ZAMPALM, a newly created subsidiary of Zambeef Products located in Mpika district of Muchinga Province will create 2,000 new jobs next year as the company starts harvesting fruits and processing palm oil.
This came to light over the weekend when Muchinga Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda visited the project located in Chinama chiefdom of Chief Kopa of the Bisa people on the out skirts of Mpika.
The company has invested about KR 7.5 million on its palm oil plantation in Mpika from part of its US$ 41 million total investment for the palm oil production which will include the setting up of a cracker to process the palm oil.
ZAMPALM Plantation Manager Trusted Mwiinga told the minister that the project was on course.
Mr. Mwiinga said all things being equal his company will create about 2,000 new jobs during harvest and processing of the palm oil next year in 2014 or early 2015.
Mr. Mwiinga said a processing industry will be set up at the Mpika ZAMPALM plantation to process the palm oil adding that it is during this time that more jobs will be created.
He said that the number of jobs required is more than the number of people in the area saying at some point there will be need to get more people to work on the plant from outside the district.
And Muchinga minister Colonel Gerry Chanda said he was impressed with what he had seen on the 20,000 hectare farm.
Colonel Chanda said the government was happy with the huge investment from Zambeef adding that it stands ready to support such initiatives that will in the long run transform the lives of the local people.
The provincial minister who visited both the nursery and the main plantation said had no doubt that such a project will transform the lives of the local people in particular as well as contributing to the economic status of the province as a whole.
He has since appealed to the general work force at the plantation to put in their best and ensure that the company realizes full benefits that will also be passed on to them in form of salaries and good conditions of service.
Colonel Chanda said the Government expects the workers at the ZAMPALM plantation to work hard because he has faith in the company that it will also take care of its workers going by the huge investment that has been put in.
Earlier, Chief Kopa of the Bisa people of Chinama chiefdom said people in the area have already started getting the benefits from the ZAMPALM project.
Chief Kopa said most of the people in the area were now able to send their children to school from what they are earning at ZAMPALM.
The Mpika ZALMPALM plantation which was set up in 2008 will be processing 100,000 tonnes of palm oil per annum when fully
operational.
ZANIS
Good development. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs… The next winds of change will be A JOBS SPRING!
Excellent maendeleo. Empowering the people.
THIS WAS MMD BRAIN CHILD, THEY HAD A VISION ON JOB CREATION.
I never knew Zanbeef was a parastatal company.
This is good kumyesu kwaba inchito. At least poverty will be reduced.
Nchishiba ati chimo chala letamo Politics, we cant just see something good without brining in our politics iwe chi Zuberi
CHI – Musokonjinga, I still stand by my point MMD policy began the plantation.
HH IS INDIRECTLY IF NOT DIRECTLY EMPLOYING ZAMBIANS BECAUSE HE HAS MILLIONS OF SHARES IN ZAMBEEF. HH THE BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY!!!