By JUDITH NAMUTOWE
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A LUSAKA-BASED business executive has said the Government should help to build capacity for local entrepreneurs to enable them fully exploit available business opportunities.
Insurance Brokers Association (IBA) representative Cosmas Kanguya said this during the Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) media breakfast meeting at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.

This was at the meeting at which Government was requested to inform the business community what measures had been put in place in medium and long-term for business environment to thrive.
Earlier, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Bob Sichinga had stated that one of the major
challenges the country was faced with was that the local investors being awarded contracts were not performing to Government’s satisfaction.
But Mr Kanguya said there was need for Government to state the plans it had put in place to build capacity on local entrepreneurs for them to perform to its satisfaction.
“We are given to understand that most of these companies coming from abroad are being funded by the Government to build capacity when they come in.
“The question I have is; ‘what measures have you put in place to build capacity for local investors so that they will be able to perform to your satisfaction?” Mr Kanguya asked.
But Mr Sichinga said Zambian entrepreneurs had the responsibility to build the country as no foreign investor would be able to do that for them.
Mr Sichinga also urged the private sector identify opportunities in various sectors of the economy to be able to set up plants.
He said this was because in most cases companies were not bringing in what they tend to agree upon with Government as they sign agreements.
He said another challenge the Government had was that most entrepreneurs were not able to prepare project proposals.
ZACCI president Geofrey Sakulanda said it was important for the business community to be acquainted on both short and long term plans that Government had in put in place.
Mr Sakulanda said Government’s decisions tended to impact on the business environment both negatively and positively.