By IREEN MULENGA
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Evans Mubanga has advised Civil Servants in Siavonga District to form cooperatives in order to uplift their livelihoods other than just waiting for their salaries.
Mr Mubanga was speaking when he addressed Head of Departments and civil servants in the District Commissioners Office during his tour of duty in the district to see how best economic activities can be revamped through uplifting of small and medium businesses.
He said Civil Servants like any other local individuals are free to form cooperatives but will not be allowed to compromise their line of duties but should instead appoint Chief Executive Officers to run their businesses.
Mr Mubanga explained that it was the mandate of the new dawn government to revamp the economy by helping the small businesses to grow.
“As a New Dawn Government we want to see those selling in the markets, bus drivers to grow, I am here to see how we can revamp the economic activities in Siavonga It’s a shame to note that people of Siavonga never benefited from the solar milling plant and they have never been supported by any supporting groups or organizations but the new dawn government is not leaving anyone behind. We are carrying everyone all over the country,” he said.
He said his Ministry will be able to visit the district and be able to tap into the natural resources which are undeveloped and see how best they can be restored.
The Minister also assured the locals that Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is for the people of Siavonga and politics is not part of CDF.
Mr Mubanga said CDF was not only for individuals belonging to the ruling party but contracts must be awarded to everyone has long as they are capable of being part of developing the district.
“We realized that without involving Zambians this country cannot develop so the new dawn government has involved its own people to develop that is why we are here and my government will help in terms of capacity building”, He has said.
He said his Ministry was created by the President to foster and accelerate the growth of SME’s in the country.
This is contained in a statement issued by Siavonga Public relations Officer Gwendolyn Mchenga.
