On 15th June 2021, ZAM hosted the Pre-Budget Breakfast Meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka. The objective of this meeting was for the manufacturing industry players to dialogue with the public sector on the 2022 National Budget proposals and convey the aspirations from the industry as to what they wanted to see in the budget.
The event was graced by Dr. Emmanuel Pamu, Permanent Secretary for Budget and Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. Dr. Pamu was elated with the budget proposals which came from the manufacturing sector. He extended an olive branch to ZAM to submit other proposals as the window for submissions was not closed. The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry was also represented by the Permanent Secretary Mr Mushuma Mulenga who said that the Ministry was alive to the challenges of the sector and was doing its best to ensure a better environment.
The first presentation dubbed “2022 National Budget Proposals for the Manufacturing Industry”, was made by the ZAM CEO, Ms. Florence Muleya, which brought out a plethora of challenges such as fluctuating exchange rates, high inflation and interest rates as affecting business as well as high input costs in the manufacturing industry. She also presented proposals which could remedy these challenges which included the implementation of SI No 110. ZAM President Mr. Ezekiel Sekele, deliberated through the document containing ZAM’s 2022 National Budget Proposals. The plenary coordinated by ZAM saw various manufacturers explain their proposals further to the policy makers.
ZAMs hosting of this dialogues is cardinal as it spearheads the policy advocacy initiatives by the Association. Dr. Emmanuel Pamu and Mr Bonaventure Chinombwe from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning then proceeded to give some responses to some of the concerns raised in the presentation and the plenary. The meeting was then closed by Ms. Florence Muleya who encouraged manufacturers to forward additional submissions to ZAM.
