Small and Medium Enterprises in Muchinga Province have made submissions towards the Policy formulation under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development.

And small and medium entrepreneurs in the region have advised the new dawn government consider giving startup capital to SMEs mainly in the construction industry.

The stakeholders made their submissions during a two-day Provincial consultative process held at K-lombe Private School Hall in Chinsali.

Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Chief Planner Emmanuel Kasanga confirms that the team is in the province to get submissions from SMEs and cooperatives that will feed into the National Policy.

Mr Kasanga added in an interview that following the establishment of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development in 2021, it is now time for Government to put policies and legislation in place that will foster the development and growth of cooperatives and SMEs.

Mr Kasanga who is also team leader from the ministry in Lusaka said it is these same policies and legislations that will help Government to govern the public properly.

He said Government runs the affairs of the public through policies and legislation which are a set of written instructions.

“These policies and legislations will act as a guiding tool to government that will be implemented by public workers,” said Mr Kasanga.

The challenges being experienced by SMEs and Cooperatives that have been made through various submissions will help Government to formulate measures that will mitigate the challenges that have been highlighted.

“In the past, these policies were made by civil servants but this time around Government wants to hear from the affected horse’s mouth,” the Chief Planner stated.

Policy formulation aids public workers to actualise policies made into what the masses can experience in real life.

And Musonda Chipasha, a local entrepreneur, said Government should consider giving startup capital to SMEs in the construction industry.

line with the 20 per cent sub-construction of local contractors, Mr Chipasha said it has been difficult for most local contractors to execute the works due to poor financial muscle.

Most local contractors do not have collateral to present to the financial institutions for them to access loans compared to foreign contractors.

“Government should consider giving startup capital to SMEs in the construction industry so that they are able to participate effectively in the construction industry, ” said Mr Chipasha.

And colleague Innocent Sunkutu has called on the government to ensure that taxes paid on one item is minimized adding that SMEs are paying more than one tax per item.

” You find we are paying at the border, to Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and at the council, this is too much and a drain to our businesses,” he lamented.

Following its establishment in September 2021, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development has embarked on reviewing, formulating, and developing policies and legislation to execute its mandate of fostering the development and growth of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises.

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises is holding stakeholders meetings to receive proposals on how best stakeholders want the Ministry to operate.

The stakeholders are also submitting what they want the Ministry to help the cooperatives in their endeavours and other programmes such as Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Central Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Milner Mwanakampwe, has called on the Zambia Statistics Agency to decentralize its operations if the intended objective of the 2022 population and housing census is to be achieved.

Mr. Mwanakampwe observes that he is concerned that as the census of population and housing draws nearer, most of the decisions are still being made in Lusaka.

Speaking when the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Director for Population and Development Department, Charles Banda paid a courtesy call on him, the Permanent Secretary said every decision that has to be made by the central government hinges on population development.

“If we don’t know how the population is growing or not growing, then we will not plan ahead. And so, that having been said, I think it brings us to issues that require to be attended to as we delve into these consultations.

“And I am extremely delighted that you have come for consultations. Because if we don’t consult, we implement programmes from Lusaka, most of the time we will be getting smaller. So, it is important that we consult each other,” ,” Mr. Mwanakampwe said.

He said there is also the need to build further capacity among the District Commissioners (DCs) and District Administrative Officers (DAOs) who are currently doing most of the census work.

He further observed that the district census committees that are supposed to oversee the implementation process have not even been put in place.

“And I am saying this in mind with the census that is on the horizon. You see what is happening is that most of the decisions right now are being made from Lusaka,” he said.

As devolution entails giving power to the people , it entails that districts must be allowed to decide who is going to participate in the forthcoming census.

He stated that the province has planners at both local and provincial level that could be used in order to achieve the intended objectives.

On the ongoing online application, the Permanent Secretary observed that there is need to work on internet connectivity especially in rural areas to capture most of the population.

He raised fears that with connectivity challenges in rural areas some citizens will be disadvantaged while it has potential to capture people that have not necessary requisites.

Earlier, Ministry of Finance Director for Population and Development Department, Charles Banda, told the PS that his team was in the province for consultations on the legal framework to actualize the 2019 National Population Policy.

Copperbelt-based civil society organization Break the Silence has observed that a multi-sectoral approach is needed as Zambia battles against climate change.

Break the Silence Chief Executive Director Richard Mweetwa said the rate at which the earth is being destroyed by human activities such as pollution to the environment was alarming.

Mr. Mweetwa said massive tree planting is also needed in a bid to preserve the environment.

He revealed that Break the Silence has partnered with the Ministry of Education on the Copperbelt to plant 30, 000 trees in schools and colleges by December this year.

Mr. Mweetwa said Break the Silence will extend the tree planting exercise to Central, Lusaka and Southern Provinces.

He also called for conceited efforts in arresting challenges of environmental degradation.

“Break the Silence Civil Society Organization of Zambia is concerned at the rate at which our earth is being destroyed by human’s activities like gas emissions from homes, mines, industries and wild fires currently in Europe. Scientists predict that the earth will be 10% warmer this year than usual. It is for this reason why our organization has chosen to partner with different categories of stakeholders like the Ministry of Education on the Copperbelt in all public schools and colleges in planting about 30,000 agro forest trees or fruit trees in December,” Mr. Mweetwa said.

“We wish to extend this exercise in Central Lusaka and Southern provinces and we are calling on all well wishers, be it at individual level, companies both in the private and public sector to get involved by partnering with our organization and purchase some tree plants for onward planting. Remember the fight against climate change is not for the government alone but for everyone because we are all affected in one way or another,” Mr. Mweetwa said.

Mr. Mweetwa highlighted the impact of environmental degradation on human beings.

“For instance air pollution is a global problem, areas far from polluting activity may be adversely impacted as atmospheric circulation moves pollutants freely without regards to political or other based boundaries. In addition to the very serious human health consequences of air pollution, the interaction of pollutants with each other or with natural atmospheric constituents such as water vapor may create derivative pollutants highly damaging to vegetation, surface, groundwater and structures. Among these secondary agents is the acid rain that is the second of the recent trio of environmental concerns,” he said.

“The earth needs healing by planting more trees, the agro trees we intend to plant. We see pupils and all of us benefiting from fruits, shelter, oxygen, absorption of carbon dioxide to reduce global warming, trees are natural windbreakers, and help in the formation of rains from transpiration. Helps preserve thousands if not millions of biodiversity among many other benefits of trees. It is for this reason why we are calling on all individuals, well wishers, cooperating partners, institutions both local and international to partner with us to make this dream a reality,” Mr. Mweetwa said.

Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, says Government places agriculture mechanisation and value addition at the apex of its agenda.

Mr Mutati says Government is keen to increase food production through mechanisation in a quest to reduce poverty levels in the country.

Mr Mutati says the dream to improve and increase tonnage of maize and other cereals through public, private sector collaboration is of great importance.

Speaking during the signing of a letter of intent with CAMCO, which is one of the largest suppliers of assorted machinery in Zambia, Mr Mutati said mechanisation will increase maize tonnage in the country.

“Today my Ministry and CAMCO have signed a letter of intent in which we have both expressed our desire to collaborate by way of establishing manufacturing hubs of equipment and machinery in TEVET colleges,” he said.

The Minister said the letter of intent signed means that CAMCO now will buy some of the machinery and equipment for sale in its show rooms from TEVET colleges.

He noted that through the initiative Government will help to build capacity in TEVET colleges through technology transfer.

“My Ministry stands ready to trigger and accelerate the industrialisation agenda our country through technological development.

He said Government is committed to work with investors who are keen to help Zambia accelerate its industrialisation agenda especially those that are directed at achieving Agriculture mechanisation and value addition.

And CAMCO Marketing Director, Benard Chiwala said with the increase in population in the country, mechanising Agriculture is critical to increase food production.

Engineer Chiwala added that there is a huge difference between farmers who are using a hoe and a Tractor in terms of tonnage.

He said Zambia can stop importing farm produce once Agriculture mechanisation is embraced adding that CAMCO offers hi-tech machinery that can change the country in terms of food production.

CAMCO is a registered company operating in Zambia since 1998 and is now partnering with Government to provide machinery especially for Agricultural purposes among others.

Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Services, Mike Mposha has directed the newly appointed board of directors for Luapula water and sanitation services to resolve the issues that led to the suspension of their operating license.

And Mr. Mposha has also directed the water utility firm to start the process of recruiting the managing director within six months.

Mr. Mposha said today in Ndola when he unveiled the board of directors for Luapula and Chambishi Water Supply and Sanitation Companies that government will accelerate resource mobilisation both local and international to ensure of provision of national water security and sanitation.

ZANIS reports that Mr.Mposha said he is confident the boards will address some of the challenges faced in the water sector such as dilapidated infrastructure, on-revenue water among others.

“For Luapula water, you are already aware that your institution is currently under statutory management. In this regard, part of what you should be working towards is to work with statutory manager to resolve the issues that led to the license of the water utility,” he said.

He said despite the numerous strides made in improving water supply in the country, there is a lot that needs to be done in ensuring that people have access to clean water and sanitation services.

The Minister bemoaned that despite Zambia having a lot of water bodies, only 72 percent of its population have access to improved water sources while 54 percent have access to improved sanitation.

“At provincial level, Luapula has 58.1 percent access to improved water sources while 48.8 percent have access to improved sanitation.

Northern province has 39.9 percent of improved water sources while 55.5 percent have access to improved sanitation,” Mr. Mposha said.

The Minister added that the statistics presented are too low, and that it calls for concerted efforts and planning in improving the status quo, thus directing board of directors to take a leading role.

Mr.Mposha told the board of directors for the two water utility companies that his ministry has developed a performance based contract that will steer the performance of individual members of the boards.

He said that the new dawn administration is working round the clock to ensure improved access to water and sanitation services for all.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mposha has implored the board of directors for all water utility firms to be sensitive to the vision of the new dawn government and regular policy pronouncements by the President.

And Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary, Augustine Kasongo said the boards of directors are instrumental in ensuring that water supply and sanitation companies perform in order to provide water supply and sanitation services in Zambia.

Mr. Kasongo said the unveiling of the boards demonstrates government’s commitment to corporate governance in the running of public institutions.

Mr. Kasongo said government is cognisant of the importance of providing water supply and sanitation services in contributing towards the sustainable development the country.