COMMON Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe has welcomed Cabinet’s approval for the country to transition towards a 24-hour economy.

Ms Kapwepwe says the development aligns with COMESA’s agenda of harmonising regulations across member states in order to promote seamless trade. 

Speaking in Lusaka, Ms Kapwepwe observed that restricted operating hours hinder business growth, noting that extending them will therefore give traders more opportunities to increase their earnings. 

“For us, Zambia is just one of our Member States. So I think it is just going in tandem with what is happening with other countries in the region and it is a very welcome development,” she stressed. 

The Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) also hailed Cabinet’s approval of a 24 hour economy as a bold step to modernise the country’s economic model and align with global trends.  

And in a statement issued to ZANIS, ZACCI President Anthony Kabaghe said the move will boost productivity in manufacturing, retail, logistics and services, while creating jobs and offering flexible working hours.