UTILISE MFEZs TO THE MAXIMUM - UNION

THE National Union of Building, Engineering and General Workers (NUBEGW) has urged the private sector to fully utilise the existing facilities in the Multi-Facility Economic Zones(MFEZ).

NUBEGW General Secretary Bryson Nyirenda said the corporate world in the country should take advantage of the MFEZ on the Copperbelt and in Lusaka for manufacturing and processing processes.

Mr Nyirenda said most of the companies operating in the MFEZ on the Copperbelt were Chinese firms, hence the need for Zambian companies and international firms to establish their presence.

This, he said, would create variety and competition in manufacturing, construction and the processing industries in the special facilities.

He said the idea of establishing MFEZ was to encourage growth and value addition in the private sector which would process raw materials into finished goods.

Mr Nyirenda said the current MFEZ on the Copperbelt and the Midlands were supposed to be utilised to the maximum.

Zambia, he said, should become a manufacturing hub with the availability of MFEZ which had special features and incentives to attract the private sector into manufacturing.

"Once the country prioritises the manufacturing sector, the country's economic sector will thrive from all angles for the benefit of all the Zambians,” Mr Nyirenda said.