By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
STAKEHOLDERS on the Copperbelt Province have urged Government to raise the current local empowerment threshold from the current 20 per cent to 40 per cent to increase local participation in the execution of contracts.
And Government has concluded its Copperbelt pre-budget private sector engagements with an assurance to remove impediments hindering the  private sector growth through various interventions.
Association of Mining Suppliers and Contractors (AMSC) and Mufulira District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MDCCI) have said raising the local subcontracting threshold would increase participation of locals in construction.
The stakeholders made their submissions  during a  pre-budget breakfast meeting  organised by the Kitwe and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KDCCI) at the weekend.
AMSC president Augustine Mubanga said there was need to raise the threshold to 40 per cent and that it  has been five years since the empowerment Act was implemented .
“The capacity has grown, but the threshold has remained static hence the  need to revise it ,” He said
MDCCI  vice president Lackson Ndhlovu said locals need to participate fully in the massive construction going on  in the country but that they would only get full benefits if the threshold was raised.
“Mechanisms need to be put in place for the infrastructure projects being done in the country to trickle down to the local businesses thereby reducing capital freight ,” Mr Ndhlovu said.
In response Finance Minister Felix Mutati who described the meeting as successful,  said Government was always ready to listen to the private sector as it fine tunes the 2018 budget and the 2018-2020 Medium Term Framework.
The Minister also announced the extension of time-to-pay agreement from December 30, this year  to  June 30, next year  to allow more  owing companies  and individuals pay their tax arrears.
“We have adopted a consultative approach so that stakeholders own the budget,I promised to be here and here I am ,let us work together and move forward. Your submissions will be taken care of during budget refining,” Mr  Mutati said.
The 2018 National Budget is expected to be tabled in Parliament on September 29, this year.