Dear Editor,
CHAIN Stores such as the Pick n Pay and Shoprite stock local products in addition to the imported ones. The local products include watermelons, okra, carrots, pumpkins, groundnuts, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, rape, sweet potatoes, cabbage, lemons and oranges, among others.
The move for the chain stores which are mostly foreign owned to stock the local products was promped by the directive by President Edgar Lungu last year. The directive was aimed at halting the importation of farm produce which can be sourced locally.
The stocking of the local farm produce by the chain stores is financially empowering the local farmers and the local entrepreneurs by providing a ready market for the products which are locally produced.
The local entrepreneurs on the other hand are able to make money by providing their products to the chain stores. Trade Kings, Zambeef Plc, Varun Beverage Zambia Limited and Pembe Milling are some of the companies which provide their products to the chain stores.
Ultimately, these companies create employment opportunities for the local people.
Trade Kings provides mineral water, sanitisers, washing detergents, soap and assorted soft drinks. Zambeef Plc provides meat products and milk products.
Varun Beverage Zambia Limited provides cooking oil, milk, milk products, soft drinks and mineral water. Pembe Milling provides mealie meal and flour.
Moving forward; the stocking of the local products by the chain stores should be sustained in that it financially empowers the local farmers and the local entrepreneurs.
The trickle down benefit is that it contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product through the various taxes these chain stores pay to the Zambia Revenue Authority.
ELEMIYA PHIRI,
Lusaka.
