Cholera has unsettled SMEs - expert

A COPPERBELT-BASED economic expert has voiced uncertainties on the viability of trade amongst Small Scale Entrepreneurs following the cholera outbreak.

The fears come in the wake of authorities shutting some business premises in an effort to control the further spread of the water-borne disease.

Collins Kabwe has told Daily Nation in an interview that the current cholera situation, if not controlled in affected areas, would impact negatively on the informal sector.

Mr. Kabwe noted that the small and medium scale traders in the country were the majority as they contributed positively to the economic growth of the country.

The economic expert said the spread of cholera in different parts of the country had caused many small and medium scale businesses to slow down because of the epidemic.

Mr Kabwe stated that those in the informal sector were highly affected as most of the traders had their business premises closed to facilitate for clean-up exercises to eradicate cholera.

The economics expert said that players in the informal sector were vital to the well-being of the country and issues of cholera should be combated for them to continue adding value to the economic development of the country.

"The disadvantage of cholera is that it makes business activities to slow down because people are afraid to buy food stuff especially perishable items from small and medium scale traders because the customers take precautions," Mr Kabwe noted.

Mr Kabwe said the food industry has been negatively affected in places where the disease has been recorded.