Govt tasks public officials to remove impediments to business investment processes

Government has tasked the public office not to make procedures for investment tedious, considering that Zambia is competing with other countries for investors.

Public officials have a duty to create conditions in which doing business in the country became cost effective and efficient for both local and foreign investors, says Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane.

He said this during his delegation’s preparatory meeting for the day’s engagements Monday at the ongoing annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AFDB) group in Egypt.

“We are here to learn, we need to attract investment, create jobs and own wealth. To do so, we have to make business easy for all investors, let us not make procedures tedious because we are competing with other countries for investment,” Musokotwane said.

He pointed out that Zambia was a peaceful country and had everything that could attract money-spending tourists and give them unforgettable wonderful experiences.

He, however, indicated that there was too much inertia that needed to crack in the process of changing people’s mindsets so that Zambia attracted investment that was beneficial for all our citizens.

“We can also do this (create tourist resorts to compete with Sharm El Sheikh) if we change our mindsets, said the Minister, adding that, the poverty suffered by the majority of Zambian’s has been made worse due to operational and administrative inefficiencies of the past. We must change,” Musokotwane said.

Musokotwane was accompanied by Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Finance, Danies Chisenda, and Zambia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Major General Topply Lubaya (Rtd).

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