By SARAH TEMBO –
GOVERNMENT says it will continue to spearhead policies that will promote entrepreneurship and private investment in Zambia in order to stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the people.
Public Service Management Division (PSMD) Permanent Secretary Velepi Mtonga said yesterday at the 20th Future Search anniversary cocktail party that Government was also in the process of coming up with secured post retirement life for retired public employees.
Dr Mtonga said policies such as paying a retiree 60 per cent of their last salary every month would help them plan their future and continue living a comfortable life after retirement.
Dr Mtonga said Government alone would not manage to achieve it alone hence the need for support from other stakeholders such as the Future Search project which was aimed at redirecting retired public service workers into a productive future through self employment.
Dr Mtonga said even President Sata made in clear in his 2014 New Year message when he said that the Government was commitment to promoting development of small-scale industries which Future Search could also contribute.
“I implore all Government ministries, agencies, departments, parastatals and the private sector to invest in pre-retirement counseling and training programmes with Future Search because its training is behavioral change based,” she said.
And speaking earlier, Future Search director Mary Kalambi said Government had since 1993 appreciated the relevance of the project in terms of developing entrepreneurs who were critical contributors to economic growth of the country.
Ms Kalambi said the project was also in line with Government policy as it had ensured that more women were empowered.
