PRIVATE SECTOR KEY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SAYS MUCHELEKA

 By Fulman Mukobeko

PERMANENT Secretary for Special Duties Patrick Mucheleka says the engine of economic growth is in the hands of the private sector.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Mucheleka said the Government had created an enabling environment for the private sector because it was aware that the private sector played a critical role in economic development.

He said the private sector must thrive if the Zambian economy was to boom.

“Anywhere in the world, the engine of growth is the private sector. The job of the Government is to ensure that you create a conducive environment for the private sector to invest and as they invest, they must partner with the Zambian people,” Mr. Mucheleka said.

He added that the Government was encouraging Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) because they were also critical for economic development.

The PS said he was happy that currently, there was a conducive environment to do business unlike in the Patriotic Front(PF) Government where cadres were harassing people to an extent of creating anarchy in the country.

He said anarchy scared away investors and that when a country failed to attract investors, its economic growth was also affected.

He said he was happy that President Hakainde Hichilema was encouraging the private sector to invest in mining and the coming on board of International Resources Holding RSC Ltd. of Abu Dhabi recently to revive Mopani Copper Mine(MCM) through a huge investment.

“Recently, we saw Mopani Copper Mine that was closed down under the previous Government reopening and this is what the President has been talking about,” he said.

He said Zambians who were obtaining Gold mining licenses must partner with foreigners so that the country could get the much-needed revenue.