ZAM currently promoting the Proudly Zambian Campaign (PZC) hosted on 10th March 2022, the Public Sector Local Content Conference at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. The half-day Conference was anchored on the following objectives: discuss the challenges and explore opportunities for increasing local content in public sector procurement activities and explore the constitutional development fund (CDF) guidelines and local content requirements.
ZAM CEO was excited to host officials from Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry given that this was the first physical event attended by the new PS Mrs Chawe Chuulu. Mrs Roseta Chabala Chairperson of the campaign stated that the continued support from Government was strengthening the campaign. The Conference was graced by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Chipoka Mulenga – MP who in his keynote speech, reiterated Government’s commitment to making local content a reality and further encouraged everyone to be ambassadors of local content in their homes as this will work to improve quality of local products.
Breaking down the issues of public procurement, the meeting discussions started off with a presentation by Mr. Terry K. Gunduza from the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA) unpacking details of the local content provisions in the CDF guidelines in line with the 2022 National Budget. He enlightened local manufacturers on procurement methods, processes and government measures to boost local content in government procurement. Mr. Desmond Banda from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning highlighted how decentralisation through localisation of works utilising CDF will facilitate for increased local labour markets, technological advancement and market access for local producers. He urged businesses to expand and have local presence at least in the provincial centres.
Ms. Mwanda Phiri from Charter Cities Institute highlighted how Charter Cities’ decentralised governance model can be leveraged for economic transformation. The session worked to inspire local producers with key examples like Shengzen, China which was able to effectively transform from a largely agricultural economy to an industrial economy over a short period of time
In the last session, representatives from the banking sector in the person of Mr. Austin Chijikwa from ZANACO and Ms. Juanita Chileshe from UBA, exposed opportunities for local producers to access capital and growth finance through several tailor-made initiatives and platforms from their respective banks.
Overall, the Conference brought together over 100 delegates and over 25 local exhibiting companies. Fundamentally, the event worked to highlight the various opportunities available for local manufacturers to integrate their goods and services in government procurement, access financing for their growth and capital needs as well as transform the country into a highly industrialised economy.
