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Economists are commending the government for delivering a significant portion of its commitments under the 120-day social contract, which officially expires May 7, 2025.
Out of 28 promises made, 19 have been fulfilled, with seven still outstanding.
Among the key achievements are the successful hosting of a National Economic Dialogue, the launch of the One Million Coders programme, the implementation of the betting tax, and the establishment of the Accelerated Export Development Council.
The government has also operationalized the Women’s Development Bank, providing seed capital to support its launch. These initiatives have been cited as part of broader efforts to revitalize the economy and promote financial inclusion.
However, several major initiatives remain incomplete. These include the review of taxes on vehicles, the removal of the one percent COVID-19 levy, the commencement of the 24-hour economy initiative, and amendments to the Customs Act of 2020.
The government is yet to provide revised timelines for the completion of these outstanding promises.
Speaking to Citi Business News, Economist, Professor Patrick Assuming praised the government’s efforts, noting that despite financial constraints, the administration has performed appreciably well.
“Considering the circumstances, I think they’ve done fairly well. It’s very difficult coming into power under the conditions they faced. They did well setting up the core team relatively quickly. Some of the major promises, particularly related to taxes, have seen good progress. However, naturally, some elements of the 120-day contract will take more time. Perhaps the government underestimated the duration needed for full implementation,” Professor Asuming said.
He emphasised the need to complete the remaining initiatives to sustain public trust and support economic recovery.
“Overall, I think the appointments have been good, aside from maybe one or two exceptions, particularly regarding communication of the strategy. But generally, they’ve done well, and I would give them a very good score,” he added.
