The United Party for National Development (UPND) team will work tirelessly to realise the dream of a prosperous Zambia anchored on mutual understanding, love and national unity for speedy economic and social development, with a targeted economic growth rate of ten per cent (10%) per year.  This will be achieved  through running a mixed economy, particularly promoting increased but properly structured private/public local and foreign investments in sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction, energy,

tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure, telecommunications, pensions, Insurance, financial and other services many of which have in the past decades been neglected. 
Among measures necessary for the achievement of high but sustainable growth, would be maintenance of macro economic stability (lower inflation, lower interest and stable exchange rates).  The UPND believes that as a country, we should realise that we cannot share poverty.

The only sustainable way of helping the vulnerable and weak members of our society is through strong economic growth supported by effective economic management and social programmes.
 We will take positive and clear steps to move Zambia forward into a middle income country, with equitable distribution of wealth among  our citizens in all parts of the country so as to achieve overall poverty reduction, within a decade.
The UPND believes that politics is serious business and not a game as some people would like to treat it.  The country now than ever before needs visionary leadership and economic management skills for development and social progress, as we are mainly not in a military or legal but rather economic war situation.

Mining and Manufacturing

UPND will Support Zambians through deliberate Government measures to own shares and businesses in mining and other companies in their own right or through joint ventures with foreign capital providers.

The precious and semi-precious mining sub-sector (emeralds, etc) will be restructured in terms of mining, processing and marketing so that it can add meaningful value and income to the Zambian economy including creating more jobs for citizens and those who live and pay taxes in Zambia. There is need to emulate countries such as Botswana which have done well with their resources such as diamonds.

Issuance of new artisan, small and large scale reconnaissance, prospecting and mining licenses shall favour Zambian individuals and entities. Foreigners and foreign companies will participate in these new job creating mining operations by providing capital and technical skills through joint ventures with Zambians and the Zambian Government.
This is expected to create a sense of common interest and mutual benefit arising from mining activities between Zambians and foreign capital providers.

In addition, mining and other extractive industries would be required to :
1. resolve and where necessary, pay any outstanding pension and retrenchment monies which they are responsible for;
2. going forward, provide appropriate and sustainable retrenchment and pension arrangements to miners and pay such pensions and retrenchment monies on time when they fall due;

3. provide one or more of : free carry shares, profit share, yearly grant funds to local communities where the mines are located.