Ministers disappoint informal sector stakeholders

THE informal economy stakeholders are disappointed that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and his counterparts in the Ministry of Youth, and the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development have been ignoring appointments from them.

Alliance for Zambia Informal Economy Associations (AZIEA) President Poster Jumbe has said the Ministry of Local Government and the other two ministries should develop and implement an “open door policy” to meet players in the informal economy and discuss issues of the affected groups for the betterment of Zambia.

Mr Jumbe said during the commemoration of the International Vendors Day at City Square in Kitwe on Monday that the informal economy will continue to work and help Government in skills development, civic and health awareness on hygiene and also the importance of levies payment, including employment creation

“As an organisation, we are however disappointed that most relevant ministries have been ignoring our appointments. The informal economy is the back bone of any development and it’s where you find youths and people who are doing business.

“This is why the two ministries, including the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises should implement an open door policy to meet and discuss issues of the affected groups for the betterment of Zambia,’’ Mr Jumbe said.

Mr Jumbe said Zambia must be proud to have organisations in the informal economy, AZIEA and the Association Vendors and Marketeers in Zambia (AVEMA) which have put the country on the International map, in as far as, organising informal economy workers in Zambia was concerned.

“The informal economy workers continue to work in the three Ds - Dirty, Demeaning and Dangerous Environment - because of the absence of the three Rs - recognition, regulation and representation.