Zambia to spend $15.5 billion over next three years

Zambia, Africa's top producer of copper, expects state spending to total 71.7 trillion kwacha ($15.54 bln) over the next three years, the nation's treasury said in a statement on Sunday. The southern African nation is attempting to diversify its economy beyond mining by spending more on roads and other infrastructure to stimulate growth in tourism and manufacturing.
State spending is expected to total 20.8 trillion kwacha in 2011, 24.9 trillion in 2012 and 26 trillion in 2013, the treasury said. "Increased investment in roads and rural electrification are not only aimed at increasing market access, but also enhancing the opening of new areas of investment, particularly in tourism and manufacturing," Secretary to the Treasury Likolo Ndalameihe said in the statement.