By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission(CEEC) is working with Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Associations (ZCSMBA) to provide  business development services to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) using its district networks.
Last week, Kitwe District Business (KDBA) chairperson Susan Chiwenda said CEEC needed to be restructured by decentralising its locations and diversify its project funding targeting to effectively respond to the needs of SMEs.
But CEEC director general Likando Mukumbuta said in 2013 the commissioner signed an agreement with ZCSMBA aimed at providing business development services to SMEs through DBAs.
“To be in close contact with the SMEs all CEEC district sensitisation workshops have been organised through DBAs and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) countrywide,” Mr Mukumbuta said.
Mr Mukumbuta said this in response to a press query at the weekend.
He reiterated that CEEC and ZCSMBA have embarked on a programme to help build the capacity of DBAs to effectively deliver business development services to tier members at district level.
Mr Mukumbuta said this would be more cost-effective than CEEC establishing an office in each district of Zambia.
With respect to the proposal that CEEC should consider moving its provincial office from Ndola to Kitwe because district was centrally located on the Copperbelt, he advised KDBA to make a written submission to the Commission fully laying out its justification.
On the issue of targeting, Mr Mukumbuta said CEEC adopted a policy to focus on a value chain development approach to develop the business potential of each district of Zambia based on the natural resources and agricultural production in which each district is strong.
This approach, he said had  become a key driver of Government’s Industrialization, Economic Diversification and Job Creation strategy and that it would  help all districts catch up with the line of rail in terms of development.
In line with CEEC policy on equity in development, of the 2,500 projects funded by the commission since 2013, 92 per cent have gone to rural districts while 37 per cent has gone  to women and  with youths getting 35 per cent.