President Edgar Lungu has commissioned a K20 million
pole treatment plant in Kalulushi and has since called on
the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation(ZESCO), Rural
Electrification Authority (REA) and ZAMTEL to stop importing
the poles but buy the commodity from the plant.
President Lungu says it is time Zambians started buying
from local fellow companies if the country has to fulfill its
industrial objectives and overall development.
Speaking in Kalulushi yesterday when he commissioned the
plant at the ZAFFICO plantation, the Head of State described
the commissioning of the plant as a monumental occasion
which demonstrates the Patriotic Front government’s
committed drive to transforming the country into an
industrial hub which will create the much needed jobs
especially for the youth.
President Lungu stated the pole treatment plant will make
the country self-reliant as it will manage to meet the
national demand of the poles.
For a long time the country’s three utility companies ,
ZESCO, REA and ZAMTEL , have been importing the poles
and expressed optimism that with the coming on
board of the plant, this now will make the trend a thing of
the past.
This trend had led to the externalization of resources which
the country needed.
“Industries in Zambia will only become successful when
locals begin to rally behind them so that they grow and
development is enhanced,” said Mr. Lungu.
And President Lungu has directed the Workers
Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) to partner with ZAFFICO
in order to enhance its operations.
Dispelled assertions that ZAFFICO will be closed, the
Republican President operations of ZAFFICO will be
improved further with the Compensation Fund.
The President has also urged the company to sell its
remaining of housing units to beneficiary workers as earlier
planned with late Republican President Michael Sata.
And President Lungu has warned that his administration
will not take kindly to any parastatal companies that were
not innovative .
He said punitive measures will be taken against parastatals
found wanting. He therefore urged them to be creative like
ZAFFICO who he said have developed strategies which seen
the firm to where it is today.
President Lungu re-affirmed governments’ commitment of
creating an enabling business environment through its
policies in ensuring local business entrepreneurs flourish.
Speaking earlier ZAFFICO Board Chairperson Jacob Mwitwa
assured the Head of State that the company will continue
expanding its operations whenever more resources and
land are acquired throughout the country.
Dr Mwitwa said the company would not have succeeded if it
was not for governments support from the time it
embarked on its expansion programs.
The Parastatal is to date successfully managing two
plantations in Luapula and Muchinga provinces where it is
has planted over 2,800 eucalyptus and pine trees.
He told the President that his management company had
also successfully paid off all remaining related benefits to
former Kawambwa tea company workers and the tea
company was now fully operation.
K20 million was spent on putting up the pole treatment
plant in Kalulushi with locally mobilized resources and used
a local contractor in constructing the plant.
The plant is expected to be producing 140,000 poles per
year and will create over 500 both direct and indirect jobs
along the value chain.
President Lungu was accompanied by his Special Assistant
for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, Copperbelt
Minister Bowman Lusambo, Home Affairs minister Steven
Kampyongo, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila and
Copperbelt based MPs.
The eleven traditional leaders from the Lima-Lamba
speaking people were also present during the
commissioning of the plant.
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