The opposition is focussing on the declining economy, and the fight will be a close one. The opposition candidate, Hakainde Hichilema who leads the United Party for National Development (UPND), lost by 100,000 votes in the 2016 elections.
Lungu’s proposed grand projects
- Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower project: The first 150 MW turbine of the Chinese-funded $2bn project was inaugurated on 23 July;
- Kenneth Kaunda International Airport: a new terminal was to be opened on 8 August, also built by Chinese company Jiangxi and funded ($360m) by China Eximbank. However, the opening has been delayed.
The state of the economy
The government has highlighted that the kwacha is strengthening against the dollar, going from $1=22.64 kwacha on 1 July to $1=21.39 kwacha on 23 July.
The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) “points to rising copper prices (moving towards $10,000 a tonne), foreign appetite for government
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