Protect local transporters, Govt urged  

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:44:38 +0000

GOVERNMENT has been challenged to formulate polices that will favour local transporters in the transportation of bulky fuels, a business which has for a long time been dominated by foreigners.

Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Charles Mutemwa said the formulation and implementation of the policy would empower local transporters.

He said the policy should ensure fair allocation of contracts on the transportation of cargo.

“I wonder why Government allows transporters from other countries to be moving cargo in all parts of the country when there are local transporters who can do the job better,’’ he said. He added that there was need to learn from neighbouring Namibia on empowering local transporters.

“We can learn from Namibia where a named local transporting company moves cargo across the country while here the story is different,’’ he said.

He said that empowering locals will stir up economic growth.

“We have reason to believe that our current economic problems can be solved by putting in place good polices that when implemented give local contractors the opportunity to be transporters of various goods and services,’’ he said.  Mr. Mutemwa also advised Government to consider processing copper locally to increase the value of the commodity on the international company.

“Government should consider processing copper and exporting it as finished goods to maximise on the returns and create the much needed job opportunities among the youths,’’ he added. He said the processing of copper once implemented will improve the economy and increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Mr. Mutemwa also advised Government to consider cutting off the Tanzania-Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) from Tanzania and joining it with Zambia Railways for better service delivery.

“TAZARA has become useless and as a country we have not been able to run it, so let us just cut it from Nakonde and make it part of the Zambia Railways for better service delivery. This will be more cost effective than running both institutions,’’ he said.