By JAMES KUNDA AND KASONDE KASONDE –

. Sichinga

COMMERCE Trade and Industry Minister Robert Sichinga has assured the business community that the Patriotic Front (PF) will not divert from indigenous polices enshrined in its manifesto if Edgar Lungu is elected President next week.
Mr Sichinga said when taking over office in 2011, the PF Government initiated strategies to develop the country over a period of five years and beyond, hence developmental policies still required time to mature.
The minister was speaking yesterday during a forum for entrepreneurs organised by the Ndola Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) at Savoy Hotel.
“All the programmes in our manifesto are aimed at fostering long-term development. Therefore, there should be no cause for concern because voting us back into office will merely mean continuity with our policy of developing this country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Sichinga said his ministry was implementing a strategic plan from 2011 to 2016, which had led to improvements in the local business environment.
During a meeting with the business community at a meeting organised by Kabwe Chamber of Commerce (KCCI) yesterday, Mr Sichinga said the plan had been a road map to make the business arena level and productive.
He said the PF Government promised to create jobs and lower taxes in 2011 and this had been fulfilled over the three years that the ruling party has been in power.
Mr Sichinga added that a number of projects and plans under his ministry were working well for the betterment of the economy.
At both events, Mr Sichinga made power point presentations to explain to the business community exactly what the Government had been able to do for the country in the last three years.