‘BUSINESSES SHOULD INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY’

By Namo Phiri

BUSINESS Services Providers Association of Zambia (BSPAZ) has called on small businesses to invest in alternative sources of energy that will keep their businesses running amidst load shedding.

Commenting on the effects of the increased hours of load shedding by Zesco, Association president Obed Mbuzi said small business owners’ also need to develop a mindset of being prepared for unforeseen events.

Mr. Mbuzi said this is because anything can happen at any time, especially amidst climate change.

He said businesses need to cultivate a mindset of being ready for anything and avoid inconveniences that could end up bringing down their businesses.

“People ought to understand that preparing for challenges in business is inevitable because things happen that no one has control over and that is just how it is,” Mr. Mbuzi said.

He suggested that business owners therefore need to invest in machinery such as a generator set or solar equipment amidst load shedding if they were to survive adding that small business owners should take advantage of the tax exemption that the Government has put on solar equipment and other power source alternatives and purchase the equipment.

He said this will not only help them to become less inconvenienced but also make them have an advantage where they are able to function when others were unable to.

And Mr. Mbuzi has also called on consumers to have an understanding that times are hard and help the small businesses stay in business while realizing profits at the same time.

He said this could be done by the consumers accepting that prices may need to be adjusted upwards.

“This is very important especially during these times when load shedding is at its peak and those who have invested in generators have to spend on fuel which has become quite expensive,” he said

He said the cost of doing business had become high and that most of the small businesses were barely surviving hence the need for different measures to be put up to help them stay afloat.

He further advised small business owners to prioritize capacity building if they were to have successful businesses.

He said this was because capacity building will also help educate them about the risks involved in running businesses as well as the ways they could use to mitigate them.

He said most small businesses tend to undermine the role that capacity building played in building their businesses.