The Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) would like to laud the government for making the bold decision to reserve certain businesses for Zambians.
This decision is commendable because it will go a long way in empowering local people, especially women and youths.
This week, the government announced that foreigners will not be allowed to trade in poultry production, processing and marketing, block-making, quarrying and domestic haulage for all public procurements such as hauling maize for the Food Reserve Agency or supply of poles for Zesco Limited.
The government has indicated that foreign investors can only engage in poultry production and processing, quarrying and block-making and domestic haulage through joint ventures with Zambian citizens.
The ZCSD lauds the government policy directive because in our view, it is aimed at promoting the participation and empowerment of Zambians in small-scale entrepreneurships, which has largely been infiltrated by foreigners.
The participation of foreigners in businesses, which Zambians can conduct was unfair because it had relegated Zambians to mere spectators in the economic affairs of the country considering their lack of opportunities to assessing capital.
We feel that the empowerment of local citizens is important if the current levels of poverty and growing inequality are to be reduced significantly and government has an opportunity to realize the empowerment of people through such policy direction.
We also wish to advise government to ensure that economic empowerment programmes are directed to areas where local citizens will comparative advantage over foreign investment.
Small-scale small businesses are a critical component of and major contributor to the strength of local economies and this is a critical aspect in development and the poverty reduction agenda.
The policy directive by the government presents new employment opportunities and will serve as the major source of income for many citizens.
There is also need for the government to ensure that citizens, especially women and youths have access to land, which is on title so that this asset can be used as collateral and capital if the policy directive on empowerment is to be realized. Access to land will also facitate and advantage citizens with partnership opportunities with foreign investors.
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA must be more accountable in investment appraisals and strengthening its imonitoring role and ensuring that foreigners only participate in entrepreneurship activities where they are qualified.
Further, we would like to urge the government to prioritise areas of investment such as agriculture, where local people can establish joint ventures with foreign investors.
Lewis Mwape
Executive Director
That is called working!
As regards govt privatizing areas of investment, I believe it is me, an active citizen, who will apply myself in my area of interest so that any investor worth his salt can partner with me with confidence. For instance, if I am good in horticultural products and pork products, n investor with cash will find it easy to partner with me and have confidence that his/her money is going into good use. It would be stoopid of me to lay back and wait for Kambwili or Hichilema to go look for someone to partner with me and make me go into small scale mining or foundry business! Zambians, ukunonka nipalobe! The environment is enabling already. How else do you think bena HH, ABC, GBM, etc are making profits from within Zambia?
Meant prioritizing and not privatizing.
Good move PF on this one. But you’re the same govt that allowed foreigners to sell on the streets and do what they’re doing. Just have a heart and give the affected people some grace period up to the end of December to dispose off the goods which they’re selling and for those in pottery and brink making business to enter into partnership with Zambians. They are fellow humans who have done what they’re doing because of weak laws but they need to survive too since they did not do what was illegal then. For those who enter into partnerships with Zambians, allow them to sell in the markets with their Zambian partners.
This has been long overdue, however a very welcome move by the authorities. Now the young people and women must take this advantage to engage in those businesses, they have no excuse and not Chinese competition.
A baby chick is now for K5.
It takes billions of dollars to develop the genetics whereby a chick can turn into a chicken in 38 days. Only 3 companies in the world have this technology. They licence out this to Hybrid, Ross etc and using imported parent stock these companies produce chicks locally. Is the new law saying Ross, Hybrid, yieldingtree etc must close shop or sell off 60% shares to locals coz currently only mzungu control the top of the food chain ???
Thanks. My point exactly. This is mere posturing for the masses to continue praying and fasting while PF leaders get fat on Eurobonds.
This is wishful thinking. PF are selling residence permits and citizenship to these same foreigners. Who you claim is a Chinese national could be a Zambian by purchase of citizenship. What is PF going to do to Hybrid, Flamingo in poultry, or Oriental and Lion Quarries in quarrying and block making? These threats are mere posturing and empty wishes.
This is just discrimination and petty. What is government going to do with Kamwala traders, all the Indians that are selling material running businesses in those areas? Zambians just hate Chinese people. Freedomway and Chachacha road are full of these businesses, why is government targetting this poor lady?
She is not an investor yaba..! Can’t ZDA not tell the bleeding difference between residents and companies..!
Anyway David Cameron finally signed a deal with China – after all his cries about China colonising and taking over Africa, they agreed to work with the Chinese despite their cries over Africa.
Now who is on the losing end here? Zambia or UK?
Wake up Zambians wake up…! Investors come in form of companies, large corporate organisations not people who want to resettle. Leave this woman alone.