By BRIAN HATYOKA –
THE Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in Zambia has called for concerted efforts to increase human capital skills in all sectors of the economy to foster economic growth.
Head of ACCA Zambia, Mukaba Mukaba said there was need for concerted efforts to increase the pace of developing human capital in all key skills including accountancy to enhance growth in the economy.
Mr Mukaba said there was need to develop appropriate skills which were in line with the demands of the industries.
He was speaking in Livingstone when ACCA Zambia launched first-ever training of ACCA programmes at the Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies (LIBES).
Southern Province and LIBES in particular will now become the third training and examination centre for ACCA programmes after Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces.
Mr Mukaba said Southern Province was a key region that would continue to trigger economic prospects in agriculture, tourism and other economic activities.
“As the province’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increases, there is need for concerted efforts to increase the pace of developing human capital in all key skills including accountancy.
“We believe that our courses will add significant value to training and developing competent professional accounts the region needs to trigger economic growth for the country,” Mr Mukaba said.
He also urged LIBES to consider introducing ACCA Zambia’s new advanced diploma un public financial management courses which were tailored for public sector accounting personnel to enhance their skills and competencies.
Mr Mukaba said more than 9, 000 students were currently enrolled with ACCA in Zambia out of which 600 were based in Southern Province.
Speaking at the same meeting, LIBES principal Thomas Kalantiya thanked ACCA Zambia for introducing its internationally recognised programmes at the Institute.
Mr Kalantiya said LIBES was proud to be chosen as a third provincial centre in Zambia and appealed to investors as well as would-be students in the province to take advantage of the launch.
“LIBES lecturers are geared to take on the ACCA training and so far we
have a fully stocked computer room to facilitate this training,” Mr Kalantiya said.