The BuyZed Campaign says the closure of some chain stores due to devastating effects of Covid-19 is a sad situation for Zambia.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Organization National Coordinator Mambo Phiri called on local investors to consider coming up with Zambian chain stores so as to create employment for the local people.
Mr. Phiri observed that the over 300 workers who were depending on the chain stores for their survival will greatly be affected.
“It’s really sad to see the developments that as country we have enjoyed in terms of chain stores that were increasing in numbers, but now some of them they are winding up, it’s really sad for the Zambian people because at the end of the day there are some people that have been employed and they are benefiting from the chain stores.”
“That is why on the BuyZed campaign that’s where we have been emphasizing more on the need to promote local products, we have people in Zambia who have enough funds to ensure that they can create jobs for Zambians. Let’s ensure that Zambians who have the financial muscles also participate in coming up with Zambian chain stores so as to create employment for Zambians,” Mr. Phiri said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Phiri observed that the closure will also result in revenue reduction because government will be losing out on the revenue they were getting from the chain stores and employees.
He stressed the need for government to partner with the private sector to support local products for the benefit of every citizen.
“It’s really a good indicator even when you look on the government part because it’s all about revenue reductions, it means that the government will be losing out on revenue that they were getting from all the employees.”
“Apart from that, it’s also a bad indicator on our Gross Domestic product (GDP), because once our GDP in terms of revenue collections if we don’t meet our target it means most of our social sectors are going to be affected and it’s not really a very good indicator to monitor our economic growth. So government must ensure that they partner with the private sector in ensuring that we promote the local produced products so that everyone is going to benefit and it will be to the benefit of the poor Zambians,” he stated.