Govt wants vibrant informal sector 

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 14:00:12 +0000

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

GOVERNMENT is keen to transform the informal sector and create an enabling environment for the creative industries to contribute to jobs and wealth creation says, Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda.

Mr Banda said he expected to see a stronger linkage between the arts as well as culture sector and tourism.

He said the interconnection between the arts, culture sector and tourism were vital in developing a sustainable tourism industry which would be unique in its richness of the Zambian arts and culture.

Mr Banda said President Edgar Lungu was in a hurry to create jobs and transform Zambia which would ensure that all the economic developments benefit all citizens.

The minister said this in Lusaka, when he inducted new board members of the National Arts Council (NAC) and encouraged them to align their focus to the government priority areas as expectations from citizens and artists and cultural practitioners were high.

“I urge you to align the focus of NAC to the Government priority areas. May I remind you that this Government is in a hurry to create jobs, transform our country and to ensure that the economic development benefits all the people in the country,” he said.

Mr Banda urged the incoming board members to be familiar with critical government interventions such as the Seventh Development Plan (7NDP) the tourism master plan, and the national cultural policy, among others.   

He said the NAC Act required urgent attention so that it could be revised and made responsive to the needs of the sector.

NAC chairperson, Patrick Samwimbila said the board and secretariat would embark on rebranding the council with the aim to build the creative economic basket, market Zambia and promote tourism.

Mr Samwimbila said the organisation was determined to contribute to job and wealth creation and closely work with the Ministry of Tourism and Arts as well other stakeholders.