By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

THE Government has challenged manufacturers to strive to produce high-quality goods and services if the ‘Buy Zambia’ campaign is to succeed.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Robert Sichinga said the campaign could only work if complemented by the production of high-quality goods.

“In terms of feedback it is telling us that we are not doing enough from the ‘Buy Zambia’ campaign, that is why I am here and this is why I am doing these inspections,” Mr Sichinga said.

“We need feedback from the citizens…The Government is there for the people…the Government is not there against the people, it is there for the people.”

The minister was speaking after the tour of selected stands at the on-going 88th edition of the Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Sichinga said the Government would continue to listen to what the people would say to come up with appropriate measures to address the concerns arising from the campaign.

He said it was impressive to see the business community correctly interpreting the show’s theme, ‘Breaking New Grounds’ and ‘Commemorating 50 years of Zambia’s Independence’.

Mr Sichinga said there was a considerable change not only at 50 years, but industries were now adopting new technologies and requirements which were useful for economic development.

“We need to move even further than what we have done now in utilising Information Communication Technologies to move the country further,” he said.

Mr Sichinga said that industries working on similar products had failed to collaborate in improving the products.

“We need to see a lot more value-addition. We have to do our home work such as setting the standards for how we can encourage value-addition at local level,” he said.

The minister toured Lwimba Ranch, Mbesuma Ranch, State Lodge, the animal section, Saro Agro Industrial Limited, MM Integrated Steel Mills Limited, Kazuma Plastics and Agricon Zambia Limited, among others.