Zambian 2013 Budget Reviewed by Kampamba Shula

On 12 October 2012, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda, MP, announced the 2013 National Budget. Budget highlights and taxation and other changes as contained in the Budget speech and the Zambia Revenue Authority (“ZRA”) publication.

INDECO (IDC): Past Problems and Opportunities Analysed by Kampamba Shula

INDECO (IDC): Past Problems and Opportunities Analysed

Critical Review of IMF 2013 Zambia ARTICLE IV CONSULTATION report by Kampamba Shula

Debt management is still on track The agreed norm is that for internal borrowing the threshold is 25 per cent of GDP but our debt stands at K17 billion, which is 15 per cent of GDP and for external borrowing, the threshold is 40 per cent and our debt is US$3.1 billion which is 14 per cent of GDP, so we are far below the agreed norms. So even in the long term , Zambia is still on track.

US Economy 2014 First Quarter Analysis and Outlook by Kampamba Shula

New data shows the U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter of this year, keeping pace with shifting expectations but down sharply from the prior already disappointing estimate.

Zambia Debt Analysis

Some might say that Zambia should not borrow externally and even as sincere as they may be they are wrong. When the Government borrows locally “Crowing out” happens.

Monday, March 23, 2015

The Inevitable Depreciation of the Zambian Kwacha - Causes, Consequences and Policy

Zambia is mostly a commodity exporting based economy with a lot of business people importing most of their tradables for sale. Hence when the kwacha depreciates the incentive for local business people to raise their prices is high. There is a general view among the public that a “strong” kwacha represents a strong economy. This view while having its merits is flawed...

Friday, March 13, 2015

Strong Dollar - An Inflated Currency in a Deflated Global Economy by Kampamba Shula

With flexible exchange rates and wide-spread abandonment of capital controls the dollar is largely free to move up or down as market forces dictate In this framework it is reasonable to infer that any observed weakening or depreciation of the dollar is most likely the result of a reduced demand for dollars in the foreign exchange market, an increased supply of dollars...

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Oil Price Fall: Supply, Demand and Outlook

Following four years of relative stability at around $105 per barrel (bbl), oil prices have declined sharply since June 2014 and are expected to remain low for a considerable period of time. The drop in prices likely marks the end of the commodity supercycle that began in the early 2000s. The sharp fall in oil prices since June 2014 is a significant but not unprecedented...