Editing Economy of Zambia (section)

=== 2001–2010 ===
On 2 January 2002, MMD's [[Levy Mwanawasa]] won the presidential election which many observers claimed had actually been won by the opposition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zambia's Fourth Democratic Elections: A Country of Minority Governments - By Tiens Kahenya, UPND Secretary General |url=http://www.africaliberalnetwork.org/newsletter_item.aspx?i_PageID=1420&i_NewsID=24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614095733/http://www.africaliberalnetwork.org/newsletter_item.aspx?i_PageID=1420&i_NewsID=24 |archive-date=14 June 2008 |access-date=15 September 2009 |publisher=Africaliberalnetwork.org |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In January 2003, the Zambian Government informed the [[International Monetary Fund]] and [[World Bank]] that it wished to renegotiate some of the agreed performance criteria calling for privatization of the Zambia National Commercial Bank and the national telephone and electricity utilities.

Foreign investors liked Mwanawasa, owing partly to his [[anti-corruption]] drive. During his presidency, [[Zambia]] received [[Foreign direct investment|foreign investment]].<ref name="cabbage">[http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?STORY_ID=11968403 Zambia: Why Africa needs more cabbage] The Economist</ref> The main driver of economic growth was minerals. Mwanawasa's policies helped to lower [[inflation]] to single digits in 2006, a record the country had not seen in over 25 years, and spread some benefits to the poor.<ref name="cabbage" /><ref name=":5" /> Tourists and white farmers diverted from Zimbabwe and helped the Zambian economy.<ref name="cabbage" /> The policies turned the Zambian town of [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]], near [[Victoria Falls, Zambia|Victoria Falls]], into a tourist hub.<ref name="telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2586928/Levy-Mwanawasa.html Levy Mwanawasa] The Telegraph</ref> Zambia received a relatively large amount of aid and debt relief because of liberalisation and Mwanawasa's efforts.<ref name="cabbage" /> Overall, economic growth increased to about 6% per year.<ref name="cabbage" />

After Mwanawasa suffered a stroke while attending an [[African Union]] summit in Egypt on 29 June 2008, [[Rupiah Banda]] became acting president and subsequently President.<ref name="VOA">James Butty, [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20081116111609/http://voanews.com/english/archive/2008%2D07/2008%2D07%2D01%2Dvoa8.cfm "Zambian President Has Had a History of Hypertension, Says Information Minister"], VOA News, 2 July 2008.</ref> With divisions within the MMD, Banda promised to "unite the party and the entire nation" and to "continue implementing [Mwanawasa's] programs".<ref name="IOL20080905">{{cite news |date=5 September 2008 |title=Zambia's ruling party picks candidate |language=en |work=www.iol.co.za |agency=Sapa-AFP |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zambias-ruling-party-picks-candidate-415346 |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> After taking office, however, Banda dismantled much of the anti-corruption effort put into place by his predecessor, Mwanawasa.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bearak |first=Barry |date=20 June 2011 |title=Frederick Chiluba, Former President of Zambia, Dies at 68 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/world/africa/20chiluba.html}}</ref> This, compounded with the effects of the [[Great Recession]], led to a sustained period of increased inflation.<ref name=":5" />