Government has unveiled its 2011-2015 Strategic Plan with key emphasis on creation of industrial clusters in districts and multi-facility economic zones in all provinces in the country.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Bob Sichinga, said this will have promoted value addition on various local products.
Mr Sichinga was speaking when he addressed over 280 Choma-based businessmen and women today.
He affirmed the benefits of the clusters and zones, saying they will promote specialisation and quality in local products.
Mr Sichinga added that the clusters would also seek to exploit all available natural resources to empower people at district level with skills and employment.
He said this was key in uplifting the living conditions of people in the districts.
Mr Sichinga explained that the PF government had campaigned on the platform of job creation, lower taxes and more money in people’s pockets of which it was on track in implementing.
He said the government understood the needs of the people of Choma and that is why he would set up offices for Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and PACRA in the district.
Speaking at the same business meeting, CEEC Director General, Likando Mukumbuta, said an excess of KR1 million will be disbursed under the empowerment fund annually with 90 per cent going to rural areas.
Mr Mukumbuta explained that 40 per cent is targeted at youths, 30 per cent at women, 20 per cent for the physically challenged and 10 per cent for the rest, adding that the funds will create about 43,000 industry-related jobs in four years.
The CEEC Director General revealed that the Commission fought to give priority to the marginalised group in order to promote equity and equal distribution of the funds which he said had in the past benefited only men.
Mr Mukumbuta disclosed that the CEEC will be updating the public on successful applications of the funds through quarterly briefings and advertisements to promote transparency and accountability.
He added that disbursement of the CEE funds will begin on February 6, 2013.
The Minister was in a company of officials PACRA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Bwembya, the Multi-facility Economic Zones Manager, Robert Banda, and ZDA official, Windu Matoka and other government officials.
ZANIS
Industrial clusters take time to grow BUT once they are running they will bring the much needed competition among players leading to better products and thus giving us the consumer a good run for our money! Specialisation will be the order of the day and this might just lead industrious fellows to expand the business making us a part trading country in the region…However, alot of commitment is needed from all major partners to make these clusters…
Uncle Bob don’t jst talk we need to start working
When they work without talking you say they have no plans, they just do things anyhow. When they talk about plans you say don’t just talk start working. What do you want?
Let the government revise the tax incentives given to investors in these industrial zones. Five-year tax holidays are too long and sadly the ones who benefit most are not even Zambians. Most of these investments recover their costs in the first or second year of operations and the profits are externalized.
the Govt of real and interlectual men at work.shame the opposition .
what makes you think think they are intellectual becauseof this pipe dream.Empty tins make the loudest noise.
Too much rhetorical in this GVMNT, when are u starting commissioning those promises Mr Bob . I think u should now stop telling people what u intend to do but rather tell us the real action .
Talk is cheap. “We will do this, we will do that” How about “we have done this” for a change. Time is running out. 2016 will soon be here!
this is very good for our country!! ba minister dont listen to *****ic critics who just want ur govt to fail. we all know that these clusters will take time to develop!! even if they take 10 years, it will still be worth it!! and pf would have delivered on the much needed and talked about job creation.
BOB SICHINGA THE YAPPIST
The strategic plan is for 2011-2016, a question would be, what has been done in the period that has already elapsed? These guys are supposed to be taking stock of their performance so far and not continue being ‘prophetic’!!!
Is this the same guy labelled MMD having printed Trillion kwacahas in China? Only PF door mats can believe him.
Too much theory. I think this man should have passed through his education through crookery and deceit. Nothing tangible seem to come out of this man’s mouth. He has been talking and talking and talking and nothing practical so far. Sir we need action and not empty rhetorics. Talema mwe! What a lose!
Too many promises, little actions, pretty soon lies will catch up with them
Kenya’s president has launched a $14.5bn (£9.1bn) project to build a new city intended to be an IT business hub and dubbed “Africa’s Silicon Savannah”.
It will take 20 years to build Konza Technology City about 60km (37 miles) from the capital, Nairobi.
It is hoped that more than 20,000 IT jobs will be created in Konza by 2015, and more than 200,000 jobs by 2030.
Despite Kenya’s usually divisive politics, the project has the backing of all political parties.
Konza is part of the government’s ambitious Vision 2030 initiative to improve much-neglected infrastructure over the next 18 years.
Correspondents say the government also wants to take advantage of the growing number of software developers in the East African nation.
‘Tremendous opportunities’
Spot on…… in fact Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki launched the Konza Technology City in a ground-breaking ceremony taking place today.
With the launch event completed, the first phase of construction works can begin on site of Africa’s silicon savannah, including infrastructural development of roads, power and water sources, and a sewage treatment plant; while the laying of foundations for buildings to be located in the city can commence.
To date, 18 local and international companies have committed to launching operations at the Konza site – located near Machakos to the south-east of Nairobi – , the full list to be revealed today.
And our Bob here is still talking about imaginary objects and projects it really pains me that this man heads such a department.
Hi, just wanted to say i liked this article.
If Zambia is to develop,CORRUPTION must be wiped out.Botswana ia a good example in Africa.