By 
Pumulo Situmbeko, leader of the New Era Democratic Party, has criticised the 2025 national budget, saying it falls short of addressing Zambia’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, hunger, blackouts and underperforming health and education systems.
Speaking to Zambia Monitor from California, USA, Situmbeko described the budget as more of a “wish list” filled with billions of dollars in construction projects rather than a realistic plan to tackle critical national issues.
While acknowledging the commendable initiatives within the budget, she argued that it failed to offer concrete solutions to poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.
“The budget showcases billions in construction projects but does not effectively address the immediate problems of hunger, blackouts and unemployment,” Situmbeko stated.
On tourism, she welcomed the decision to keep the Zambezi border operational 24/7, calling it long overdue.
However, she urged the government to expand operating hours at other strategic borders like Chirundu, Nakonde, and Kasumbalesa, highlighting Zambia’s potential to become a regional leader in both tourism and trade due to its land-linked geography.
Situmbeko noted that while tourism was mentioned in the budget, it lacked the depth required to transform Zambia into a global tourist destination.
She emphasized the need for better infrastructure, private sector engagement, and partnerships with international hospitality groups to boost tourism, create jobs, and grow the economy.
On agriculture, Situmbeko expressed concern over the lack of concrete measures to combat hunger and food insecurity, despite Zambia’s vast land and water resources.
She advocated for a shift in agricultural focus from drought-prone southern regions to the fertile northern, northwestern, and Muchinga provinces, which have reliable rainfall.
“With 40 percent of Southern Africa’s freshwater resources, Zambia has a natural advantage. We need to harness these water resources for irrigation rather than relying on inconsistent rainfall,” Situmbeko said.
She also criticized the government for supporting only one million farmers through the Farmers Input Support Programme, calling it insufficient in addressing the needs of millions of unemployed youth and experienced farmers left out of the programmes.
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