Some tailors in Lusaka say government’s pronouncement that it will soon introduce a stimulus package for small businesses and tailors must be implemented.
Speaking on behalf of other tailors, Rabson Musoni told Money FM News in an interview that in most cases government has promised to empower marketeers and other businesses that have been affected by effects of Covid-19 but that the pronouncements do not come to fruition.
“These good ideas may come on the table but they are never implemented. When they talk about such kind of programs, they should look at the mechanism of ensuring that only deserving tailors benefit.”
“The deserving people the government intends to empower, it becomes a challenge on how they are going to reach out to them, they should ensure that what they have promised is done in the right manner than what has been happening in the past where pronouncements only end up on paper,” Mr. Musoni said.
Mr. Musoni has however welcomed the move saying once implemented, it will help tailors sustain their operations because most of them have run out of business due to the pandemic as they cannot make school uniforms, wedding and kitchen party attires because people have stopped attending such events due to restrictions on public gatherings.
He urged government to come up with a proper mechanism to ensure that deserving tailors benefit from the package once released.
“The move is just welcome, because apparently as you are aware, tailors basically get their business from making school uniforms, wedding and kitchen party attires and outfits for corporate functions but due to Covid-19, people are not buying uniforms, because children are not going to school.”
“There are restrictions in terms of public gatherings like weddings, kitchen parties and corporate functions, as a result we have suffered as tailors, so it will be of great help if the idea came on board and people benefit,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Musoni advised government to ensure that people are informed whenever there are such programs so that they are not left out when the disbursement of funds commences.
Mr. Musoni’s comment comes in following the proclamation by Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya that government will soon announce a stimulus package for small business owners such as market traders and tailors to enable them sustain their businesses in light of Covid-19.