ZBF Wants Stimulus Package Set

THE Zambia Business Forum (ZBF) has appealed to the Government to come up with a stimulus package for the private sector to enable it become more sustainable in the current economic climate.

According to a communiqué released in Lusaka yesterday by ZBF executive director, Reginald Mfula after a consultative meeting with President Rupiah Banda on Monday the Government should help resolve various challenges facing the private sector.

Mr Mfula said the ZBF wanted Government’s position on business licensing reforms and macro-economic stability.

The business community through the ZBF presented to the president, five major issues for action, which Mr Banda assured and pledged to tackle.

The ZBF also raised its concerns on the non-approval of pending policies and bills and how Government was implementing some major issues concerning the development of the private sector.

Mr Mfula said in response, the president and his team welcomed submissions from the ZBF and gave assurance that the Government would commence discussions and implementation of various strategies with the forum.

On the business licence reforms, the Government indicated that it would table the report before the Parliament.

The Government would ensure that a bill was taken to parliament for expeditious implementation of the recommendations in order to reduce the number of licences that were inhibiting the growth of business in the private sector.

He said the Government assured that the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) had since drafted a statutory instrument on dollarisation, which would soon be forwarded to relevant Government wings for implementation.

A credit guarantee scheme is also in the process of being implemented through the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ), which would help to address difficulties of high interest rates.

Mr Mfula said the Government, which had set up a committee of ministers to deal with the issue, was committed to quickening the process of approval of all the pending bills and policies for implementation.

On the economic stimulus plans by the Government, the President assured the private sector that Government would do everything to improve road, railway and air transport and other necessary infrastructure.

Government was also optimistic that the reforms it had undertaken in the energy sector presented more opportunities for the private sector to take advantage and invest their resources, even in the production of bio fuel as the new policy had recognised this sub-sector.

President Banda’s team included 12 Cabinet ministers, their permanent secretaries and directors.

Also in the team was the BoZ deputy governor, Secretary to Cabinet, Secretary to the Treasury and other senior Government officials.

The ZBF entourage included Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), Chamber of Mines of Zambia (CMZ), Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM), Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Associations (ZCSMBA), Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) and Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA)