First Lady unveils plaque for the construction of market for farm produce from villagers

FIRST Lady Esther Lungu has unveiled a plaque for the construction of Nabona Business Park in Chingola at a cost of over US$2 million.

The project is expected to create over 500 jobs after its completion.

A Chingola based company, Nabona Group, will build the business park, which will be a collection centre for farm produce and is expected to cater for over 500 small-scale farmers in Chingola and other districts.

Mrs Lungu unveiled the plaque on the construction site in Chingola’s Hellen area on the Chingola-Chililabombwe road.

She called for diversification into agriculture to create more jobs for the local people.

Mrs Lungu said small-scale farmers should be supported in their quest to expand their activities so that they can generate more income.

KCM has given out 22 hectares of land for the construction of Nabona Business Park whose construction works are expected to start soon.

Mrs Lungu commended KCM for supporting sustainable projects such as the first ever agricultural produce collection centre.

And Nabona Group managing director David Naude said the construction of phase one will cost US$300,000.

Mr Naude said the project is expected to be completed at a cost of between US$2 million and US$3 million.

“The project will be done in stages and is expected to be completed in a few years to come,” he said without stating the exact period for the completion of the project.

“In phase one over 50 jobs will be created. This is a sustainable livelihood project for small-scale farmers in Shimulala area,” he said.

And speaking at Shumulala’s Sustainable Livelihood Project, Mrs Lungu said KCM is doing a commendable job in uplifting the lives of the vulnerable in society through pass-on-a-cow programme.

The mining firm has so far distributed 596 animals in Chingola, Chililabombwe and Nampundwe to 26 self-help groups.

Meanwhile, Mrs Lungu has commended Government for empowering women through the interest-free loan scheme being accessed by marketeers on the Copperbelt.

And KCM has pledged its continued commitment to supporting and empowering women in various professional jobs.

Recently, President Lungu said Government has allocated K1.6 million for women empowerment schemes on the Copperbelt to be accessible before the end of this year