The business community in Mpulungu district in Northern Province has welcomed the approval of the 24-hour economy.

Mpulungu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Micheal Sikazwe says the 24-hour economy is the best initiative that is expected to help boost the country’s economy.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, Mr Sikazwe observed that border districts like Mpulungu will greatly benefit from such an economy.

“Mpulungu has people from the Great Lakes region, who come to conduct their businesses and also buy groceries, among other things, so having a 24-hour economy will be very beneficial to the Zambian traders,” he said.

He has observed that some of the people who come to the district, fail to buy a lot of things, for fear of missing the available transport which is often time based, adding that having longer hours of trade even for the transport section, will ease that burden.

“You see some of our customers come from Tanzania and Congo, they bring in their products such as rice and pineapples and once they sell, they also buy groceries, so sometimes they finish selling late and fail to buy groceries, but with the 24-hour economy, they will be able to buy at any time,” he re-emphasised.

And Mpulungu main market Chairperson Kennedy Chama is expecting that businesses in the market will improve greatly with the coming of the 24-hour economy.

Mr Chama has since called on law enforcement agencies to ensure security is tightened once the 24-hour economy is in effect, especially at night when most crimes are committed.