After a lengthened spell of constant dragging into disrepute and misrepresentation, the Economics Association of Zambia has rebranded.
For an Association who’s aim is to foster socioeconomic development through research, training and consultancy without any political inclination, it sure did get caught up in a political tangle that clearly caught the public eye. That it was heavily embroiled in the heat of the political wrestlemania around the time of prime political shenanigans last year is no state secret and we should not candy coat it. Simply because for a professional body that is entrusted with such a mammoth sized responsibility of pointing the country in the right socioeconomic direction, to pick a political side and lean towards it is simply repugnant and an object of stern aversion, and it should never be condoned.
Fortunately, there were still members who held true not the true objectives and policies of the association. When it became obvious and apparent that the association was compromised, the well meaning members disassociated themselves from what became a politically inspired organization.
After the outcome of the general elections, it seemed as though what became the agenda of the derailed association was disturbed and there was no real inspiration to go on and there was generally no direction for the association any more.
There are some members who still carry the core values of the organization and still believe in its cause though. Even after the new reputation that the association earned itself as a result of misplaced associations, they still regrouped and called for an AGM where they will select a new executive and call for fresh membership registration. In the mean time the association is being managed by an interim team under the leadership of Mr Isaac Ngoma.
Despite what happened, the association is one of the key associations whose input towards national economic guidance is undisputedly paramount. We are therefore called on as the general public to support the rebranded association as it means well and is determined to change the current narrative and return the faith that people once had in it.