THE Disabled Entrepreneurs Association of Zambia (DEAZ) has said Government should formulate policies that will deliver broad- based economic empowerment of entrepreneurs with disabilities through diverse integrated socio-economic strategies.

The strategies should include preferential procurement of goods and services.

DEAZ chairperson Felix Simulunga said the Government should formulate policies that will deliver broad-based economic empowerment of entrepreneurs with disabilities through diverse but integrated socio-economic strategies.

Mr Simulunga said the measures would expand literacy and skills development and ensure preferential procurement and access to services from the Government and other institutions by entrepreneurs with disabilities.

He said in Lusaka that the Government should find a way of providing incentives for financial institutions which undertake to finance or develop a group or firm of entrepreneurs with disabilities to contribute to economic growth.

"Ensure that entrepreneurs with disabilities have equitable access to and ownership of land, associated resources and other property and resources either individually or in association with others," he said.

Mr Simulunga said it was important for the Government to ensure that a person who enters into a business partnership with an entrepreneur with disability should be entitled to a tax rebate at a rate to be determined by Finance minister.