Mwinilunga District Commissioner (DC) Webster Samakesa has expressed concern at the failure by investors to take up the de-funct Mwinilunga Pineapple factory in the North-western province.
Mr. Samakesa says government through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Bill has eased the conditions in which the private sector can participate and contribute to national development.
Mr. Samakesa boasted that the pineapple fruit is grown abundantly in the district hence the need for investors to take advantage of the PPP Structural Instrument.
Mr. Samakesa was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.
The DC said if the plant is revived, it could contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the contry besides creating job opportunities to the local people in Mwinilunga district.
Meanwhile, Government through the Ministry of Lands has allocated land in Ikelenge in Mwinilunga district for farms.
Mr. Samakesa observed that Ikelenge which is currently a Sub -Boma is developing at a fast rate adding that it was an ideal place to settle and develop.
The Mwinilunga Pineapple factory became de-funct in the early 1990s. It was a viable firm in the First republic of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
ZANIS
Send me details of the same PPP structural instruments. I am willing to invest in that sector, that is if you have changed your rules now to allow us Zedians to invest in our own country.
How does CD Samakesa expect pipo to invest in Chief Ikelenge’s area when the road from Mwinilunga up to Jimbe is in a poor state.What is Hon EJ doing about that problem. Initial plans as we wre made to understand is that road being tarred up to Jimbe one wonders what is happening now. Could the area MP made to account for the delay. For the pineapple growing to be sustainable there is need for a grower scheme to be initiated. Otherwise even the defuct cannery had no capacity to process all the produce from the district. It was nothing to write about in terms of production capacity coupled with constant power blackouts.
Tell ba Chiluba to payback the money he sold the plant and GOVT should go in
This cannot work now. What with all the el cheapo canned goods from Saudi Afrika. Most people invest in order to make money not just for the sake of investing like the DC seems to be suggesting.
Mr District Commisioner, we expect higher calibre thinking from you. Talk to potential investors then come back to tell us why they are not interested.
And what makes you think the canery was viable in KK’e days. Was it really? Tell us why it is not. KK used to subsidize certain industries. Do you subsidise a viable project?
If you dont have the brains, then at least consult your local chamber of commerce or the national ambrella. I am sure they know something. After all they are businessmen aren’t they?