UPND's Journey to Development

Kambita defends government efforts to balance economic recovery with grassroots projects, saying that under Bally the country moved from a debt trap to development.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24  - (3-09-2025) - Zambezi East Member of Parliament and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Brian Kambita, has mounted a strong defence of the United Party for National Development (UPND) government’s performance, insisting that critics who dismiss the administration’s progress are ignoring verifiable results on the ground.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday Kambita said the UPND, which came to power in 2021, inherited what he called a “crippling debt crisis” from the Patriotic Front (PF) that left the economy suffocating and service delivery in collapse. 

He argued that the government’s reforms, including debt restructuring and the Public Debt Management Act, have restored financial discipline.

“It is no longer a blank cheque. Borrowing is now under parliamentary control, and this is how governance should be,” Kambita said.

He added that debt restructuring created “the breathing space” for social services, Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects, and drought mitigation.

He challenged journalists to scrutinise government finances through parliamentary records rather than rely on partisan commentary. 

“Budget credibility is critical. Today, CDF is disbursed exactly as appropriated—something that was unheard of in the past,” he said.

Kambita presented Zambezi East as evidence of what he described as the UPND’s “visible results.” 

He said 15 classroom blocks have been built, 3,368 desks procured, and 1,359 pupils sponsored to boarding schools. 

He further disclosed that over 640 teachers have been recruited in the district, claiming this has ended the shortage of classroom instructors. 

“Free education is not a slogan—it is backed by infrastructure, teachers, and desks,” he insisted.

On youth empowerment, he said 1,250 young people have received vocational training, while 14,000 households are currently benefiting from the Social Cash Transfer programme. An additional 17,000 families, he said, were assisted during the drought.

Kambita also said health care access has improved with the construction of eight new health centres. 

He claimed rural residents who previously walked up to 30 kilometres for treatment now have facilities within reach.

He added that K6 million worth of earth-moving equipment has been procured for township and feeder roads, with K3.2 million allocated by government for running costs. 

In business empowerment, 153 cooperatives have accessed loans while 339 clubs and societies have received grants. “These are not abstract promises—they are results that anyone can verify on the ground,” he said.

On economic policy, Kambita pointed to the mining sector, particularly in Northwestern Province, as evidence of renewed investor confidence. 

“Mining is now booming because policies are predictable and investors know the rules will not change overnight,” he said. 

He argued that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are delivering infrastructure such as the Kasomeno–Mwenda toll road and power projects without increasing the national debt.

But Kambita was also blunt in his criticism of government opponents, accusing them of making “blanket statements” without engaging with facts. 

“Development is a process, not an event. If you go to constituencies like Zambezi East, you will see classrooms, desks, health centres, and shops that did not exist before. This is real progress,” he said.

As PAC chairperson, Kambita insisted accountability has improved, claiming that audit queries against ministries and agencies are fewer compared to the previous administration. 

“Of course, no system is perfect. But what matters is whether corrective mechanisms are in place. Debt restructuring was such a mechanism, and it is now supporting service delivery,” he said.

Kambita concluded by urging the public and the media to adopt issue-based politics rather than what he described as “empty rhetoric.” 

He said the UPND’s governance model has laid the foundation for economic stability, inclusive development, and stronger accountability.