POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION: GOVT TO BUY LOCAL
POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION: GOVT TO BUY LOCAL
Government is encouraging local businesses to practise positive discrimination by trading among themselves in order to grow the national balance sheet.
President Hakainde Hichilema said Government will put measures to ensure local businesses make conscious decisions to trade among themselves by buying local products.
“We reiterate our call to our local companies to trade among themselves in order to grow our national balance sheet,” he said.
“This only grows through increased intra-economic transactions. It delivers a lot of value. To reinforce this behaviour, we are enhancing the practice of positive discrimination in the procurement space. No shame at all.”
President Hichilema said central government, local government and quasi institutions will be required to buy locally and there will be follow-ups and re-enforcement to ensure that they are buying from local firms as much as possible.
“The ministries of Health, Defence, Education, Home Affairs and Internal Security are now equally expected to procure locally manufactured uniforms going forward. More jobs, more business opportunities,” he said.
“These are values embedded in us.” President Hichilema also appealed to Zambians to continue to think local in their consumption choices.
“As Government, we are duty-bound to promote the production and consumption of local products and services,” he said yesterday during the address to Parliament on progress made in the application of national values and principles.
“It is gratifying to note that our citizens are increasingly consuming locally produced products. But it is also evident that the quality of products is on the upright trend.
ZDM