Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Elias Mubanga has announced that the government is currently reviewing laws that reserve certain businesses for local people to facilitate the full participation of Zambians in businesses.
Former President Edgar Lungu on 1st January 2017 signed into law, SI Number 1 of the 2017 Reservation Scheme which stipulates that the sale of live birds in a market or any other place designated under written law is reserved for targeted Citizens, Citizen-Influenced Companies, Citizen-Empowered Companies, and Citizen Owned Companies.
Further, Domestic Haulage works for all public procurement works were reserved for targeted Citizens, Citizen-Influenced, Citizen-Empowered, and Citizen Owned Companies and Mr. Mubanga said his government has plans to reserve certain businesses for Zambians but only when they are ready.
He said Statutory Instrument number 1 of 2017 is a good law but does not conform to some of the aspirations of the new dawn administration hence the review to include certain aspects such as skills training and empowerment which the previous regime did not prioritize.
He was responding to Kanchibiya PF MP Sunday Chanda who wanted to know whether the Government has any plans to restrict some businesses for SMEs to Zambians to the exclusion of foreigners, if so when the plans will be implemented, and what type of businesses will be restricted.
