Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Rossi calls for strong, united private sector

Rossi calls for strong, united private sector
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 4:50:59 PM

LUSAKA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) interim chairperson Gaudenzio Rossi has said the current business environment is difficult and requires a united approach to confront its challenges.

Announcing the revival of the LCCI which has been inactive since 2002, Rossi said in Lusaka yesterday that a strong and united private sector voice would enhance business linkages and development for the benefit of the national economy.

“Tomorrow (30th September) we are going to re-launch LCCI and we are therefore calling upon all current and former members to come forward and be united especially that current business environment is difficult and requires companies to work together in facing these challenges,” Rossi said.

“The chamber is an association of business entities and it will provide a platform to discuss issues that affect businesses such as water and electricity affairs, roads, among other issues. We have been inactive for some time now, hence the need to revamp this association which is also the oldest chamber of commerce in the country.”

He said with the current globalisation and technological advancements, LCCI members needed to benefit from a changed approach to meet their daily business challenges.

“It is with this view in mind that we have approached some donor agencies for capacity building and training of our members especially small and medium enterprises (SME) that have the potential to contribute positively to the economic development of the country,” said Rossi.

“We believe that a strong private sector voice will enhance business linkages and development for the benefit of the national economy.”

The LCCI was established in 1933. In 1980, Francis Mphepo was the first black Zambian to be elected as chairman for the chamber of commerce.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

(DAILY MAIL) Review parking levy

Review parking levy
By NANCY MWAPE

THE Lusaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has appealed to the Lusaka City Council to review the parking levy procedure.

LCCI chief executive officer, Gabriel Chingwe, in a statement said the current system where only selected roads in the central business district (CBD) collect the parking levy should be reviewed to capture the whole district without prejudice or discrimination.

Mr Chingwe said currently parking levy was collected mainly from private vehicles, which parked in the CBD. He said other classes of vehicles like Government or parastatal vehicles were not compelled to pay for parking in the CBD.

“We note that public service vehicles pay loading fees which are equivalent to parking levy within the stations that they load from. Hence we propose that the parking levy be collected from all vehicles entering the CBD,” he said.

Mr Chingwe said collection points should be located on all roads entering the CBD citing the three fly-over bridges, Kalambo-Lumumba junction, Mumbwa-Lumumba road junction and the Lumumba-Ben Bella junction.

He said this system would not only decongest the CBD but would also boost the municipality coffers.

He said motorists who are enroute to Lusaka but have nothing to do in the CBD could use other routes.

He said the parking fee could be increased slightly and be paid by all vehicles entering the CBD.

Mr Chingwe cited Britain where former London mayor, Ken Livingstone introduced a bye-law that compelled motorists entering the CBD to pay a toll fee during working hours from 08:00 hours to 17:00 hours.

He said the system has worked very well especially that they now have surveillance cameras installed to capture defaulters who speed away without paying the toll fees.

“We are confident that a complete review of the parking levy system on an equitable basis that is strictly enforced will reduce congestion and also improve the revenue for the local authority,” he said.

Effects to get a comment from the council by press time failed.

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