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President Hakainde Hichilema has pledged to spend more than 50 percent of his time to improve the operating business conditions for enterprises by unlocking the domestic rigidities, aimed at stimulating growth and job creation.
Hichilema indicated that on top of his agenda in 2023 would be to unblock the domestic rigidities around business and investment licenses, permits, energy reforms and lengthy procurement approvals of key projects.
Addressing journalists at State House on Tuesday in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Hichilema said the Government would address bottlenecks in obtaining businesses licenses and permits
This would enable the country to achieve its desired growth thereby, creating jobs and wealth for the Zambian people.
Hichilema wondered why it should take 18 months to approve 50 megawatts (MW) solar plant, stating that such laws should not exist because they are detrimental to economic growth.
“We dedicate next year to unlock the domestic rigidities. The President himself we spend more than 50 percent of his time on unlocking blockers to development, simple as licensing issues, simple as permits, reforms around energy so that we can quickly attend them,” he said.
Hichilema also announced that on Thursday, he will be having a meeting with energy stakeholders address issues around the energy sector.
“On Thursday we shall be crystallising part of the unlocking of the reforms in the energy reforms,” he said.
The President said the Government was aware of the challenges on the fuel pricing model, and issues around the procurement of fertilizer in the agriculture sector, which he said would be addressed next year.
He said as much as these issues were addressed, it was important that the contracts price was right; quality was good and was delivered on time.
Hichilema warned his Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretary that fail to deliver on their mandate, stating that next year they would be no finger-pointing.
Read more : Zambia Monitor | Latest Zambian News
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