President Edgar Lungu has called on Zambians and all government institutions to prioritize buying local products to promote the implementation of the “Buy Zambian Campaign” and grow the country’s local industry and ensure funds are retained in local hands.
The Zambian president has noted that in order to promote ownership and sustainability of this initiative, government will continue to support the private sector to enhance the market share for Zambian products on the domestic standards and ensure that products are clearly labeled with the “proudly Zambian” logo adding that some large companies have led this initiative such as Trade Kings, Carlifonian Beverage, Zambeef and others.
Speaking during the State of the National address at Parliament on March 6, 2020, monitored by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, President Lungu said the proudly Zambia logo helps people to easily identify local products in Zambian shops or chain stores.
“When we support that local farmer who grows oranges or vegetables in Chibombo, she will plough back the profits into growing more vegetables and oranges. This inevitably encourages her to employ more people and create more local job opportunities. The more of such farmers we have, the more we are likely to attract other players in the value chain, ultimately, our economy will grow.,” He added.
He has since urged companies in Zambia to take advantage of this initiative and register to be flag carriers of the buy Zambian campaign and has further called on the Zambian people and foreign owned companies to support government and Zambian businesses by buying local products whose quality is comparable to imported products as it will contribute to the economic development of the country.
Meanwhile, the President has also called on local and foreign contractors in the country to be more devoted and ensure the delivery of quality works on time and within cost. He has noted with concern some local contractors who have been awarded contracts but not delivering to the expectations of their clients.
President Lungu has equally urged foreign contractors to deliver value for money as it is one of the areas that the country’s development partners could help in upholding and applying our national value of patriotism. Foreign investors are also expected to adhere to this as part of their good corporate citizenship.
Zambia currently relies heavily on imported goods, which at most times is at the expense of locally produced goods. There has been a culture we’re locally produced goods have been viewed as inferior, leading to the country losing forex even for products that are locally available and competitive to the imported ones.
The country’s currency, the Kwacha has been perpetually depreciating due to pressure for more imports. Copper and copper related products remain the largest export product for Zambia, but the proceeds are not wholesomely repatriated back leading to observed medium to long term perpetual depreciation of the local unit.
