Foreign chicken traders banned

GOVERNMENT has banned foreigners from trading in chickens, engaging in block-making investments and involvement in domestic haulage of public goods.
Chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that this Cabinet decision is aimed at facilitating participation of Zambians in small-scale entrepreneurships.
Mr Kambwili said Cabinet, which sat on Monday in Lusaka, also approved the introduction of reservation schemes under the Citizens Empowerment Act.

Government has since given foreigners trading in businesses reserved for Zambians a grace period of six months to enter into joint ventures with Zambians.
“The selling of live birds on retail and wholesale basis and at markets will be reserved for citizens, citizen-influenced, empowered and owned companies,” he said.
Mr Kambwili, who is also minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said foreigners will not be allowed to deal in poultry production, processing and marketing.
“Block-making and quarrying investments are also strictly for Zambians,” the minister said.
Mr Kambwili said domestic haulage for all public procurements such as hauling maize for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) or supply of poles for Zesco will be reserved for citizens only.
He said licences to foreign investors to engage in poultry production and processing, quarrying and block-making and domestic haulage shall be granted only to those in joint ventures with Zambians.
“It is now incumbent upon citizens to take advantage of this decision by Cabinet and fully engage in production for the good of the nation,” Mr Kambwili said.
He also said Cabinet has agreed to mandate the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) to regulate and accredit institutions offering legal education.
“We will issue operating standards of legal education to ZIALE for purposes of accreditation,” Mr Kambwili said.
He also said Cabinet also took note of the report on the Inquiry into salaries and conditions of service.
“Progress has been made into harmonisation and rationalisation of salaries, pension reforms and re-grading for the mainstream civil service and the judiciary to ensure equal work for equal pay,” he said.
And Cabinet will introduce a Bill in Parliament to amend the Food and Nutrition Commission Act because it is outdated.
Other Bills to be tabled are Customs and Excise, Value Added Tax, Income Tax, Lands and the Insurance Premium Levy.
Mr Kambwili said Cabinet approved the signing and ratification of the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite Free Trade Area agreement.
“By signing the agreement, Zambia shall become a member of the Tripartite Free Trade area which will become the largest trading bloc on the continent bringing together 625 million people from 26 countries,” he said.

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