Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Zambia bans foreigners from selling poultry, quarrying and block making

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A Chinese Woman Selling Vegetables in a Lusaka Market
A Chinese Woman Selling Vegetables in a Lusaka Market

Government has with immediate effect banned foreigners from selling poultry, quarrying, block making and engaging in domestic haulage.

Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said such businesses shall be reserved for indigenous Zambians because government is determined to empower its citizens.

He said this follows the decisions passed by the 23rd Cabinet meeting held at State House on Monday October 19.

Mr. Kambwili, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, was speaking at a press briefing held in Lusaka today.

He said foreigners who wish to engage in such businesses should partner with Zambians in what he termed as ‘citizen-influenced’ empowerment.

He disclosed that Cabinet approved the Reserved Schemes under Citizens Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006 provisions.

“Licenses to foreigner investors who engage in poultry production and processing, quarrying and block making and domestic haulage shall be granted on basis of joint ventures and partnerships with citizen-owned companies in accordance with the Act,” Mr. Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili disclosed that government has mandated the Zambia Institute of Advanced legal Education (ZIALE) to approve and accredit law learning institutions in the country.

A chinese Chicken Farmer Selling Chickens at the market
A chinese Chicken Farmer Selling Chickens at the market

The Minister further revealed that Cabinet approved the harmonisation of salaries for civil servants and conditions of service.

Mr Kambwili said the National Food and Nutrition Commission Insurance Premium Levy, Customs and Excise, Property Transfer Tax, Value Added Tax, Income Tax and Lands bills would be introduced in parliament because the laws are out-dated.

He added that cabinet has approved the ratification of the African Charter on values and principles of public service, COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite free trade area Agreement and also hosting on the 42nd ordinary session of the African regional labour administration slated for February, 2016.

The Minister said government is aware of the konzo disease and that health experts are in Lwa-tembo area of Mongu district to ascertain disease.

Mr. Kambwili also announced that Cabinet has with immediate effect reversed the revised traffic fees that were hiked a fortnight ago.

Mr. Kambwili said government heard the out-cry of the people especially motorists on newly introduced traffic fees and fines.

The Minister however, urged members of the public to report corrupt police officers frustrating government efforts on bringing sanity on the roads.

“Cabinet decided that Government would revert back to the old traffic fees and fines,” Mr. Kambwili said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kambwili has defended the presence of deputy ministers at the first -ever-42nd Cabinet meeting saying deputy ministers are there not to contribute but play the role of watchdog (observer).

The Chief Government Spokesperson said deputy ministers do not participate in the decisions made by their bosses (Cabinet) but only gather background information.

He stated that the attendance of deputy ministers, Permanent Secretaries including Directors of line ministers have attended Cabinet meetings after being summoned to appear before the Head of State.

President Edgar Lungu observed that deputy ministers are allegedly not briefed by their bosses hence the need to include them in the Cabinet meetings starting with the October 19 meeting.

43 COMMENTS

  1. This is what happens when your president is a friend to Mugabe, People go into business because they have seen a gap which need to be filled and if that gap can be filled by foreigners while Zambians sit on their bums, then let it be.

    • What? More IDlOTS like this clown Kwambili?

      That is definitely the last thing Zambia needs!

      He is just a recipe for FOR DISASTER!

  2. Strange meeting. Maintain original cabinet meeting then direct ministers to have Tuesday meetings at their ministries with deputies and directors.

  3. I thought Zambia was a free market. Most of businesses will just promote some general workers to Director Level. The move will have no impact at all.

    • Wow my beloved govt. Please spend time in cabinet planning for the country on serious competitive areas of the region and the globe to help stabilize the Kwacha, not monitoring the chicken farmers and stone breakers and haulers? Really?

  4. Useless visionary Government, Zambians are known to be get rich quick scammers and lazy chaps who are good for nothing clubing , sex and a lot of beer, which foreigner would want to risk his money with such stupidity.

  5. ba Ben mulibapuba,if this cannot be the step towards empowering the locals what then can be the right step? imwe mufwaya government yafilwa so that your Kainde and UPND can rule.mwanko bukacha bukela.viva pf viva edgar.i will extend my chicken run now and will engange in full time block making business.hard lucky ba ben,pf will never fail.

    • ubupuba Politicaanalyst, you mean you can not compete with foreigners on a level playing field as Zambians and you need your PF or POLITICAL FOOLS government to help you, then you are not fit to be a business man. Foreigners living in Zambia are operating their businesses under the same conditions as you, why then are they doing batter than the locals. Government is there to create a conducive business environment for every one, local or foreign. No wonder you are poor.

    • what stopped you from doing it before no-one again a useless excuse for being lazy before…this is just another ploy that will be reversed when no goods can be transported from one side of the country to the other..

  6. How about the Chinese who cook and sell nshima at Soweto Market? Are they investors? Who issued licenses to them? What is a criteria for a foreigner to be an investor? This is all a result of corruption!

  7. THE LIST SHOULD INCLUDE WHOLESALES, BAKERIE,SHOPS,BUSES,TAxis.ALLOW AGRICULTURE CASH CROPS AND ANIMAL REARING. GOVT TO COME UP WITH FARMS WHICH THEY CAN RENT TO PEOPLE TO DO IT AS A BUSSINESS FOR A WHILE. IT SHOULD BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ZAMBIANS 40% & 60% FOREIGN.

  8. Not two weeks, the traffic fees and fines were hiked more than two weeks ago, they should include zra presumptive taxes which were hiked by 200%. (K235-K600) extortionist tax by zra.

  9. Some of these foreigner owned chicken farms employ a lot of Zambians who will automatically be jobless, so this will help increase the number of loafers, well thought PF think tanks!

  10. So wat happens if we find a foreigner selling the now banned products? What is the grace period for effecting this change? What measures has government put in place to protect the foreigners who are already in this business?

  11. All that will happen is that foreigners will use nominees and fronts.

    The fundamental question is why are indigenous zambians not successful in these business ventures ? What have they been denied, or which law has blocked them apart from drinking sprees.

    This will just reduce competition and increase chicken prices. Enjoy

    • You totally get it right Apathy! At a fee many will be drafted as fronts as it happens with hunting blocks. Since the ban is from selling, it means foreigners will keep rearing the chickens and Zambians will purchase and resell adding credence to the point that chicken prices will rise. Very few Zambians know how to calculate profit margins for them its quick and huge profiteering!

      Someone please respond to Apathy’s questions and I wish it would be Kambwili.

  12. It’s long overdue, just get down Botswana, you can’t find a foreigner operating a butchery, bakery, grocery, hairsaloon, taxi, domestic haulage, blockading,etc. Only locals in partnership in few exception s.

  13. Does this mean all the market and street level jobs have now been reserved for Zambians, and ownership of billion-dollar mines etc. is now reserved for foreigners? This simplistic and clumsy decree is distracting from the problem – which is, how does a foreigner come from China and get a work permit on the basis that they are going to sell some chickens ku market? That is the question ba Chimbwili, where did they get the permit? From who? Or is that question too “sensitive” for those ones who have already chewed?

  14. If a foreigner is legally resident in Zambia, is it not discrimination to ban them from making a living legally? What about Zambians legally living abroad, would we find it acceptable for them to be banned from engaging in some business activities simply because they are foreigners?

  15. I PERSONALLY, DO NOT SUPPORT THIS KIND OF DISCRIMINATION. THIS IS A VERY BAD AND RACIST DECISION. ZAMBIANS ARE MOSTLY LAZY AND THEREFORE THEY SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO COMPETITION IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WAKE UP. ARE LAWS NOW MADE OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT? GUYS CAN YOU REVERSE YOUR KNEE JAKE DECISION WHICH WAS NOT THOUGHT THROUGH PRIOR TO MAKING IT LAW OR WHATEVER. SO, WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING- THAT ANY CHINESE PERSON WHO HAS A FARM OF VEGETABLES SHOULD JUST BE EATING THEM OR GIVING THEM FOR FREE OF CHARGE? I LEAVE OVERSEAS AND I WOULDN’T LIKE TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN ANY WAY. IT IS GRZ’s RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THOSE WHO CAME IN AS INVESTORS HAD INVESTMENT CAPITAL BEFORE ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY- THIS MEANS UN CORRUPTING IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

  16. Competition is of prime importance people. Once we have a lot of players in the market selling particular products, we expect prices to reduce as everyone would want to sell. This is good for the consumer as products become affordable and of high quality. I bet these people hardly do any consultation before making important decisions.

  17. While if locals are lazy and don’t wanna do business let the foreigners do, besides Zambia is a free market economy. So Mr Kambwili instead of stopping well meaning foreigners from doing business encourage Zambians to be competitive and proactive in doing business.

    • excellent blog, am happy to hear so many zambians mature and intelligently give their views,, and like so many have said, grabbing peoples busines is an ancient undertaking which should remain in the pre historic era.. its a sign of laziness and racist in nature. mano ya ku zim ayomwamba, thus why edgar has been flocking to tht part of uncivilised world only to learn and import bad behaviour

  18. BUILDER AND MUKABWELA, YOU ARE ALL SPOT ON. MORE SO THIS RULING IS JUST SETTING GROUNDS FOR XENOPHOBIA. IT IS BETTER EVERYONE DOES ANYTHING IN ZAMBIA. NOT A SITUATION WHERE FARE SKIN PEOPLE DO/RUN POSH JOBS AND BUSINESSES AND INDIGENOUS ZAMBIANS SELL COMMODITIES IN A PRIMITIVE MANNER. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND SETTING IS THAT INDIGENOUS ZAMBIANS MUST REMAIN POOR WHILE COMERS MUST RUN RICH BUSINESSES AND BANKS SHOULD GIVE THEN LOANS FOR THEIR RICH BUSINESSES. WHOEVER THOUGHT OF THIS IDEA IS VERY SIMPLISTIC AND HAS A VERY SHALLOW MIND. HE COULDN’T THINK THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY WORKING AGAINST ZAMBIANS. YOU THINK (LIKE INDIANS) CHINESE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE HELPING THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITH CASH TO ACQUIRE POSH BUSINESSES? YOU ARE JOKERS YOU LAW MAKERS OF ZAMBIA.

  19. As expected. Shoot from the hip and then asses legal consequence.
    What if those businesses are holders of “investment licence” issued by ZDA? Have you provided “sinking fund” (lol) for International Arbitration?

  20. This command has already been overtaken by events. Most of those “foreigners” hold Zambian passports. What now? You will go racial or what?

  21. This is long overdue. There are more areas that require similar action like salaula selling and bird hunting both in Makeni area by these foreigners.

  22. Please start with street vendors in boarder areas like solwezi whose streets & small market shops are 60% congole,masai

  23. This is simply about politics of poverty for a poverty stricken population by especially poverty stricken politicians. Do these politicians know the simple law of demand and supply and a free market where everyone should be an equal player. If foreigners discovered a gap which Zambians failed to note and take advantage of why stop them. Soon commodity prices will go up because Zambians are either not interested or have no capacity to supply and meet the demand. Instead of providing cheaper loans for Zambians to increase productivity and promote the spirit of hard work among Zambians, politicians seem to be blaming foreigners for the poverty we are engulfed into. An impression that Zambians cannot survive in a competitive environment is being created. This explains why we are crying for…

  24. This all smacks of desperation and raises a lot of questions. Discrimination, unlawful, breach of rights etc. all come to mind. So all foreigners who are legally resident in Zambia are banned from carrying out such businesses on their own accord? Is this the plan for the 500,000 jobs for the youth that are supposed to be created?

  25. it will empower zambians. its fair.those foreigners with resident permits can trade ,but with work permits they have to partner…

  26. Heard that Chinese have even been selling chicken portions in Soweto market!!!If found now, it should attract beatings. Simple.

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