ZAM calls for business mentorship platform

BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes@SunZambian ZAMBIA needs to develop mentorship programmes where small companies are attached to large firms, thereby increasing the number of manufacturing businesses and ultimately leading to a wider tax base.The partnerships will allow for companies to build the necessary capacities and be able to run as lead contractors in future engagements, says Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) Policy Advisor, Zondwayo Duma.Mr Duma said as Government was looking to develop and implement a local content law, it could collaborate with stakeholders such as ZAM in developing mentorship programmes.He observed the need for sustainable linkage which would require huge investments in capacity building other than relieving the tax stress on the industry.“The training should therefore attempt to build capacity for the manufactured products to be competitive in foreign markets and not disturb continental aspirations of promoting foreign trade through platforms such as the continental free trade area.“The biggest threat with local content strategies is that they are potentially going to not have significant impact on the development of industry, if no necessary capacities are developed,” Mr Duma said in an interview.He said most manufacturing companies in Zambia were still in their growth stages, therefore lacked the necessary capacity to meet quality or quantity demanded.To improve the manufacturing sector, Mr Duma said, it would be important that supplier development programmes were carried out.“Particularly, to help manufacturing players meet requirements, ideas could be observed from countries such as Columbia that implemented these programs.“Companies with people that were trained went on to start their own ventures, therefore increasing the number of manufacturing firms and ultimately leading to increased employment creation and a wider tax base,” he said.Mr Duma, however, said this did not mean that all manufacturers did not have the capacity.He explained that some large companies had the necessary capacity to meet the quality demanded such as meeting standards, as well as had huge production capacity. The Sun