Government has intensified measures to ensure that major supermarkets in country stock local products in order to improve the economy.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, who toured Shoprite, Game Stores, Pick n Pay, Food Lovers basket and Melisa supermarkets in Lusaka, said government was working on empowering local suppliers.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said local suppliers should be empowered for them to produce goods that are of high quality and that local foods are readily available on the shop shelves.
She said her ministry has since partnered with the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) to give start-up capitals to local suppliers in order for them to have the necessary tools required to produce quality goods.
She said trading in local products was essential to the economy because this will greatly help in boosting value addition for the benefit of the ordinary Zambians.
And Spar Store Manager Paul Mwila said local suppliers were sometimes not reliable because they allegedly did not have the necessary equipment to produce goods on a large scale.
Mr. Mwila however said local suppliers have the potential of satisfying the local and international markets if they were given the necessary capital.
Like LE fixing Copper prices, these shops fix the prices for local products. I can’t sell my “swine fever” infested meet to these shops bkos they fix the price as blow as K17/kg liveweight. Meanwhile Govt are just playing same record blablabla
That is the only way to curb Xenophobia. Countries should not rely entirely on others. It must be seen to mutual benefit not only one country as a supplier and others as receivers. That way the suppliers will feel that they are more important than the buyers. South African commentators have often said ” Africa needs South Africa more than South Africa needs Africa” a clearly very very shallow thinking. Which explains why Africa is such a backward continent.
Some ministers is worst of resources. From Deepak Patel, to Harrington, to Felix Mutati and now to this ????
Please do not just talk make follow-up after six months or less see the progress on your work. If you cannot follow-up on your work then do not talk.
Why don’t you tell us what incentives and measures you have put in place…as i don’t remember fossil chikwanda mentioning anything in this years budget.
How can you give start-up capital to someone who is already manufacturing…or someone who doesnt share your vision leave that to the banks. Its no wonder we waste taxpayer funds on people who are unable to payback!
Wow. And this is the statement of Minister of Trade? What a waste of tax-payers money in paying her benefits.
Madam, roll up your socks and do your job in creating conductive environment for development of trade, industry and commerce instead of making grade two slogans.
In so far, your leadership in the Ministry cannot be quantified for simple reason that you have NOT done anything either positive or negative.
Increase taxes on imported finished goods and invest the money in improving the quality of local goods.
The strategy of how you will figure out yourself. other wise good instructions and make sure you follow up. we have a country Zambia which import every thing one can think of.
Amazing Zambia, grow up. how to do other country control this unwanted imports.