PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu yesterday commissioned a solar-powered milling plant at Kambazhi in Solwezi, North-Western Province, which will see mealie-meal prices cut by half.
In places where the milling plants were already operational, the prices of mealie-meal had since reduced by half, now pegged between K50 and K55 compared to other millers selling the commodity between K80 and K120.
Mr Lungu told the people of Kalumbila District that the commissioning of the plant would result in the reduction of mealie-meal prices and create employment for women and youths.
The President said he was convinced after seeing the results in the places where the solar-powered milling plants were already working that cooperatives were the right way to go because they were sustainable.
He said ?the commissioning of milling plants had proved that his message to the National Assembly in September last year was not mere rhetoric, but a reality.
Mr Lungu said that the plants which were being placed around the country at a cost of US$100 million would create employment and provide a ready market for local farmers who would be able to sell their maize to the cooperatives.
Zambia Cooperative Federation director general James Chirwa said the commissioning of the plant was another milestone as President Lungu continued to develop the nation.
Mr Chirwa said cooperatives were a sustainable and attainable venture.
Meanwhile, the North-Western Council of Elders has hailed President Lungu for accelerating development and appointing more people from the province to key positions.
Representative of the council, Lucas Chikoti said the people in the province were happy to see development take place in various districts.
He was speaking when Mr Lungu met the council at Kansanshi? Hotel in Solwezi yesterday.
Mr Chikoi, however, expressed concern at the slow pace at which some projects were being implemented and called for more efforts.
He also presented to Mr Lungu people’s concerns over the delayed construction of the North-Western railway line, which was crucial to development in the province.
The President, in response, said Government was building the economy and wanted to exploit all the potential which would lead to the growth of the economy to benefit everyone.
He said North-Western was a rich zone which could boost agriculture, tourism and many other sectors.
“I don’t care whether this region has been notorious for voting against PF?, but you are Zambians and me as a leader I am obliged to listen to you,” Mr Lungu said.
He also said he would have failed late President Michael Sata’s vision if he plunged the country into chaos.
The President returns to Lusaka today
What is the source of maize grain for these solar mills? If these mills are this efficient why not place them in every province so that everybody can benefit from these favourably low prices.
UKO!
Holly Molly, SHOCKING lol. The entire presidency going all the way to NWP only to “commission a milling plant” whilst the economy of the country is in shambles is cheep rhetoric. This is a job for Mulusa, let alone the provincial leadership of NWP. This visionless PF & Lungu have depleted the national reserve, debt is over $8billion whilst inflation at 21.6% & poverty levels of the country are staggering above 87%.
Next Lungu should stay at Nkwanzi & let junior ministers do looking at the milling machine.
170 left days for Lungu to be VOTED OUT!The Skeleton Key
~206~
Heat & Pressure on Lungu.
Are you not aware that they are earmarked to be in every province?
literacy is what has killed Africa. We do not read and analyse. How possible is it that a solar powered mill can reduce cost of milling by 50%. Consider the following:
The input costs maize, labour and transport have not changed. Does that mean electricity accounts for 50% of the cost of milling? Bear in mind electricity supply by solar is not at zero cost. Say its 5 – 15%. Where has the 50% cut in cost come from?
The other point to note is that the advantage of volume production is lost since these mills only produce low volumes.
Am i missing something????
@makululu the solar mills will be placed in every province,we started with northern province were GBM complained.
What infrastructure are you talking about? Have you seen the roads? Even the airport facilities look like a little house and that is why they’re shy to show them.
Where is the province kanshi? North Western, Northern and luapula receive rainfal normaly and more than normal meaning these provinces should now be new maize belts. Govt should come up with policies that will promote farming in these areas
This guy is a serious joker. All the security personal he had around him never before have I seen that in Zambia. What is he scared of? And what is the job of Agricutural minister for him not to commission a smal plant. Guys be serious this guy is a time waster and a cheater. Why doesn’t he not allow everybody to campign just like he is doing. Us here not matter what he does its too late,
@Mary Zimba: “All the security personal he had around him never before have I seen that in Zambia.” No kidding! By the way, how old are you? If you never lived through the Kaunda days and you make such d@mb statements then you can be excused. Otherwise you sound so childish and naïve. The security of a President, anywhere in the world, is a serious and grave matter which should NOT be toyed with. It is the secret service which assesses threats (every day) and comes up with needed numbers and measures to protect the President—and NOT necessarily the President himself.
With UPND hooligans unafraid to attack even the Presidential entourage, security wings have a good reason to UP THE SECURITY AROUND THE PRESIDENTIAL, lest some !d!ot tries to be adventurous with the president’s life…
continue…
The implications are simply too grave for the country to take chances with the life of the President. Think of Rwanda, it started with the assassination of a President and, KA BOOM, half a million innocent souls were dead in the ensuing chaos—be careful with your careless wishes!
It is a wishful thinking for President Lungu to expect a win for the PF from North-Western, because the Govt has not done anything in that region in terms of development. Therefore, there is no need of calling the people from N/Western as arrogant in voting. One thing the President needs to be reminded about the people of that region is that, they vote on merits. Deliver development to them and they shall give you a vote. Please learn to ask before you expose your ignorance and arrogance. MMD was loved and voted because of Late President Mwanawasa’s desire and commitment to develop the area, and the UPND is enjoying the support because it is considered to be an alternative party that seem to offer solutions to the main challenges the people of N/Western Province are going through.
if this technology works, lets all applaud it. this idea of shooting everything that the PF do is not helping. i dont think the PF have really done well economically (particularly the management part due to constant changes to policies and corruption) but on this one lets say its a good step in the right direction.
i have one problem though (this is for all presidents not just PF) you go to commission something that costs far much less than your entourage – does this make sense?.
@Makulu
WE started with Northern Province.
Do you reckon $100m worth of Solar Powered mills is for NP only?
This government is serious, it has a vision, the late Mudalas’s vision.
@ine wine
Mune, read the President’s schedule. He is there for bigger assignments. Commissionings and attending mass in church are just pastimes.
Luapula Premier if he is there for bigger things, i need the media to cover those bigger things than the smaller ‘pastimes’ as you refer to them.
Kikikikikik opposition in trouble. Now they are blaming Ecl who is doing his work. Yarks these cants are now becoming irrelevant.
I suppose the 50 to 55 kwacha price is for 25kg. Before you even go into other inputs, how much maize (kg) is required to produce 25kg of maize meal? Unless the government is heavily subsidizing these solar plants, the PF and Lungu are taking you for boat ride once again. This is insulting us intelligent Zambians. Give us a breakdown of the solar maize plant cost structure so that we can see where the savings are being made. If this was true all the millers in Zambia would have gone solar and make huge profit margins. Imagine from around 100 kwacha to 50 kwacha and you gullible Zambians jump up and down celebrating like little cute monkeys. For how long must you be lied to before the truth thinks into your thick skulls. Lungu is taking you nowhere……sorry he is actually taking you…
The problem with Up&down party and their perpetual Kalusa leader is that they have no message for the voters. We warned your HH that come 2016, you will have nothing to discredit President Lungu and PF on. Here we come, President Lungu is practically resolving issues whilst Hakaivotela Heka is busy holding press briefing with people who dont even matter.
Just some free data to UP & Down (UPND) chaps, for you to really appreciate you local economy, it is imperative to know whats going aroung elsewhere, in that case you wont expose yourselves too much, Zambia does not work in isolation. The happenings in big economies like US, China, EU and Far East economies have a bearing on our economy, this is what I expected your Under 5 who claims to be an economist to know.
Come 11 August 2016,…
If you look at that hammer you will be shocked that we had to import such from China when Zambian manufacturers would have delivered…then import the solar power unit
For a witch nothing is good enough. When you assist him, he finds fault with that and when you do not assist him, he will hate you for that too. Mr. ECL must do that which is beneficial to the majority and not to please selfish individuals. That is why they call fault finding witch hunting because the hunter shall always twist matters to suit his desires. The desire this time is to derail the President. Is it for the sake of occupying the State house or to work for the majority poor? When the price goes down some don’t appreciate but would rather continue seeing us yawning due to empty stomachs. SHAME