Indigenous Zambia Lobby Group has called for the appointment of a vibrant and business-oriented individual as the next Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Group Chairman Lawrence Makumbi said the person appointed to head the Ministry should be capable of turning available economic opportunities into tangible wealth for indigenous Zambians.
Mr. Makumbi stated that the Ministry should, within the next five years, be able to point to indigenous Zambians who have become millionaires by taking advantage of opportunities in sectors such as mining, tourism and local content.
“The person that will be appointed as Minister should not be a passenger in the cabinet. We want a vibrant person who is not going to pose for pictures, opening a lot of projects, but achieving none,” Mr. Makumbi stated.
He stressed that President Hakainde Hichilema should consider appointing a professional with practical business experience and a strong understanding of the SME sector.
Mr. Makumbi said this will be critical in ensuring that indigenous Zambians benefit from the country’s targeted increase in copper production and tourism arrivals.
“We want the Ministry of SME, after five years, to come back to the President and to the people of Zambia, to point at indigenous Zambians that will be made millionaires within this time, because the opportunities are vast,” he said.
He further urged the incoming Minister to regularly monitor programmes on the ground and ensure that policies and initiatives are translating into actual economic opportunities.
Mr. Makumbi emphasized that indigenous Zambians must take advantage of the Local Content Bill, statutory instruments and the Grow Zambia campaign to create wealth and build successful businesses.
“We need to create Dangotes out of Zambia. Indigenous Zambians should take advantage of the Grow Zambia campaign,” he stressed.
He further said the success of the SME Ministry should ultimately be measured by the number of Zambians who are able to establish and grow sustainable businesses and accumulate wealth.
