Govt working on legal framework to spur production of critical raw materials, create value addition —Muchende

Solicitor General, Marshal Muchende, says the government is trying to create a legal framework that will spur production of critical raw materials such as Cobalt, Manganese and Lithium.

Muchende said government was also focusing on value addition by encouraging manufacturing of end products locally.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Lubinda Kashewe, the First Secretary for Press in Berlin, Germany, Muchende said this at the end of his delegation’s visit to Germany.

“We are trying to say, don’t just get these raw materials and create jobs elsewhere but start manufacturing these batteries back home so as the legal framework is concerned, we are creating an enabling environment to encourage industries to come and extract the raw materials and make the batteries in Zambia and export them ,” he said.

Muchenda pointed out that it would be cost effective for manufacturers to add value and make finished products at the source where they extract the raw materials.

“My delegation was in Germany to find laws that can strengthen the legal framework to encourage investment in Zambia because Germany offers the best practices that Zambia is looking for adding that he was happy because they found what they needed,” he said.

Muchende stressed that business thrived in a suitable legal framework that supports investment.

He pointed out that business people did not like red tape but prefer an efficient public service delivery system which can shorten the turnaround time of processing their paperwork and also lower the cost of doing business.

“Investors also want an environment where there is democracy, peace and stability adding that his team made the argument that Zambia meets all these tenets under the stewardship of President Hakainde Hichilema,” Muchende said.

He said the government was in the process of enhancing the legal framework so that all the areas that bring about bureaucracy are removed.

“Our end game as per guidance of our President is to remove rigidities that stand in the way of investment in the country, by and large we are taking home a lot of reforms which will find themselves in our laws and better the environment of doing business in Zambia,” Muchende said.

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