The UN released recently released its new edition of its human development index (HDI) report. The HDI represents a push for a broader definition of well-being and provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development: health, education and income. Zambia's HDI is 0.430, which gives puts us at the rank of 164 out of 187 countries with comparable data. The HDI of Sub-Saharan Africa as a region is 0.463, placing Zambia below the regional average.
You can access the Zambia report here.
Not surprised by Zambia's below average score. Zambia will continue performing below average if the govt does not improve the road infrastructure in the country. It is through roads that such things as health and education facilities are built and easily made accessible to Zambians. It is also through roads and railways that Zambians would be able to have access to markets either to buy or sell their produce. So please let us move away from calling road projects 'political' or 'economic' projects. Roads must be built mainly because there are Zambians living along or at the end of the road and not because there is a mineral deposit at the end of the road. This is what will improve the quality of life of Zambians. Per capita incomewise Togo, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are below Zambia but have higher HDI scores. The difference it seems is they place more emphasis on directing infrastructure and social services to all areas of their countries not selected.
ReplyDeleteThe 2010 CSO Poverty survey identifies Luapula and Western provinces as having the highest incidents of poverty at 80.5% and 80.4% respectively. The question is why shouldnt this be reflected in the way budgetary resources are allocated?