Government Clears the Way for Zambia's 24-Hour Economy

For the market trader who packs up at dusk, the mechanic who turns away late customers, or the food vendor who calls it a day before the evening rush, the 24-hour economy could be the policy that changes everything.

Government has moved to reassure Zambia's small and medium business owners that the groundwork is being laid carefully before the landmark initiative is rolled out. Security concerns, infrastructure gaps and the legal frameworks that businesses will need to operate around the clock are all being addressed, and the message from the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises is clear: this will be done properly.

Permanent Secretary Subeta Mutelo says deliberations are already underway across line ministries, with local authorities and law enforcement agencies being brought on board to build the support systems that SMEs will need to thrive under extended operating hours.

She told Phoenix News that the policy has the potential to improve service delivery, increase productivity and create jobs, a promise that will resonate with the thousands of Zambians who have long argued that the country's economic potential is being left on the table when businesses close at nightfall.

The policy is expected to open new doors in logistics, food services and the informal sector, areas where ordinary Zambians already hustle hardest.

It is precisely this kind of structural, forward-thinking reform that President Hakainde Hichilema has championed since taking office, unlocking opportunity not just for big business but for the market mama, the young entrepreneur and the township trader who, for too long, have had to stop work when the sun goes down.