envisions a prosperous middle-income economy that offers decent employment opportunities for all Zambians of diverse skills and will be accomplished by harnessing opportunities for economic variation and development.
The 7NDP will aim to enable both rural and urban businesses to enhance productivity and increase formalisation for their business with a view to enhance the creation of job opportunities in the economy. To ensure an enabling policy for the creation of jobs, the government will implement the national employment and labour market program. Other policies aimed at supporting the production links and improving partnerships and connectivity between rural and urban areas will be undertaken. This will be achieved by:
The development of a global competitive business environment and a strong private sector through development is an area of focus. The private sector development includes designing and implementing policies to encourage inclusive growth or economic transformation through investment, productivity growth, employment and business development. The government will implement key alterations such as those dealing with business authorising and regulation, trade logistics and ease of doing business. Furthermore, the government is keen on prioritising the involvement of the private sector in implementation of the strategy through the enhancement of public-private dialogue and creation of collaborations aimed at the creation of jobs.
Initiatives will include promotion and extension of social security cover, occupational safety and health protection to the informal sector. This will also include the support of equality and empowerment initiatives for women, the disabled and the youth.
The 7NDP will give emphasis to the use of cooperatives as a model to contribute to job creation. The government will promote governance of cooperatives and analyse the legal framework which supports cooperative development.
The government will promote infrastructure in rural areas and this will increase employment opportunities
A well-functioning transport system has the potential to diminish the overall cost of doing business in the country, thereby contributing to the accomplishment of a diversified and resilient economy for sustained development and socio-economic transformation. An improved transport system and infrastructure will enable efficiency in the movement of goods and people in the country. Further, as a land-linked country, with eight neighbouring countries, Zambia requires its transport infrastructure to be in a good state in order to link principal ports and serve as a core for goods in transit. The transport sector in Zambia consists mainly of four modes, namely, aviation, railways, maritime and roads. The government remains dedicated in delivering improved transport infrastructure within the four modes of transport in order to grow the economy and improve the socio-economic opportunities across the country. Investment in better transport systems and infrastructure will drive wider economic benefits including supporting growth and job creation, raising the productive capacity of the economy, driving efficiency and enhancing international competitiveness.
Agriculture is the fourth largest contributor to gross domestic product (8.7%) and the largest contributor to employment. This can be achieved by;
Production and productivity enhancement will be undertaken along the entire product value chain from farm to agro-processing and manufacturing at the sector and enterprise levels. The upsurge in production will be achieved through increased agricultural mechanisation, increasing the area under cultivation and number of farmers participating in production, driven by enhanced extension service delivery and increased private sector participation
This strategy will focus on increasing access to affordable finance for farmers and exports of high value agricultural products. Other interventions will include access to finance for supplementary services to production and exports. First priority will be placed on vulnerable groups such as women and the youth. Additionally, the strategy will focus on increasing capacities of established farmer groups to participate in export markets, while creating a favourable environment for large exporters of crops, fish, livestock and forestry products to increase export volumes.
Development in the sector value chains will include investment in production, agro-processing and marketing, inclusive of export market and distribution mechanisms. Value chain improvement will promote the participation of small and medium enterprises along different value chains. Priority will be placed on promotion of citizen participation in agri-business and connecting local to regional and international value chains. Furthermore, efforts will be made to strengthen market connections between primary production areas and processing centres for reduced costs to the final product, hence being competitive in the domestic and regional markets.
Focus will be on the agricultural diversification in crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries based on comparative and competitive advantage
Small scale agriculture has shown its capacity for driving economic and social change. Even if large scale managerial and corporate agriculture can ease the connection to downstream activities and agro industry and contribute to the response to the growing food demand, it is more likely to be capital intensive and therefore offer less prospects for job creation, and less sustainable in the long run due to the reliance on fossil fuels. Small scale agriculture has the potential to create jobs and improve the living conditions of rural communities with the provision that some key actions are implemented to improve the income, family status and right.
Investments in agricultural infrastructure will be prioritised to create a suitable environment for a vibrant agriculture sector. The aim is to enable the sector procedure, produce and market its various products in the domestic and foreign markets.
Zambia has a mining history that spans over 100 years and continues to play an active important role in the economic development of the country. The main mining activity is copper at large scale while the production, processing and export of other minerals are still underdeveloped. Under the Seventh National Development Plan, emphasis will be on expanding the range of minerals to cover non-traditional mining of gold, gemstones and industrial minerals as well as promotion of value addition to mining products and include energy and other strategies to increase productivity and reduce environmental pollution. The plan also focuses on formalising and empowering small scale miners to make them more productive so as to boost export revenue. This will be achieved by;
The focus will be on the increase of mining, exploration, processing and promoting the use of industrial minerals and gemstone products in order to increase the contribution of the expansion of other sectors. Additionally, emphasis will also be placed on boosting the capacities of small scale miners in order to increase production. The government is keen on ensuring that policy implementation and regulatory enforcement does not suppress exploration of new mineral deposits.
This strategy is aimed at improving capacities to participate in mining value chains that have the uppermost potential to impact economic growth and reduction in poverty levels. Efforts will be made to facilitate mining based value addition and industrialisation by supporting the development of manufacturing industries to yield inputs for the sectors and to contribute to the growth of other sectors.
This strategy will enable the establishment and capacity expansion of relevant institutions to monitor and regulate petroleum exploration.
Part of the diversification agenda within the mining sector will focus on building the productive capacity of small scale miners that are involved in the exploration of gemstones and industrial minerals.
Tourism is a vital service sector in Zambia. The country is blessed with rich natural heritage and other tourism attractions such as the gorges, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and wildlife. The sector faces challenges which include; lack of comprehensive national tourism plan and limited product offering to tourists. Under this plan the priority will be increasing the tourism industry beyond the traditional tourism sites and products plus promoting the integration of points that will make Zambia more competitive in the region. This will be achieved by;
The improvement of arts and culture infrastructure will also be supported in order to improve the contribution of the country’s unique natural and cultural heritage to diversify the tourism product.
The country will focus on enhancing the traditional source markets by increasing market entry and exploiting markets to expand the tourist base.
The strategy will focus on tapping into the untapped potential of domestic tourism as a way of contributing to the general diversification of the tourism sector and the economy
Energy plays a big role in all sectors of the economy. In order to increase supply, there is a strong need to promote investment in nuclear, hydro, geothermal, wind and solar energy. Therefore, the following strategies will be undertaken;
To heighten the supply of electricity for economic development, infrastructure development will be upheld. The strategy is to expand and enhance electricity generation as well as encourage the improvement of mini hydro power stations.
Efforts will be made to develop a comprehensive national energy strategy inclusive of a master plan for suitable options to charcoal and other household energy needs.
Under this plan, efforts will be made to promote rural electrification programmes and to increase accessibility to electricity at an affordable cost
This will be done by encouraging the setting up of petroleum businesses in under developed areas through public-private partnerships
During the period of the 7NDP , the country will focus on the following strategies in the quest to improve trade and market entry at domestic and international levels;
Efforts will be directed towards ensuring that all trade activities take place in a well-organized, predictable and transparent manner. Additionally, legal and regulatory modifications to support trade facilitation will be implemented.
The government will take part in negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels to secure markets as well as address obstacles in market entry level.
In order to enhance competitiveness in the domestic and foreign markets, efforts will be directed towards supporting producers and exporters as well as safeguarding the local industry from imports and biased trade practices.
Zambia will position herself to develop regional and international affairsto promote national interests such as the access to markets. This will be achieved by enhancing international cooperation.
A good functioning transport system has the potential to lessen the general cost of doing business in the country. An improved transport system will promote efficiency in the movement of goods and people within the country. This can be achieved by;
The government will commence construction of the chipata to serenje railway line which will complete the link from the port of Nacala to the existing railway line. Additionally, government will promote private investments in order to construct other rail spurs.
The construction and maintenance of the rod infrastructure will ensure safety in connectivity across the country. The government will continue to develop tolls and will continue to collect road user charges in order to finance its programs in the road sector
The expansion of the inland port of Mpulungu will aid in increasing access to the great lakes region markets. Furthermore, studies will be taken to determine the viability of developing the kafue river into a navigable channel for the transportation of bulk goods and touris
This agenda is a proposal of action for people, planet and prosperity. It seeks to strengthen peace in larger freedom. All stakeholders and countries that act in collaboration will implement this plan. They strive to build on the millennium development goals and complete tasks which were never completed. They seek to attain the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. They are combined and balance all three dimensions of sustainable development, that is; the social, economic and environmental. The goals and targets will fuel action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance.
The UN agenda is a path towards sustainable development and commitment to collectively pursue global development to all countries. It reaffirms that every state has and shall freely exercise complete and permanent sovereignty over all its wealth, economic activities and natural resources.
It restates the importance of universal declaration of human rights as well as other instruments that relate to human rights and international law. Responsibilities of all the states is emphasized, in conformity with the charter of the United Nations, to respect, promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without any sort of di
Place your order to get best research help