Maravi

‘Government wants citizens to be involved in development'

‘Government wants citizens to be involved in development'
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 02 Mar. 2012, 10:59 CAT

COMMERCE minister Bob Sichinga says the government does not want to develop the country without indigenous citizens' participation.

Speaking when he officially opened Handymans Group's unique retail showroom on the Great East Road on Wednesday, Sichinga said the government wanted to see the kind of development where every citizen could participate as long as they dedicated their time and energies to moving forward.

"No one else, not our donor colleagues, not the World Bank, the IMF International Monetary Fund nor any other institution, the EU European Union and others, however friendly they might be, can replace our own efforts as Zambians to develop our country. There is no replacement," Sichinga said.

He said as much as the country recognised the assistance from the cooperating partners, it must be regarded as assistance that enables the nation to get to the next level.

"Every child in their growth comes to a stage when they have to fend for themselves. Zambia is 48 years, it's about time we learnt how to walk and others that help must only compliment and supplement our own labour," he said.

And Sichinga said his ministry has undertaken a tour of all 10 provinces in the country to identify a number of resources that were inherent in the localities.

He said the government has decided to support five products for each province, which would form the basis for industrialisation.

"We have decided that we are going to create what we are calling industrial clusters based on the products that God has blessed us with in those localities," said Sichinga.

And Handymans Group chairman and chief executive officer Michael Pasquini said about K40 billion was spent to set up the building.

Pasquini said the building would specialise in the products that China exports to Europe and America.

And on the unfinished building at the corner of Katondo and Freedom Way which Handymans has purchased, Pasquini said the company intends to put up a multi-purpose structure.

Pasquini said what was holding the commencement of works on the project was approval by the Lusaka City Council.

Labels: DEMAND SIDE ECONOMICS, PF, ROBERT SICHINGA

posted by MrK @ 5:16 PM