09/06/2026
MWAPE APPEALS FOR STRONGER ENFORCEMENT OF LOCAL PROCUREMENT POLICIES
Mazabuka-based entrepreneur Firestone Mwape has urged the Government to strengthen and enforce local procurement policies to ensure district-based businesses benefit from economic opportunities created by institutions operating within their communities.
Speaking in an appeal addressed to President Hakainde Hichilema and seen by Byta FM News, Mwape praised the Government's commitment to entrepreneurship, citizen empowerment, and inclusive economic growth, but noted that the implementation of existing local participation directives remains weak.
Mwape observed that many government institutions, parastatals, banks, and private companies operate in districts such as Mazabuka, yet generating revenue and providing services locally remains a challenge as most procurement decisions are reportedly centralized at headquarters, mainly in Lusaka.
He explained that local businesses offering services such as printing, branding, stationery, signage, uniforms, and promotional materials are often overlooked, denying district enterprises access to valuable supply contracts.
Mwape added that the concentration of procurement opportunities in Lusaka undermines economic decentralization and slows the growth of district economies because local entrepreneurs cannot grow when institutions within their communities do not engage them as suppliers.
He further noted that many businesses have invested heavily in equipment, skills development, and job creation, yet limited access to contracts forces some entrepreneurs to relocate to Lusaka in search of opportunities, increasing congestion in the capital while weakening economic activity in other districts.
Mwape has called for stricter enforcement of policies requiring institutions to prioritize local suppliers where goods and services can reasonably be sourced locally as this creates jobs, support SMEs, reduce procurement costs, keep money circulating in communities