My parents’ advice was that I should stay clear of Frank Mutubila, as he had a reputation for going after any new girl who joined ZNBC. I did stay cl… - Dora Siliya

Our efforts to establish free trade zones, particularly in Kasumbalesa, are progressing well. The DRC depends heavily on Zambia for its food supply, presenting a substantial market for both major businesses like Zambeef and smaller poultry and egg farmers. We've reached an agreement with the DRC to tackle the informal trade issues along our nearly 1,000 km border, which has complicated formal trade processes. Following discussions with the Minister of Finance, we're looking at ways to formalize this "informal" trade by creating a free trade zone, allowing structured transactions in a unified currency, the dollar. Many companies have been cautious about investing across the border due to regulatory and system concerns in the DRC, but this initiative could open significant new markets and opportunities for Zambia.

The country has long discussed economic diversification, and in September 2016, the president took a significant step by announcing plans for a “green revolution” in parliament. Following this direction, the 2017 budget for agriculture saw a boost of over 158%. For us, diversification means not only shifting the economy from mining to agriculture but transforming the agriculture sector entirely. Currently, 70% of Zambia's workforce is engaged in agricultural activities, yet it only contributes 9% to the GDP. My goal is to increase this to 20% within the next few years by prioritizing investment in research and extension services.

The internet has placed power in people’s hands and should be used positively and not to distract people from important national issues.