The Luapula Chamber of Commerce Trade and Industry has welcomed President Hakainde Hichilema’s decision to create the Ministry of Small Medium sized Enterprise Development.
Luapula Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry President, Emmanuel Musanje, says the ministry will be the main framework that is likely to bring together interventions in various sectors of the economy to create jobs and reduce poverty in the country.
Mr Musanje said in an interview that the new ministry is a target to the youths who need to actively participate in the economic transformation of the country.
“This new ministry is a target to the youths to say that whatever you are good at, do it to the best of your ability, because when you look at the procurement, there will be preference to buy from the enterprising youths locally,” he said.
Mr Musanje added that when the government starts procuring goods and services from the youths it means opportunities are being given to them and that they should position themselves in polishing up their dreams and skills.
“I know that this time around there will be access to finance because for a long time it was a general thing whereby, the SMEs were competing with huge enterprises and they were overshadowed, but now with this proposed SME ministry it will make the youths think outside the box” he said.
Meanwhile, Mansa Village Industry Tenants Association (MAVISTA) Secretary General, Nathan Ng’andwe said the small-scale entrepreneurs at the village industry are hopeful that the proposed Ministry of Small Medium Enterprises will help their businesses to grow through various economic policies that the government will implement.
“Now we have our own ministry that will look at small enterprises like ours, here at the village industry we have many talents such as carpentry, shoe making, mechanics and many others that will now be looking to this new ministry to support them so that they too can contribute to the GDP of the country,” he said.
Mr. Ng’andwe noted that the small-scale entrepreneurs need not to be politicized so that they can also grow into commercial businesses.
“In the past there was a lot of political interference which largely suffocated these small enterprises, but now with the new government we are hopeful that such will not happen as the small enterprises will be the engine for economic recovery in the country,” he said.
You are telling us what you are going to do but not how you indent to do it. There is no cutting corners, quality education and quality training will produce quality youths geared for what ever sector they choose to specialise in. You cannot fast track rubbish by just creating a ministry of rubbish. It’s rubbish in, rubbish out. What issues do small to medium enterprises have? Are your issues tax related or is it lack of access to wider markets? In developed countries all key sectors are replenished with an intake of graduates and school leavers to ensure continuity. Youths are recruited through apprenticeship in key government institutions to do research and bring in fresh ideas but this cycle starts from pre-school when kids are 3 to 4 years old. I think you will find making adults…
I have been moderated by LT again for saying making adults think outside the box a waste of time.
Ni beans iwe.
3 quarters of the SME companies I knew before I left Zambia were run by matures and adults.
Most millennials want to be in the Entertainment (Especially music) World. You need to change most youths’ attitude, train them and give them capital. But before you do that, the tenure of one Government would have ended. Work on the sustainable youth policy that would achieve the goes in the next 20years. Only a handful of current youth are up to the game. Otherwise this Ministry is a total sham.
Too much ceremonial, it’s time to take the gloves off.
“The gloves are off and take the gloves off are phrases which mean from this point forward nothing will be held back, no restraint or mercy will be shown.”
About the Youth the approach you are taking is not the right approach.
No more five years.
Ministry of Commerce,Trade and Industry is enough in itself so no need for duplication.
What issues do small to medium enterprises have? Are these issues tax related or is it lack of access to wider markets? In developed countries all key sectors are replenished with an intake of graduates and school leavers to ensure continuity. Youths are recruited through apprenticeships in key government institutions to do research and bring in fresh ideas but this cycle starts from pre-school when kids are 3 to 4 years old. We need clear and deliberate structures in all sectors to achieve anything meaningful.
It will not happen over night, even with a non thieving Government. As much as it is a national journey to prosperity, it is a personal one, hoping in turn everyone benefits; your kids and your kids kids kids kids….Our current Population have been traumatised by poverty; its going to be hard to think outside the box. Are you going to tell a cadre to think outside box?…what box? If we fail the children starting grade One now, then we are doomed.
Lazy Lungu had a solution for this it was called “youth empowerment” handing out cash to hungry musicians…really laughable…I cannot believe such a bunch of incompetent people were in govt.
@ #3 Daniel Chisebwe. You know what the white gloves symbolize? Our president is a Freemason and that’s what that means, there is no hiding about it. You can google the white Gloves symbolize.
Hey #9 Zambiano you know well that’s a damn lie.Very shameless of you.
@#10 Mzambia wa Zamani, do your reseach you will understand what i’m talking about the Freemason. *******
Where’s Kaizar Zulu now.He’s gone underground now and president HH’s photo inspecting a guard of honour plus his beautiful plans for the youth must be killing him.
@ #9 I like your broad thinking: willing to accept opinions, beliefs, or behaviors that are unusual or different from your own.
Yes I did look it up.
This ministry of small medium enterprise development, the way its been put sounds like its only for the youth,but what about those who are already in enterprising and wanting assistance from the aforesaid ministry?