MANY government officials lauded the just ended 2018 Mulungushi Investment Expo as all inclusive and gave everyone a chance to showcase their potential.
But what is that the truth of the matter? Is it true that that everyone was given a realistic chance to show case their potential at the Expo?
Nevertheless, a talk with one Rebecca Ntebeka seemed to suggest otherwise.
Ms. Ntebeka is a basket maker from Kabwe’s Lukanga Township who wanted to show to the world her business at the platform.
But when she went to get a chance from the organizers of the just ended expo, she claimed that she was told she could only go ahead if she could pay a minimum of K 1000.
“Balinjeba ati nkalete K1000 pakwebaba ati nkachite display ma baskets yandi,” Ms. Ntebeka said.
Now imagine extracting a k1000 for a poor basket maker so that she gets allowed to showcase her business, isn’t that tying a stone on a dog already struggling to swim? This question is all what the poor desire to be responded to.
However, not everyone is going to tell you the same thing, if you ask Trade kings, Davis and Shirtliff and many other big companies, they will tell, “The event was a success and we showed the world our potential.”
Additionally even the Provincial Minister in the name of Maxwell Kabanda said the expo was a story of success.
“The Expo further revealed the various drivers which would steer the Province to sustainable development,” Kabanda said.
CAN KABANDA’S RECOMMENDATIONS OFFER EQUAL CHANCES TO THE OPPRESSED IN SIMILAR EVENTS IN FUTURE?
The minister said the Central Province had unexploited abundant natural resources making it an epitome of agriculture and other economic activities in the country, which led him mention some like tourism, mining and rich cultural heritage.
“The Dr. David Livingstone Memorial Site, the Nsalu Caves, the Kasanka National Park with its migration of bats as some of the factors influencing the demand for tourists in the Province,” Kabanda cited.
Mr. Kabanda acknowledged the support from all the traditional leaders in the Province who witnessed the official opening of the event by President Edgar Lungu which surely showed unity of purpose which should be nurtured.
He said it was a realization for the need to create market linkages with the small and medium scale farmers in order to build a strong and dynamic industrial nation for sustainable job creation.
The Provincial Minister made a statement of concern that there is need to market Kundalila Falls for safe, reliable and affordable energy for the citizenry which would lead to more power supply in the country.
Meanwhile, he urged chiefs to offer land to investors in their chiefdoms to allow productivity in the province.
He has also asked the Royal Highnesses in the province to support and attend all the traditional ceremonies in the province.
“No matter your origin if its chibwela Mushi all the Chiefs are to attend for the sake of unity in central province,” he said.
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CREDITS
TEXT LAYOUT; MISHECK M. CHIPENZI
EDITING; MISHECK M. CHIPENZI, F
PHOTOGRAPHY; MARGARET MALILO
SOURCE; MARGARET MALILO
WRITER; KACHABE HAMATTAN
Tulande 