Informal sector players appeal for incentives
The UPND government must put in place mechanism of financial support like grants, incubation funds that will enhance business growth in the informal economy, the Alliance for Zambia Informal Economy Association (AZIEA) has suggested.
AZIEA general secretary, Lameck Kashiwa, said he was hopeful that the new government would put in place measures to safeguard the interests of the players in the informal economy and also help with financial support to enhance their businesses
Mr Kashiwa said in Kitwe yesterday the government should recognise the informal economy workers, organisations and to formalise bargaining forums both at local and national level of government in order to improve their working conditions
“As we congratulate President Hakainde Hichilema, we would like to make some of the core demands to his administration which include extension of Social Protection to the Informal Economy workers to secure their future.
“We would also like his government to put in place an orderly mechanism of financial support (Grants) incubation funds that will enhance business growth in the informal Economy, other than a system that was adhoc and only allowed cadres to access,’’ Mr Kashiwa said
Mr Kashiwa urged the government to reduce interest rates to allow micro business to borrow with flexible conditions and also to prioritise giving of land to the poor and informal economy workers
“This will be a way of guaranteeing security of tenure to improve their condition of living both socially and economically,’’ he said He said, they were excited to learn that President Hichilema had assured the Zambian people that his Presidency will be of a” servant-hood leadership, leaving the people to be masters.
“Assurances of living by the campaign promises of reducing the cost of food, maintain law and order, no caderism in public institution, facilitation of capital to entrepreneurs are some of the ingredients that will bring sanity, prosperity and integrity in the lives of the many Zambian especially the informal workers in Zambia,’’ he said