MUTATI TELLS OF 'TIMES WASTERS'

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 10:52:19 +0000

By Rogers Kalero

FINANCE Minister Felix Mutati has says Government is focused on managing the economy and will not waste time listening to people who want to discredit it’s efforts of achieving economic recovery and national development.

Mr Mutati said he was happy that Government’s policies of achieving economic stability were bearing desirable fruits such as the reduced mealie-meal prices and the stability of the Zambian Kwacha to the US dollar.

When asked to comment on statements from some sections of society that the stability of the Zambian Kwacha to the US dollar was artificial, Mr Mutati said the focus of government was to manage the economy and so it will not waste time listening to people who want to discredit its efforts of achieving economic recovery and national development.

Speaking on Saturday during a press briefing at Lunte Lodge in Kitwe after a breakfast meeting with the Copperbelt Districts Chamber of Commerce at Hotel Edinburgh, Mr Mutati said Government will continue to engage  the private sector on various issues affecting their businesses so that it could work to level the playing field.

“Our focus as Government, is to manage the economy and this is why, we will always engage the private sector so that we hear what challenges they are facing in their businesses. As Government, we will do our best to help the private sector improve its operations because they are key stakeholders in the economy.

“For those who want to doubt or discredit Government’s efforts, we will not waste time on them, but we will remain focused. There are people who are always negative and cannot give credit where it is due,” Mr Mutati said.

 Mr Mutati said he was impressed with the interactive meeting with the Chambers of Commerce on the Copperbelt because a number of issues came out and has since promised that the government will strive to address the concerns raised by the members of the chamber.

He said he was sure that if the issues raised by the chambers of commerce on the Copperbelt, were addressed, then the country will move three to five steps forward.

“The impression I have after the breakfast meeting is that there are a number of challenges facing the private sector.  Some of them include access and cost of money and also levelling the playing field. If we address a number of issues affecting the private sector on the Copperbelt, then we will move three to five steps forward.